EANS-Adhoc: conwert Immobilien Invest SE
voluntary public takeover offer for
ECO Business-Immobilien AG
ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
15.06.2010
conwert: voluntary public takeover offer for ECO Business-Immobilien AG
+ conwert Immobilien Invest SE announces voluntary public takeover offer for ECO Business-Immobilien AG + Offer price of EUR 6.50 per share exceeds 6-month average price by 34.3% + Minimum acceptance threshold amounts to 50% + 1 share of free float + Takeover enables rapid and efficient enhancement of latent value in the interests of ECO and conwert shareholders
Vienna, 15.06.2010. conwert Immobilien Invest SE, listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange, announces that it will submit a voluntary public takeover bid to all the other shareholders of ECO Business-Immobilien AG. The offer price will amount to EUR 6.50 in cash. conwert will thus offer a premium of 16.5% on the closing price of the ECO-share of 14 June 2010 and a premium of 34.3% on the 6-month average weighted share price.
conwert considers the public takeover bid an optimal solution in order to efficiently enhance the value of ECO Business-Immobilien AG in the interests of all shareholders. Johann Kowar, Chairman of the Executive Board of conwert Immobilien Invest SE, comments: "Although ECO Business-Immobilien AG manages the operating business well, its stock exchange listing is less liquid due to the company´s size and difficult capital markets access means the company has limited growth opportunities. As a result, the share price is significantly below the book value of the company and, being the largest single shareholder, we are not satisfied with this situation. The public takeover offer enables us to materialise these latent values rapidly and efficiently in the interests of both the ECO and conwert shareholders. Furthermore, for conwert, this transaction is earnings and value accretive. ECO shareholders will be offered the unique opportunity to realise a short-term value growth through the attractive cash offer of EUR 6.50 per share."
Even in the case of a complete takeover of ECO Business-Immobilien AG, conwert will maintain its positioning as a residential property company. ECO is already managed by conwert - the planned takeover will simplify the corporate structure and raise flexibility in order to implement measures to increase value. conwert would obtain control over a property portfolio of roughly EUR 732 million (94% in Austria and Germany) with a rental yield of 6.2%. The portfolio partly comprises inner-city properties of mixed use, which also meet the investment criteria of conwert, as well as office and commercial properties. In seeking to maximise value, conwert can choose from a series of strategic options and benefits from its asset management expertise, a longstanding track record and excellent access to the market in trading business.
conwert currently holds a 24.9% stake in ECO Business-Immobilien AG. If the takeover offer is fully accepted, the maximum transaction volume will amount to roughly EUR 166.5 million. The offer will be conditional on the approval by the competent antitrust authorities and on accomplishing a minimum acceptance threshold of 50% + 1 share of the free float as stipulated by the Takeover Act.
The offer documents, which contain further details and stipulations, will be published following the approval by the Austrian Takeover Commission, presumably in the week starting on 28 June 2010.
conwert will be supported in the takeover by Barclays Capital as financial adviser and financing bank.
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
conwert Immobilien Invest SE
Peter Sidlo, Head of Corporate Communications - Investor Relations
T +43 / 1 / 521 45-250
E sidlo@conwert.at
Metrum Communications GmbH
Roland Mayrl
T +43 / 1 / 504 69 87-331
E r.mayrl@metrum.at
Branche: Real Estate
ISIN: AT0000697750
WKN: 069775
Index: WBI
Börsen: Wien / official market