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Distribution and Warehousing Network Limited - Announcement and Withdrawal of

Release Date: 10/11/2003 17:15
Code(s): DAW
Wrap Text

Distribution and Warehousing Network Limited - Announcement and Withdrawal of Cautionary Distribution and Warehousing Network Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number 1984/008265/06) Share code: DAW, ISIN code: ZAE000018834 ("DAWN") ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING: THE ACQUISITION OF A 30,43% STRATEGIC EQUITY STAKE IN INCLEDON; THE GRANTING OF A CALL OPTION TO ACQUIRE THE REMAINING 69,57% OF THE EQUITY IN INCLEDON; AND WITHDRAWAL OF CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. Introduction Further to the cautionary announcements dated 31 October 2003 and 7 November 2003, Bishop Corporate Finance (Pty) Limited is authorised to announce that DAWN has concluded an agreement with the shareholders of Incledon (Pty) Limited ("Incledon") in terms of which DAWN will acquire 30,43% of the issued shares in Incledon ("the acquisition") as set out in paragraph 4 below and be granted a call option ("call option") to acquire the remaining 69,57% of the issued shares in Incledon as set out in paragraph 5 below ("the agreement"). 2. Rationale for the acquisition and the call option The acquisition affords Dawn the opportunity to expand its wholesale distribution focus with a similar product range into new markets, i.e. into the mining, industrial and petrochemical sectors, state, provincial and local authorities as well as into infrastructural development, both locally and into selected African export markets. In addition it also adds critical mass to Dawn"s logistical services division. 3. Description of the business of Incledon Incledon is a privately owned investment company with its primary investment being a 74% equity stake in Incledon-DPI (Pty) Limited ("IDPI"). 69,57% of the total issued share capital of Incledon is held by black shareholders. Consequently Incledon and IDPI are black controlled entities. IDPI was formed with effect from February 2003 as a joint venture between Incledon and DPI Plastics (Pty) Limited ("DPI"), in terms of which the entire business of Incledon and the wholesale trading business of DPI were sold to IDPI in exchange for shares in IDPI. IDPI conducts business as a wholesale and engineering trading merchant mainly dealing in piping systems, valves and related accessories for the mines, general industry, state, provincial and local authorities as well as for civil contractors. 4. Terms of the acquisition DAWN will acquire, subject to the suspensive conditions set out in paragraph 6 below, with effect from 1 July 2003 ("the effective date") 30,43% of the total issued shares in Incledon ("the acquisition shares") for a maximum cash consideration of R23 739 130. The vendors of the acquisition shares comprise mainly the white management and employees of IDPI ("the white consortium"). The cash consideration payable in terms of the acquisition ("the acquisition consideration") is subject to Incledon achieving a cumulative profit after taxation of R86 666 667 ("the cumulative warranted profit") over a four year period from the effective date ("the warranty period"). Based on the assumption that Incledon will achieve the cumulative warranted profit over the warranty period, DAWN will pay the acquisition consideration to the white consortium in six instalments as follows: - for the six months ending 31 December 2003 an amount of R1 900 000; - for the six months ending 30 June 2004 an amount of R2 200 000; - for the six months ending 31 December 2004 an amount of R2 600 000; - for the six months ending 30 June 2005 an amount of R2 800 000; - for the year ending 30 June 2006 an amount of R6 600 000; and - for the year ending 30 June 2007 an amount of R7 639 130. In the event that Incledon does not achieve the cumulative warranted profit in each payment period, the instalment due in each period will be reduced to an amount equal to 90% of the cumulative actual profit achieved and attributable to the acquisition shares in such payment period, less any amount of instalments already paid by DAWN. The instalments in respect of the periods ending 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2007, respectively, is further subject to DAWN receiving a dividend from Incledon equal to 90% of the actual profit attributable to the acquisition shares for the relevant period. 5. Terms of the call option DAWN will, subject to the suspensive conditions set out in paragraph 6 below and for the warranty period, be entitled (but not obliged) to acquire the remaining 69,57% of the total issued share capital of Incledon ("the call option shares") for a purchase consideration of R52 753 623. The Incledon shareholders who grant DAWN the call option comprise mainly the black management and employees of IDPI ("the black consortium"). DAWN will settle the purchase consideration payable to the black consortium for the call option shares by way of an issue of new ordinary shares in DAWN ("DAWN shares"). For purposes of calculating the DAWN shares due to the black consortium, the price per DAWN share shall be the thirty day volume weighted average share price of DAWN shares as traded on the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa ("JSE") immediately preceding the date on which DAWN exercises the call option ("option exercise date"). The DAWN shares so issued will be subject to Incledon achieving the cumulative warranted profit over the warranty period and will be held in escrow by the auditors of Incledon until the warranty period expires. At the end of the warranty period the purchase consideration attributable to the call option shares shall be adjusted and such adjustment will be calculated with reference to the cumulative actual profit achieved by Incledon divided by the cumulative warranted profit. In the event that Incledon exceeds the cumulative warranted profit, DAWN will issue further DAWN shares to the black consortium, subject to the total purchase consideration attributable to the call option shares not exceeding R56 000 000. In the event that the cumulative actual profit achieved by Incledon is less than the cumulative warranted profit, the number of DAWN shares that were conditionally issued to the black consortium and held in escrow will be reduced on a pro rata basis. The black consortium will be restrained from dealing in the DAWN shares for a period of five years from the effective date ("restraint period"). Should the black consortium wish to sell the DAWN shares after the restraint period then DAWN shall be given a period of 120 days to place such shares with alternative black shareholders, so as to retain the black controlled status created within DAWN due to the exercise of the call option. 6. Suspensive conditions The agreement is subject to the following suspensive conditions being met within thirty days from 7 November 2003: - the completion of employment agreements with key management members of IDPI containing appropriate lock-in provisions and restraints ; - DAWN be permitted to nominate one director to the board of Incledon and one member to the executive committee of IDPI; - written approval by the lessor of the premises currently being used as the IDPI head office or alternatively IDPI providing Incledon, with a written - indemnity against any and all claims which may result from the lease agreement; and - the existing shareholders agreement entered into between DPI and Incledon as shareholders of IDPI on 4 November 2002, be replaced or amended to the satisfaction of DAWN acting reasonably. The exercise of the call option is subject to the following additional suspensive conditions being met within ninety days from the option exercise date, namely: - DAWN may only exercise the call option if, upon implementation of the call option and the issue of the call option shares to the black consortium, no less than 50% of DAWN"s issued share capital is held by black shareholders (including the black consortium); - to the extent required by law, a resolution by the shareholders of DAWN is obtained approving the implementation of the call option; and - the written approval of the JSE, The Securities Regulation Panel, The South African Competition Commission and such other regulatory approval as may be required. A further condition on the transferability of the call option shares is contained in the IDPI shareholders agreement dated 4 November 2002 and entered into between DPI and Incledon, in terms of which DPI"s approval for any change in IDPI"s black empowerment status is required. The black consortium currently has an effective 51,48% shareholding in IDPI. DPI has indicated that it will not unreasonably withhold its approval from the black consortium should they be required to sell the call option shares in terms of the call option, on condition that the current effective black shareholding in IDPI, or such other level as may be required by future statutory guidelines and requirements, is maintained. 7. Financial effects The pro forma financial effects of the acquisition on the headline earnings, earnings, net asset value and tangible net asset value per DAWN share, before and after the disposal, are set out below: Notes Before After Change Per DAWN share (cents) (cents) (%) Headline earnings 1 17,11 19,60 14,55 Earnings 1 17,22 19,71 14,46 Net asset value 2 57,48 57,48 - Net tangible asset value 2 57,48 57,48 - Notes: 1. The amounts in the "Before" column are based on the headline earnings and earnings per Dawn share as reported in the annual financial results of DAWN for the year ended 30 June 2003. The amounts in the "After" column represent the headline earnings and earnings that would have accrued per DAWN share for the year ended 30 June 2003 had the acquisition been effective 1 July 2002, which pro forma headline earnings and earnings per DAWN share include the headline earnings and earnings achieved by Incledon and attributable to the acquisition shares for the year ended 30 June 2003 less a cost for interest foregone at a rate per annum of 7% after taxation calculated on the first instalment of R1 900 000 assumed to been paid on 1 January 2003. 2. The amounts in the "Before" column are based on the net asset value per share and net tangible asset value per share as reported in the annual financial results of DAWN for the year ended 30 June 2003. The amounts in the "After" column represent the net asset value per share and tangible net asset value per share had the acquisition been effective 30 June 2003. 8. Withdrawal of cautionary announcements Shareholders are referred to the cautionary announcements dated 31 October 2003 and 7 November 2003 and are advised that, as full disclosure regarding the negotiations as contemplated therein has been made in terms of this announcement, caution is no longer required. Johannesburg 11 November 2003 Corporate adviser Sponsor Legal adviser Bishop Corporate Finance Deloitte & Touche Sponsor Services Werksmans attorneys Date: 10/11/2003 05:15:06 PM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department

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