Valad Property Group ("Valad" or the "Group", ASX: VPG) announced it has signed agreements with Bank of Scotland plc ("BoS") necessary to create the Diversified UK and European ("DUKE") property joint venture, which has a term of three years. A small number of subsidiary documents remain to be executed and these are expected to be signed shortly.
Transaction at a glance
Valad has contributed the majority of its European / UK assets and all associated debt, to the DUKE joint venture.
In addition, Valad has contributed 10 million (AU $17 million) and will contribute a further 15 million (AU $26 million) in cash to the DUKE joint venture over three years. Valad has also contributed its investment in Crownstone which had a value of 50 million (AU $87 million) at December 2008. Valad's 40 million (AU $70 million) contingent liability relating to the German Aktiv Fund (GAF), has been cancelled.
The DUKE joint venture has assumed the existing debt facilities associated with the above assets, the terms of which have largely remained unchanged, and which also have a term of three years. BoS has provided new undrawn facilities of £66 million (AU $135 million) to the joint venture. A fee of £25 million (AU $51 million) is payable by DUKE on termination of the DUKE debt facilities.
Valad and BoS each hold a 50% equity ownership in the DUKE joint venture company. Any cash or profits generated by DUKE will be used to retire debt within DUKE. Reflecting an anticipated fall in property values, Valad expects to carry its equity in the DUKE joint venture at nil value, as at June 30, 2009.
Valad retains 100% ownership of Valad's European funds management platform which is held separately from the DUKE joint venture.
The transaction is effective as of June 30, 2009.
These agreements represent another significant milestone in the execution of Valad's restructuring strategy, following the extension of Valad's Asia Pacific debt facilities in February this year. The next component of Valad's restructure is to finalize arrangements for the £36 million (AU $73 million) Scarborough deferred payment, which is due for payment in September 2009. Having reached this stage of Valad's restructuring, the Group is now in a position to refocus on growing the business.
Valad European funds management platform
The Valad European Fund Manager ("Valad Europe") is one of the largest real estate asset management groups in Europe, with a UK and pan-European platform and AUM of AU $9.1 billion as at December 31, 2008. Valad Property Group retains 100% ownership of Valad Europe.
Valad Europe has entered into an agreement to provide various asset management and other services to the DUKE joint venture, and expects to be well placed to secure the management of future work-out assets from BoS and other financial institutions, and to launch future opportunity funds.
Under the terms of the restructure, should Valad choose to sell Valad Europe within three years, the DUKE joint venture has the right to the net proceeds.
European corporate debt
Binding agreements with BoS have been signed for debt facilities, with the following features:
DUKE
Pre-existing facilities remain in place but will be liabilities of the DUKE joint venture and have been amended to operate under a common covenant regime and security pool;
New facilities of £66 million (AU $135 million) have been created to support ongoing business;
A financial covenant test of future and historical debt service cover equal to or greater than 1.0x. There are no other financial covenants;
New facilities and existing facilities have a three year term;
The weighted average margin across the DUKE joint venture debt is 134 bps;
Debt relating to GAF will remain separate from the DUKE joint venture debt facilities;
BoS has granted a waiver of the existing GAF loan to value covenant for a term of three years; and
Debt in the Valad Opportunity Fund UK and other joint ventures held by DUKE remain on current terms.
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