Zambeef Products PLC Disposal of 90% shareholding in Zampalm Limited (0044Q)

TIDMZAM

RNS Number : 0044Q

Zambeef Products PLC

06 September 2017

6 September 2017

Zambeef Products plc

("Zambeef" or the "Group")

Disposal of 90 per cent. shareholding in Zampalm Limited

Zambeef (AIM: ZAM), the fully integrated cold chain food processing and retailing group with operations in Zambia, Nigeria and Ghana, announces that it has entered into a Share Sale Agreement, a Shareholders' Agreement and a Management Agreement (together, the "Agreements") with the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia Limited ("IDC") for the sale of 90 per cent. of Zambeef's shareholding in its wholly owned subsidiary, Zampalm Limited ("Zampalm") to IDC for a cash consideration of USD16 million (the "Consideration") (the "Transaction"). For more information on IDC, please see the notes section.

Transaction Overview

-- Disposal of 90 per cent. of Zambeef's shareholding in Zampalm (after loan capitalisation, as referred to below) to IDC for a total cash Consideration of USD16 million.

-- USD16 million cash to be paid on completion, with a further Performance Amount of up to USD2 million dependent on performance milestones over the three years from 2018 to 2020.

-- Disposal is aligned with the Group's strategy of focusing on its core business of the production and retailing of cold chain meat and dairy products, cropping and stockfeed.

-- Proceeds will be used to further pay down the Group's debt and thus reduce gearing and interest costs.

Background

Zampalm was incorporated in 2009 following Zambeef's acquisition of Zamanita Limited ("Zamanita") in order to develop an oil palm plantation and crushing mill in Zambia as a continuation of its strategy of vertical integration.

In addition to its position as a leading edible oil and soybean meal producer, Zamanita also owned the only solvent extraction plant in Zambia.

It is estimated that 50%-70% of Zambia's edible oil consumption of approximately 120,000 M.T. per annum is imported as finished edible oil from the Far East, East Africa and South Africa. Zampalm was created to substitute those exports and produce palm oil entirely in Zambia for the domestic market.

Zampalm owns 20,238 Ha of land on title in the Northern Province of Zambia, on the Eastern side of Lake Bangweulu, to the North-West of Mpika town. Zampalm currently has approximately 413,362 palms planted over an area of 2,911 Ha in the main plantation, with another 172,000 seedlings in the main and pre-nursery. The first crushing mill (2 tons/hr) was established in 2016.

As at 30 September 2016:

1) The assets of Zampalm had a book value of ZMW189.8 million (c.USD19 million), representing approximately 6.3 per cent. of the Group's gross assets;

2) The revenue attributable to Zampalm was ZMW135,000 (c.USD12,465), accounting for 0.006 per cent. of the Group's turnover; and

   3)   Zampalm recorded a loss after tax of ZMW1.6 million (c.USD0.15 million). 

Rationale

In 2015, Zambeef disposed its entire 100 per cent. shareholding in Zamanita to Cargill Holdings BV. The rationale for the Zamanita disposal was as follows:

-- The Zambeef Board wished to re-focus its strategy on its key business areas of retailing of cold chain meat and dairy products, cropping and stock feed, and therefore resolved to dispose of assets and businesses that were non-core;

-- From 2009 to 2015, the oil seed crushing industry had matured and a number of new participants had entered the market, thus making this sector highly competitive. As a result, the board of directors of Zambeef (the "Board") felt that that it was no longer essential for Zambeef to be involved in this industry, as the primary production of crude palm oil was not core to the Group, and there were enough other market players who now supplied high-quality soybean meal at a competitive price. Furthermore, oil seed crushing is a highly specialised and capital intensive business which is also exposed to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and commodity prices.

Following the disposal of Zamanita, the Board has reviewed its strategy for Zampalm and concluded that given the long timescales required to create value from a greenfield project, it was in the best interests of Zampalm stakeholders to seek a new majority shareholder. IDC represent the ideal partner given its mandate of working with the private sector to deliver long term economic transformation.

Transaction Details

1) Disposal of Zambeef's 90 per cent. shareholding in Zampalm (after loan capitalisation as referred to below) to IDC for USD16 million.

   2)   Zambeef will retain a 10 per cent. shareholding. 
   3)   USD16 million cash Consideration paid on completion. 
   4)   Further Performance Amount of USD2 million paid over 3 Performance Periods, as follows: 

a) First Performance Period (1 October 2017 - 30 September 2018) - First Performance Amount of USD666,667 to be paid on or before 31 December 2018;

b) Second Performance Period (1 October 2018 - 30 September 2019) - Second Performance Amount of USD666,667 to be paid on or before 31 December 2019; and

c) Third Performance Period (1 October 2019 - 30 September 2020) - Third Performance Amount of USD666,667 to be paid on or before 31 December 2020.

5) Payment of the Performance Amounts above shall be contingent upon Zampalm achieving not less than 80 per cent. of the specified projected Fresh Fruit Bunch ("FFB") yields and Crude Palm Oil (CPO) production in any given Performance Period.

6) In the event that Zampalm fails to meet the projected FFB yields and CPO production in any given Performance Period, Zambeef shall not be entitled to claim the Performance Amount for the applicable Performance Period.

7) Zambeef currently has in place two shareholder loans to Zampalm totaling ZMW128.7 million (c.USD14.3 million) as at 1 June 2017, which will be affected as follows by the Transaction:

a) First Inter-Company Loan of ZMW106.4 million (c.USD11.8 million) as at 30 September 2016, which will be capitalised by Zambeef into new ordinary shares of Zampalm prior to Completion;

b) Second Inter-Company Loan - Zambeef's continuing shareholder loan from 1 October 2016 to Completion date, which stood at ZMW22.4 million (c.USD2.5 million) as at 1 June 2017. This Second Inter-Company Loan shall be applied towards Zambeef's shareholder contributions for the three financial years 2018 to 2020 and Zambeef shall not be obliged to make any further contributions to Zampalm beyond the value of the Second Inter-Company Loan.

8) Each party commits to paying its share of the projected net cash outflow over the next three years (2018 to 2020) before the project is expected to become profit generating. Each party shall pay its contribution annually in advance on or before 30 September of each financial year.

Conditions Precedent

Completion is subject to certain conditions precedent to be satisfied within 180 calendar days following signing of the Agreements (the "Conditions Precedent"), including:

1) That the Zambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) provides either negative clearance or its approval to the transaction, or if conditional approval is obtained, that the parties accept such conditions in writing within 14 business days of receipt of the CCPC's notification;

2) That AIM, the Lusaka Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission are notified of the transaction, insofar as may be required in terms of the Rules and the Securities Act and the requisite approvals have been obtained;

3) Zambeef having capitalised the First Inter-Company Loan by the creation of new ordinary shares in Zampalm that shall be allotted and issued to Zambeef prior to Completion;

4) To the extent necessary, Zambeef having obtained the consent of its lenders to effect the Transaction, including the discharge of any encumbrances on the property and assets of Zampalm;

   5)   Zambeef having transferred the "Zampalm Limited" trademark to IDC. 

Effective Date

The effective date for the Transaction shall be the date of the fulfilment of the Conditions Precedent.

Application of the Proceeds

This Transaction will allow Zambeef to unlock value, via a reduction in overall gearing, and in so doing reduce interest costs.

Categorisation of the Transaction on the Lusaka Stock Exchange

The Transaction is classified as a Category 2 transaction in terms of Section 9 of the Lusaka Stock Exchange Listings Requirements. Accordingly, it is not subject to approval by Zambeef shareholders.

Dr. Jacob Mwanza, Chairman of Zambeef, commented:

"This transaction is in line with and a continuation of the Group's strategic vision, which will allow Zambeef to focus on growing its core business, which is the production and retailing of cold chain meat and dairy products, cropping and stockfeed, delivered through the Group's extensive processing, distribution and retail network. Furthermore, the transaction will allow Zambeef to continue to reduce its overall gearing, and in so doing, reduce interest costs."

 
 For further information, please contact: 
 
 Zambeef Products plc          Tel: +260 (0) 
                                211 369003 
 Carl Irwin, Joint Chief Executive Officer 
 Francis Grogan, Joint Chief Executive Officer 
 
 Strand Hanson Limited          Tel: +44 (0) 
                                 20 7409 3494 
 James Spinney 
 Ritchie Balmer 
 Frederick Twist 
 
 finnCap                       Tel: +44 (0) 
                                20 7220 0500 
 Emily Morris 
  Christopher Raggett 
 
 Powerscourt                   Tel: +44 (0)20 
                                7250 1446 
 Nick Dibden 
 Nick Brown 
 
 

Notes to editors

Information on Zambeef

The Zambeef Group is one of the largest integrated cold chain food producers in Zambia, involved in the production, processing, distribution and retailing of beef, chicken, pork, milk, eggs, dairy products, fish, flour and stock feed. The Group also has large cereal row cropping operations (principally maize, soya beans and wheat), with approximately 7,971 hectares of row crops under irrigation, which are planted twice a year and a further 8,623 hectares of rain-fed/dry-land crops available for planting each year.

Further information can be found on www.zambeefplc.com

Information on IDC

The Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia Limited is an investment company wholly owned by the Zambian government, incorporated in early 2014 as a company limited by shares under the Companies Act of Zambia.

IDC's mandate is to play a catalytic role in deepening and supporting Zambia's industrialisation capacity to promote job creation and domestic wealth formation. The IDC is an active shareholder and investor focused on a broad spectrum of sectors.

IDC serves as an investment holding company for Zambia's State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and new investments that ultimately generate earnings for the proposed Zambia Sovereign Wealth Fund. The IDC plays its role through evaluation, pricing and lowering the investment risk profile by serving as co-investor alongside private sector investors. The IDC facilitates provision and raising of long term finance for projects.

IDC operates as an independent commercial investment holding company; it has its own board of directors and a professional management team.

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ("MAR").

-Ends-

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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September 06, 2017 09:01 ET (13:01 GMT)