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BARLOWORLD LIMITED - Joint announcement regarding the Standby Offer

Release Date: 30/06/2025 16:25
Code(s): BAW41 BAW42 BAW37 BAW38 BAW39 BAW40 BAWGL2 BAWGL1 BAW BAWP     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Joint announcement regarding the Standby Offer

BARLOWORLD LIMITED                                     K2024528179 (SOUTH AFRICA) PROPRIETARY LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)         (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1918/000095/06)                   (Registration number: 2024/528179/07)
(JSE share code: BAW)                                  ("Newco" or the "Offeror")
(JSE ISIN: ZAE000026639)
(Share code: BAWP)
(A2X code: BAW)
(JSE ISIN: ZAE000026647)
(Bond issuer code: BIBAW)
("Barloworld" or the "Company")

JOINT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE STANDBY OFFER

Unless otherwise defined in this announcement, capitalised words and expressions have the meanings
given to them in the Circular and Extension Announcement (defined below).

1.     INTRODUCTION

       Barloworld Ordinary Shareholders are referred to:

       (i)  the joint firm intention announcement released on the JSE Stock Exchange News Service
            ("SENS") and on A2X News Service ("ANS") on Wednesday, 11 December 2024 and to the
            circular to Barloworld shareholders dated 29 January 2025 ("Circular") regarding the Newco
            Offer, which offer contemplated:

             a. the acquisition by Newco of all of the Barloworld Ordinary Shares, other than those
                held by the Excluded Shareholders, by way of a scheme of arrangement in terms of
                section 114(1) read with section 115 of the Companies Act, read with the Companies
                Regulations, for the Per Share Scheme Consideration, being ZAR120 per Barloworld
                Ordinary Share; or

             b. if a Standby Offer Trigger Event occurred, an offer in terms of section 117(1)(c)(v) of
                the Companies Act, read with the Companies Regulations;

       (ii)  the joint announcement released by Barloworld and Newco on SENS and ANS on
             Friday, 28 February 2025, advising Barloworld Ordinary Shareholders that the Standby Offer
             had been triggered and had become open for acceptance by Barloworld Ordinary
             Shareholders; and

       (iii) the joint announcement released by Barloworld and Newco on SENS on Friday, 9 May 2025
             ("Extension Announcement"), amongst other things, advising Barloworld Ordinary
             Shareholders that:

             a. the Acceptance Date Deadline had been extended to 30 June 2025 to allow additional
                time for Barloworld Ordinary Shareholders who wish to accept the Standby Offer to do
                so; and

             b. on or before 30 June 2025, Newco will assess the level of acceptances of the Standby
                Offer received, and decide whether or not it wishes to waive the Acceptance Condition
                and proceed with the Standby Offer.

2.     FURTHER EXTENSION OF THE DATE OF FULFILMENT OR WAIVER OF ACCEPTANCE CONDITION

       Newco hereby waives the Acceptance Condition with effect from the date on which the other
       Standby Offer Conditions are fulfilled (or, if applicable, waived). Newco confirms that this waiver
       is irrevocable and is subject only to the fulfilment of (or, if applicable, waiver) of the other Standby
       Offer Conditions.

       As at the date of this announcement, Newco has received Valid Acceptances of the Standby
       Offer in respect of 64,224,014 Barloworld Ordinary Shares which equate to approximately 34.4%
       of all the Barloworld Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding Treasury Shares). This, together with
       the Consortium's and the Barloworld Foundation's existing shareholdings, equates to 57.7% of
       the Barloworld Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding Treasury Shares).

       Newco has requested an extension to the Acceptance Date Deadline to ensure that the waiver
       of the Acceptance Condition will only become effective once the other Standby Offer Conditions
       have been fulfilled (or, if applicable, waived) in order to give Newco certainty that Barloworld
       Ordinary Shareholders who have made Valid Acceptances may not withdraw their acceptances.
       Newco wishes to ensure that the Consortium will hold at least 51% of the Barloworld Ordinary
       Shares in issue (excluding Treasury Shares) after the Standby Offer is implemented.

       Barloworld Ordinary Shareholders are advised that, after careful consideration, and with
       Barloworld Ordinary Shareholders' best interest in mind, the Independent Board has, in terms of
       Regulation 103(4)(b), agreed to extend the Acceptance Date Deadline to the date on which the
       other Standby Offer Conditions are fulfilled (or, if applicable, waived). The Independent Board
       believes that, in light of Newco's confirmation above, the extension is to the benefit of Barloworld
       Ordinary Shareholders because it avoids the Standby Offer failing on 30 June 2025 in
       circumstances where Newco is willing to proceed with the Standby Offer at the current level of
       Valid Acceptances.

       Barloworld Ordinary Shareholders are advised that as at the date of this announcement, the
       Standby Offer Conditions set out in the following paragraphs of the Circular have not yet been
       fulfilled (or, if applicable, waived), namely paragraphs 6.3(v) (regulatory approvals (other than a
       TRP compliance certificate)), 6.3(vi) (no Material Adverse Change), 6.3(vii) (Newco receipt of the
       Final VSD and the Dentons Report), and 6.3(viii) (no Superior Competing Barloworld Proposal).

       As a condition to the extension of the Acceptance Date Deadline, Newco has agreed to pay a
       break fee in the amount of R20,000,000 to the Company to defray certain of the Company's costs
       in relation to Newco Offer, if the Standby Offer Conditions referred to above are not fulfilled (or,
       if applicable, waived) by the Longstop Date.

       STANDBY OFFER PROCESS

       As noted in the joint announcement released on SENS and ANS on 9 June 2025, the South
       African Competition Commission ("Commission") has recommended that the South African
       Competition Tribunal ("Tribunal") approve the Proposed Transaction, subject to certain public
       interest conditions. The Commission's recommendation is in the process of being considered by
       the Tribunal and the parties continue to work towards the fulfilment of the other remaining
       conditions precedent for the Proposed Transaction.

       The Standby Offer therefore remains open for acceptance by those Barloworld Ordinary
       Shareholders who wish to accept the Standby Offer but have not yet done so. The deadline for
       acceptance of the Standby Offer is 12:00 on the first Friday falling ten Business Days or more
       after the date on which the last of the Standby Offer Conditions is fulfilled (or, if applicable,
       waived).

       Where Barloworld Ordinary Shareholders, their CSDPs or brokers have any questions in relation
       to the Standby Offer, they should refer to the detailed Frequently Asked Questions on the Issuer's
       website at https://barloworld.com/investors/standby-offer-faq/ or refer queries to Barloworld's
       investor relation team at bawir@barloworld.com.

3.     RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENTS

       The Independent Board

       The Independent Board (to the extent that the information relates to Barloworld), individually and
       collectively, accepts responsibility for the information contained in this announcement and
       certifies, to the best of its knowledge and belief, that the information contained in this
       announcement is true and that this announcement does not omit anything that is likely to affect
       the importance of the information included.

       Newco

       The board of directors of Newco (to the extent that the information relates to Newco), individually
       and collectively, accepts responsibility for the information contained in this announcement and
       certifies, to the best of its knowledge and belief, that the information contained in this
       announcement is true and that this announcement does not omit anything that is likely to affect
       the importance of the information included.

Johannesburg
30 June 2025

Exclusive financial adviser, corporate broker and transaction sponsor to Barloworld
Rand Merchant Bank (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)

Legal adviser to Barloworld
DLA Piper

Communications adviser to Barloworld
ByDesign Communications

Joint financial advisers to the Offeror
Deutsche Bank
The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
Tamela Holdings Proprietary Limited

Legal adviser to the Offeror
Bowmans

South African legal adviser on competition law and legal due diligence to the Offeror
Webber Wentzel

International legal adviser on competition law and legal due diligence to the Offeror
Ashurst

Communications adviser to the Offeror
FTI Consulting

Date: 30-06-2025 04:25:00
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