SOUTH AFRICAN – AUSTRALIA

Gold Fields in $3.3bn bid for mine partner

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 18 : 25-Mar-25

South Africa-based Gold Fields has made an all-cash takeover bid for Gold Road Resources; the offer of $3.05 per share values the Australian-listed gold producer at $3.3bn. This includes an $829m valuation for the target’s 17.3 per cent stake in De Grey Mining, which itself is the subject of a $5bn takeover bid from Northern Star Resources. Gold Fields has launched the hostile bid after its takeover approach was rejected by Gold Road’s board in early March. The two companies jointly own the Gruyere gold mine in Western Australia, and they both want to buy each other out.

CORPORATES
GOLD ROAD RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX GOR, GOLD FIELDS LIMITED, DE GREY MINING LIMITED – ASX DEG, NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NST

Debenhams sets up shop in Australia

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 18-Oct-17

Pepkor will open the first Debenhams department store in Melbourne on 24 October, and Pepkor executive Graham Dean says the store format it has chosen has not been used by Debenhams before, nor has it been seen in Australia. Dean, who used to work for Myer, says the traditional "big-store" format that department stores are known for are no longer viable. Pepkor intends to open 10 Debenhams stores in Australia under a franchise agreement with the UK retailer.

CORPORATES
PEPKOR, DEBENHAMS RETAIL PLC, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, HARRIS SCARFE HOLDINGS LIMITED, DAVID JONES LIMITED, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Harvey Norman brushes off rival threat

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 25-May-16

Steinhoff International currently has two POCO stores in Australia, which sell a range of household appliances, furniture and home renovation products. Steinhoff is believed to be planning to expand its POCO chain to at least 45 stores in the next several years, and may seek to acquire some Masters sites. Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey has downplayed the impact that the POCO expansion will have on his company, arguing that they offer a different product mix.

CORPORATES
STEINHOFF INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED, POCO AUSTRALIA, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, THE GOOD GUYS, JB HI-FI LIMITED – ASX JBH, FREEDOM FURNITURE, SNOOZE SLEEP WELL PTY LTD, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, BEST AND LESS PTY LTD, HARRIS SCARFE HOLDINGS LIMITED, CONFORAMA, HARVEYS, PEP CORPORATION, POSTIE PLUS GROUP LIMITED, RETRAVISION (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, CLIVE ANTHONYS PTY LTD, BRASHS PTY LTD, RICK HART DISCOUNTS, CLIVE PEETERS, BREVILLE GROUP LIMITED – ASX BRG, ROBINHOOD AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, EVERDURE, BLANCO PTY LTD

TripAdvisor for property agents raises $6 million

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Original article by Paul Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 30-Jun-15

South Africa-based Hollard Investments will provide some $A6m of funding to real estate website OpenAgent.com.au and gain a seat on the start-up’s board. The website allows consumers to rate the performance of real estate agents and compare statistics on property sales. OpenAgent.com.au has previously raised $A2m from a number of angel investors.

CORPORATES
OPENAGENT.COM.AU, HOLLARD INVESTMENTS BV, TRIPADVISOR LLC, TRULIA INCORPORATED, McKINSEY AND COMPANY, HOLLARD FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD, GREENSTONE LIMITED

DJs set to join great Aussie food fight

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 22 : 25-Jun-15

South Africa-based Woolworths Holdings is believed to be planning to build a presence in Australia’s food and grocery sector, via its David Jones subsidiary. The group intends to revamp the food halls in David Jones department stores, and the strategy may also include establishing stand-alone food stores to compete with local grocery retailers Coles and Woolworths Limited. Meanwhile, Woolworths Holdings is said to be looking at selling two of its stores in the Melbourne and Sydney CBDs.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, DAVID JONES LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, THOMAS DUX GROCER, JONES THE GROCER, MARKS AND SPENCER PLC, NM ROTHSCHILD AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD, COUNTRY ROAD LIMITED, JP MORGAN AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, FOODCHAIN BY DAVID JONES

Big offer for Lew’s Country Road stake

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 22-Jul-14

Country Road executives have advised shareholders to accept Woolworths Holdings’ offer of $A17 per share. Businessman Solomon Lew has an 11.8 per cent stake in the retailer, and his support for the offer is crucial if Woolworths is to gain full ownership. An independent expert’s report by Lonergan Edwards & Associates has valued Country Road shares at between $A14.92 and $A16.22

CORPORATES
COUNTRY ROAD LIMITED – ASX CTY, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, LONERGAN EDWARDS AND ASSOCIATES LIMITED, DAVID JONES LIMITED – ASX DJS, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, WITCHERY FASHIONS PTY LTD, MIMCO PTY LTD

Lew’s big win: DJs deal to go ahead

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 &20 : 18-Jul-14

Federal Court of Australia judge Kathleen Farrell on 17 July 2014 approved the takeover by South Africa’s Woolworths of department stores chain David Jones (DJs). Solomon Lew, a DJs stockholder with 9.9%, has struck a side deal with Woolworths, to accept the DJs bid if the suitor also buys his 11.8% in retailer Country Road to move to full ownership. Lew will gain $A212m. John Halley SC, on behalf of the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, told Farrell it was opposed to the collateral benefit aspect of the agreement, but would not block the takeover

CORPORATES
DAVID JONES LIMITED – ASX DJS, COUNTRY ROAD LIMITED – ASX CTY, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. TAKEOVERS PANEL

South Africans wrap up DJs

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Original article by Blair Speedy
The Australian – Page: 21-22 : 15-Jul-14

Gordon Cairns, chair of Australian-listed department stores chain David Jones (DJs), has announced that the takeover bid worth $A4 a share by South Africa’s Woolworths has been accepted. Support among investors was strong, with 50% of stockholders required to vote "yes" and the actual result being 89.6%. In terms of voted scrip, the 75% needed compares with an outcome of 96.8%. Entrepreneur Solomon Lew will sell his 9.9% holding into the scheme of arrangement and has abstained from the vote, meaning the deal can be ratified by the Federal Court on 17 July 2014. Lew will now also gain $A209m from the suitor for his interest of 11.8% in Country Road

CORPORATES
DAVID JONES LIMITED – ASX DJS, COUNTRY ROAD LIMITED – ASX CTY, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, WITCHERY FASHIONS PTY LTD, MIMCO DESIGNS PTY LTD, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX

$200m peace offer for Lew

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Original article by Sue Mitchell, Sarah Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1-Oct : 25-Jun-14

Australian retailing identity Solomon Lew in 1997 acquired a blocking stake of 11.8% in Country Road. In 2014, he has duplicated the move by building a holding of 9.9% in David Jones (DJs). The takeover suitor in both cases is South Africa’s Woolworths, which has now been forced by Lew’s tactics to buy him out of Country Road and to offer $A17 a share. This is an increase of nearly 400% from the on-market price in early 2014. In exchange Woolworths will also be able to move to full ownership of DJs. Insiders say Woolworths had been keen to take control of Country Road in any case

CORPORATES
COUNTRY ROAD LIMITED – ASX CTY, DAVID JONES LIMITED – ASX DJS, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, PREMIER INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX PMV, NM ROTHSCHILD AND SONS (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, GILBERT AND TOBIN LAWYERS, GREENHILL AND COMPANY, ARNOLD BLOCH LEIBLER, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. TAKEOVERS PANEL, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN RETAIL INVESTMENTS PTY LTD, MIMCO PTY LTD, WITCHERY FASHIONS PTY LTD, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, TRENERY

Vote on hold as Lew lifts DJs stake

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Original article by Blair Speedy
The Australian – Page: 21 : 20-Jun-14

Australian-listed department stores chain David Jones (DJs) has informed the market that it has asked the Federal Court to delay the stockholder vote on the friendly takeover bid by Woolworths. The deal worth $A2.15bn with the South African suitor has been placed into jeopardy by revelations that retailing sector identity Solomon Lew now holds 9.89% of the target. There are fears his goal is to build a blocking stake, to force Woolworths into buying him out of Country Road. He owns 11.8% of that business and Woolworths close to 88%. The DJs investor ballot will now be held on 14 July 2014 rather than 30 June

CORPORATES
DAVID JONES LIMITED – ASX DJS, COUNTRY ROAD LIMITED – ASX CTY, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, OWNERSHIP MATTERS PTY LTD, KING AND WOOD MALLESONS