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ITR - Intertrading Limited - Acquisition of a 60% shareholding in Connectnet

Release Date: 02/06/2011 07:05
Code(s): ITR
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ITR - Intertrading Limited - Acquisition of a 60% shareholding in Connectnet Broadband Wireless Proprietary Limited INTERTRADING LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number 1987/004777/06) Share code ITR ISIN ZAE000015566 ("Intertrading" or "the company") SUSPENDED - ACQUISITION OF A 60% SHAREHOLDING IN CONNECTNET BROADBAND WIRELESS PROPRIETARY LIMITED - MANDATORY OFFER - WITHDRAWAL OF CAUTIONARY ANNOUCEMENT 1. Introduction Shareholders are referred to the announcement dated 4 March 2011 wherein they were informed of the proposed acquisition referred to below, which, if all the requirements are met, will result in the lifting of the suspension of trading in Intertrading shares on the JSE, the retention of Intertrading`s listing on the JSE Limited ("JSE") and in the company becoming a technology focused company. 2. The proposed acquisition On 19 May 2011 Intertrading entered into an agreement with Fast Communication Systems Proprietary Limited ("FastComm") in terms of which the company will acquire 150 ordinary shares representing 60% of the issued share capital from FastComm in ConnectNet Broadband Wireless Proprietary Limited ("ConnectNet") for a purchase consideration of R41 779 500 ("the acquisition") to be settled by Intertrading by the issue of up to a maximum of 278 530 000 ordinary shares in the capital of Intertrading ("Intertrading shares") to FastComm at an issue price of 15 cents per share ("consideration shares"). The purchase consideration is subject to down-ward adjustment should ConnectNet be determined to have achieved earnings before tax, depreciation and amortisation of less than R6 500 000 for the period 1 March 2011 to 30 June 2011, in which case a purchase consideration adjustment amount will be determined, which will be paid to Intertrading in cash. 3. Encha acquisition and the specific issue of shares for cash Encha Tech Proprietary Limited ("Encha") has entered into an agreement with FastComm in terms of which Encha/and or its nominees will acquire all of the consideration shares issued to FastComm at a price of 15 cents per share (the "Encha acquisiton"). Furthermore, Encha has undertaken to subscribe for 67 000 000 new Intertrading shares at an issue price of 15 cents per share ("the subscription shares"), to capitalise Intertrading and to ensure that Intertrading has a subscribed share capital of not less than R25 000 000, in compliance with the requirements of clause 4.28(a) of the JSE Listings Requirements ("the specific issue of shares for cash"). 4. The business of Encha Encha is the technology investment arm of Encha Group Limited ("Encha Group"), an investment holding company with interests in mineral exploration, industrial, technology and property assets. Encha Group is controlled by the Moseneke family. 5. The business of ConnectNet ConnectNet is a provider of value-added wireless data services for business-to- business and machine-to-machine applications. Established in 2004, ConnectNet is a leader in GSM Data (GPRS/EDGE/3G/HSDPA/HSUPA) service provision, with blue chip clients in the retail, financial, security, telemetry, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. 6. Rationale for the acquisition The rationale for the acquisition is to lift the suspension of trading in Intertrading shares on the JSE. It has always been the intention of the board of directors of Intertrading ("the board") to find a suitable acquisition. The acquisition gives shareholders exposure to an exciting technology company or the opportunity to accept the mandatory offer as detailed in paragraph 9 below. It is the intention of Encha Group to pursue its technology interests through Intertrading and to grow a substantial listed technology group by way of acquisition and organic growth. It is optimal for Encha Group to achieve its growth plans via a listed entity, enabling it to access the capital raising opportunities presented by a JSE listing and to contribute to the growth of the company alongside other investors. The acquisition constitutes the first step in such a strategy. It is proposed that upon implementation of the acquisition the board will be reconstituted to facilitate the change in business direction of Intertrading, to bed down the acquisition in the short term, and to set the strategy for the new technology company, as more fully set out in paragraph 12 below. 7. Conditions precedent Implementation of the acquisition is subject to, inter alia, the following outstanding suspensive conditions: 7.1 the shareholders of Intertrading ("Intertrading shareholders") passing the appropriate resolution approving the acquisition at a general meeting; 7.2 the granting of all necessary regulatory approvals for the acquisition; and 7.3 the Takeover Regulation Panel ("the Panel") granting a written dispensation to FastComm confirming that, pursuant to the acquisition by FastComm of the consideration shares, FastComm shall not be required under the Takeover Regulations to make an offer to the minority shareholders of Intertrading to purchase their shareholding in Intertrading. 8. Change of control and waiver of a mandatory offer by FastComm In terms of the acquisition, and in settlement of the purchase consideration, Intertrading will issue the consideration shares to FastComm, which issue will render FastComm a controlling shareholder of Intertrading, holding more than 35% of Intertrading`s issued share capital. The proposed acquisition thus effects a change in control in the company and is an affected transaction in terms of the Takeover Regulations. Under the circumstances FastComm would ordinarily, in terms of the Takeover Regulations, be required to make a mandatory offer to Intertrading shareholders at 15 cents per share. However, FastComm has agreed to sell the consideration shares to Encha and/or its nominees upon issue and allotment thereof by Intertrading. Encha has further entered into a subscription agreement in terms of which Intertrading will effect the specific issue of shares for cash. The implementation of the aforesaid agreements has the result that Encha will become the controlling shareholder of Intertrading. The transactions are affected transactions in terms of the Takeover Regulations and therefore require that Encha make an offer to Intertrading shareholders, in terms of section 123 of the Companies Act, 2008(Act 71 of, 2008), of South Africa, as amended ("the Act"). The transactions between Intertrading, FastComm and Encha are so closely interlinked that the making of a mandatory offer to the shareholders of Intertrading (due to the change of control of Intertrading) by Encha alone will not prejudice the shareholders of Intertrading as they will be in the same position as they would have been in if the mandatory offer had been made by FastComm. Accordingly, application to the Panel will be made for a dispensation in terms of section 119(6) of the Act, absolving FastComm from the requirement to make a mandatory offer pursuant to receipt of the consideration shares provided Encha makes such an offer. 9. Mandatory offer by Encha 9.1 The offer The board has received a formal notification from Encha that it will make an offer to acquire from Intertrading shareholders, free of all costs to such shareholders, all of the ordinary shares in Intertrading held by them at an offer price of 15 cents per Intertrading share. Encha currently owns 29.8% of the ordinary shares in Intertrading. The salient details of the offer shall be incorporated in the circular to Intertrading shareholders referred to in paragraph 16 below ("the circular"). 9.2 Irrevocable undertakings To date Intertrading shareholders holding 17 450 100 shares, representing 34.9% of Intertrading shares not held by Encha and therefore available for participation in the offer have irrevocably undertaken not to accept the offer. 9.3 Cash Confirmation As required by the Takeover Regulations, a South African registered bank will provide an irrevocable unconditional guarantee to the Panel on behalf of Encha and in favour of the offerees for the sole purpose of fully satisfying the maximum cash offer commitments. 9.4 Statement by the Intertrading board and the independent advisor The board has appointed BDO Corporate Finance (Pty) Limited ("BDO Corporate Finance") as an independent advisor to provide it with external advice on how the offer affects Intertrading shareholders. BDO Corporate Finance has advised the board that it has considered the terms and conditions of the offer, and is of the opinion that these terms and conditions are fair to Intertrading shareholders. The text of the opinion provided by BDO Corporate Finance will be included in the circular. The board, having considered, inter alia, the independent advice from BDO Corporate Finance and the terms and conditions of the offer, advise that although the offer is fair to shareholders, they recommend that shareholders not accept the offer in order to participate in the positive prospects of the company going forward. Mr Gontse Moseneke, a director and shareholder of Intertrading, will not be accepting the offer. None of the other directors of Intertrading hold any shares in Intertrading. 10. Change in the name of the company Subject to the approval of the shareholders by way of a special resolution, it is proposed that the name of the company be changed from "Intertrading Limited" to "Emergent Technologies Limited" in order to reflect its new corporate identity, focus and business. The name reservation has been approved by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission ("Commission"). 11.Adoption of a new Memorandum of Incorporation by Intertrading Subject to the approval of the shareholders by way of a special resolution, it is proposed that a new Memorandum of Incorporation ("MoI") be adopted by the company in order to alter the main business of the company to reflect that the company will, after the acquisition, be constituted as a technology focused company and to ensure that the MoI complies with the Act and the JSE Listings Requirements. 12. Reconstitution and remuneration of the board To give full effect to the change in shareholding and the development of the new business imperative to be pursued by the company, after implementation of the proposed transactions and to comply more fully with the Act, a change in the composition of the board will be proposed upon implementation of the acquisition as follows: Mr Johan Zwarts will retain his current position as Financial Director; Mr Gontse Moseneke will be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"); The designations of Messrs Christopher Paul Jousse and Giovanni Guiseppe Burelli will change to independent non-executive directors; Ms Audrey Anne Deiner will remain as a non executive director; and Dr Sedise Gabaiphiwe Moseneke will be appointed to the board as a non-executive director. Subject to the approval of shareholders the board will therefore be reconstituted as follows: * CEO: Mr Gontse Moseneke * Financial Director: Mr Johan Zwarts * Independent non- executive Chairman: Mr Giovanni Guiseppe Burelli * Independent non-executive director: Mr Christopher Paul Jousse * Non-executive director: Dr Sedise Gabaiphiwe Moseneke * Non-executive director: Ms Audrey Anne Deiner Shareholders will also be required to approve the proposed remuneration of the reconstituted board at the general meeting in accordance with the Act. 13. Encha Group Memorandum of Agreement 13.1 On 19 May 2011 Intertrading entered into an agreement with Encha Group ("the Encha Group Memorandum of Agreement") in terms of which Encha Group undertook to utilise its reasonable commercial endeavours to: 13.1.1 assist Intertrading in raising capital including, but not limited to, the introduction of potential investors to Intertrading; 13.1.2 assist Intertrading in procuring such security as may be required by any provider of funding to Intertrading, which assistance may include, in the sole discretion of Encha Group, the cession and pledge of Intertrading shares held by Encha Group or Encha, to any such funder in securitatem debiti; and 11.3.3 introduce Intertrading to technology related business opportunities and facilitate the implementation of transactions pursuant to such introduction. 13.2 Encha Group is entitled to receive remuneration from Intertrading in relation to the provision of the services detailed above in the form of cash or Intertrading ordinary shares, at the election of Intertrading, as follows: 13.2.1 in respect of assistance with capital raising, Encha Group shall be entitled to a fee equivalent to 2.5% of the capital raised, net of any fees or levies raised by the capital provider for which Intertrading is liable; 13.2.2 in respect of shares ceded and pledged by Encha Group or Encha to procure security for funding provided to Intertrading, a fee equivalent to 3% of the aggregate value of the Intertrading ordinary shares so ceded and pledged by Encha Group or Encha; and 13.2.3 in respect of the implementation of transactions pursuant to the introduction by Encha Group of technology related businesses to Intertrading, a fee equivalent to 1.5% of the value of such a transaction. 13.3 Subject to shareholder approval, the Encha Group Memorandum of Agreement will commence on 1 June 2011 and shall endure thereafter indefinitely, subject to the right of either Intertrading or Encha Group to terminate it on 90 days` written notice to the other party. 13.4 Rationale for the Encha Group Memorandum of Agreement Encha has a long track record of successfully concluding transactions and continues to see potential value accretive transactions in the technology sector, which it would like to offer to Intertrading, on an exclusive basis, as investment opportunities, having first screened, evaluated and assessed these technology opportunities. Condition precedent to the Encha Group Memorandum of Agreement The Encha Group Memorandum of Agreement, is subject to the condition precedent that it shall be approved by Intertrading shareholders, excluding Encha Group and its associates (including Encha) at a general meeting of Intertrading shareholders, the circular pertaining to which is expected to be posted to shareholders within 28 business days of this announcement. 14. Financial effects Unaudited pro forma financial effects of the acquisition and specific issue of shares for cash to Encha (collectively "the transactions") The unaudited pro forma financial effects of the transactions set out below is based on the published unaudited results of Intertrading for the 12 months ended 28 February 2011. The unaudited pro forma financial information is the responsibility of the board and has been prepared for illustrative purposes only, and, because of their pro forma nature, may not give a fair reflection of Intertrading`s financial position, changes in equity, results of operations or cash flows after the transactions. The detailed unaudited pro forma financial information, the notes thereto, and the independent report of BDO South Africa Incorporated on the unaudited pro forma financial effects, will be contained in the circular referred to in paragraph 16 below. Pro forma financial effects on unaudited results of Intertrading for the 12 months ended 28 February 2011: Effects per Intertrading share Before After the the
transacti acquisit ons ion and issue of After the Change% 28 consider Transaction
February ation s 2011 shares (Loss)/earnings per (0.93) 0.26 0.22 123 share (cents) Headline (0.93) 0.26 (loss)/earnings per 0.22 123 share (cents) Net asset value per 16.28 6.30 7.77 (52) share (cents) Net tangible asset 16.28 5.81 value per share (cents) 7.37 (55) Weighted average shares 50 000 328 530 in issue (`000) 395 530 691 Shares in issue (`000) 50 000 328 530 395 530 691
Notes: 1 The "Before the transactions" earnings and headline earnings per share have been extracted without adjustment from the published, unaudited results of Intertrading for the twelve months ended 28 February 2011. The "Before the transactions" net asset value and net tangible asset value per share have been calculated from the published, unaudited results of Intertrading for the twelve months ended 28 February 2011. 2 The "After the acquisition and issue of consideration shares" earnings and headline earnings per share assumes: a The consolidation of ConnectNet`s income and expenditure as extracted from the audited results of ConnectNet for the year ended 28 February 2011; b The payment of the transaction costs estimated to amount to R3 000 000; and c The issue of 278 530 000 new Intertrading shares at 15 cents per share in settlement of the purchase consideration. 3 The "After the acquisition and issue of consideration shares" net asset value and net tangible asset value per share assumes: a The acquisition is a reverse acquisition in terms of IFRS 3: Business Combinations and, therefore, Intertrading is the legal parent and the acquiree and ConnectNet is the legal subsidiary and the acquiror for accounting purposes. In accordance with this accounting treatment: i The identifiable assets and liabilities of Intertrading have been measured at fair value; From a legal point of view Intertrading`s shareholders have obtained a 60% interest in ConnectNet. However, from an accounting point of view FastComm has obtained an 85% interest in Intertrading with the remaining 15% interest being held by Intertrading`s shareholders. As ConnectNet is the accounting acquirer, because FastComm has obtained 85% of the legal acquirer (being Intertrading), it is necessary to calculate how many shares ConnectNet would have issued in order to give FastComm an 85% interest in Intertrading. This is a hypothetical calculation because ConnectNet never issued any shares since it is the legal subsidiary. The Intertrading shareholders hold 150 shares in ConnectNet. For this to represent 85%, ConnectNet has to issue 27 shares to Intertrading calculated as ((150/0.85)- 150) ii The cost of the acquisition is R9 730 000 based on the issue of 27 ConnectNet shares at a fair value of R361 333 per ConnectNet share and the goodwill amounts to R1 590 000; and b The payment of the transaction costs of R3 000 000. 4 The "After the transactions" earnings per share and headline earnings per share assumes: a The adjustments set out in 2 a to c above; and b The issue of 67 000 000 new Intertrading shares to Encha, a related party, at 15 cents per share. c No income benefit has been attributed to the cash received in respect of the specific issue of shares as the proceeds with be used to fund working capital. 5 The "After the transactions" net asset value and net tangible asset value per share assumes: a The adjustments as set out in 3 a to b above; b The issue of 67 000 000 new Intertrading shares to Encha at 15 cents per share. 15. Responsibility Statement: The directors of Encha and the independent board of Intertrading comprising of Mr Giovanni Guiseppe Burelli, Mr Christopher Paul Jousse, Mr Johan Zwarts and Ms Audrey Anne Deiner: 15.1. accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement; 15.2. confirm that to the best of their respective knowledge and belief, the information contained in this announcement is true; and 15.3. confirm that this announcement does not omit anything likely to affect the importance of the information contained in this announcement. The board of directors of FastComm have not participated in the preparation of this announcement nor have they participated in the preparation of the circular to be posted to Intertrading shareholders in due course and therefore are unable to provide a responsibility statement. 16. Withdrawal of cautionary announcement and further documentation Having regard to the information set out above shareholders are advised that they need no longer exercise caution when dealing in the company`s securities. A circular and Revised Listings Particulars to shareholders containing the requisite information pertaining to the proposed acquisition, the Encha acquisition, the specific issue of shares for cash, the mandatory offer, the change of name, the adoption of a new MoI and the reconstitution and remuneration of the board and convening a meeting of shareholders will be posted to shareholders within 28 days of publication of this announcement or such later date as agreed to by the JSE Limited. 2 June 2011 Johannesburg Sponsor and Corporate Advisor Sasfin Capital (a division of Sasfin Bank Limited) Attorneys Deneys Reitz Inc. Independent Advisor BDO Corporate Finance (Pty) Ltd Auditors to Intertrading PKF (Jnb) Inc Date: 02/06/2011 07:05:25 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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