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OLI - O-Line Holdings Limited - Announcement Of a firm intention to make a

Release Date: 21/02/2012 17:21
Code(s): OLI
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OLI - O-Line Holdings Limited - Announcement Of a firm intention to make a cash offer to acquire the majority of the issued shares of O-line and withdrawal of cautionary announcement O-LINE HOLDINGS LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number 2006/034685/06) (Share code: OLI) (ISIN: ZAE000110730) ("O-line" or "the Company") ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE A CASH OFFER TO ACQUIRE THE MAJORITY OF THE ISSUED SHARES OF O-line ("FIRM INTENTION ANNOUNCEMENT") AND WITHDRAWAL OF CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 O-line is pleased to announce that it has received written notice of a firm intention to make an offer (the "OBO Offer") from OBO Bettermann GmbH & Co. KG, a limited partnership incorporated in Germany and registered in the Commercial Register at the local Court of Arnsberg, Germany under registration number HRA 4854 ("OBO Bettermann") or a wholly- owned subsidiary of OBO Bettermann (the "SPV") (the party making the offer to be hereinafter referred to as the "Offeror") to acquire, subject to the applicable terms and conditions referred to in this Firm Intention Announcement, all the issued shares of O-line ("O-line Shares"), save for the O-line Shares ("Management Shares") held by three executive managers and a Trust established for the benefit of one of those executive managers and his family (collectively "the Management Shareholders") (the "Transaction"). 1.2 This Firm Intention Announcement is made pursuant to Regulation 101 of the Takeover Regulations (the "Takeover Regulations") issued in terms of section 120 of the Companies Act, No. 71 of 2008, as amended from time to time (the "Companies Act"). 1.3 The OBO Offer will be implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement in terms of section 114 of the Companies Act to be proposed by O-line between O-line and its shareholders (other than the Management Shareholders), so as to constitute O-line as a subsidiary of the Offeror (the "Scheme"). 1.4 The O-line Shares held by the Management Shareholders will not form part of the Scheme. 1.5 In this Firm Intention Announcement the O-line Shares that will form part of the Scheme (being all the O-line Shares other than the O-line Shares held by the Management Shareholders) are referred to as the "Scheme Shares" and the O-line Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares are referred to as the "Scheme Members". 1.6 The Transaction, if it is implemented, will result in the delisting of O- line from the JSE Limited (the "JSE"). 1.7 If the Scheme becomes operative, Scheme Members will be entitled on the operative date of the Scheme to receive a cash consideration of R1.30 (one Rand and thirty cents) per Scheme Share (the "Scheme Consideration") which represents a 45.9% (forty five point nine percent) premium to the 30 (thirty) day volume weighted average price ("VWAP") of an O-line Share on 16 January 2012 (the last day before O-line issued the first cautionary announcement relating to the transaction ("Publication Date"). 1.8 In addition, the OBO offer is contingent on the payment to O-line Shareholders of a special dividend of three cents per O-line Share, on or prior to the Implementation Date (see paragraph 4.1.2 below), and O-line has undertaken to procure the authorisation and payment of such dividend. 1.9 The OBO offer thus provides the Scheme Members with a cash exit opportunity at an attractive premium to the current and historical market prices of the O-line Shares. 1.10 The OBO offer also provides the Management Shareholders with a cash exit opportunity at the same price, taking into account an adjustment for the time value of money, on terms more fully set out in paragraph 11 below, subject to the executive managers concerned remaining in the employ of O- line for the period referred to in paragraph 11. 2. DETAILS OF OBO BETTERMANN 2.1 OBO Bettermann is a family owned business, which was established in 1911 by Franz Bettermann and remains owned by the Bettermann family. OBO Bettermann`s headquarters are in Menden, Germany. OBO Bettermann has more than 35 subsidiaries and 34 other representatives in more than 60 countries around the world. OBO Bettermann currently has production facilities in Germany, Hungary and Italy. On implementation of the Transaction, South Africa will thus become the fourth country in which OBO Bettermann has production facilities. 2.2 OBO Bettermann has an annual turnover of approximately Euro400 000 000 (four hundred million Euros). The core of the success of OBO Bettermann is based on mutual, trusting and committed interaction between employees, suppliers and customers. As the owners, the Bettermann family stand by these connections. It is the benchmark of all OBO Bettermann`s activities and is expected to be lived by all employees. 2.3 OBO Bettermann produces and sells over 30 000 products for electro technical infrastructure in buildings. Production is organised in different production units such as VBS Connector and fastening systems, TBS Transient and lighting protection systems, KTS cable support systems, BSS Fire protection systems, LFS Cable routing systems, EGS Device systems and UFS Under floor systems. 2.4 The values of OBO Bettermann are supported by continuous proximity to its customers. For OBO Bettermann, customer proximity means that whenever borders open and new markets are created, OBO Bettermann will be there. This regional proximity has proved its worth and OBO Bettermann is present on every continent - with more than 2,200 employees in over 60 countries. 3. RATIONALE FOR THE OBO OFFER 3.1 OBO Bettermann is committed to expanding its international operations and has identified expansion in Africa as a strategic priority. OBO Bettermann therefore believes the Transaction will permit the combination of O-line`s knowledge about the African market and products, and local production standards, with the innovative technology, products and solutions of OBO Bettermann. OBO Bettermann believes that O-line is an attractive business, which provides an appropriate platform from which to grow OBO Bettermann`s business in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa. 3.2 OBO Bettermann believes that the Transaction will be beneficial for O- line`s long term business development. In particular, OBO Bettermann believes that O-line will benefit from being part of the enlarged OBO Bettermann group in terms of access to capital resources, intellectual property and technology, market reach and products. 3.3 OBO Bettermann intends to retain O-line as a standalone business and, using the synergies referred to above, to increase the capability of O- line to grow its business in South Africa and elsewhere on the African continent. OBO Bettermann is committed to the growth of all O-line`s business activities. This will enable O-line to benefit fully from the expanding infrastructure development projects of South Africa and the African continent. OBO Bettermann envisages that this growth will include growing the range of O-line products, as proven already in the existing supplier-client relationship. 3.4 In addition, OBO Bettermann believes that there is a significant market for major O-line product groups in regions in which O-line currently has little presence, such as the Middle East and Asia. OBO Bettermann believes the combination will facilitate the exploitation of these markets by O-line utilising OBO Bettermann`s existing marketing teams and networks. 3.5 The OBO Offer represents a vote of confidence in the South African economy by a significant one hundred year old family-owned German manufacturing company with a presence in more than sixty countries around the world. 3.6 In addition to the foreign direct investment into South Africa which will result from the implementation of the Transaction, the Transaction is intended to provide a base for OBO Bettermann`s further expansion into Africa, which is likely to have a positive effect on value creation in South Africa, as well as on exports and long-term employment in South Africa. 3.7 It is also anticipated that the Transaction will benefit research and development and the development of industry in South Africa. 3.8 At present OBO Bettermann does not have any plans to rationalise O-line`s business in the context of the Transaction and thus has no plans to reduce employment in the O-line group. On the contrary, OBO Bettermann anticipates that the expansion of the O-line business will increase the number of people employed by O-line over time. 4. MATERIAL TERMS OF THE OBO OFFER 4.1 The OBO Offer is made subject to the conditions set out in paragraphs 5 and 6 and on the following basis - 4.1.1 the Offeror will pay R1.30 (one Rand and thirty cents) in cash for each Scheme Share ("Scheme Consideration") on the operative date of the Transaction ("the Implementation Date"). Payment of the Scheme Consideration will be administered by O-line; 4.1.2 the Scheme Consideration will be payable on an ex-dividend basis, assuming that a special dividend of R0.03 (three cents) per O-line Share will be paid by O-line after the date of this Firm Intention Announcement (the "Initial Date") and on or before the Implementation Date. The O-line board of directors does not intend to declare a dividend or make any other payments to O-line Shareholders in excess of R0.03 (three cents) per O-line Share between the date of this Firm Intention Announcement and the Implementation Date. Should O-line declare or pay any dividend or pay any other amount to the O-line Shareholders in excess of R0.03 (three cents) per O-line Share ("Excess Payment"), then without prejudice to any of the Offeror`s other rights relating thereto, the Scheme Consideration will be reduced by an amount equal to the amount of any such Excess Payment, and further decreased by any amount for which O-line or any subsidiary of O-line is itself liable by way of taxes on such Excess Payment (that is, excluding any obligation on O-line or any of its subsidiaries to withhold any amount payable by any O-line Shareholder). 4.2 The OBO Offer is made in reliance upon the - 4.2.1 assumption that the all the issued shares of O-line comprise 213 423 750 ordinary shares with a par value of 0.0001 cent each; 4.2.2 consents and undertakings to be given by O-line as set out in the OBO offer; 4.2.3 warranties and representations in paragraph 7 below; and 4.2.4 assumption that the business of O-line will continue to be conducted in the ordinary course between the initial date and the Implementation Date. 4.3 Following implementation of the Scheme, the entire equity of O-line will be directly or indirectly held by the following shareholders 4.3.1 the Offeror will hold 81.57% of the equity; and 4.3.2 the Management Shareholders will hold the balance of the equity. 5. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE POSTING OF A CIRCULAR The OBO Offer and thus the posting of the circular to O-line Shareholders in relation to the Scheme ("Circular") is subject to the fulfilment or, to the extent possible in law, the waiver (in whole or in part) by the Offeror of the following conditions precedent within the period permitted by regulation - 5.1 the independent expert appointed by the Independent Board (being those directors of O-line ("Independent Board")) confirming in writing to the Independent Board that the Scheme Consideration is fair and reasonable; 5.2 the Independent Board proposing the Scheme and recommending to the O-line Shareholders that they vote in favour of the Scheme; and 5.3 the eligible directors of O-line agreeing to vote in favour of the Scheme in respect of any O-line Shares under their direct or indirect control. 6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE COMPLETION OF THE OBO OFFER The completion of the Transaction is subject to the fulfilment or, to the extent possible in law, the waiver (in whole or in part) by the Offeror of the following conditions precedent on or before 31 July 2012 or such later date as OBO Bettermann and O-line may agree (subject to a corresponding extension of the cash confirmation referred to in paragraph 10.2) - 6.1 the authorisation by the board of directors of O-line of the special dividend contemplated in 1.8 and 4.1.2 above, and the payment thereof prior to or on the Implementation Date, in compliance with prevailing law; 6.2 the Offeror obtaining such approval of the Financial Surveillance Department of the SA Reserve Bank or its authorised agents in terms of the South African exchange control regulations promulgated under the Currency and Exchanges Act, 1933 and in accordance with the requirements of those regulations and accompanying directives and rulings, as may be necessary or reasonably advisable in order to implement the Transaction; either - 6.2.1 on an unconditional basis; or 6.2.2 subject to conditions as may be imposed by the authorities referred to in clause 6.2 above, and the Offeror has approved such conditions; 6.3 to the extent required, the Transaction being - 6.3.1 unconditionally approved by the South African Competition Commission and/or Competition Tribunal, as the case may be; or 6.3.2 approved by the South African Competition Commission and/or the Competition Tribunal, subject to conditions and the Offeror approves such conditions and undertakes in writing to comply therewith; 6.3.3 approved by the JSE, either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as the Offeror may approve; 6.4 the Scheme being proposed at the shareholders meeting convened to consider the Scheme (the "Scheme Meeting") and approved in accordance with its terms by a special resolution of the shareholders entitled to vote at the Scheme Meeting (the "Special Resolution"), at which sufficient shareholders are present in person or by proxy to exercise in aggregate at least 25% (twenty-five percent) of all the voting rights that are entitled to be exercised on the Special Resolution, as required by section 115(2) (a) read with section 115(4) of the Companies Act; 6.5 if the provisions of section 115(2) (c) of the Companies Act apply - 6.5.1 the Scheme being approved by the court unconditionally, or subject to conditions and the Offeror approves such conditions and undertakes in writing to comply therewith; and 6.5.2 if applicable, O-line not treating the Special Resolution as a nullity in terms of section 115(5) (b) of the Companies Act; 6.6 within the period prescribed by section 164(7) of the Companies Act, no valid demands having been received by O-line in terms of that section read with section 115(8) of the Companies Act which in aggregate represent more than 5% of the issued O-line Shares; 6.7 the securing of any third party consents which may be required by O-line, arising from contractual obligations which become applicable in the event of a change of control of O-line, including the consent of O-line`s bankers and relevant licensors, lessors and suppliers; 6.8 no material breach of a warranty or representation in paragraph 7 coming to the attention of the Offeror before the issue by the Takeover Regulation Panel of the compliance certificate referred to in 6.10, where materiality is defined as a divergence of 15% from warranted information ("Material"); 6.9 the Takeover Regulation Panel exempting the Offeror and the OBO Offer from the requirements of Part B and Part C of Chapter 5 of the Companies Act and the Takeover Regulations to the extent required in relation to the management agreements and the agreement with Fensham referred to in paragraph 11.2; and 6.10 the issue by the Takeover Regulation Panel of a compliance certificate in relation to the Transaction as required by section 115(b) read with section 119(4) (b) and section 121(b) of the Companies Act. 7. WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS O-line has represented and warranted in favour of OBO Bettermann that on the initial date and at all times from the initial date to the date on which the Transaction fails or is implemented, as the case may be - 7.1 the 2011 annual report of O-line, for O-line`s financial year ending 30 June 2011, was certified without qualification and prepared - 7.1.1 in accordance with generally accepted and sound accounting practices; 7.1.2 in a manner such as to fairly and accurately present the state of affairs, operations and results of O-line and its subsidiaries as at the date thereof and for the period to which it relates; 7.1.3 in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act; 7.1.4 unless inconsistent with 7.1.1, on the same basis and applying the same criteria as applied in the preparation of the audited financial statements of O-line during previous years, and reflects all liabilities at that date and since then no other liabilities, whether actual or contingent, have arisen other than in the ordinary course of conduct of the business of O-line and its subsidiaries; 7.2 no one has or will acquire any rights (of any description) to obtain from O-line or any of its subsidiaries any shares (of any description) or any convertible instruments (of any description) and/or loan capital of O- line or any of O-line`s subsidiaries; 7.3 neither O-line nor any of its subsidiaries is or will be under any obligation (whether contingent or otherwise) to issue any shares (of any description) or any convertible instruments (of any description) to any person and no person will acquire any such shares or instruments; 7.4 the issued and authorised shares of O-line and each of its subsidiaries is and will be as reflected in the 2011 annual report of O-line; 7.5 the number of O-line Shares in issue will not exceed 213 423 750 ordinary shares with a par value of 0.0001 cent each; 7.6 save as set out in paragraphs 1.8 and 4.1.2 above, no dividend will be declared or paid and no other payment of any kind will be made to O- line`s Shareholders; 7.7 without the prior written consent of the Offeror neither O-line nor any of its subsidiaries will - 7.7.1 dispose of any of its assets other than in the ordinary course of business; or 7.7.2 dispose of any of their Material assets; 7.8 all agreements entered into by O-line and by O-line`s subsidiaries have been entered into in the ordinary course of their businesses; 7.9 neither O-line nor any of its subsidiaries will - 7.9.1 take any steps to initiate a buy-back of any of its shares from any of its shareholders; or 7.9.2 buy back any of its shares (including, without limitation, any treasury shares) from any of its shareholders; 7.10 neither O-line nor any of its subsidiaries will enter into any agreements or incur any liabilities or obligations outside the ordinary and normal course of conduct of their business without the prior written consent of the Offeror; 7.11 neither O-line nor any of its subsidiaries will commit itself to or implement any Material capital expenditure without the prior written consent of the Offeror; and 7.12 the business of O-line will be conducted in the ordinary course and no extraordinary investments will be made by O-line without the prior written consent of the Offeror. 8. O-LINE UNDERTAKINGS O-line has consented to the offeror proceeding as proposed in the OBO offer and has irrevocably undertaken in favour of the offeror - 8.1 to procure the authorisation by the board of directors of O-line of the special dividend contemplated in 1.8 and 4.1.2 above, and the payment thereof prior to or on the Implementation Date; 8.2 not to solicit any other offer, whether for the O-line Shares or the business of O-line or any of its subsidiaries, unless the OBO offer has lapsed or has been withdrawn in accordance with its terms and the provisions of the Takeover Regulations. This is subject to the Board exercising their fiduciary duties in terms of the Companies Act; 8.3 to comply timeously with all of O-line`s obligations under the Companies Act and Takeover Regulations and other applicable laws in relation to the OBO offer, including - 8.3.1 issuing the required circular/s to O-line Shareholders (consistent with this announcement, and subject to the offeror`s prior written approval); 8.3.2 issuing any other required announcements (likewise, consistent with this letter, and subject to the offeror`s prior written approval); 8.3.3 convening the required shareholders meeting/s; and 8.3.4 doing all such other things as may be required by or in relation to the terms of the Scheme or general offer, as the case may be, to enable the successful implementation of the Transaction, or as may otherwise be reasonably requested by the offeror. 9. IRREVOCABLE UNDERTAKINGS BY O-LINE SHAREHOLDERS OBO Bettermann has obtained irrevocable undertakings from Loughran, Fensham, Edwin Andrew Jay, Richard Ian Jay, Edwin Jay Incorporated, Edwin Jay Family Trust, Richard Jay Family Trust, and Alizay Properties 46 Proprietary Limited in terms of which, amongst other things, they have undertaken to vote in favour of the Scheme and all related resolutions. Those shareholders hold, in aggregate, 76.53% of the O-line Shares eligible to vote at the Scheme Meeting (see paragraph 14). 10. GUARANTEE TO THE TAKEOVER REGULATION PANEL 10.1 OBO Bettermann will provide the funding for the Scheme. 10.2 OBO Bettermann has provided the Takeover Regulation Panel with the necessary cash confirmation from The Standard Bank of Southern Africa Limited, contemplated in Regulations 111(4) and 111(5) of the Takeover Regulations, read with the guidelines issued by the Takeover Regulation Panel in terms of section 201(2)(b) of the Companies Act. 11. CONTRACTS WITH MANAGEMENT SHAREHOLDERS 11.1 The Offeror intends to retain the existing management of O-line. With this in mind, OBO Bettermann has entered into written agreements ("Management Agreements") with the chief executive officer of O-line, Mr Graeme Smart ("Smart"), the manufacturing director of O-line`s subsidiary O-line Support Systems Proprietary Limited, Mr Edzard Verseput ("Verseput") and the general manager of the road safety division of O- line`s subsidiary Armco Superlite Proprietary Limited Mr Thomas Loughran ("Loughran") and the Die Verseput Trust ("Verseput Trust"), a trust established for the benefit of Verseput and his family. The purpose of the Management agreements is to incentivise the relevant executive managers to continue in the employ of O-line after the Transaction Implementation Date. The essence of the Management Agreements is that the Management Shares will be excluded from the Scheme, but will be subject to call and put options exercisable by the Offeror and the Management Shareholders respectively during specified periods after the Transaction Implementation Date, at a price equal to the Scheme Consideration plus an annual adjustment to take account of anticipated changes in the time value of money, subject to a penalty discount if the executive managers concerned leave the employ of O-line before the fifth anniversary of the Transaction Implementation Date. 11.2 OBO Bettermann has also entered into an agreement with Mr David Fensham ("Fensham"), the managing director of O-line`s subsidiary Armco Superlite Proprietary Limited. Fensham`s O-line Shares will form part of the Scheme and he will be paid the same Scheme Consideration as the other Scheme Members on the same date, but a portion of the Scheme Consideration due to him will be held in escrow and will be released to him three years after the Transaction is implemented, provided that he remains in the employ of O-line for that period. 12. DE-LISTING OF O-LINE Following the implementation of the Transaction, application will be made by the Offeror to the JSE to terminate the listing of the O-line Shares on the JSE. 13. SHAREHOLDINGS IN O-LINE AND ACTING AS PRINCIPAL Neither the Offeror nor any of its directors currently holds or controls any O-line Shares or options to acquire any O-line Shares. The Offeror will be the ultimate purchaser and it is, subject to what is stated in paragraph 14, acting alone and not in conjunction with, or as agent or broker, for any other party. 14. CONCERT PARTIES 14.1 Smart and Verseput participated in discussions with OBO Bettermann which resulted in the OBO Offer. The Takeover Regulation Panel has expressed the view that in doing so Smart and Verseput (and by association, Verseput Trust) have come into concert with OBO Bettermann, and OBO Bettermann, Smart and Verseput have therefore made declarations in the required form to O-line and the Takeover Regulation Panel, as required by Regulation 84(5) of the Takeover Regulations. 14.2 The beneficial interests of Smart, Verseput and Verseput Trust in the Company are as follows - 14.2.1 Smart - 20 253 356 O-line Shares 14.2.2 Verseput - 3 446 232 O-line Shares 14.2.3 Verseput Trust - 14 000 000 O-line Shares. 14.3 In terms of section 115(4) and 115(4A) of the Companies Act, the O-line Shares held by Smart, Verseput and Verseput Trust will not be included in calculating the percentage of voting rights required to be present, or actually present, in determining whether the applicable quorum requirements for the Scheme Meeting are satisfied, or required to be voted in support of a resolution, or actually voted in support of a resolution relating to the Scheme. If the OBO Offer proceeds by way of a general offer, then in terms of section 124(1) of the Companies Act, the O-line Shares held by Smart, Verseput and Verseput Trust shall not be taken into account for the purposes of determining the acceptances required by that section of the Companies Act. Although OBO Bettermann has entered into agreements with Loughran and Fensham, as detailed above in paragraph 11, neither Fensham nor Loughran was involved in any of the discussions referred to in paragraph 14.1 and OBO Bettermann and O-line are therefore of the view that they have not come into concert with OBO Bettermann. 15. RECOMMENDATION AND FAIRNESS OPINION 15.1 The Independent Board intends, based on the information currently available to it, to make a unanimous recommendation to O-line Shareholders to vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the shareholders meeting to approve the Scheme, provided that the Independent Board receives an opinion from the independent expert who is to be appointed by the Independent Board, to the effect that the Scheme Consideration is fair and reasonable. 15.2 The substance of the external advice and the views of the Independent Board will be detailed in the circular to be sent to O-line Shareholders in relation to the Scheme. 16. DOCUMENTATION Further details of the Scheme will be included in the Circular to be sent to O-line Shareholders, containing, inter alia, a notice of the meeting of O-line Shareholders, a form of proxy and a form of surrender and transfer. The Circular is expected to be posted to O-line Shareholders on or about 23 March 2012. The salient dates in relation to the Scheme will be published prior to the posting of the Circular and will be contained in the Circular. 17. WITHDRAWAL OF CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT Following the release of this Firm Intention Announcement, the cautionary announcement originally published by O-line on 16 January 2012 is hereby withdrawn and caution is no longer required to be exercised by O-line Shareholders when dealing in O-line Shares. 18. RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT The Independent Board accepts responsibility for the information contained in this Firm Intention Announcement. To the best of its respective knowledge and belief, the information contained in this Firm Intention Announcement is true and nothing has been omitted which is likely to affect the import of the information contained herein. Johannesburg 21 February 2012 Designated Advisor to O-line: Sasfin Capital, (a division of Sasfin Bank Limited) Legal advisor to O-line: Edwin Jay Incorporated Corporate Advisors to O-line: DEA-RU Corporate advisor to OBO Bettermann: Ernst & Young Transaction Advisory Services Legal advisor to OBO Bettermann: Read Hope Phillips Attorneys. Date: 21/02/2012 17:21:15 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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