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Cullinan - Acquisition of New Horizons

Release Date: 11/08/2005 17:36
Code(s): CUL
Wrap Text

Cullinan - Acquisition of New Horizons CULLINAN HOLDINGS LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number 1902/001808/06) Share code CUL ISIN ZAE000013710 ("Cullinan" or "the company") ACQUISITION OF NEW HORIZONS HOLIDAYS (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED ("New Horizons") 1. Introduction The board of directors of the company wishes to advise that Cullinan has entered into an agreement dated 11 August 2005 with the vendor referred to in paragraph 3 below in terms of which it will acquire 100% of the issued share capital of New Horizons ("the acquisition"). The acquisition is subject to the suspensive conditions set out in paragraph 6 below. 2. Nature of business and rationale for the acquisition New Horizons is an outbound tour operator based in Perth, Australia that promotes holidays in the Far East to the Western Australian market. It is the market leader in this sector and has over 25 years" experience in the business. It has been consistently profitable and is well managed. The acquisition is in line with Cullinan"s commitment to grow its portfolio of travel interests, both domestically and internationally. The acquisition will also enable the company to spread its risk, increase its buying power, extend its product range and add to its distribution capacity, as well as share common facilities and knowledge. In addition, the acquisition is being effected at a time of relative Rand strength. The outbound division of Cullinan (Thompsons Tours) is a market leader in the sale of Far East travel products and the combined focus in this area will create opportunities to improve turnover and profitability. Southern Africa as a destination will be added to the New Horizons product range and will be supplied by Thompsons. 3. The acquisition Cullinan has, subject to the suspensive conditions referred to in paragraph 6 below, acquired New Horizons from Travcorp Financial Services Limited ("the vendor"), for a consideration of R32 million, to be settled by the creation and issue by Cullinan of 80 000 000 11% cumulative compulsorily convertible preference shares at 40 cents per share, convertible on a one- for-one basis into ordinary shares in the company three years and a day after the date of their initial issue. The effective date of the acquisition is 1 January 2005. The agreement between the parties contains warranties that are usually found in agreements regarding transactions of this nature. 4. Related party transaction and appointment of an independent professional expert ("the IPE") The vendor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Travel Corporation Limited, the indirect controlling shareholder of Cullinan. The acquisition therefore constitutes a related party transaction in terms of the Listings Requirements of JSE Limited ("JSE") and requires approval by the shareholders of Cullinan in general meeting, excluding the related party and its associates. It is also subject to the issue of an opinion as to the fairness and reasonableness of the acquisition by the IPE. The board of directors of Cullinan has appointed BDO QuestCo (Proprietary) Limited as the IPE and the appointment has been ratified by JSE. The fair and reasonable statement prepared by the IPE will form part of the circular to shareholders referred to in paragraph 7 below. 5. Financial effects of the acquisition The table below sets out the financial effects of the acquisition on the earnings, headline earnings, net asset value and net tangible asset value per share in Cullinan based on the unaudited financial statements of the company for the six months ended 31 March 2005. The financial effects are the responsibility of the directors of Cullinan and are prepared for illustrative purposes only. Because of their nature, the financial effects may not fairly present the financial position of the company, changes in equity, results of its operations or cash flows after the acquisition. After the acquisition Before After conversion conversion of of
Before the preference preference acquisition shares Change shares Change Notes (cents) (cents) (%) (cents) (%) Earnings per share 1 1,27 1,38 8,66 1,49 17,32 Headline earnings per share 1 1,45 1,66 14,48 1,74 20,00 Net asset value per share 2 9,00 13,46 49,56 12,11 34,56 Net tangible asset value per share 2 6,30 6,42 1,90 5,78 (8,25) Number of shares in issue (000"s) 718 188 718 188 - 798 188 11,14 Notes: 1. On the assumption that the acquisition was effective throughout the six months ended 31 March 2005. In calculating these effects, goodwill has been amortised. In the event of early adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards amortisation of goodwill will not be required. An annual impairment test on all investments will be required. 2. O n the assumption that the acquisition was effective on 31 March 2005. 6. Suspensive conditions The acquisition is subject to the following material suspensive conditions: - approval by the relevant regulatory authorities, including JSE and the Exchange Control Division of the South African Reserve Bank; and - approval by the shareholders of the company in general meeting of the necessary special and ordinary resolutions required to implement the acquisition and subsequent registration of the special resolutions by the Registrar of Companies. 7. Circular to shareholders A circular to shareholders containing full details of the acquisition and a notice convening a general meeting of Cullinan will be dispatched to shareholders in due course. By order of the board Johannesburg 11 August 2005 Corporate adviser LANARK FINANCIAL SERVICES Auditors BDO Spencer Steward (JHB) Inc. Chartered Accountants (SA) Registered Accountants and Auditors Independent professional expert BDO QuestCo (Pty) Ltd (Registration number 2004/018276/07) Sponsor LPC MANHATTAN MOELA (Pty) Ltd (Registration number 2001/009215/07) Date: 11/08/2005 05:36:03 PM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department

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