| Thu 12 Dec 2002, 10:00 | | SABMiller Plc And Tsogo Investments Agree Landmark |
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SABMiller Plc And Tsogo Investments Agree Landmark Empowerment Transaction
SABMILLER PLC
JSE Alpha Code : SAB
Issuer Code : SOSAB
ISIN Code : GB0004835483
SABMILLER PLC AND TSOGO INVESTMENTS AGREE LANDMARK EMPOWERMENT TRANSACTION
London and Johannesburg, 12 December 2002. SABMiller plc, (SABMiller), a
leading force in global brewing, and its gaming joint venture partner, Tsogo
Investment Holding Company (Proprietary) Limited (Tsogo Investments), today
announced the most important empowerment deal yet in the South African
hospitality sector.
The agreement will result in the transfer of both companies` interests within
the hotel and gaming sectors into a new company, to be named Tsogo Sun Holdings
(Proprietary) Limited (TSH), which is to be controlled by Tsogo Investments.
Today`s announcement, which follows SABMiller`s review of its options for its
non-core hotel and gaming interests, will be beneficial to its shareholders.
The transaction is subject to certain conditions, including obtaining Gaming
Board and other regulatory approvals, and the finalisation of funding
arrangements. It is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2003 and will
be earnings neutral for SABMiller in the first full financial year following
completion.
Commenting on the transaction, Graham Mackay, Chief Executive of SABMiller said:
"This represents an important empowerment transaction for South Africa and a
further step in our strategy of focusing SABMiller as an international beer and
beverage group.
"We are delighted with the development of our partnership with Tsogo Investments
and are pleased to see it enter a new phase with this transaction.
"Over the medium term, SABMiller intends to continue to reduce its investment in
hotels and gaming, in keeping with its strategy to divest of non-core
interests."
Ashley Mabogoane, Chairman of Tsogo Investments said, "The formation of TSH
represents a major step for Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and will
substantially contribute to the transformation of the hotel and gaming
industries within the context of the government`s national BEE agenda."
Commenting on today`s announcement, Valli Moosa, the South African Minister for
Environmental Affairs and Tourism, said: "This represents a landmark BEE
transaction for SABMiller, Tsogo Investments and South Africa. It is also a
milestone for BEE in the tourism industry, representing the largest BEE
transaction to be concluded in this increasingly important sector of the South
African economy."
The transaction
In terms of the transaction, SABMiller will contribute its entire hotel and
gaming interests, including 100% of Southern Sun`s hotel interests and 50% of
Tsogo Sun`s gaming interests, to the new company, TSH, in exchange for ordinary
shares representing 49% of TSH and R400 million (US$44 million) of TSH
redeemable preference shares. SABMiller will be afforded appropriate minority
protections.
Simultaneously, Tsogo Investments will contribute its entire gaming interests,
including 50% of Tsogo Sun to TSH in exchange for ordinary shares representing
51% of TSH. The book value of assets transferred by SABMiller to TSH is
approximately R734 million (US$82 million). This is post a cash distribution of
R750 million (US$83 million) payable to the SABMiller group. TSH will be
accounted for as an associate of SABMiller plc.
It is envisaged that the hotel and gaming operations will trade as two
independent subsidiaries of TSH and that these will be run by the existing
management teams, with Jabu Mabuza, Chief Executive of Tsogo Sun Casinos and
Helder Pereira, Chief Executive of Southern Sun Hotels, reporting to Ron
Stringfellow, the TSH Group Chief Executive. Ashley Mabogoane will be Chairman
of TSH.
ENDS
Note to editors
SABMiller is the world`s second largest brewer by volume with pro forma 2001/02
lager volumes in excess of 120 million hectolitres and is also the world`s
leading brewer in developing markets. It has 112 brewing operations, over
69,000 people, in 25 countries across Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, North
and Central America and Asia. It has a portfolio of strong brands and leading
market shares in many of the countries in which it has brewing operations.
Outside the USA, SABMiller is one of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products
in the world. SABMiller is listed on the London and Johannesburg stock
exchanges and has a market capitalisation of US$6.7 billion (approximately R60
billion).
SABMiller`s hotel and gaming interests comprised 100% of Southern Sun Hotels and
a 50% stake in Tsogo Sun Holdings. In the financial year 2001/02 these
generated a turnover of US$164 million, representing 3.8% of SABMiller`s
turnover.
Southern Sun Hotels is the pre-eminent hotel group in Africa, owning and
managing a portfolio of over 80 hotel properties comprising over 13,000 rooms.
The Southern Sun portfolio comprises Southern Sun Hotels, Southern Sun Resorts,
Inter-Continental, Crown Plaza, Cullinan Hotels, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Garden
Court, Express by Holiday Inn, Formule 1 and Formule Inn.
Currently SABMiller, via Southern Sun, and Tsogo Investments jointly own and
control Tsogo Sun Holdings, a focused gaming company, which holds five key
gaming licences at Montecasino (Fourways), Emnotweni (Nelspruit), Emonti (East
London), Champions (Witbank) and most recently, Suncoast (Durban).
Tsogo Investments is a broad-based empowerment company whose major shareholders
represent black business interests, labour movement and women`s groups,
including FABCOS Investment Holding Company Limited, NAFCOC Investment Holding
Company Limited, The South African Clothing and Textile Worker`s Union (SACTWU),
African Renaissance Holdings, NACTU Investment Holding Company Limited and a
women`s group led by Nozala Investments.
For further information please contact:
London
SABMiller plc Tel: +44 20 7659 0100
Nick Chaloner Director of Tel: +44 20 7659 0119
Communications
Mob: +44 7880 502 755
Anna Miller Head of Investor Tel: +44 20 7659 0106
Salzman Relations
Mob: +44 7973 837 070
Ciaran Baker Head of Corporate Tel: +44 20 7659 0120
Communications
Mob: +44 7979 954 493
This announcement is available on the SABMiller website, www.sabmiller.com
This announcement has been issued by SABMiller and is the sole responsibility of
SABMiller.
JPMorgan is acting as financial adviser to SABMiller and African Merchant Bank
is acting as financial adviser to Tsogo Investments. Werksmans is acting as
legal adviser to SABMiller and Webber Wentzel Bowens is acting as legal adviser
to Tsogo Investments.
JPMorgan and Werksmans are acting for SABMiller in connection with the proposed
transaction and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than
SABMiller for providing the protections afforded to their clients nor for
providing any advice in relation to the transaction.
African Merchant Bank and Webber Wentzel Bowens are acting for Tsogo Investments
in connection with the proposed transaction and no one else and will not be
responsible to anyone other than Tsogo Investments for providing the protections
afforded to their clients nor for providing any advice in relation to the
transaction.
Date: 12/12/2002 09:00:03 AM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
