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BOWLER METCALF LIMITED - Disposal of a 41.38% interest in Softbev (Pty) Ltd and withdrawal of cautionary announcement

Release Date: 09/04/2018 16:00
Code(s): BCF     PDF:  
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Disposal of a 41.38% interest in Softbev (Pty) Ltd and withdrawal of cautionary announcement

BOWLER METCALF LIMITED
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa
(Registration number 1972/005921/06)
Share code: BCF ISIN: ZAE000030797
(“the Company” or “Bowler Metcalf”)


DISPOSAL OF A 41.38% INTEREST IN SOFTBEV PROPRIETARY LIMITED (“SOFTBEV”) AND
WITHDRAWAL OF CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT


INTRODUCTION
Further to the Cautionary Announcement made on 9 February 2018 and subsequent
renewal on 23 March 2018, the Company advises shareholders that a Sale of Shares
and Claims Agreement has been signed pertaining to the disposal of its 41.38% interest
in its associate investment, SoftBev, to The Beverage Company Bidco Proprietary
Limited (“The Beverage Company”) effective 30 June 2018 (“Proposed Transaction”).

BACKGROUND TO SOFTBEV
Commencing business in 2015, SoftBev is an innovative, 100% South African owned
company formed after the merger between two well established businesses, Shoreline
Sales and Distribution Proprietary Limited and Quality Beverages 2000 Proprietary
Limited (“Quality Beverages” previously owned by the Company) which, combined,
have over 50 years of industry experience. The company is a national operator involved
in the manufacture, bottling, marketing and distribution of soft drinks, energy drinks,
juice and water. Their well-established brands include Coo-ee, Jive and Reboost.
SoftBev is also the sole licensed bottler for Pepsi and its related brands across South
Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland and has distribution rights in Botswana. Further, it also
manufactures and distributes Capri-Sun under licence and various house brands of
large South African retailers.

BACKGROUND TO THE BEVERAGE COMPANY
The company is involved in the manufacture, bottling, marketing and distribution of soft
drinks, energy drinks, mixers and water and has a strong regional presence in Gauteng,
Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. It has invested substantially over the past six
years in new lines, new technologies, significant people capability and platforms for
expansion. Its well established brands include Refreshhh, and it supplies private label
soft drinks for many of the larger retailers. The shareholders of The Beverage Company
are Ethos Private Equity 60.80%, Nedbank Private Equity 23.20% and The Beverage
Company Management 16.00%. The Beverage Company is not a related party to the
Company or its directors.

RATIONALE FOR THE DISPOSAL
The merger in 2015 of Bowler Metcalf’s beverage business, Quality Beverages, into
SoftBev, was a stepping stone towards exiting the beverage market and following a
strategy of focusing on its core business competencies of niche product manufacture,
in a business to business environment. This focus requires the Company to commit
expertise and resources to skills development, new technologies and supply chain
solutions relevant to its target market.

Since the establishment of SoftBev, a number of initiatives have been put in place in the
business to harvest the synergistic benefits of having manufacturing and warehousing
facilities in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg and a national distribution footprint.
These initiatives have been managed to fruition but due to the dynamic market in
which SoftBev operates, new initiatives need to be constantly birthed and driven to
attain improved economies of scale and deeper market penetration which are both
prerequisites for sustained profitability.

The board of directors of Bowler Metcalf is of the opinion that The Beverage Company,
through its management team, financial resources and strategy to establish itself as a
leading player in the Sub-Sahara African beverages market, is well positioned to realise
SoftBev’s next phase of growth.

Despite the impairment of the Company’s investment in SoftBev in its 2017 financial
year, the recent improved trading results of SoftBev as recorded in the Company’s 31
December 2017 interim results and its future prospects, have created an opportunity for
a fair value disposal.

PURCHASE CONSIDERATION
The final enterprise value of SoftBev will be determined with reference to the actual
EBITDA (including certain pre-determined adjustments) achieved by SoftBev for the
year ending 30 June 2018 (“FY2018”).

The minimum consideration for the Company’s share of the equity is expected to be
R233 million after the enterprise value has been adjusted for forecast net debt,
adjustments to net working capital and sellers’ transaction costs (the “Base
Consideration”). The Base Consideration will be settled on closing of the Proposed
Transaction.

Following the completion of the FY2018 audited financial statements of SoftBev, the
final amount of the purchase consideration will be determined based on the actual
EBITDA for FY2018 (including certain pre-determined adjustments) and adjusting for the
final net debt and working capital position of SoftBev as at 30 June 2018 and final
sellers’ transaction costs (the “Deferred Consideration”). The Deferred Consideration will
be settled shortly after the completion of the FY2018 audited financial statements.

It is envisaged that the Deferred Consideration could potentially reach R126 million
resulting in an estimated range for the Company’s share of the equity in SoftBev of
between R233 million and R359 million. In addition to the sale of its equity stake in
SoftBev, the Company’s loan claims of approximately R79 million will be repaid.

The Base and Deferred Considerations will both be settled in cash and will be used by
the Company for the expansion of its packaging and related property investment
business segments and new business ventures that meet its strategic objectives. It is also
envisaged that part of the proceeds from the Proposed Transaction will be paid out to
shareholders in the form of a cash dividend.

SUSPENSIVE CONDITIONS
The Proposed Transaction is subject to the fulfilment of various suspensive conditions on
or before 31 July 2018, including, inter alia, the following:

-   The parties to agree in writing the determination of the FY2018 Adjusted EBITDA and
    the normalised net working capital;
-   The parties to confirm, with reference to the May 2018 year-to-date trading results
    of SoftBev, the value of each of the components of the Base Consideration;
-   The Beverage Company is satisfied with the results of its due diligence on SoftBev,
    including but not limited to aspects of a financial, taxation, human resource,
    environmental, legal and commercial nature and arrangements relating to certain
    new business ventures;
-   The parties conclude a warranty and indemnity insurance policy;
-   The conclusion and unconditional fulfilment of finance facility agreements relating
    to The Beverage Company’s financing of the Proposed Transaction;
-   The parties obtaining consent for the change of control and/or assignment of
    material SoftBev operational agreements;
-   The shareholders of the Company approving the Proposed Transaction and passing
    all related resolutions required by the Company’s Memorandum of Incorporation;
-   The issuance of clearance certificates of the merger by the relevant competition
    authorities; and
-   Any other regulatory and related approvals.

The Proposed Transaction is also subject to the standard terms and conditions
applicable to a transaction of this nature.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
SoftBev has been accounted for as an investment in associate in the financial records
of the Company.

The net asset value of SoftBev as extracted from the Company’s interim results for the six
months ended 31 December 2017 (which was classified as “asset held for sale”), was
R175.4 million, in addition to a related party loan receivable of R79.8 million. For the
same period, the share of profits from SoftBev was R13 million and the Company
received net finance income from SoftBev in the amount of R4.8 million.

CATEGORISATION
In terms of the JSE Listings Requirements, the Proposed Transaction is categorised as a
Category 1 transaction and accordingly requires approval from the Company’s
shareholders by means of an ordinary resolution in a General Meeting.

DOCUMENTATION AND SALIENT DATES
Further details of the Proposed Transaction will be included in a circular to be sent to
shareholders within 60 days of publication of this announcement in accordance with
the JSE Listings Requirements, which will contain, inter alia, a notice of the General
Meeting and a form of proxy.

Due to his financial interest in SoftBev, M Brain (director and shareholder of the
Company) will be precluded from voting at the General Meeting.
WITHDRAWAL OF CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT
Pursuant to the above announcement, shareholders are advised that the cautionary
announcement is now withdrawn.

Johannesburg
9 April 2018

 Sponsor           Legal Advisors to      Legal Advisors to The     Financial Advisors to
                  Bowler Metcalf and        Beverage Company        The Beverage Company
                       SoftBev
   Arbor           Shepstone & Wylie         Webber Wentzel            Standard Bank
  Capital
 Sponsors

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