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EDUCOR / NASPERS - PROPOSED SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT

Release Date: 26/02/2001 17:08
Code(s): ECR NPN
Wrap Text
Educor Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1999/020356/06)
("Educor")
NASPERS LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1925/001431/06)
("Naspers")

PROPOSED SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT PURSUANT TO WHICH EDUCOR WILL BE DELISTED FROM THE JSE SECURITIES EXCHANGE SOUTH AFRICA Introduction
Further to the cautionary announcement issued by Educor on 24 January 2001, Gensec Bank Limited ("Gensec Bank") is authorised to announce that agreement has been reached between Naspers and Educor in terms of which Naspers will extend an offer to the minority shareholders of Educor (excluding Nozala Investments (Proprietary) Limited ("Nozala")) ("minorities") for the
acquisition of all of their shares at a consideration amounting to 120 cents per Educor share ("the offer"). The offer will be implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement in terms of Section 311 of the Companies Act, 1973 (No 61 of 1973), as amended ("the scheme").
Naspers currently owns 68 640 600 Educor shares, being 45,6% of Educor's issued share capital. Nozala, which directly owns 9 773 109 Educor shares,
representing 6,5% of Educor's issued share capital, has agreed not to
participate in the scheme and, subject to satisfactory arrangements being concluded with Naspers, will remain invested in Educor as its Empowerment Partner. Consequently, Nozala is a concert party of Naspers in relation to the scheme and will abstain from voting at the meeting to be convened for the purposes of the minorities to consider the scheme. Rationale for the scheme
Given the persistent negative sentiment towards small market capitalisation companies on the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa ("the JSE") there appears to be little justification for the continued listing of Educor. The benefits of being a listed company have largely subsided as a result of market sentiment and Educor's current trading performance. The directors of Educor ("the directors") are of the opinion that its business could be better structured as an unlisted company in order to achieve critical mass and meet the challenges that are prevalent in the private education sector.
Educor is highly geared and in order for its business, particularly its e-Education initiatives, to be fully developed within the bounds of prudent financial criteria, additional capital investment will be required. The share price performance and investor sentiment towards Educor is not conducive to any capital raising initiatives as a listed company. The directors are, therefore, of the view that the interests of Educor and minorities would be better served if minorities are given the opportunity to dispose of their shares at a reasonable price.
It is intended that minorities will also be given a share alternative ("the share alternative") in terms of which they will be entitled to elect to receive Naspers shares, instead of cash, in a predetermined exchange ratio that will be fixed closer to the time of implementing the offer. Financial effects
The financial effects set out below are based on the cash offer consideration of 120 cents per share and illustrate the effects on an Educor shareholder that currently holds 100 Educor shares.
Before the After the Change
scheme (R) scheme (R) (%) Attributable market value:
- 23 January 2001 (1) 56,00 120,00 114
- 30-day volume weighted average (2) 44,00 120,00 173
- 23 February 2001 (3) 91,00 120,00 32
Attributable headline earnings 1,42 (4) 4,20 (5) 196
Attributable tangible net asset value 50,00 (6) 120,00 140 Notes
1. The closing market price of an Educor share on 23 January 2001, being the trading day immediately preceding the publication of the cautionary announcement referred to above.
2. The volume weighted average traded price of an Educor share over the 30 trading days up to and including 23 January 2001.
3. The closing market price of an Educor share on 23 February 2001, being the last practicable trading day prior to the publication of this announcement. 4. Being the headline earnings attributable to 100 Educor shares for the six months ended 30 September 2000.
5. An after tax return of say, 7% applied to the offer proceeds of R120,00 per 100 Educor shares for a period of six months.
6. Being the tangible net asset value as at 30 September 2000 attributable to 100 Educor shares. Opinions, recommendations and undertakings
The directors of Educor who are not directors or representatives of Naspers and Nozala have considered the terms of the offer and the scheme and are of the unanimous opinion that they are fair and reasonable to the minorities. Accordingly they support the scheme and recommend that minorities vote in favour thereof.
Grant Thornton Kessel Feinstein Corporate Finance (Pty) Limited ("GTKF"), acting as independent adviser to Educor and minorities, has considered the terms of the offer and is of the opinion that they are fair and reasonable to the minorities. A copy of GTKF's opinion in this regard will be included in the documentation to be issued in relation to the scheme ("scheme documentation"). Minorities who, collectively, hold 45 439 010 Educor shares, being 62,9% of the total number of shares held by minorities, have indicated that they intend to accept the offer and vote all of their shares in favour of the scheme. Termination of Educor's listing on the JSE
Application will be made for the termination of Educor's listing on the JSE with effect from the operative date of the scheme. Full details of the acceptance and surrender procedure of Educor share certificates and other documents of title will be contained in the scheme documentation. Cash confirmation
Gensec Bank has confirmed to the Securities Regulation Panel ("the SRP") that Naspers will have sufficient cash resources to satisfy full acceptance of the cash alternative of the offer. Conditions precedent
The offer and the scheme to be implemented pursuant thereto are conditional upon:
- the approvals, insofar as may be necessary, of the scheme documentation by the JSE, the SRP and the Exchange Control Division of the South African Reserve Bank;
- the approval of at least 75% of the minorities present or represented and voting at the scheme meeting;
- the sanction of the scheme by the High Court of South Africa (Cape Provincial Division);and
- registration of the Order of Court by the Registrar of Companies. General
The scheme documentation is in the process of being prepared and will, subject to the approval of the JSE and SRP, be mailed to Educor shareholders within 30 days of the date of this announcement (or, with the consents of the JSE and the SRP, as soon as possible thereafter).
Further announcements, including details of the share alternative and the salient dates pertaining to the scheme, will be published from time to time. Cape Town 26 February 2001 Investment bank and joint sponsor to Naspers Gensec Bank Limited (Registration number 1996/004744/06) Merchant bank to Nozala African Merchant Bank Limited Registered Bank Registration number 1996/016470/06 Corporate adviser to Educor and the minorities Grant Thornton Kessel Feinstein Corporate Finance (Pty) Ltd (Registration number 2000/002649/07) Attorneys Jan s. de Villiers Attorneys Joint sponsors to Naspers BoE Securities (Pty) Ltd Member of the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa Co. Reg. No. 1995/012240/07 HSBC Investment Services (Africa) (Pty) Limited Reg. No. 1984/001736/07

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