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Declaration announcement regarding the proposed listing on the JSE and unbundling of Rainbow

Published: 2024-06-04 08:05:33 ET
<<<  go to JSE:RCL company page
RCL FOODS LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number: 1966/004972/06)
ISIN: ZAE000179438
Share code: RCL
("RCL FOODS")

DECLARATION ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE PROPOSED LISTING ON THE JSE AND UNBUNDLING
OF RAINBOW

1.     INTRODUCTION

        RCL FOODS shareholders (“Shareholders”) are referred to the announcement regarding the group financial
        results for the six months ended December 2023, released on the Stock Exchange News Service of the JSE
        (“SENS”) on 4 March 2024, wherein RCL FOODS stated its intention to pursue a formal separation of its poultry
        operation, which is now housed in the legal entity Rainbow Chicken Limited (“Rainbow”), via a listing of the
        ordinary shares in Rainbow (“Rainbow Shares”) on the Main Board of the JSE (“Listing”) and pro rata
        distribution in specie of the Rainbow Shares to Shareholders (“Unbundling”).

2.     APPROVAL OF THE RAINBOW LISTING ON THE JSE AND THE PROPOSED UNBUNDLING

2.1.    As indicated in RCL FOODS’ latest group financial results for the six-month period ended December 2023,
        Rainbow has made significant strides in delivering on its strategy to restore through-the-cycle profitability by
        means of an appropriately structured and sustainable operational base. The responses shown by Rainbow,
        particularly in relation to (i) the successful implementation of a change of its chicken breed (a significant change
        to the genetics of its breeding stock) which was completed in the current financial year, and (ii) improved
        operational resilience in the face of significant headwinds experienced recently, have considerably
        demonstrated the benefits achievable from an improved operational base.

2.2.    The boards of directors of both RCL FOODS and Rainbow are excited to announce a new phase in Rainbow’s
        journey which is the result of significant effort by the respective management teams and is underpinned by
        confidence in the ability of Rainbow to operate on a standalone basis and deliver sustainable, attractive financial
        performance over the long term.

2.3.    Accordingly, Shareholders are advised that the Listing and Unbundling were approved by the board of directors
        of RCL FOODS on Monday, 3 June 2024. The Unbundling will be implemented by way of an in specie distribution
        by RCL FOODS of all the Rainbow Shares held by it, comprising of 100% of the Rainbow Shares in issue (being
        890,296,405 Rainbow ordinary shares of no par value) to Shareholders in the ratio of 1 Rainbow Share for every
        1 ordinary no par value RCL FOODS share held by Shareholders entitled to participate in the Unbundling as at
        the Unbundling record date, in terms of section 46 of the Companies Act, 71 of 2008 and in accordance with
        section 46 of the Income Tax Act, 58 of 1962.

2.4.    In terms of paragraph 5.85 of the listing requirements of the JSE, the Unbundling does not require the approval
        of Shareholders.

2.5.    The Unbundling does require, and is subject to, the approval by the Financial Surveillance Department of the
        South African Reserve Bank and the JSE approving the Listing.

2.6.    The salient details of the Rainbow group and the Rainbow Shares will be contained in the pre-listing statement
        relating to Rainbow (“Pre-listing Statement”) which, subject to the JSE granting the necessary approvals, is
        anticipated to be distributed to Shareholders on or about Monday, 10 June 2024. An abridged pre-listing
        statement will be published on SENS on or about Monday, 10 June 2024 and an electronic copy of the Pre-
        listing Statement will be made available for inspection on both the RCL FOODS’ website (www.rclfoods.com)
        and the Rainbow website (www.rainbowchickens.co.za) on the same day.

2.7.    The effective date of the Unbundling is anticipated to be on or about Monday, 1 July 2024.

2.8.    Shareholders are advised that further details in respect of the Listing and the Unbundling will be published on
        SENS and full details will be made available in the Pre-listing Statement, in due course.
3.   TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS

      The following indicative timetable sets out expected dates and times applicable for the implementation of the
      Listing and the Unbundling


                                                                                                              2024

      Publication of the Pre-listing Statement on the RCL FOODS’ website                          Monday, 10 June
      (www.rclfoods.com) and the Rainbow website (www.rainbowchickens.co.za) on

      Abridged Pre-listing Statement released on SENS                                             Monday, 10 June

      Pre-listing Statement distributed to Shareholders                                           Monday, 10 June

      Release of the Unbundling finalisation announcement by RCL FOODS on SENS                   Tuesday, 18 June
      by no later than 11:00 on

      Last day to trade for Shareholders to be entitled to participate in the Unbundling         Tuesday, 25 June

      RCL FOODS Shares commence trading “ex” entitlement to Rainbow Shares                    Wednesday, 26 June

      Listing of Rainbow Shares on the Main Board of the JSE under the abbreviated            Wednesday, 26 June
      name Rainbow, share code RBO and ISIN ZAE000334850, and shares
      commence trading on

      Announcement of specified ratio to apportion existing cost/base cost of RCL               Thursday, 27 June
      Foods Shares between Rainbow Shares and RCL Foods Shares for taxation/CGT
      purposes released on SENS by 11:00

      Unbundling record date to receive JSE-listed Rainbow Shares pursuant to the                   Friday, 28 June
      Unbundling

      Closing price of RCL FOODS Shares and Rainbow Shares to be released on SENS                   Friday, 28 June
      after market close on

      Unbundling operative date, being the date on which JSE-listed Rainbow Shares are              Monday, 1 July
      unbundled to Shareholders entitled to participate in the Unbundling

      Shareholders’ CSDP or Broker accounts to be updated and credited with JSE-listed              Monday, 1 July
      Rainbow Shares


     Notes:

     1.   The expected dates and times listed above may be subject to change. Any changes to the above dates and
          times will be released on SENS and published in the South African press.
     2.   All references to times shown above are to South African standard time.
     3.   There may be no rematerialisation or dematerialisation of RCL FOODS Shares between Wednesday,
          26 June 2024 and Friday, 28 June 2024, both days inclusive

4.   TRADING AND SETTLEMENT

      Shareholders will receive their respective JSE-listed Rainbow Shares in dematerialised (electronic) form.
      Accordingly, all Shareholders must appoint a CSDP directly or through a broker, to receive the Rainbow Shares
      on their behalf. Should a Shareholder require a physical certificate for its Rainbow Shares, it will have to
      materialise its Rainbow Shares following its receipt thereof in terms of the Unbundling, and should contact its
      CSDP or the Transfer Secretaries to do so.
5.     TAX CONSIDERATIONS

5.1.    The tax consequences of the Unbundling applicable to Shareholders will depend upon the individual
        circumstances of each Shareholder. Accordingly, Shareholders are advised to obtain independent tax advice in
        relation to the tax consequences (if any) of the Unbundling on them.

5.2.    It is expected that distribution of RCL FOODS Shares in terms of the Unbundling should qualify as an
        “unbundling transaction” for purposes of section 46(1) of the Income Tax Act and should, accordingly, be
        disregarded for tax purposes in South Africa for RCL FOODS and for Shareholders except to the extent of any
        distributions made to a “disqualified person” as defined in the Income Tax Act. The distribution in respect of the
        Unbundling will not reduce the contributed tax capital of RCL FOODS as that term is defined in the Income Tax
        Act .

5.3.    The tax consequences for “foreign shareholders” per the Income Tax Act should be confirmed by such foreign
        Shareholders with advisors in the relevant foreign jurisdictions.

5.4.    The receipt of the Rainbow Shares by Shareholders should qualify for tax relief in South Africa and, the resulting
        dividend will, save with regards to the shares held by disqualified persons, be disregarded for dividends tax
        purposes. Accordingly, South African Shareholders who receive the distribution as a dividend in specie,
        expected to be on or about Monday, 1 July 2024, must:

               allocate a portion of the expenditure and any market value attributable to the equity shares held in RCL
               FOODS to the Rainbow Shares to be distributed, in accordance with the ratio that the market value of
               the Rainbow Shares, as at the end of the day after the distribution of the said shares, bears to the sum
               of the market value, as at the end of that day, of the RCL FOODS shares and Rainbow Shares; and

               reduce the expenditure and market value attributable to the RCL FOODS shares by the amount so
               allocated to the Rainbow Shares.

5.5.    Securities transfer tax is imposed in respect of the transfer of listed shares (including the cancellation or
        redemption of a share) at the rate of 0.25% of the taxable amount of such shares being the higher of the market
        value or consideration given for the shares, determined in terms of the Securities Transfer Tax Act, No. 25 of
        2007 (as amended) (“STT Act”). Section 8(1)(a)(iv) of the STT Act provides that securities transfer tax is not
        payable in respect of a transfer of a security if that security is transferred to a person in terms an unbundling
        transaction referred to in section 46 of the Act where the public officer of that company has made a sworn
        affidavit that such transfer complies with the relevant provisions. Therefore no securities transfer tax would be
        payable where the Rainbow Shares are received by way of an unbundling transaction.

5.6.    Residents of South Africa are subject to tax on capital gains as levied in accordance with the Eighth Schedule
        to the Income Tax Act in respect of capital gains made on the disposal of their world-wide assets. A non-resident
        (subject to potential relief under any applicable double tax agreement) will incur a liability for capital gains tax
        only in relation to the disposal of certain assets, namely immovable property situated in South Africa, or shares
        in a company where the market value of the assets of the company are primarily (i.e. 80% or more) attributable
        to South African immovable property or assets attributable to of a South African permanent establishment of the
        non-resident.

5.7.    The further tax consequences relating to the Unbundling will be set out in the Pre-listing Statement.

6.     RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN SHAREHOLDERS

6.1.    The Pre-listing Statement is being prepared for the purposes of complying with the Laws of South Africa and is
        subject to the applicable Laws of South Africa. Consequently, the legality of the Unbundling to persons resident
        or located in jurisdictions outside of South Africa may be affected by the Laws of the relevant jurisdiction. Such
        persons should consult their professional advisers and inform themselves about any applicable legal
        requirements, which they are obligated to observe. It is the responsibility of any such person wishing to
        participate in the Unbundling to satisfy themselves as to the full observance of the Laws of the relevant
        jurisdiction in connection therewith.
6.2.   Foreign Shareholders are reminded that they may dispose of their RCL FOODS shares prior to the last date to
       trade, expected to be on or about Tuesday, 25 June 2024, in which case they will not participate in the
       Unbundling.

6.3.   Foreign Shareholders are advised to refer to the Pre-listing Statement for further detail and disclaimers regarding
       the treatment of foreign shareholders in connection with the Unbundling.


Westville
4 June 2024

Financial Adviser and Transaction Sponsor
Rand Merchant Bank (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)

Legal Adviser
Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Incorporated (trading as ENS)