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GEN - Simon Property Group, Inc. - Simon continues to oppose the Trafford Centre

Release Date: 10/01/2011 07:07
Code(s): JSE
Wrap Text

GEN - Simon Property Group, Inc. - Simon continues to oppose the Trafford Centre acquisition 7 January 2011 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION For immediate release SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC. ("SIMON") CAPITAL SHOPPING CENTRES GROUP PLC ("CSC") SIMON CONTINUES TO OPPOSE THE TRAFFORD CENTRE ACQUISITION Simon is heartened to learn that the CSC board has responded to pressure from Simon and revised the terms of the Trafford Centre acquisition. However, the revised terms do not address Simon`s fundamental concerns and the transaction remains deeply unattractive for CSC shareholders: - The CSC board is still proposing to transfer significant control of CSC to Peel at a discounted price. - The purchase price for the acquisition of the Trafford Centre is still too high. - The transaction is still cash flow negative by c. GBP27 million on an annual pro forma basis. - Existing CSC shareholders are still not being given the opportunity to participate in the share issue. Further to CSC`s announcement earlier today, Simon would comment as follows: - Although CSC states that its pro forma NAV per share increased from 375p to 390p between November 1, 2010 and December, 31 2010, the retail environment in the UK remains very challenging with significant ongoing economic uncertainty. - Having published a pro forma NAV of 375p on November 26, 2010, the assumptions which CSC has made to arrive at "potential net asset value of up to 625p" represent, in Simon`s view, wishful thinking. - CSC`s publication of "potential net asset value of up to 625p" seems designed to frustrate an offer from Simon. If the CSC board really believes in "potential net asset value of up to 625p", why are they proposing to issue 33% of the company`s existing shares to Peel at a price of 400p, thereby diluting existing shareholders' Simon therefore continues to oppose this value-destructive transaction and intends to vote against it at the CSC EGM on January 26, 2011. Simon urges its fellow CSC shareholders to do the same. Enquiries: Simon Shelly Doran (Investors) Telephone: +1 317 685 7330 Les Morris (Media) Telephone: +1 317 263 7711 Citi Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7986 4000 (Financial adviser to Simon) Philip Robert-Tissot Grant Kernaghan Charles Lytle Lazard Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7187 2000 (Financial adviser to Simon) Jeffrey Rosen William Rucker Patrick Long Evercore Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7268 2702 (Financial adviser to Simon) Julian Oakley Citigate Dewe Rogerson Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7638 9571 (UK media adviser to Simon) Grant Ringshaw Patrick Donovan Tom Baldock Sard Verbinnen & Co Telephone: +1 212 687 8080 (US media adviser to Simon) Hugh Burns Brooke Gordon Nathaniel Garnick Citi, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting for Simon and no one else in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Simon for providing the protections afforded to customers of Citi or for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement. Lazard & Co., Limited which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting for Simon and no one else in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement, and will not be responsible to anyone other than Simon for providing the protections afforded to customers of Lazard & Co., Limited or for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement. Evercore Partners, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting for Simon and no one else in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Simon for providing the protections afforded to customers of Evercore Partners or for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement. Forward looking statements This announcement contains certain "forward looking statements". These statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Simon and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. The forward- looking statements contained in this announcement include statements relating to the expected effects of the Acquisition on CSC, the expected timing and scope of the Acquisition, and other statements other than historical facts. Forward-looking statements include statements typically containing words such as "will", "may", "should", "believe", "intends", "expects", "anticipates", "targets", "estimates" and words of similar import. Although Simon believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, Simon can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These factors include: local and global political and economic conditions; changes in UK real estate market conditions and valuations; competitors` actions; foreign exchange rate fluctuations and interest rate fluctuations (including those from any potential credit rating decline); legal or regulatory developments and changes; the outcome of any litigation; the impact of any acquisitions or similar transactions; success of business and operating initiatives; and changes in the level of capital investment. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Neither Simon nor any of its affiliated companies undertakes any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required. Dealing Disclosure Requirements Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any paper offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any paper offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person`s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any paper offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any paper offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a paper offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure. Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any paper offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any paper offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person`s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any paper offeror, save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a paper offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3. Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4). Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel`s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. If you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure, you should contact the Panel`s Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0) 20 7638 0129. Date: 10/01/2011 07:07:03 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department.

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