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UTR/SHF - Unitrans/Steinhoff - Circular Posted, Salient Dates and Amended

Release Date: 23/03/2007 15:08
Code(s): SHF UTR
Wrap Text

UTR/SHF - Unitrans/Steinhoff - Circular Posted, Salient Dates and Amended Financial Effects UNITRANS LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration Number 1967/003403/06) Share code: UTR & ISIN: ZAE000007670 ("Unitrans" or "the company") STEINHOFF INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration Number 1998/003951/06) Share code: SHF & ISIN: ZAE000016176 ("Steinhoff") Circular Posted, Salient Dates and Amended Financial Effects 1. Introduction 1.1 In an announcement on SENS and in the press on 21 February 2007, Unitrans shareholders were advised that the company had received an offer from Steinhoff for the acquisition of the business of Unitrans, as a going concern, through a wholly-owned subsidiary of Steinhoff ("Steinhoff Newco") ("the disposal"). 1.2 A circular to Unitrans shareholders containing details of the disposal and ancillary transactions as set out in paragraph 2 below (collectively "the transaction") and notice of a general meeting for the approval thereof, convened for Friday, 13 April 2007 at 08:00, was posted yesterday. 1.3 The net effect of the transaction is that Unitrans shareholders, other than Steinhoff, will ultimately receive Steinhoff shares. Steinhoff currently holds 60,76% of the issued share capital of Unitrans. Details of the transaction are set out hereunder. 2. The transaction 2.1 Steinhoff and Unitrans have reached agreement, subject to the fulfillment of the conditions precedent, in terms of which: 2.1.1 Unitrans will dispose of the Unitrans business as a going concern to Steinhoff Newco, by means of a disposal in terms of section 228 of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act 61 of 1973), as amended ("the Companies Act"); 2.1.2 Unitrans shareholders may elect to exchange their Unitrans shares for Steinhoff shares, in terms of an initial share exchange offer and subject to the disposal being approved, in the ratio of 2 Steinhoff shares for every Unitrans share held on Friday, 4 May 2007 ("the initial share exchange offer"). Unitrans shareholders who fail or decline to exchange their Unitrans shares in respect of the initial share exchange offer will receive Steinhoff shares pursuant to an ultimate share exchange (as set out in paragraph 2.1.5 below); 2.1.3 Steinhoff Newco will, as purchase consideration for the Unitrans business, credit the books of account of Steinhoff Newco with a loan account claim in favour of Unitrans of R4 471 959 314, which amount will be reduced by liabilities assumed by Steinhoff Newco in terms of a disposal agreement ("the Unitrans loan account claim"). The amount of the Unitrans loan account claim was determined on the basis of Unitrans` market capitalization based on its 30-day volume weighted average price up to and including 6 February 2007, being the date immediately preceding the date on which the independent directors of Unitrans, in principle, accepted the transaction; 2.1.4 Unitrans will, by way of a distribution in terms of section 90 of the Companies Act, distribute the Unitrans loan account claim to Unitrans shareholders who are recorded in the register as Unitrans shareholders on Friday, 25 May 2007, pro rata to their Unitrans shareholdings ("the distribution"); and 2.1.5 Unitrans shareholders (other than Steinhoff) recorded in the register as Unitrans shareholders on Friday, 25 May 2007 will, immediately after the distribution, be deemed to have ceded their Unitrans loan account claims to Steinhoff, in accordance with the terms and conditions forming part of the Unitrans loan account claim, in exchange for Steinhoff shares on the basis of a Unitrans minority shareholder receiving 2 Steinhoff shares for every Unitrans share held on Friday, 25 May 2007 ("the ultimate share exchange"). 2.2 Each of the components of the transaction (i.e. the initial share exchange offer, the disposal, the distribution and the ultimate share exchange) form part of one indivisible transaction. 2.3 Subject to the fulfillment of the conditions precedent and implementation of the distribution, Unitrans will own no assets and, in terms of the Listings Requirements, will not be eligible for continued listing. Therefore, the JSE has agreed to suspend the listing of Unitrans from commencement of trade on Monday, 21 May 2007 and to terminate the listing of Unitrans from the commencement of trade on Tuesday, 29 May 2007. 2.4 Subject to the passing (and registration by the Registrar of Companies, where required), of the resolutions which are to be proposed at the general meeting, Unitrans will be wound up in terms of sections 349 and 350 of the Companies Act by way of a members` voluntary winding up. The winding up will commence on the date of registration of the relevant special resolution, whereafter a liquidator will be appointed to continue with the winding up process, which is expected to be completed in approximately 12 months. During this period, all costs will be borne by Steinhoff Newco which will have acquired all the assets of Unitrans. There will be no assets or liabilities remaining in Unitrans and accordingly no final liquidation distribution will be made to Unitrans shareholders. 3. Financial effects of the transaction on a Unitrans shareholder 3.1 The pro forma financial effects set out below are the responsibility of the directors of Unitrans and are pro forma only. 3.2 The unaudited pro forma financial effects have been prepared for illustrative purposes in order to assist shareholders of Unitrans to assess the effects of the transaction. Based on the assumption that the transaction: 3.2.1 for purposes of the earnings and headline earnings per share calculations, had been effective for the calendar year ended 31 December 2006; and 3.2.2 for purposes of net asset value and net asset value adjusted for the elimination of goodwill, had been effective on 31 December 2006, the effects of the transaction on a Unitrans minority shareholder holding 100 Unitrans shares would have been as follows: Before After Percentage (per 100 (per 200 change
Unitrans Steinhoff (%) shares) shares) (R) (R) Attributable: Market value(1) 4 976.00 5 059.28 1,7 Earnings(2) 434,7 381,3 (12,3) Headline earnings 457,1 394,4 (13,7) (2) Net asset value(3) 2 296 2 045 (10,9) Net asset value 2 023 1 636 (19,1) adjusted for the elimination of goodwill(3) Notes (1) The "Before" column reflects Unitrans` 30 day volume weighted average price attributable to 100 Unitrans shares
as at 6 February 2007 (the date preceding the date upon which the independent directors of Unitrans accepted, in principle, the transaction). The "After" column reflects the pro forma market value attributable to these shares
arrived at on the basis of Steinhoff`s pro forma "After" headline earnings per share, capitalised at its implied price earnings multiple applicable to Steinhoff`s 30 day volume weighted average price attributable to these shares
over the same period and Steinhoff`s historically reported headline earnings per share of 173 cents for the year ended 30 June 2006.
(2) The "Before" column reflects the annualised earnings and headline earnings for the calendar year ended 31 December 2006 attributable to 100 Unitrans shares. The "After" column reflects the annualised pro forma earnings and
headline earnings of Steinhoff attributable to 200 Steinhoff shares, before the inclusion of transaction costs (including STC), on the assumption that the initial share exchange offer and the ultimate share exchange were in effect
throughout the 12 months ended 31 December 2006. The annualised earnings and headline earnings per share referred to in this note have been calculated based on both Unitrans` and Steinhoff`s unaudited interim results for the 6 month
period ended 31 December 2006 rolled for a 12 month period by the inclusion of the respective company`s audited results for the year ended 30 June 2006, less the 31 December 2005 unaudited interim results.
(3) The "Before" column represents the net asset value and net asset value adjusted for the elimination of goodwill attributable to 100 Unitrans shares as at 31 December 2006, whereas the "After" column represents the pro forma net
asset value of Steinhoff as at that date, adjusted for the initial share exchange offer and the ultimate share exchange, attributable to 200 Steinhoff shares, on the assumption that the transaction became effective on 31
December 2006. 4. salient dates Salient dates pertinent to the transaction are as follows: 2007
Circular posted to Unitrans Thursday, 22 March shareholders on Proxies to be lodged in respect of Wednesday, 11 April the general meeting by 08:00 on General meeting of Unitrans Friday, 13 April shareholders to be held at 08:00 on Announcement regarding the results of Friday, 13 April the general meeting and transaction unconditional released on SENS on Announcement regarding the results of Monday, 16 April the general meeting and transaction unconditional published in the press on Subject to the transaction being approved at the general meeting: Last day to trade in Unitrans shares Wednesday, 25 April to qualify for participation in the initial share exchange offer Shares trade "ex" the initial share Thursday, 26 April exchange offer Record date for the initial share Friday, 4 May exchange offer Forms of acceptance and surrender in Friday, 4 May respect of shareholders who elect to accept the initial share exchange offer to be lodged by 12:00 on Steinhoff shares issued pursuant to Monday, 7 May the initial share exchange offer listed on the JSE at the commencement of trade on In respect of certificated Monday, 7 May shareholders who accept the initial share exchange offer, Steinhoff share certificates issued pursuant to the initial share exchange offer posted by registered post at the risk of shareholders on or about In respect of ematerialized Monday, 7 May shareholders who accept the initial share exchange offer, their accounts at their CSDP or broker updated with the initial share exchange offer on Effective date of the disposal Tuesday, 8 May Lodgement of special resolution in Friday, 11 May respect of the liquidation of Unitrans Last day to trade in Unitrans shares Friday, 18 May to qualify for participation in the distribution and ultimate share exchange Unitrans listing suspended on the JSE Monday, 21 May from commencement of trade on Record date for the distribution and Friday, 25 May the ultimate share exchange Steinhoff shares issued pursuant to Monday, 28 May the ultimate share exchange listed on the JSE at the commencement of trade on In respect of certificated Monday, 28 May shareholders, Steinhoff share certificates issued pursuant to the ultimate share exchange posted by registered post at the risk of shareholders on or about In respect of ematerialized Monday, 28 May shareholders, their accounts at their CSDP or broker updated with the ultimate share exchange on Unitrans listing terminated on the Tuesday, 29 May JSE from commencement of trade on Note (1) The above dates and times are subject to amendment. Details of any such amendment will be released on SENS and published in the press. (2) No dematerialisation or rematerialisation of Unitrans shares may take place between Thursday, 26 April 2007 and Friday, 4 May 2007 (both days inclusive), or after Friday, 18 May 2007. Johannesburg 23 March 2007 Corporate adviser and sponsor Reporting accountants and auditors - PSG CAPITAL - - DELOITTE & TOUCHE - Legal adviser Independent adviser - CLIFFE DEKKER - - PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS Corporate Finance - Date: 23/03/2007 15:08:01 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department.

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