In what might be one of SA’s biggest property deals, Redefine announced last week it wished to acquire Fountainhead’s management company for R660m, which would be followed with an offer to acquire Fountainhead’s property portfolio worth more than R10bn, to be paid for with a combination of Hyprop units and units in Redefine.
Redefine’s property portfolio is already worth more than R20bn.
Oasis senior analyst Hassan Motala said yesterday that Fountainhead unitholders’ income would be "significantly" diluted as they would receive Hyprop shares that were trading at a yield more than 10% lower than the Fountainhead yield.
Mr Motala said the balance sheet strength of Fountainhead unitholders would reduce because they would receive Redefine shares that had double the percentage of debt to assets, relative to Fountainhead.
The income of Fountainhead was on a low base, due to the defensive capital expenditure of R850m spent on the Blue Route Mall.
Mr Motala said the record of Redefine to deliver growth in recurring distributions was poor, with growth of 4% a year since 2008, which was "well below the industry average", despite synergies from the merger with Apexhi and Madison.
The R660m for Fountainhead Management Company to be paid to Standard Bank and Liberty was excessive at more than 7% of assets under management, 16 times revenue and 130 times earnings, Mr Motala said.
"This excessive purchase price will undoubtedly be recovered from Fountainhead’s unitholders to ensure the overall transaction is earnings enhancing to Redefine."
On the other hand, Investec Asset Management fund manager Angelique de Rauville said while the offer for the management company was "on the high end, over the last few years we have seen more expensive offers". She said that the distribution of sought-after Hyprop shares to the broader market of Fountainhead unitholders was positive and it would also eliminate a cross-shareholding between two large companies in the sector.
She said the deal would not be earnings dilutionary for Fountainhead unitholders, as Redefine traded on a higher yield, and the transaction should be about earnings neutral for Fountainhead unit holders.
Ms de Rauville said Investec Asset Management was a shareholder of the three property companies involved and it intended to support the deal, subject to further terms being announced.