Vukile Property Fund has announced acquiring a further stake in Synergy Income Fund, bringing Vukile’s holding in Synergy to a total 39.965%.
With its latest investment in Synergy increasing its interest beyond 35%, Vukile Property Fund is obliged to make a mandatory offer to acquire all the remaining linked units in Synergy.
Laurence Rapp, CEO of Vukile, remarks: “Vukile has been patient and prudent with its strategic stake in Synergy. The time is now ripe to move this opportunity forward.”
In December 2013, Vukile Property Fund acquired around 34% of Synergy B linked units. Vukile then entered discussions to deepen its position in Synergy with a view to Vukile ultimately acquiring control of Synergy or its underlying assets. However, Vukile withdrew from these discussions in early September 2014, after the two parties were unable to find common ground on price.
Now Vukile has triggered a mandatory offer by acquiring and taking transfer of 3,543,839 Synergy B linked units from Stanlib Asset Management and 5,584,586 Synergy B linked units from Liberty Group, both at a swap ratio of one Vukile linked unit for every 2.67 Synergy B linked units.
Rapp comments: “Any deal we do is about creating value for Vukile unitholders. Doing the right deal always comes down to price and strategy. Synergy’s assets have a strong strategic fit for Vukile’s portfolio. But that alone isn’t enough. While we are eager to add the right assets to our portfolio, we simply won’t chase growth at any cost. We’ve been patient and waited for the price to be right for our investors before we act. Today, the pricing makes more sense for us to pursue this opportunity.”
Rapp confirmed that Vukile Property Fund will offer to acquire the remaining Synergy B linked units at a swap ratio of one Vukile linked unit for every 2.67 Synergy B linked units. It will also extend a comparable offer to Synergy A linked unitholders at a swap ration of one Vukile linked unit for every 1.65 Synergy A linked units.
