News
07/03/2007
Deutsche Wohnen AG: Agreement to merge with GEHAG Group
EQS-Ad-hoc: Deutsche Wohnen AG: Agreement to merge with GEHAG Group
Deutsche Wohnen AG / Acquisition
Release of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by
DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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On 2 July 2007 Deutsche Wohnen AG reached an agreement with OCM Luxembourg
Real Estate Investments S.à.R.l. and OCM Luxembourg Opportunities
Investments S.à.R.l. and concluded a notarised contract regarding the
merger of Deutsche Wohnen Group with GEHAG Group (Berlin). Both selling
parties mentioned above are backed by the private equity company Oaktree
Capital Management LLC, Los Angeles, USA.
In the course of the merger, Deutsche Wohnen Group indirectly takes over 85
percent interest in GEHAG GmbH. Deutsche Wohnen AG also intends to take
over the remaining shares from HSH Real Estate AG, representing about 15
percent. The Federal State of Berlin owns a share of considerable less than
1 percent in GEHAG GmbH.
GEHAG Group owns approximately 27,000 residential units in Berlin and
Brandenburg. As a result of the merger with GEHAG Group, Deutsche Wohnen
AG’s residential portfolio will expand from a current number of
approximately 23,000 own residential units to approximately 50,000
residential units in total. GEHAG Group also owns 20 senior citizens’ and
care homes as well as an independent media and cable business.
The merger is based on an enterprise value relating to 100 percent of the
entire GEHAG Group in the amount of approximately EUR 1.84 billion. OCM
Luxembourg Real Estate Investments S.à.R.l. and OCM Luxembourg
Opportunities Investments S.à.R.l. will receive 6.4 million new bearer
shares in Deutsche Wohnen AG as well as a convertible bond with an overall
nominal value of EUR 25 million. The sellers may exercise their conversion
right until 2010, at a price of EUR 45.00. In addition OCM Luxembourg Real
Estate Investments S.à.R.l. and OCM Luxembourg Opportunities Investments
S.à.R.l. will receive a cash purchase price of EUR 257 million. Financial
liabilities of GEHAG Group (inclusive GEHAG Acquisition Co. GmbH)
currently amount to approximately EUR 1.31 billion.
Together, with 6.4 million new bearer shares in Deutsche Wohnen AG OCM
Luxembourg Real Estate Investments S.à.R.l. and OCM Luxembourg
Opportunities Investments S.à.R.l. will hold approximately 25 percent of
the shares in Deutsche Wohnen AG, not including the rights associated with
the convertible bond. In the context of the transaction, the sellers have
agreed to observe a lock-up period of at least twelve months for the shares
and the convertible bond.
The effectiveness of the agreement is still subject to several conditions,
inter alia the approval of the German Federal Cartel Office.
Based on the intended change in accounting investment properties from 'cost
model' to 'fair value model' and due to transaction, restructuring and
interest expenses coming from the merger with GEHAG Group, the current
forecast for 2007 profit after tax of new formed Deutsche Wohnen/GEHAG
Group of EUR 15 million will be reduced to EUR 1 million.
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Information and Explaination of the Issuer to this News:
As a result of this transaction, Deutsche Wohnen AG will reposition itself
and expand its business model that until now was focused on privatisations
by including active real estate asset management as a starting point for
the intended strategic growth as communicated throughout the past months.
Deutsche Wohnen AG will thus lastingly expand its position in the German
housing market as the second largest German listed residential property
company. Based on the total purchase price, the average purchase price for
the GEHAG residential property stock comes to approximately EUR 1,000 per
sqm. Sal. Oppenheim has given an investmentbank opinion to the Supervisory
Board of Deutsche Wohnen and has confirmed the adequacy of the purchase
price based on the information received.
Mr. Andreas Lehner, Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Wohnen AG, on the
future acquisition policy: 'This merger establishes a consolidation
platform with significant potential for synergies, and therefore for
strategic growth. In view of the positive economic development in Germany
and the resulting improvement in the market potential in the housing
market, this merger will form the starting point for further expansion of
our portfolio, in particular in growth regions; at the same time, we will
also continue to carry out the profitable, smaller additions to the
portfolio as we have during the past months. After the merger, Deutsche
Wohnen AG will represent a partnership-oriented platform for potential
sellers of residential portfolios such as large public- and private-sector
portfolio managers, and will be an ideal partner for consolidation due to
its reputation and its experience in the capital market.'
GEHAG Group is a Berlin-based company with a long-standing tradition in the
residential property market. It was already privatised in 1998 – just like
the housing companies in Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse that were
amalgamated under the umbrella of Deutsche Wohnen. Today, in addition to
managing the residential portfolio in Berlin and the surrounding region in
Brandenburg, GEHAG Group also manages 20 senior citizen’s and care homes
throughout Germany with approximately 2,100 places, and approximately
74,000 apartments and houses in Germany are supplied with media such as
internet and telephone services and cable TV. Due to the good condition of
the apartments in Berlin’s residential districts built in the 30s, the
housing stock can be described as a jewel in Berlin's housing market. Since
Oaktree’s involvement in 2005, GEHAG Group underwent a successful,
fundamental restructuring and repositioning process.
The Management Board of Deutsche Wohnen AG has identified a significant
potential for appreciation with respect to the acquired housing stock in
Berlin in view of the potential for catch-up and development of the entire
Berlin housing market. Also, essential administrative resources will be
focused. Mr. Andreas Lehner: 'We have prepared an administrative efficiency
programme for the expanded Deutsche Wohnen Group which over the coming two
to three years will give the merged Deutsche Wohnen / GEHAG Group a more
competitive management and service cost structure'.
The inclusion of the GEHAG Group will exert a positive effect on Deutsche
Wohnen AG’s EBITDA and FFO yield. Deutsche Wohnen’s current NAV of
approximately EUR 36 per share will increase substantially throughout the
next years, ceteris paribus. In two to three years at the latest, the
annual results are intended to permit payment of dividends without
negatively affecting company’s substance.
The Management Board of Deutsche Wohnen AG will explain the acquisition of
GEHAG Group in two English-language telephone conferences on 3 July 2007,
at 11:00 a.m. as well as at 4:00 p.m. (in each case Central European Time).
Both telephone conferences will also be transmitted (livestream) on our
website at http://www.deutsche-wohnen.de.
Hubert Bonn
Head of Investor & Public Relations
Phone: +49 (0)6131 6397 116
email: ir@deuwo.com
DGAP 03.07.2007
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Language: English
Issuer: Deutsche Wohnen AG
Pfaffenwiese 300
65929 Frankfurt am Main Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)6131-6397-116
Fax: +49 (0)6131-6397-199
E-mail: hubert.bonn@deuwo.com
Internet: www.deutsche-wohnen.de
ISIN: DE000A0HN5C6, DE0006283302
WKN: A0HN5C, 628330
Indices: SDAX
Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in
Berlin-Bremen, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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