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

GRT/PRA - Growthpoint/Paramount - Financial Effects and Salient Dates and

Release Date: 18/12/2006 13:35
Code(s): GRT PRA
Wrap Text

GRT/PRA - Growthpoint/Paramount - Financial Effects and Salient Dates and withdrawal of cautionary Growthpoint Properties Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number 1987/004988/06) Share code: GRT & ISIN: ZAE000037669 ("Growthpoint") Paramount Property Fund Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number 1945/019928/06) Share code: PRA & ISIN: ZAE000028577 ("Paramount") FINANCIAL EFFECTS AND SALIENT DATES OF THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL OF CAUTIONARY 1. INTRODUCTION On 20 October 2006, Growthpoint announced that it acquired 41.9% of the linked units in Paramount and that pursuant to the rules of the Securities Regulation Panel, Growthpoint was obliged to make a mandatory offer ("offer") to Paramount linked unitholders, other than Growthpoint ("linked unit offerees"), for all the Paramount linked units held by the Paramount offerees ("offer linked units"). The offer is in terms of Section 440 of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act 61 of 1973), as amended. This announcement sets out the salient dates and financial effects of the offer to a Growthpoint linked unitholder as well as to a Paramount linked unitholder. As previously communicated, Paramount offerees who accept the offer can elect to receive either - * 1 new Growthpoint linked unit for every 1.44 offer linked units held ("exchange ratio") rounded to the nearest whole number ("linked unit alternative"); or * a cash consideration of R6.71 for every offer linked unit ("cash alternative"). 2. OFFER TO B DEBENTURE HOLDERS As part of the offer, Growthpoint is also extending an offer to all holders of Paramount B debentures ("B debenture holders"), other than Growthpoint. Full details of this offer are disclosed in the circular to Paramount linked unit offerees and B debenture holders ("Paramount offerees"), referred to in Paragraph 10 below. 3. APPOINTMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT SUB-COMMITTEE The Paramount Board of Directors ("Paramount Board") appointed an independent sub-committee of the Paramount Board, comprising non-executive directors of Paramount, in order to consider the terms of the offer ("independent sub-committee"). 4. OPINIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 The opinion of the independent adviser The Paramount Board appointed Nedbank Capital, a division of Nedbank Limited ("Nedbank Capital") as an independent adviser to provide them with advice as to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms and conditions of the offer. Nedbank Capital has considered the terms and conditions of the offer and has expressed an opinion that, based on their assessment, the offer is fair and reasonable and has advised the independent sub-committee accordingly. 4.2 Opinion of the independent sub-committee The independent sub-committee has considered the terms of the offer, and taking into account the opinion of Nedbank Capital, is of the unanimous opinion that the terms of the offer are fair and reasonable to the Paramount offerees. 4.3 Opinion of the Paramount Board The Paramount Board has considered the terms of the offer and taking into account the opinion of Nedbank Capital and the independent sub- committee, is of the opinion that the terms of the offer are fair and reasonable and recommend that Paramount offerees accept the offer. Paramount offerees are referred to the opinion from Nedbank Capital expressed in their opinion letter set out in the circular to Paramount offerees, referred to in paragraph 10 below and are encouraged to read it in its entirety. 5. FINANCIAL EFFECTS 5.1 Paramount The table below sets out the unaudited pro forma financial effects of the offer on a linked unit offeree based on the last published interim results of Paramount for the six month period to 30 April 2006. The financial effects on a B debenture holder are given in the circular. The unaudited pro forma financial effects are the responsibility of the Paramount Board and have been prepared for illustrative purposes only, in order to provide information on how the offer might affect the financial results and position of a linked unit offeree and because of their nature, may not give a true reflection of the actual financial effects of the offer. Linked unit Cash alternative alternative
Per Paramount Before Paramount Change Paramount Change linked unit the linked linked offer unit unit (1.44 (R6.71)
swap) Notes (cents) (cents) (%) (cents) (%) Market value 1 722.0 794.4 10.0 671.0 (7.1) Earnings 2 27.9 30.6 9.7 26.8 (3.9) Headline 2 25.4 (32.6) (228.3) 26.8 5.5 earnings /(loss) Distributable 2 30.0 29.4 (2.0) 26.8 (10.7) earnings and distributions Net asset 3 526.0 712.3 35.4 671.0 27.6 value and tangible net asset value Combined 4 752.0 823.8 9.5 697.8 (7.2) effect (capital growth plus distribution) NOTES 1. The "Before the offer" column reflects the volume weighted average price ("VWAP") per Paramount linked unit on the JSE for 19 October 2006, being the last trading day immediately preceding the publication of the offer to Paramount linked unitholders. The
"Paramount linked units (1.44 swap)" column reflects the value in Growthpoint linked units to be received per Paramount linked unitholder in terms of the 1.44 switch ratio using the VWAP per Growthpoint linked unit on the JSE for 19 October 2006, being the
last trading day immediately preceding publication of the offer to Paramount linked unitholders. The "Paramount linked units (R6.71)" column reflects the cash
consideration to be received per Paramount linked unit. 2. The "Before the offer" column reflects the reviewed earnings, headline earnings and distributions per Paramount linked unit for the six months ended 30 April 2006. The "Paramount linked units
(1.44 swap)" column reflects the reviewed earnings, headline earnings and distributions attributable to a Paramount linked unit in terms of the 1.44 switch ratio by combining the reviewed earnings, headline earning and distributions for Paramount with
the respective earnings, headline earning and distributions for Growthpoint for the six months period which commenced on 1 January 2006. The "Paramount linked units (R6.71)" column reflects the interest
income that a Paramount linked unit would have earned had the cash consideration to be received per Paramount linked unit been invested at a six-month fixed deposit compounded interest rate of 8% per annum.
3. The "Before the offer" column reflects the reviewed net asset value per Paramount linked unit at 30 April 2006. The "Paramount linked units (1.44 swap)" column reflects the net asset value attributable to a Paramount linked unit in terms of the 1.44
switch ratio by combining the net asset value for Paramount with the net asset value for Growthpoint. The "Paramount linked units (R6.71)" column reflects the cash consideration to be received per Paramount linked unit.
4. The "Combined effect (capital growth plus distribution)" takes into account the combined capital effect to a Paramount linked unit of accepting the offer together with the effect of changes in distributions.
5. It has been assumed that 100% of the Paramount linked units have been acquired.
6. The effect of taxation has not been taken into account in the above calculations. 7. It has been assumed in the calculations above that the offer was effective for the six months from 1 November 2005 for income
statement purposes and at 30 April 2006 for balance sheet purposes. 5.2 Growthpoint The table below sets out the unaudited pro forma financial effects of the offer on a Growthpoint linked unitholder based on the audited results of directors of Growthpoint for the year ended 30 June 2006. The pro forma financial effects are the responsibility of the Growthpoint directors and have been prepared for illustrative purposes only, in order to provide information on how the offer might affect the financial results and position of a Growthpoint linked unitholder and, because of their nature, may not give a true reflection of the actual financial effects of the offer. Linked unit Cash
alternative alternative Per Growthpoint Notes Before After Change After Change linked unit the the (%) the (%) offer offer offer
(cents) (cents) (cents) Earnings 1 85.7 94.3 10.0 94.5 10.3 Headline earnings 1 (65.5) (46.2) 29.5 (64.0) 2.3 /(loss) Distributable 1 81.3 81.7 0.5 77.2 (5.0) earnings and distributions Net asset value and 2 1 025.8 1 025.7 0.0 1 025.7 0.0 tangible net asset value Notes: 1. The "Before the offer" column reflects the earnings, headline earnings, distributable earnings and distributions per Growthpoint linked unit for the year ended 30 June 2006, calculated on the basis of the weighted average number of 852.7
million Growthpoint linked units in issue throughout the period. The "After the offer" column assumes that the offer was implemented with effect from 1 July 2005 and it incorporates the earnings of Paramount for the twelve months ended 30 April 2006
and is based on a a total average number of 141.4 million additional Growthpoint linked units in issue in respect of the linked unit alternative and 45.4 million additional Growthpoint linked units in issue in respect of the cash alternative.
2. The "Before the offer" column reflects the net asset value per Growthpoint linked unit at 30 June 2006 based on 778.2 million Growthpoint linked units in issue. The "After the offer" column assumes that the offer was implemented on 30 June
2006 and in respect of the linked unit alternative, incorporates 141.4 million additional Growthpoint linked units issued in terms of the linked unit consideration at R10.51 per linked unit, being the price paid by Growthpoint per linked unit which triggered the
offer, representing an amount of R7.30 per Paramount linked unit at a exchange ratio of 1.44. The cash alternative incorporates 45.4 million additional Growthpoint linked units at a consideration R10.51 per linked unit, as described above.
3. It has been assumed that 100% of the Paramount linked units have been acquired. 4. The effect of taxation has not been taken into account in the above calculations.
In terms of the Listings Requirements of the JSE the offer is a category 3 transaction for Growthpoint. As such no linked unitholder approval is required from Growthpoint`s linked unitholders. 6. SALIENT DATES Circular posted to Paramount offerees Monday, 18 December 2006 Opening date of the offer Monday, 18 December 2006
Last day to trade to participate in the Friday, 19 January 2007 offer Paramount linked units trade ex the right Monday, 22 January 2007 to participate in the offer Record date on which Paramount offerees Friday, 26 January 2007 must be recorded in the register in order to participate in the offer Closing date of the offer (12:00) Friday, 26 January 2007
Results of the offer to be announced on Monday, 29 January 2007 SENS on or about Results of the offer to be published in Tuesday, 30 January 2007 the press on or about 7. TRANSACTIONS WITH PARAMOUNT MANAGEMENT Investec Property Group Limited ("IPG"), the asset and property manager to Growthpoint has concluded agreements with Spire Property Services (Proprietary) Limited ("Spire") in terms of which IPG will acquire 100% of the issued share capital of Spire, for an effective purchase consideration of R145 000 000. Spire is the appointed property manager for Paramount and also owns 100% of Paraprop Asset Managers (Proprietary) Limited, the asset manager to Paramount. Certain shareholders of Spire are also directors and shareholders of Paramount. Full details of the transactions with Paramount management are disclosed in the circular to Paramount offerees, referred to in paragraph 10 below. 8. COMPETITION AUTHORITIES APPROVAL Competition Authorities have unconditionally approved the acquisition of Paramount by Growthpoint, as a result the offer is now unconditional. 9. ACCEPTANCE AND SETTLEMENT OF THE OFFER Offer acceptances will be settled on a weekly basis during the offer period. All offer acceptances that are received by the transfer secretaries before the offer closing date will be settled according to the following timetable; Offer acceptance received by: Settlement on or about: 21 December 2006 22 December 2006 29 December 2006 02 January 2007 05 January 2007 8 January 2007 11 January 2007 12 January 2007 17 January 2007 18 January 2007 23 January 2007 24 January 2007 26 January 2007 29 January 2007 For certificated Paramount offerees the above dates represent the day on which their elected offer consideration (linked unit certificate or cheque) is posted to the Paramount offeree. The consideration will be posted at the Paramount offeree`s risk. For dematerialised Paramount offerees the above dates represent the day on which their elected offer consideration (linked unit or cash) is credited to their accounts with their CSDP or broker. 10. CIRCULAR TO PARAMOUNT OFFEREES A circular, providing further information on the offer will be posted to Paramount offerees today. 11. Withdrawal of cautionary Paramount linked unitholders are referred to the cautionary announcement dated 20 October 2006, and are advised that caution is no longer required to be exercised by linked unitholders when dealing in their securities. Sandton 18 December 2006
Investment bank to Growthpoint Sponsor to Growthpoint (Investec Corporate Finance) (Investec Bank Limited) Legal adviser to Growthpoint Independent adviser and sponsor to (Jowell Glyn Marais) Paramount (Nedbank Capital) Legal adviser to Paramount Independent reporting accountants and (Cliffe Dekker) auditors (Ernst & Young) Date: 18/12/2006 13:35:01 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department.

Share This Story