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Establishment of joint venture by Shoprite Holdings and Equites Property Fund Limited
SHOPRITE HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration no. 1936/007721/06
ISIN: ZAE000012084
JSE share code: SHP
NSX share code: SRH
LuSE share code: SHOPRITE
(“Shoprite Holdings” or the “Company”)
ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT VENTURE BY SHOPRITE HOLDINGS, THROUGH A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY, AND EQUITES PROPERTY FUND LIMITED
1. INTRODUCTION
Shareholders are advised that Shoprite Holdings, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Shoprite
Checkers Proprietary Limited ("Shoprite Checkers”), and Equites Property Fund Limited
(“Equites”) have concluded a binding heads of agreement on 24 February 2020 ("Heads of
Agreement") in terms of which, inter alia:
• Shoprite Checkers and Equites will establish a joint venture company (the "JVCo") whereby
Shoprite Checkers will contribute a portfolio of distribution centres and associated
undeveloped land in Brackenfell in the Western Cape and Centurion in Gauteng (the
"Portfolio") valued at c.R2.0 billion into the JVCo and Equites will inject cash of c.R2.1
billion into the JVCo in exchange for a 50.1% equity stake in the JVCo;
• the JVCo will thereafter acquire the Cilmor distribution centre and the associated
undeveloped land for an agreed cash consideration of c.R1.2 billion;
• the JVCo and Shoprite Checkers will conclude "triple net" lease agreements in respect of the
Brackenfell, Cilmor and Centurion distribution centres (collectively the “Lease
Agreements”); and
• the JVCo will manage the portfolio and it will serve as a platform for the future development
of the undeveloped land situated at Cilmor and Centurion and for possible future property
acquisition and development opportunities
(the "Proposed Transaction").
2. RATIONALE
The establishment of the joint venture between Shoprite Checkers and Equites will result in the
following benefits to Shoprite Holdings, together with its subsidiaries (the “Group”), which are in
line with the Group’s strategy:
• optimise return on invested capital;
• release of capital to be deployed into higher yielding retail projects and technology;
• provides both operational and capital flexibility going forward; and
• results in a strategic partnership with a best-in-class logistics property company in South
Africa.
3. OVERVIEW OF THE PROPERTIES SUBJECT TO THE SALE AND LEASEBACK
The properties that form part of the Proposed Transaction comprise of a logistics campus, two
modern distribution centres and undeveloped land which is further detailed below:
Approximate
Property
No. Geographical Location GLA^ Property type
Name
(m2)
Corner of Olievenhoutbosch
Centurion Logistics campus and
1 Avenue and Brakfontein Road, 169 966
campus undeveloped land
Louwlardia, Centurion
Cilmor
Cecil Morgan Drive, Brackenfell, Modern distribution
2 distribution 128 706
Cape Town centre
centre
Brackenfell Corner of Old Paarl and
Modern distribution
3 distribution Kruisfontein Roads, Brackenfell, 101 797
centre
centre Cape Town
Undeveloped Cecil Morgan Drive, Brackenfell,
4 39 593** Strategic land
land Cape Town
^ Gross lettable area
* This is the extent of the undeveloped land
The Portfolio with a net asset value of c.R2.0 billion as at the last reporting period did not generate
any rental profits for the Group in light of the Portfolio being utilised for operational purposes.
4. TERMS OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION
Equites will contribute c.R2.1 billion in cash to the JVCo and Shoprite Checkers will transfer the
Brackenfell and Centurion distribution centres (collectively valued at c.R2.0 billion) to the JVCo in
exchange for shares in the JVCo. Post the contributions Shoprite Checkers and Equites will own
49.9% and 50.1% of the JVCo, respectively. It is the intention of Shoprite Checkers to retain its
shares in the JVCo.
The JVCo will acquire the Cilmor distribution centre and the associated undeveloped land for a cash
consideration of c.R1.2 billion, while the unutilised cash will be lent to Equites and will be repaid
by Equites to the JVCo as and when the JVCo requires funds for purposes of future property
acquisitions or developments.
Contemporaneously with the sale of the distribution centres to the JVCo, Shoprite Checkers (as
tenant) and the JVCo (as landlord) will conclude the Lease Agreements.
Each Lease Agreement will be a fully repairing and insuring lease, enduring for an initial period of
20 years, with the right to renew for a further three 10-year periods on the same terms and
conditions. The initial yield on the leases will be 7.5% and the rental will escalate at a rate of 5%
each year.
In respect of the undeveloped land at Centurion and Cilmor, the Lease Agreements will contain
provisions relating to the future development of such undeveloped land, in terms of which Equites
will be appointed as the developer and the JVCo will fund the development.
The effective date of the Proposed Transaction will be the date on which the last of the conditions
contained in the Heads of Agreement has been fulfilled, which is expected to be during May 2020.
The Proposed Transaction is subject to certain conditions precedent, including –
• completion of an ordinary course due diligence investigation Equites to the satisfaction of
Equites;
• conclusion of the Proposed Transaction agreements and documents;
• board approval of the Proposed Transaction by the boards of directors of both Shoprite
Checkers (and where required, approval by the shareholder of Shoprite Checkers) and Equites;
and
• approval by the Competition Commission in accordance with the Competition Act No. 89 of 1998.
The Heads of Agreement does, and the Proposed Transaction agreements and documents will,
include appropriate shareholder protections typical for a transaction of this nature.
5. CATEGORISATION
The Proposed Transaction is classified as a category 2 transaction in terms of the JSE Listings
Requirements and accordingly does not require approval by the shareholders of Shoprite Holdings.
Cape Town
25 February 2020
Financial Advisor and Transaction Sponsor: Investec Bank Limited
Date: 25-02-2020 07:10:00
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