SABMiller Agrees to Acquire Foster's at Approximately A$9.9 Billion
SABMiller and Foster's have agreed that the offer will be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement to be proposed by Foster's to its shareholders.
Sep 22 2011 --- SABMiller plc has agreed with Foster's Group Limited a recommended cash offer to Foster's shareholders at A$5.10 per share, which values Foster's equity at approximately A$9.9 billion.
As part of the transaction, and in line with Foster's previously announced capital management initiative, Foster's will pay its shareholders a return of capital of A$0.30 per share prior to closing, reflecting both the confirmed value of historic tax losses and a better cash/net debt position than assumed in SABMiller's initial proposal.
The agreed proposal represents an acquisition enterprise value of A$11.5 billion, which is a 2.8% increase on the enterprise value of A$11.2 billion implied by SABMiller's initial proposal announced on 21 June 2011.
Foster's chief executive John Pollaers said that the deal provided good value and an opportunity to expand the international market for Foster's beers. Foster's, which owns seven of the top 10 beer brands in Australia, reported a loss of 89 million US dollars (£) last year as beer sales fell by 6%.
The acquisition of Foster's is consistent with SABMiller's strategic priorities and will provide SABMiller with:
* exposure to Australia's strong economic growth prospects;
* a leading position in the stable and profitable Australian beer industry; and
* the opportunity to apply SABMiller's capabilities and scale to improve Foster's financial and operating performance.
The acquisition is expected to be EPS enhancing for SABMiller in the first full year of ownership and economic returns are expected to exceed the project WACC by year 5.
SABMiller and Foster's have agreed that the offer will be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement to be proposed by Foster's to its shareholders.
The scheme of arrangement is recommended by the Foster's board and is subject to a number of customary conditions, detailed in a scheme implementation deed, the principal terms of which are summarised in Attachment 1 to this announcement. A full copy of the scheme implementation deed will be available shortly on SABMiller's website.
The scheme implementation deed provides for the ordinary conduct of Foster's business from signing until completion, and arrangements for merger and implementation planning before closing. It specifies that in certain circumstances, including if a higher valued competing transaction is announced and completed within twelve months, Foster's will pay to SABMiller a break fee of A$99 million, being 1% of the equity value of the recommended transaction.
Foster's has commenced the process of obtaining a ruling from the Australian Tax Office ("ATO") confirming the tax treatment of the capital reduction.
SABMiller has internal resources and committed financing to fund the cash consideration, and SABMiller expects to maintain a strong investment grade credit profile.
As previously announced, SABMiller has separately reached agreement with Coca-Cola Amatil Limited to be able to acquire its share of the Pacific Beverages Pty Limited joint venture should SABMiller acquire a controlling interest in Foster's.
SABMiller has entered into a number of cash settled equity swap contracts that provide it with an economic exposure equivalent to 78 million shares (being approximately 4.0% of the total number of issued Foster's shares), which will reduce SABMiller's aggregate cash cost of the transaction consideration by approximately A$69 million.
SABMiller and Foster's have agreed to work together to prepare the necessary documents to be considered by Foster's shareholders. The scheme document is expected to be posted to Foster's shareholders in approximately six weeks. If approved by shareholders at the relevant scheme meetings later this year, SABMiller expects the acquisition to be completed before the end of 2011.
Unanimous Directors' Recommendation
The Directors of Foster's have unanimously recommended that shareholders vote in favour of the scheme of arrangement and capital reduction, and have committed to voting their own interests in favour of the proposals, in the absence of a higher valued competing proposal and subject to an independent expert confirming that the proposal is in the best interests of Foster's shareholders.
Commenting on the agreement, SABMiller's Chief Executive, Graham Mackay, said:
"We are pleased that we have reached agreement on a recommended transaction to be put to Foster's shareholders.
"Foster's will become an important part of our business, and through the application of our commercial capabilities and global scale, we expect to build on the initiatives that Foster's management has put in place, further enhancing Foster's performance and creating value for our shareholders.
"Foster's has a long-standing and proud reputation as one of the leading companies in Australia. We look forward to working with Foster's employees and other stakeholders to ensure the success of Foster's in the future as the largest brewer in Australia with an outstanding portfolio of brands."
