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GPL - GPI - Salient features of the restructure

Release Date: 16/05/2011 08:00
Code(s): GPL
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GPL - GPI - Salient features of the restructure GRAND PARADE INVESTMENTS LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number: 1997/003548/06) Share code: GPL ISIN: ZAE000119814 ("GPI" or "the Company" or "the Group") SALIENT FEATURES OF THE RESTRUCTURE - Consideration of R718 million for the sale of shares; - GPI retains 25.1% in SunWest and 25.1% in Worcester; - New beneficial long-term operating agreement with Sun International to manage GrandWest Casino, Golden Valley Casino and the Table Bay Hotel; - Cancellation fee for existing contracts of R67 million (after tax) to be received; - Reduced debt and improved risk profile; - Improve dividend flow to shareholders: - once-off special dividend; and - future dividend capacity improved through reduction in gearing; - Capital retained for investment into: - other gaming assets, in particular technology gaming, with significant capital growth potential; and - new areas where GPI is able to take advantage of its BEE status. 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Further to the joint cautionary announcement dated 18 April 2011, the board of GPI ("the Board") is pleased to announce that GPI entered into a binding agreement with Sun International Limited ("Sun International") on 13 May 2011 ("the Agreement") which governs the rearrangement of Sun International and GPI`s common interests in certain of their shared investments ("the Proposed Restructure"). 2. DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED RESTRUCTURE 2.1. In terms of the Agreement, and subject to the fulfilment or waiver (where appropriate) of the conditions precedent detailed in paragraph 7, the details of the Proposed Restructure are as follows: 2.1.1. The SunWest Disposal Sun International will acquire from GPI and its wholly owned subsidiary Business Ventures Investments No 575 (Proprietary) Limited a 4.9% economic interest and a 0.1% voting interest in SunWest International (Proprietary) Limited ("SunWest"), pursuant to which, GPI will subsequently hold 25.1% of the economic rights and 49.9% of the voting rights of SunWest. 2.1.2. The Worcester Disposal Sun International will acquire from GPI a shareholding of up to 21.1% in Worcester Casino (Proprietary) Limited ("Worcester"), pursuant to which, GPI will subsequently hold 25.1% of Worcester. 2.1.3. The RAH Offer Subject to the fulfillment and or waiver of the RAH Pre- condition, as set out in paragraph 7 below, Sun International will acquire GPI`s entire 30.6% shareholding in Real Africa Holdings Limited ("RAH") as part of an offer to all the shareholders of RAH (other than Sun International (South Africa) Limited) in terms of section 124 of the Companies Act No. 71 of 2008, as amended ("the RAH Offer"). 2.1.4. Restructure of Management Arrangements The existing management contracts currently in place between SunWest and Western Cape Casino Resorts Manco (Proprietary) Limited ("WC Manco") and Worcester and Winelands Casino Resorts Manco (Proprietary) Limited ("Worcester Manco") will be cancelled on the implementation date (but effective from 1 July 2011) in exchange for a cancellation fee. The amount of the cancellation fee is based on the present value of the cash flows from 1 July 2011 to the expiry dates of the management contracts and will be paid to the respective management companies. WC Manco and Worcester Manco will distribute these proceeds as dividends to their respective shareholders. The distribution to be received by RAH by virtue of its 25.3% shareholding in National Casino Resort Manco (Proprietary) Limited ("National Manco"), a 50% shareholder of WC Manco, will be taken into account in the value attributed to RAH as set out in paragraph 5.2 below. In addition, the management agreements between Sun International Management Limited ("SIML") and SunWest (in respect of GrandWest Casino and the Table Bay Hotel) and Worcester are to be cancelled and replaced with new management and royalty agreements. 2.1.5. Release of GPI`s Lock-in Obligations GPI is to be released from all empowerment lock-in obligations. This will ultimately result in the unbundling of the GPI SPV Trust and the GPI BBBEE Trust, following which unit holders will receive GPI shares which they can trade freely. 2.2. It should be noted that each of the aforesaid transactions will be indivisibly inter-related with each other in that if any one or more of the aforesaid transactions are not implemented, for any reason, then none of the other transactions shall be implemented. 3. BACKGROUND, RATIONALE AND PROSPECTS 3.1. SunWest owns and operates the GrandWest Casino and the Table Bay Hotel. It also owns a stake in the Cape Town International Convention Centre. These are premiuim hospitality assets in the Cape Town metropole area. 3.2. Worcester owns and operates the Golden Valley Casino which is located in Worcester and provides guests with an intimate gaming, hotel and leisure experience. 3.3. GPI, indirectly through its wholly owned subsidiary Utish Investments (Proprietary) Limited, owns 30.54% of RAH, an investment holding company listed on the JSE Limited ("JSE") with exposure to assets in the form of Sibaya Casino, Carnival City Casino, SunWest and various regional management companies. GPI also owns a 0.03% direct shareholding in RAH. 3.4. GPI`s current lock-in obligations, as agreed with Sun International in terms of an option agreement of 17 August 2007, stipulate that for the duration of the lock-in period (until 30 June 2012) GPI is required to maintain a black shareholding of at least 35.0%, and that such black shareholders may only dispose of their shares in GPI to other suitably qualified black persons. 3.5. The removal of GPI`s lock-in requirements will allow GPI to release those of its black shareholders currently participating in the lock-in structure from their restriction agreements in advance of the June 2012 lock-in expiration date, and in so doing further empower such GPI shareholders. 3.6. The management agreements in respect of the GrandWest Casino and the Table Bay Hotel currently expire on 31 December 2015, and the management agreement in respect of the Golden Valley Casino expires on 30 April 2016. The new royalty and management agreements as contemplated in terms of the Proposed Restructure will significantly reduce the management costs to the casinos. GPI has always maintained that Sun International is the premier operator of casinos in South Africa and believes that the casinos are well served under its management. 3.7. The Proposed Restructure clearly defines the terms of the relationship between GPI and Sun International and allows GPI to further its own gaming interests independently, particularly with regard to the operation of its Limited Payout Machine ("LPM") business. 3.8. The Board believes that the Proposed Restructure provides GPI with the opportunity to realise a fair value for its investments in RAH and the portions of SunWest and Worcester that are being sold. The Board believes that the Proposed Restructure will leave GPI in a strong position in that it will continue to hold significant interests in established businesses that are highly cash generative. GPI will also continue to operate and expand its own gaming assets in the form of the high-growth LPM business. After completion of the Proposed Restructure GPI will have the financial capability which, together with its existing broad based black economic empowerment ("BBBEE") credentials, will allow it to take advantage of new investment opportunities. GPI`s new investment strategy will extend beyond gaming activities. In order to harness the full benefits of the Proposed Restructure, the Board has developed a three- tiered strategy as set out below. 3.8.1. Gaming and Leisure Investments This will involve the holding and management of established, cash generating assets including SunWest (25.1%), Worcester (25.1%) and, through Dolcoast Investments Limited, Sibaya Casino (3.9%). GPI aims to reduce the gearing that it holds against these assets in order to pass through a greater portion of the dividends received from these investments to GPI shareholders. 3.8.2. Gaming and Other Operations GPI`s vision of becoming a major and respected force in the gaming and leisure industry in Africa remains. The Company will continue to focus on controlling and operating high growth gaming assets that are expected to be self-funding and show potential for significant capital growth. This will include GPI`s existing LPM business, particularly in Gauteng where it has recently acquired an LPM licence. GPI also intends increasing its involvement in technology based gaming and investing in other forms of gaming. The Board believes technology gaming is an area of major growth potential and will strive to ensure that GPI is well positioned to take advantage of opportunities in this segment of the gaming industry. GPI also intends pursuing controlling interests in non-gaming operating businesses where GPI is able to capitalise on its expertise in management services. 3.8.3. Other Investments GPI finds itself in a favourable BBBEE space, being significantly broad based, listed and, through this deal, with significant capital available for investment. The third element of GPI`s strategy will be to maximise its financial capacity by pursuing an approach focussed on investing in key sectors where GPI can utilise its BBBEE credentials and existing customer base. This is an important element of its future strategy as it will help to diversify GPI`s income stream by including non-gaming related activities. The Board has identified a number of opportunities which it is currently investigating. 4. CHANGE IN DIRECTORS RESPONSIBILITIES 4.1. The strategy outlined above will result in some internal reorganisation within the GPI Group. In light of the increasing responsibilities to be undertaken by the existing Chairman of GPI, Mr Hassen Adams, the Board wishes to inform shareholders that Dr Norman Maharaj has been appointed as the Lead Independent Director to the Board in line with King III and the Listings Requirements of the JSE. Mr Hassen Adams will assume the role of Executive Chairman of the GPI Group and will take charge of the group`s strategy going forward. The effective date of the above appointments is 11 May 2011. 5. CONSIDERATION AND APPLICATION OF CONSIDERATION 5.1. The Proposed Restructure consideration ("the Consideration") comprises two components which will be settled in cash once the conditions precedent referred to in paragraph 7 have been fulfilled and the Proposed Restructure completed. 5.2. The consideration for each element comprising the Proposed Restructure is attributed as follows: 1. Assets Gross Consideration (Rm) SunWest 251.8 RAH(1) 451.4 Worcester 15.2 Consideration for assets 718.4 2. Cancellation of management contracts (approximate) (2) 67.5 Total cash received by GPI 785.9 Notes: (1) The value of RAH implies an RAH share price of R4.08 which will be increased by the cash flows of RAH available for distribution plus a pro rata share of the dividends to be received from RAH`s underlying investments, up until the date that the RAH Offer is made, if applicable, in accordance with RAH`s prevailing dividend policies (subject to funding and liquidity requirements). (2) This amount includes the cancellation fee which will accrue to GPI through its 50.0% holding in WC Manco, 5.7% holding in National Manco, its holding in Worcester Manco and 30.6% holding in RAH, which holds 25.3% in National Manco. RAH`s portion of the cancellation fee shall be paid to RAH shareholders in terms of an increase to the share price referred to in note 1 above. 5.3. It is estimated that tax payable by GPI will amount to R8.0 million resulting in net proceeds of R777.9 million. 5.4. The net cash proceeds from the Proposed Restructure will be applied towards the repayment of debt and a special dividend to shareholders with the balance being retained for the pursuit of certain new investment opportunities in a manner in which the Board believes is optimal for the Company. 5.5. The Board`s aim is to ensure that GPI`s capital structure is such that cash flow generated by its operating business can service its debt obligations and that the dividends received from SunWest, Worcester and Sibaya can be passed through to GPI`s shareholders. In line with this aim, the Board estimates that R215.0 million out of a total of R366.0 million debt will be repaid as part of the Proposed Restructure. The Board believes this will leave GPI with an improved capital structure and greater financial flexibility. 5.6. Consistent with GPI`s strategy, the Board believes that a significant portion of the cash proceeds from the Proposed Restructure should be distributed to shareholders and intends to make a special dividend payment of 50 cents per share subject to the successful conclusion of the Proposed Restructure and other regulatory approvals. A further announcement setting out the full details of such special dividend payment will be made in due course. Annual dividends will continue in-line with the Company`s current dividend policy. 6. PRO FORMA FINANCIAL EFFECTS 6.1. The table below sets out the unaudited pro forma financial effects of the Proposed Restructure on the earnings, headline earnings, adjusted headline earnings, net asset value and net tangible asset value per GPI share. 6.2. The financial effects contained in the table below are the responsibility of the Company`s directors and have been prepared for the purposes of illustrating how the Proposed Restructure would have affected the relevant financial ratios of GPI for the historic financial period indicated and are pro forma only. Accordingly, such effects do not necessarily represent a true reflection of the financial effects of the Proposed Restructure on GPI`s current and future earnings and net asset value. 6.3. The pro forma financial effects have been based on the assumptions that: 6.3.1. for purposes of the earnings and headline earnings per share calculations: - the Proposed Restructure took place on 1 July 2010 and the results table below shows the pro forma impact on the interim period for the six months ended 31 December 2010; - finance costs of R9.2 million for the period up to 31 December 2010 that accrued on the R215.0 million of borrowings which are estimated to be repaid, have been reversed; - transaction costs and breakage fees are estimated to be R18.6 million; - the Consideration was received on 1 July 2010 and that such Consideration (less R215.0 million of estimated debt repayment) earned an after tax return of 5.8% during the interim period ended 31 December 2010; - the portion of the impairment of Worcester recorded in the interim financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2010 that relates to the shares being sold has been reversed; - tax rates of 28% and 14% were applied to revenue and capital items respectively, where applicable; 6.3.2. the adjusted headline earnings per share is prepared on the same basis as headline earnings per share except that transaction fees and one-off non- recurring items have been excluded; 6.3.3. for purposes of the net asset value and net tangible asset value per share calculations: - the Proposed Restructure was effected on 31 December 2010; - available for sale fair value reserves on the investments sold were released from equity and accounted for in the net profit for the period; - The excess of the consideration received over the carrying value of the assets disposed of, the share of the cancellation fees paid and received and any impairments were recognised directly in equity. Unaudited (1) Pro Forma Before After Change (cents) (cents) (%) Earnings/(loss) per share (2) 4.75 2.66 (44%) Headline earnings/(loss) per share (2) 11.56 12.05 4% Adjusted headline earnings/(loss) per share (3) 12.00 12.72 6% Net asset value per share (2) 384 376 (2%) Tangible net asset value per share (2) 352 344 (2%) Notes (1) Extracted from the unaudited interim financial results of GPI for the six months ended 31 December 2010. (2) Based on a weighted average of 462,331,319 shares in issue during the interim period ended 31 December 2010. (3) Based on 456,511,319 shares in issue (excluding treasury shares of 5,820,000) at 31 December 2010. 7. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT The Proposed Restructure is subject to, inter alia, the following conditions precedent: 7.1. Approval by GPI shareholders of the resolutions to give effect to the Proposed Restructure; 7.2. Approval by Sun International shareholders of the resolutions to give effect to the Proposed Restructure; 7.3. Conclusion of the agreements to give effect to the Proposed Restructure, including the necessary sale agreements for the sale of shares in Worcester and SunWest, the new Management and Royalty Agreements and cancellation agreement for the existing management contracts (collectively "the Transaction Agreements"); 7.4. Consent by GPI funders to release those shares, which will be sold as part of the Proposed Restructure, from the cession and pledge agreements to which they are currently subject; 7.5. To the extent required, regulatory approval from the JSE, the Takeover Regulations Panel and the Competition Authorities; and 7.6. To the extent required, approval from the relevant Gambling/Gaming Board(s). The RAH Offer will be subject to the fulfilment of the pre-condition that by no later than 15 December 2011 (or such other date as may be agreed to between Sun International and GPI) the Transaction Agreements are to be signed and must have become unconditional in accordance with their terms, save for any condition relating to the RAH Offer becoming unconditional ("the RAH Pre-condition"). 8. EFFECTIVE DATE The effective date for the Proposed Restructure will be the date that all of the conditions precedent, as referred to in paragraph 7, above may have been fulfilled. 9. DOCUMENTATION AND CATEGORISATION In terms of the Listings Requirements of the JSE the Proposed Restructure is deemed to be a Category 1 disposal requiring shareholder approval. Accordingly, a circular to GPI shareholders, detailing the terms of the Proposed Restructure and convening a general meeting, will be posted to shareholders in due course. 10. WITHDRAWAL OF CAUTIONARY The GPI cautionary announcement released on 18 April 2011 is hereby withdrawn. Accordingly, GPI shareholders are no longer required to exercise caution when dealing in the Company`s shares. Cape Town 16 May 2011 Sponsor PSG Capital Legal Adviser BVPG Adviser Leaf Capital Date: 16/05/2011 08:00:07 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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