Adshel takeover triggers NZME option to buy NZ business   25 Oct 2016

Tuesday 25 October 2016 03:50 PM

APN's Adshel takeover triggers NZME option to buy NZ business

By Paul McBeth

Oct. 25 (BusinessDesk) - APN News & Media's A$268 million buy-out of its Adshel partner has triggered a clause that gives its former NZME subsidiary the right to buy the outdoor advertising unit's New Zealand assets on the same terms.

Sydney-based APN today signed a deal to buy the 50 percent of Adshel it didn't already own from Clear Channel Outdoor, giving it control of 22,000 static and digital panels across Australia and New Zealand, it said in a statement. Adshel generated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of A$42 million on revenue of A$170 million in the year ended June 30, of which the New Zealand contributed 22 percent, or A$9.3 million in earnings on sales of A$19.8 million.

APN plans to raise A$273 million through an institutional placement and renounceable entitlement offer to pay for the acquisition, selling shares at a discounted A$2.45 price. However, the New Zealand business, which has 150 digital screens and another 70 planned for the current financial year, could get bought by NZME under an option included in the media company's demerger from APN earlier this year.

Auckland-based NZME, which publishes the New Zealand Herald newspaper and operates the Radio Network stations, has one month from the date of completion to make up its mind on whether to exercise the option and a further two months to complete its acquisition if it does, APN said.

"If NZME elects to exercise the option and acquires Adshel NZ from APN, APN will consider, and if appropriate having regard to the position of APN at the relevant time, implement one or more capital management initiatives to return excess capital to shareholders," APN said.

The price payable by NZME would be calculated on an ebitda multiple, implying the New Zealand business could cost A$59 million. NZME had cash and equivalents of NZ$13.8 million as at June 30, and could draw a further NZ$48 million on its NZ$160 million banking facilities, meaning it probably has headroom to make the acquisition.

However, its proposed NZ$122.2 million acquisition of Fairfax Media's New Zealand assets includes an NZ$55 million cash component and would see the merged media group increase its banking lines by NZ$90 million to NZ$250 million, making the Adshel business a bit of a mouthful.

APN and NZME have a 12-month non-compete clause, which excludes the New Zealand Adshel business.

NZME chief marketing officer Liza McNally didn't respond to requests for comment on whether the New Zealand media group will exercise the option.

NZME's NZX-listed shares rose 1.5 percent to 69 cents, while APN's ASX-listed stock last traded at A$3.70.

(BusinessDesk)

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