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BCX / Telkom - BCX Scheme Announcement

Release Date: 16/05/2006 15:50
Code(s): BCX TKG
Wrap Text

BCX / Telkom - BCX Scheme Announcement Business Connexion Group Limited Telkom SA Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) South Africa) (Registration number (Registration number 1988/005282/06) 1991/005476/06) Share code: BCX Share code: TKG ISIN: ZAE000054631 ISIN: ZAE000044897 ("BCX") ("Telkom") OFFER BY TELKOM SA LIMITED ("TELKOM") TO ACQUIRE THE ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL OF BUSINESS CONNEXION GROUP LIMITED ("BCX"), PURSUANT TO WHICH BCX SHARES WILL BE DELISTED FROM THE JSE LIMITED ("PROPOSED ACQUISITION") 1. NOTICE OF SCHEME MEETING A scheme of arrangement ("scheme") in terms of section 311 of the Companies Act, 61 of 1973, as amended, ("Companies Act") has been proposed by Telkom between BCX and BCX"s shareholders (other than the Business Connexion Group Share Trust, the Comparex Holdings Share Purchase Trust and Business Connexion Technology Holdings (Proprietary) Limited) ("scheme members"), in terms of which members recorded in the register of members of BCX on the record date of the scheme ("scheme participants") will receive a cash consideration of 900 cents ("scheme consideration") per BCX share disposed of to Telkom pursuant to the scheme. BCX will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Telkom and the listing of BCX on the JSE Limited ("JSE") will be terminated when the scheme becomes operative. Further to the announcement of 4 April 2006, shareholders are advised that on Tuesday, 16 May 2006, the High Court of South Africa (Witwatersrand Local Division) ("Court") granted an Order to BCX affording BCX leave to convene a scheme meeting ("scheme meeting") for the purpose of considering and, if deemed fit, approving (with or without modification) the scheme. The scheme meeting is to be held at 09:30 on Monday, 12 June 2006 in the auditorium, Business Connexion Park North, 789, 16th Road, Randjespark, Midrand, 1685. 2. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT 2.1 The implementation of the scheme is subject to the fulfilment by 15 December 2006 or such later date as BCX and Telkom might agree to in writing, of the following conditions precedent: 2.1.1 the approval of the scheme by scheme members representing not less than 75% of the votes exercisable by scheme members present and voting either in person or by proxy at the scheme meeting; 2.1.2 the Court sanctioning the scheme in terms of the Companies Act; 2.1.3 a certified copy of the Order of Court sanctioning the scheme being registered by the Registrar of Companies ("Registrar") in terms of the Companies Act; 2.1.4 the Competition Authorities approving the proposed acquisition in terms of the Competition Act, 1998 (Act 89 of 1998) as amended, either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as may be acceptable to Telkom; and 2.1.5 the approval of the scheme by all regulatory authorities if and to the extent necessary, including the South African Reserve Bank, the South African Securities Regulation Panel ("SRP") and the JSE, either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as may be acceptable to Telkom and BCX. 2.2 In the event of any of the conditions precedent stated above not having been fulfilled by 15 December 2006, or such later date as BCX and Telkom might agree to in writing, the scheme will fail to become operative and will be of no force and effect. In such event a substitute offer will become immediately operative, unless the closing date of the substitute offer will fall on a date after 15 December 2006, provided that BCX and Telkom may agree in writing to extend such date. 2.3 Any extension of the date by which the conditions precedent must be fulfilled, or the closing date of the substitute offer, will be released on SENS and published in the press. 3. OPINIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS BCX has retained Deloitte & Touche Corporate Finance to act as its independent advisor in connection with the scheme. Deloitte & Touche Corporate Finance delivered to the BCX board of directors an opinion that the terms and conditions of the scheme are fair and reasonable to the scheme members. The directors of BCX have considered the terms and conditions of the scheme and, inter alia, the opinion of Deloitte & Touche Corporate Finance, and are of the unanimous opinion that the scheme is fair and reasonable to scheme members. Accordingly, the board of directors of BCX recommends that scheme members vote in favour of the scheme. The directors of BCX who hold BCX shares intend to vote in favour of the scheme at the scheme meeting in respect of their own holdings of BCX shares. The view expressed above by the board is based on receipt, at the date of issue of this announcement, of only the scheme as proposed by Telkom and could be reviewed and/or revised by the board on receipt of any further offers in due course. 4. SALIENT DATES AND TIMES 2006 Last day to trade BCX shares on the JSE in Thursday, 1 June order to be eligible to vote at the scheme meeting (see note 1 below) Record date of the scheme meeting in order to Thursday, 8 June be able to vote thereat Last day to lodge forms of proxy for the Friday, 9 June scheme meeting (by 09:30) (see note 2 below) Scheme meeting held (at 09:30) Monday, 12 June Results of scheme meeting to be released on Monday, 12 June SENS Results of scheme meeting to be published in Tuesday, 13 June the press Tuesday, 13 June Scheme chairperson"s report lies open for inspection. Court hearing to sanction the scheme (at Tuesday, 20 June 10:00 or as soon thereafter as Counsel may be heard in Court) Results of Court hearing to be released on Tuesday, 20 June SENS Results of Court hearing to be published in Wednesday, 21 June the press The dates below are subject to the fulfillment of the conditions precedent as set out in paragraph 2.1.3 and 2.1.4 above. To the extent that the conditions precedent are not fulfilled by Thursday, 10 August 2006, the dates set out below will be delayed accordingly and any such changes will be released on SENS and published in the press. This is likely in view of the length of time it is anticipated will be necessary to obtain the approval of the Competition Authorities. Order of Court sanctioning the scheme registered Wednesday, 16 August by the Registrar on or about (if the scheme is sanctioned and all conditions have been fulfilled) Finalisation date once all conditions precedent Wednesday, 16 August have been fulfilled Finalisation date announcement once all conditions Wednesday, 16 August precedent have been fulfilled to be released on SENS Finalisation date announcement once all conditions Thursday, 17 August precedent have been fulfilled to be published in the press Last day to trade BCX shares on the JSE in order Friday, 18 August participate in the scheme consideration Date of suspension of BCX"s listing on the JSE Monday, 21 August from the commencement of business Record date of the scheme to determine Friday, 25 August participation in the scheme and to receive the scheme consideration Operative date of the scheme from the commencement Monday, 28 August of business Date from which the scheme consideration will be Monday, 28 August made available or posted to certificated scheme participants (if the surrender and transfer form and the documents of title are received by BCX"s transfer secretaries on or prior to 12:00 on the record date of the scheme) or, failing that, within 5 (five) business days of receipt of the surrender and transfer form and the relevant documents of title by BCX"s transfer secretaries from 12:00 on Friday, 25 August 2006. Dematerialised scheme participants will have the scheme consideration credited to their account held at their CSDP or broker on the operative date. Termination of BCX"s listing on the JSE from the Tuesday, 29 August commencement of business Notes: 1. BCX shareholders should note that, as BCX is trading in the STRATE environment, settlement for trade takes place five business days after the relevant trade has taken place. Therefore, BCX members who acquire BCX shares after the last day to trade BCX shares on the JSE, being Thursday, 1 June 2006, in order to be recorded in the register of BCX members by the record date of the scheme meeting, being Thursday, 8 June 2006, will not be eligible to vote at the scheme meeting. 2. Own name shareholders will be entitled to attend the scheme meeting in person or if they are unable to attend and wish to be represented thereat may complete and return the form of proxy to the transfer secretaries in accordance with the time specified on that form of proxy. 3. A beneficial owner of BCX shares should timeously inform his nominee or, if applicable, his CSDP or broker of his intention to attend and vote at the scheme meeting or to be represented by proxy thereat in order for his nominee or, if applicable, his CSDP or broker to issue him with the necessary authorisation to do so or should provide his nominee or, if applicable, his CSDP or broker timeously with his voting instruction should he not wish to attend the scheme meeting in person in order for his nominee or, if applicable, his CSDP or broker to vote in accordance with his instruction at the scheme meeting. 4. Any change to the above dates and times will be agreed upon by Telkom and BCX and advised to BCX shareholders by a release on SENS and publication in the press. 5. No dematerialisation or rematerialisation of BCX shares will take place after Friday, 18 August 2006. 6. All times indicated above are South African times. 7. Certificated scheme participants are required to complete their surrender and transfer form to be received by the transfer secretaries by the record date of the scheme. 8. If the scheme does not become operative for any reason (including pursuant to a failure to fulfil any condition precedent set out in paragraph 2 above), the substitute offer will be implemented unless the closing date of the substitute offer is to fall after 15 December 2006 (or such later date as BCX and Telkom may agree). 5. POSTING OF SCHEME DOCUMENT A scheme document containing full details of the scheme is expected to be posted to BCX shareholders on or about Friday, 19 May 2006. 16 May 2006 Financial advisor to BCX Financial advisor and sponsor to Telkom Investec Corporate Finance UBS South Africa (Pty) Limited Attorneys to BCX and the scheme Attorneys to Telkom Cliffe Dekker Inc. Werksmans Inc. Transaction sponsor to BCX Investec Bank Limited Sponsor to BCX RMB Independent advisor to BCX board of directors Deloitte & Touche Corporate Finance Reporting Accountants to BCX Deloitte & Touche Date: 16/05/2006 03:51:11 PM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department

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