To view the PDF file, sign up for a MySharenet subscription.

Growthpoint Properties Limited - Growthpoint Black Economic Empowerment

Release Date: 11/12/2006 17:42
Code(s): GRT
Wrap Text

Growthpoint Properties Limited - Growthpoint Black Economic Empowerment ("BEE") Transaction GROWTHPOINT PROPERTIES LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) Registration number 1987/004988/06 ISIN: ZAE 000037669 Share code: GRT ("Growthpoint" or "the company") GROWTHPOINT BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT ("BEE") TRANSACTION INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE Investec Bank Limited is authorised to announce that Growthpoint has entered into agreements in order to facilitate the acquisition by Phatsima Properties (Proprietary) Limited ("Phatsima") of 22 million new Growthpoint linked units amounting to 2.3% of the total Growthpoint linked units currently in issue, which units have a current market value of R279.4 million, based on the closing price of a Growthpoint linked unit of R12.70 on 8 December 2006 ("BEE transaction"). Growthpoint and its Board of Directors ("the Board") are committed to assist in the achievement of meaningful participation by Historically Disadvantaged South Africans ("HDSAs") in the country`s economy. As an integral part of the transaction, Phatsima has also acquired a 2.3% interest in the Growthpoint asset management contract from Investec Property Group Limited. This transaction (the "BEE Manco Transaction") entitles Phatsima to 2.3% of the asset management fee arising from the asset management agreement concluded between Growthpoint and Growthpoint Managers (Proprietary) Limited in respect of the management of Growthpoint`s property portfolio. The Board believes that the implementation of the BEE Transaction and the BEE Manco Transaction (collectively the "BEE Transactions") are major steps towards ensuring that Growthpoint`s BEE equity ownership and control responsibilities are addressed, as are currently required under the Department of Trade and Industry Codes of Good Practice on Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment and the draft Property Sector Transformation Charter. GROWTHPOINT BEE PRINCIPALS In structuring the BEE Transactions, Growthpoint has endeavoured to achieve its previously adopted BEE objectives, which inter alia include: - the BEE partners include influential role players who can add value to Growthpoint and its linked unitholders but at the same time ensuring the BEE Transactions benefit a broad base of HDSAs; - the BEE partners are broad-based, and/ or black female and assist Growthpoint, on an ongoing basis, in meeting the requirements of the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, No. 53 of 2003, as amended (the "BBBEE Act") and the Property Sector Transformation Charter once it becomes effective; - economic interest and voting rights are transferred to the BEE Partner upfront; - the BEE partners remain an investor in, and a partner of, Growthpoint for at least seven years (the "lock-in period"); - the BEE Transactions are sustainable and value enhancing for the BEE partners and Growthpoint linked unitholders; and - current Growthpoint linked unitholders are not diluted or if there were to be a dilution, the dilution be kept to a minimum. BACKGROUND ON PHATSIMA Phatsima, a black controlled and managed property investment holding company, which has been formed for the purpose of the BEE Transactions, is led by Mr Herman Mashaba. The major shareholders of Phatsima, inter alia, include: Shareholder Shareholding (%) Herman and Connie Mashaba Family 40 Trust ABM Kalla Family Investment (Pty) 12 Ltd Selomane Maitisa 10 The Field Band Foundation 3 Jacqueline Mafumadi 2 Tim Modise 2 Joyce Dube 2 Other* 29 Total 100 * Other is held by 11 HDSAs whose shareholdings range between 2% and 4%. THE BEE TRANSACTION Phatsima will effectively acquire 22 million new Growthpoint linked units or 2.3% of the total Growthpoint linked units currently in issue. The market value of the investment is R279.4 million, based on the closing price of a Growthpoint linked unit of R12.70 on 8 December 2006. Terms of participation by Phatsima Salient features of participation by Phatsima in the BEE Transactions are as follows: - Phatsima is not entitled to sell or alienate their interest in Growthpoint during the lock-in period; - Phatsima must be and remain controlled by broad based BEE entities and/or individuals for the duration of the lock-in period to the extent required by the BBBEE Act and all other applicable laws and regulations from time to time; - following the expiry of the lock-in period, should Phatsima wish to dispose of their interest in Growthpoint, or any part thereof, and there is still a requirement for Growthpoint to maintain its BEE equity ownership, Phatsima will be required to sell their interest, or the relevant part thereof, to a third party that will maintain its BEE status; and - Phatsima has undertaken that, during the lock-in period, they will not participate, without Growthpoint`s prior written consent, in any other property holding organisation, which competes with Growthpoint. SALIENT TERMS OF THE BEE TRANSACTIONS AND FUNDING Phatsima will acquire 22 million new Growthpoint linked units, which will be issued at R11.50 per linked unit as part of a renounceable vendor placing, in terms of the agreements concluded between Growthpoint and the vendors of the Business Connexion (Proprietary) Limited property portfolio acquired by Growthpoint, salient details of which were released on the Securities Exchange News Service of the JSE Limited on 8 June 2006. Old Mutual Specialised Finance (Proprietary) Limited ("Omsfin") will advance R202.4 million of senior and junior funding to partly fund the BEE Transactions. Interest rates in respect of this funding will effectively be fixed for the duration of the loan period being 10 years. Growthpoint will advance mezzanine funding of R57.4 million which will also attract a fixed interest rate. At the settlement date of the mezzanine funding, Phatsima will pay to Growthpoint, to the extent that funds are available, an additional 2% interest per annum and a further amount calculated to be 40% of the net equity upside of Phatsima, which is capped at a total return of 15% to Growthpoint. All funding will be provided on a 10-year basis with an election by the lenders to review their funding after seven years. Investec Private Bank will provide a facility of up to R12.3 million to Phatsima to fund the equity participation of Phatsima of R1.1 million in the BEE Transaction and to fund the BEE Manco Transaction. BOARD REPRESENTATION Herman Mashaba, who holds an indirect beneficial interest in Phatsima of 40%, through the Herman and Connie Mashaba Trust, is already a non-executive director of the Growthpoint Board of Directors and will continue to be so appointed. For and on behalf of the board Growthpoint Properties Limited Sandton 11 December 2006 Investment Bank & Transaction Sponsor to Growthpoint Adviser Investec Corporate Finance Investec Bank Lead Debt Arranger Senior and Junior Lender to the Transaction Investec Bank Treasury and Old Mutual Specialised Finance Specialised Finance logo Legal Adviser to the Transaction Jowell Glyn & Marais logo Date: 11/12/2006 17:42:18 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department.

Share This Story