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Netcare - Transaction relating to the unwinding of the Netcare / Netpartner

Release Date: 10/05/2006 17:04
Code(s): NTC
Wrap Text

Netcare - Transaction relating to the unwinding of the Netcare / Netpartner Cross Shareholding Network Healthcare Holdings Limited Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa Registration number 1996/008242/06 JSE Code: NTC & ISIN: ZAE000011953 ("Netcare") Netpartner Investments Limited Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa Registration number 2003/014215/06 ("Netpartner") TRANSACTION RELATING TO THE UNWINDING OF THE NETCARE / NETPARTNER CROSS SHAREHOLDING 1. INTRODUCTION Further to the announcement dated 23 March 2006 ("the terms announcement") relating to transactions which, if implemented, will result in, inter alia: * the cross shareholding structure which currently exists between Netcare and Netpartner (the "Companies") being unwound; and * Netpartner facilitating the acquisition of medical scheme administration assets via one of Netpartner"s wholly-owned subsidiaries ("PurchaseCo") which, it is intended, will become a public company traded on the Barnard Jacob Mellet over the counter market. (collectively "the unwinding transactions") Shareholders of both Netcare and Netpartner are advised that the sale by Netcare of its 46,3% shareholding in PurchaseCo to third parties ("the transaction") as one of the proposed transactions referred to in the terms announcement has been concluded subject to the successful completion of certain conditions precedent, which include the completion of all of the unwinding transactions. Subsequent to the terms announcement PurchaseCo was established and named Lethimvula Investments Limited ("Lethimvula"). 2. NATURE OF THE TRANSACTION As part of the unwinding transactions it is intended that Netpartner will effect a distribution in specie of its shares in Lethimvula, including to Netcare. As part of the unwinding transactions Netcare undertook to dispose of all or part of its 46.3% interest in Lethimvula immediately after the distribution in specie of Lethimvula shares by Netpartner. In anticipation of the distribution in specie of the Lethimvula shares by Netpartner, Netcare has, subject to the various conditions precedent in the relevant agreement as well as those set out in the terms announcement, disposed of its 46.3% interest in Lethimvula. Lethimvula is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Netpartner which, as set out in the terms announcement, intends acquiring 100% of the shares in and claims against the medical scheme administrators, Medscheme Limited and Rowan Angel (Proprietary) Limited. 3. THE ACQUIRING PARTIES Following a process whereby an independent corporate adviser was appointed to provide financial advisory services through a structured bidding process in relation to the disposal by Netcare, the parties below have entered into an agreement whereby they each intend to independently acquire portions of Netcare"s 46.3% interest in Lethimvula. The successful bidders ("the parties") are: Golden Pond Trading 175 (Proprietary) Limited, a company representing the South African Medical and Dental Practitioners Association (SAMDP) which consists of a group of more than 3 000 black doctors; Community Healthcare Holdings Limited ("Community"), a 100% black owned investment holding company with investments within the key areas of healthcare and technology. Community forms part of the Community Investment Holdings (Proprietary) Limited Group, which has interests in, inter alia, technology, logistics, healthcare and mining. The group operates predominantly in sub- Saharan Africa. Newshelf 755 (Proprietary) Ltd (Newshelf), a company controlled by the Africa Vanguard Capital Consortium ("AVC"), a broad-based empowerment consortium led by Mr Sandile Zungu. The shareholders of Newshelf are made up of AVC, Thulong Investment Group (Pty) Ltd, The Africa Vanguard Social Development Trust, The National Association of People living with HIV/AIDS ("NAPWA") and Alchemy Health Options (Pty) Ltd; Bophelo Investments (Proprietary) Ltd ("Bophelo"), a company representing the South African Managed Care Cooperation ("SAMCC"). The SAMCC comprises a voluntary membership of 3 500 doctors and is a fully registered and duly constituted co-operative, embodied into a fully Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment ("BBBEE") compliant National General Practitioner ("GP") Network with experience in the medical environment dating back to 1995. The SAMCC comprises regional independent practitioners association"s ("IPA"s"), themselves formed by individual doctors, of whom more than 60% are historically disadvantaged individuals; and Manco, a company to be formed to hold the interests of key executive management from the SAMDP and Community. Upon successful completion of all of the conditions relating to the unwinding transactions, Lethimvula shareholders will comprise of a broad-based grouping of empowerment parties and industry stakeholders who collectively have significant experience in the healthcare industry. 4. INDICATIVE SHAREHOLDING IN LETHIMVULA - POST THE NETCARE DISPOSAL Based upon the following shareholding analysis, and the fact that in the order of 70% of the shares in Lethimvula will be held directly or indirectly by individuals from previously disadvantaged communities ("PDC"s"), this transaction will result in Lethimvula being the largest black owned multi-scheme healthcare administrator and health risk manager in South Africa. % (Note 1) Golden Pond Trading 175(Proprietary) Limited 23.4 Community Healthcare Holdings Limited 23.4 Newshelf 755 (Proprietary) Ltd 9.0 Bophelo Investments (Proprietary) Ltd 2.7 Manco 4.6 +/- 9 000 public shareholders (note 2) 36.9 Notes Prior to any additional purchases of shares in the event of a potential mandatory offer as referred to in clause 5 below. Includes existing Netpartner shareholders, more than 3 200 of whom are from PDC"s, who will receive Lethimvula shares as part of the distribution in specie by Netpartner. As stated in the terms announcement, it is intended that Lethimvula will become a public company traded on an over the counter market. 5. SECURITIES REGULATION PANEL (SRP) In the process of finalising the transaction the parties are mindful of their responsibilities in terms of the Securities Regulation Code on Takeovers and Mergers ("the Code"). Accordingly, as this transaction may constitute an affected transaction as defined in the Code, an offer may be required to be made to the remaining shareholders of Lethimvula, ("mandatory offer"). The affected parties have undertaken to make the mandatory offer (if required). Accordingly Netpartner shareholders are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the company"s securities until a further announcement is made in this regard. 6. DOCUMENTATION Circulars to the shareholders of both Netcare and Netpartner, containing the full details of the unwinding transactions, incorporating notices convening: - the general meetings; and - the scheme meeting relating to the scheme of arrangement in terms of section 311 of the Companies Act, No. 61 of 1973, ass amended (the "scheme") which has been proposed by Netcare between Netpartner and its shareholders other than Netcare, together with forms of proxy, are intended to be posted to the respective shareholders during the last week in May or first week in June 2006. In the event that the scheme is not proposed, or is not sanctioned by the High Court of South Africa (Witwatersrand Local Division) for any reason, Netcare will make a substitute offer to the shareholders of Netpartner on the same terms and conditions as those proposed for the scheme (the "substitute offer"). Netcare intends to invoke the provisions of section 440K of the Companies Act, should at least nine-tenths of shareholders of Netpartner (excluding Netcare) accept the substitute offer. A further announcement will be made in due course containing, inter alia, further details of the scheme and the salient dates applicable to the unwinding transactions will be made in due course. 10 May 2006 Johannesburg Merrill Lynch South Africa (Proprietary) Limited Lead sponsor to Netcare PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance ("PwC-CF") Financial adviser regarding the disposal by Netcare KPMG Services (Proprietary) Limited Corporate Adviser to Netcare HR Levin Attorneys Notaries and Conveyancers Webber Wentzel Bowens Legal Advisers to Netcare Nedbank Capital, division of Nedbank Limited Investment Bank, Independent Corporate Adviser and Transactional Sponsor to Netpartner i capital advisers (Proprietary) Limited Corporate Adviser to Netpartner Cliffe Dekker Inc. Legal Adviser to Netpartner Date: 10/05/2006 05:04:18 PM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department

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