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MSP - Mas Plc - Confirmation of notice of interim dividend

Release Date: 21/12/2010 14:00
Code(s): MSP
Wrap Text

MSP - Mas Plc - Confirmation of notice of interim dividend MAS PLC Previously Mergon Property Holdings Limited (Incorporated in the Isle of Man) (Registration number 2893V) Share code: MSP ISIN: IM00B4LFGH00 ("MAS" of "the Company") CONFIRMATION OF NOTICE OF INTERIM DIVIDEND Shareholders are hereby advised that the Company has today posted out a notice to shareholders regarding the maiden interim dividend declared by the Company for the year ending 28 February 2011. The content of the aforementioned notice is, for ease of reference of shareholders, set out below and includes the expected timetable of key events in regard to the aforementioned dividend: THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take you are recommended to consult your csdp, stockbroker, banker, legal adviser, accountant or other professional adviser immediately. if you have disposed of your shares in MAS plc, then this document, together with the accompanying election forms, should be forwarded to the purchaser of your shares, or his broker / CSDP / agent or banker through whom you have disposed your shares. 21 December 2010 Dear Shareholder, MAIDEN INTERIM DIVIDEND FOR THE YEAR ENDING 28 FEBRUARY 2011 1 INTERIM DIVIDEND 1.1 The board of directors (the "Board") of MAS plc (the "Company") announced on 30 November 2010 the maiden interim dividend of 2.05 euro cents per share for the year ending 28 February 2011. 1.2 This dividend is funded out of distributable core income earned during the six month period to 31 August 2010, which is the key metric for the determination of dividends (illustrated further in the supplementary page to the financial statements for the six-months ended 31 August 2010). A copy of the financial statements can be obtained by visiting our website at www.masplc.com. 1.3 In the first half of the current financial period, the distributable core income totalled an amount of EUR 397,902, being approximately 2.1% of the share issue price. This performance is all the more satisfying in the context of the performance drag that results from the unspent investment capital from the second capital raise that has as yet not been allocated to acquisitions. 2 TERMS OF DIVIDEND AND SCRIP DIVIDEND 2.1 Shareholders recorded in the members` register of the Company at the close of business on Thursday 6 January 2011 , (European Register) and on Friday 7 January 2011, (South African Register) being the record dates, will receive the dividend funded out of distributable core income earnings in respect of the six months ended 31 August 2010. 2.2 The Board has decided to offer shareholders the opportunity to elect to receive new shares in the Company ("New Shares") credited as fully paid in lieu of cash in respect of the proposed interim dividend for the year ending 28 February 2011. The New Shares will be issued at EUR1.00 per share and when issued, will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing shares including the right to rank for all dividends declared after the date of issue. 2.3 Shareholders holding their shares on the AltX market should note that the exchange rate for converting their dividend entitlement from Euro to Rand will be the closing spot exchange rate on Wednesday 29 December 2010, and will be announced on the LuxSE website and SENS on Thursday 30 December 2010. The number of New Shares to be issued to shareholders electing to receive shares in lieu of cash will be calculated accordingly. 2.4 All elections will be subject to the fulfilment of the conditions specified herein and in the accompanying Election Forms. The election may be made by shareholders in respect of the whole of their shareholdings only. Nominee Shareholders are permitted to make elections on part of their shareholding. 2.5 If you wish to take your interim dividend in cash you need take no action. 2.6 Shareholders who wish to elect for the dividend to be applied to fund the issue of new shares and thereby receiving the interim dividend in the form of New Shares in lieu of cash, should do so by completing the enclosed Election Form at appendix 1 (for European shareholders) or appendix 2 (for South African shareholders). 2.7 The Election Forms must be received by the Company`s Registrars/Transfer Secretaries by no later than 11:00 (CET) 12:00 (South Africa Standard time) on Friday 7 January 2011 at the following addresses:
European Certificated The Registrar, Computershare Investor shareholders Services (IOM) Limited c/o Queensway House, Hilgrove Street, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands JE1 1ES
Uncertificated Your Broker will follow the CREST Procedures and complete a Dividend- Election Input Message on your behalf. South Certificated Transfer Secretaries, Computershare African Investor Services (Pty) Limited, Ground shareholders Floor, 70 Marshall Street Johannesburg, South Africa, 2001 (PO Box 61763, Marshalltown 2107)
Dematerialised Dematerialised shareholders must not complete the Election Form, but should instruct their CSDP or broker with regard to their election timeously in terms of
the custody agreement entered into between them and their CSDP or broker 2.8 Trading in the electronic environment does not permit fractions and fractional entitlements therefore, where a shareholder makes an election for the dividend to be applied to fund the issue of shares, thereby receiving New Shares in lieu of cash, any entitlement which results in a fractional share of 0.5 and above shall be rounded up and any entitlement which results in a fractional share of less then 0.5 shall be rounded down to the nearest one whole New Share. 3 POSTING OF DIVIDEND CHEQUES, SHARE CERTIFICATES AND CREDITING OF CREST, CSDP OR BROKER ACCOUNTS Dividend cheques and share certificates, where applicable, will be dispatched by ordinary post and registered post, respectively, to the certificated shareholders, at the risk of such shareholders, on or about Thursday, 13 January 2011 to their registered addresses or in accordance with instructions given to the transfer secretaries. Uncertificated shareholders` CREST accounts and dematerialised shareholders` CSDP or broker accounts will be credited on Thursday, 13 January 2011. 4 LISTING OF AND TRADING IN NEW SHARES 4.1 Application will be made to the LuxSE and the JSE to list such number of New Shares as were taken up by the shareholders following the election for the dividend to be applied to fund the issue of New Shares in respect of the dividend for the year ending 28 February 2011, with effect from the commencement of business on 13 January 2011. The maximum number of New Shares that may be issued in terms of the interim dividend for the year ending 28 February 2011 is 390,000 shares, should all shareholders elect for the dividend to be applied to fund the issue of New Shares in lieu of cash. These shares will rank pari passu in all respects with the shares currently in issue in the Company. 4.2 The New Shares will only be allotted and issued to the shareholders on listing date of the New Shares and will only be issued on market as listed shares. Shareholders will therefore not be able to trade the New Shares prior to the listing date, Thursday 13 January 2011. 5 TAX IMPLICATIONS 5.1 The interim dividend of 2.05 euro cents per share will be paid to shareholders gross of any tax liability. All shareholders are encouraged to consult their professional tax advisors with regard to their individual tax liability. 5.2 The following is a summary of certain South African tax consequences relating to the interim dividend relevant to residents of South Africa for tax purposes. This information is not a substitute for independent advice pertaining to your particular circumstances as a shareholder. It is intended as a general guide only, and is based on current South African tax legislation and practice in force as at the date of this document. It relates to your position as a shareholder, assuming that you are the absolute beneficial owner of the shares, that you own such shares as long-term capital investments and that any dividends payable to you are paid as and when they become due and payable. Currency conversion and currency gains/losses are not covered. If you are in any doubt as to your tax position you should consult your own tax adviser. 5.3 South African tax-resident shareholders who will receive New Shares: 5.3.1 As the dividends will firstly accrue to you, you will receive a foreign dividend for South African tax purposes. As the Company is dual listed as contemplated by South African tax legislation, the foreign dividend will be exempt from tax in South Africa.
5.3.2 South African tax-resident corporate shareholders will not qualify for a credit equal to the dividend received when calculating their position in terms of the secondary tax on companies.
5.3.3 The exercise of the election to utilise the dividend to subscribe for shares in the Company will not have a South African tax implication. 5.3.4 Going forward, your base cost for South African capital gains tax purposes in the Company will be increased by the amount of the dividend. 5.4 South African tax-resident shareholders who will receive cash: 5.4.1 You will receive a foreign dividend for South African tax purposes. As the Company is dual listed as contemplated by South African tax legislation, the foreign dividend will be exempt from tax in South Africa. 5.4.2 South African tax-resident corporate shareholders will not qualify for a credit equal to the dividend received when calculating their position in terms of the secondary tax on companies. 6 EXCHANGE CONTROL 6.1 In line with the Exchange Control approval obtained from the South African Reserve Bank, the New Shares will only be allotted and issued to the shareholders on listing date of the New Shares and will only be issued on market as listed shares. The trade in New Shares subsequent to listing may only be done in terms of the Exchange Control Regulations. 6.2 In terms of the Exchange Control Regulations of South Africa: 6.2.1 In the case of certificated shareholders: (a) any share certificates that might be issued to non- resident shareholders will be endorsed "Non- resident"; (b) any new share certificates and dividend payments
based on emigrants` shares controlled in terms of the Exchange Control Regulations will be forwarded to the authorised dealer in foreign exchange controlling their blocked assets. The election by emigrants for
the above purpose must be made through the authorised dealer in foreign exchange controlling their blocked assets. Such new share certificates will be endorsed "Non-resident"; and
(c) distribution payments due to non-residents are freely transferable from South Africa. In respect of all non-residents of the common monetary area, comprising South Africa, the Republic of Namibia and the
Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland, the dividend payments due will be sent to the registered address of the shareholder concerned or in accordance with instructions given to the transfer secretaries.
6.2.2 In the case of dematerialised shareholders: (a) any shares issued to emigrants from the common monetary area and all other non-residents of the common monetary area, will be credited to their CSDP
or broker`s account and a "non-resident`` annotation will appear in the CSDP or broker`s register; (b) any distribution paid to an emigrant from the common monetary area, will be credited to their CSDP or
broker`s accounts which will arrange for the same to be credited directly to the shareholder`s blocked Rand account held by that shareholder`s authorised dealer and held to the order of that authorised
dealer; and (c) any dividend paid to non-resident shareholders who are not emigrants from the common monetary area, will be credited directly to the bank accounts nominated
for the relevant shareholders, by their duly appointed CSDP or broker. 6.2.3 Non-resident and emigrant dematerialised shareholders will have all aspects relating to Exchange Control managed by
their CSDP or broker. 7 EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF KEY EVENTS Dividend Announcement on LuxSE and JSE SENS Tuesday, 30 November Letter and form of election posted to Tuesday, 21 December shareholders Announcement of Euro to Rand conversion rate Thursday, 30 December Last day to trade on the LuxSE and JSE in order Friday, 31 December to be eligible for the interm dividend Trading commences ex-dividend on the LuxSE and Monday, 3 January JSE Record Date for shareholders recorded on the Thursday, 6 January European Register Record Date for shareholders recorded on the Friday, 7 January South African Register Closing date for receipt of completed dividend Friday, 7 January Election Forms by no later than 11:00 (CET) 12:00 (South Africa Standard Time) Issue and listing date of New Shares on or around Thursday, 13 January CREST CSDP and broker accounts credited with New Thursday, 13 January Shares Dispatch of cheques and share certificates for Thursday, 13 January New Shares Announcement on LuxSE website and SENS of the Friday, 14 January amount of New Shares issued Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between Monday, 3 January 2011 and Friday, 7 January 2011, both days included and transfer between the registers may not take place during that period. For further information please contact: Helen Cullen, Company Secretary, MAS plc Telephone: +44 1624 625 000 David Tosi, PSG Capital (Pty) Ltd, South African Sponsor Telephone: +27 21 887 9602 Herman Troskie, M Partners, Luxembourg Telephone: +352 263 868 21 December 2010 Isle of Man Sponsor PSG Capital (Pty) Limited Date: 21/12/2010 14:00:06 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited (`JSE`). The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on, information disseminated through SENS.

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