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BCX - Business Connexion Group Limited - Discontinuation of the proposed scheme

Release Date: 29/08/2011 08:18
Code(s): BCX BCA
Wrap Text

BCX - Business Connexion Group Limited - Discontinuation of the proposed scheme of arrangement and an alternative offer to certain of The BCX "A" Ordinary shareholders and intention to proceed with a new offer to BCX "A" ordinary shareholders Business Connexion Group Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number 1988/005282/06) Share code: BCX ISIN: ZAE000054631 ("BCX" or "the Company") "A" share code: BCA ISIN: ZAE000156154 DISCONTINUATION OF THE PROPOSED SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT AND AN ALTERNATIVE OFFER TO CERTAIN OF THE BCX "A" ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS AND INTENTION TO PROCEED WITH A NEW OFFER TO BCX "A" ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS 1. Introduction Ordinary shareholders of BCX ("Ordinary Shareholders") and "A" ordinary shareholders of BCX (""A" Shareholders") (collectively referring to Ordinary Shareholders and "A" Shareholders as "Shareholders") are referred to the announcement published on 21 July 2011 ("Scheme Announcement") and the circular to Shareholders dated 1 August 2011 ("Scheme Circular"), in terms of which BCX proposed, inter alia, to acquire all the BCX "A" Shares (""A" Shares") held by such "A" Shareholders as more fully described in paragraph 2 below, by either implementing a scheme of arrangement ("Scheme") or through an alternative offer ("Alternative Offer"), as more fully set out in the Scheme Circular. Shareholders are also referred to the cautionary announcement published by BCX on 11 August 2011 ("Cautionary Announcement"), in which Cautionary Announcement BCX stated that it has entered into negotiations which, if successfully concluded, may have a material effect on the price of the Company`s securities. 2. Implications of the Cautionary Announcement The developments resulting in the publication of the Cautionary Announcement occurred after the Scheme Announcement and after the posting of the Scheme Circular. BCX is presently not in a position to provide further information to Shareholders in respect of the Cautionary Announcement or to withdraw the Cautionary Announcement and is therefore not able to proceed with the proposed transactions as envisaged in terms of the Scheme or the Alternative Offer. For ease of reference, Shareholders are reminded that the Scheme and the Alternative Offer have been proposed in respect of the 25 033 334 "A" Shares that were issued to and received by UCS Group Limited ("UCS") in terms of the transaction previously implemented between BCX and UCS, which "A" Shares UCS subsequently unbundled to its shareholders. BCX therefore proactively approached certain of the above mentioned "A" Shareholders in respect of whom the Scheme or the Alternative Offer would apply ("Offeree Shareholders") and requested them to provide BCX with sufficient irrevocable undertakings ("Irrevocables"), in terms of which these "A" Shareholders have undertaken, inter alia, to vote against all the resolutions to be proposed at the general and other meetings to be held on 30 August 2011 ("Shareholders` Meetings") relating to the Scheme and the Alternative Offer ("the Offer Resolutions"), in order to ensure that neither the Scheme nor the Alternative Offer will become unconditional. This announcement provides further clarification of BCX`s intention in respect of the delisting of the "A" Shares and an alternative approach to the Scheme and the Alternative Offer. 3. Irrevocables received from "A" Shareholders BCX has received Irrevocables in terms of which Offeree Shareholders holding 10 002 397 "A" Shares, representing approximately 40% of all the "A" Shares held by Offeree Shareholders, have irrevocably undertaken to vote against the Offer Resolutions. At BCX`s request and upon the exercising of these votes at the Shareholder Meetings, the Scheme and the Alternative Offer will be discontinued and the listing of the "A" Shares on the exchange operated by JSE Limited ("the JSE") will not be terminated. 4. Potential New "A" Share Offer and Irrevocables in respect thereof BCX intends to proceed with a new offer to "A" Shareholders ("New "A" Offer") on terms and conditions no more onerous to "A" Shareholders than the Scheme or the Alternative Offer, as soon as practically possible. The New "A" Offer, if proposed by BCX, will be conditional upon, inter alia, the following: * the board of directors of BCX approving the terms and conditions of the New "A" Offer; * BCX not trading under caution at the time of proposing the New "A" Offer and until such time as the New "A" Offer has been fully implemented; * "A" Shareholders agreeing to the delisting of the "A" Shares from the JSE (""A" Delisting"); and * the relevant statutory and regulatory requirements and all approvals in respect thereof being obtained. In terms of the Irrevocables mentioned in paragraph 3 above, the same "A" Shareholders, representing approximately 40% of the Offeree Shareholders, have already irrevocably undertaken to vote in favour of all resolutions in respect of the "A" Delisting that will be proposed in order to give effect to the New "A" Offer, if BCX proceeds with the New "A" Offer. These "A" Shareholders have also irrevocably undertaken to accept the New "A" Offer, if and when proposed by BCX. 5. Status of the Shareholders` Meetings Shareholders are informed, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Shareholders` Meetings will continue to be held in accordance with the notices provided in the Scheme Circular and that all the resolutions proposed in the aforesaid notices will be considered and voted upon, notwithstanding the Irrevocables. Shareholders` attention is drawn to the fact that certain resolutions not pertaining to the Scheme or the Alternative Offer will also be considered and, if deemed fit, passed at the Shareholders` Meetings Midrand 29 August 2011 Corporate Advisor and Transaction Sponsor to BCX in respect of the New "A" Share Offer One Capital Attorneys to BCX Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Incorporated Date: 29/08/2011 08:18:36 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department. 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