NEW YORK, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New Plan Excel Realty
Trust, Inc. (NYSE: NXL) and Centro Properties Group (ASX: CNP) today
jointly announced that New Plan has entered into a definitive agreement
with affiliates of Melbourne, Australia-based Centro pursuant to which
Centro will acquire New Plan for $33.15 per share of common stock in cash
in a transaction valued at approximately $6.2 billion, including assumption
of debt and preferred stock. The per share offer price represents a 12.9
percent premium to New Plan's closing share price on February 27, 2007 and
a 12.3 percent premium to the average closing price over the past 30 days.
The acquisition of New Plan will be completed through a cash tender
offer pursuant to which an affiliate of Centro will offer to purchase all
outstanding shares of New Plan common stock at $33.15 per share. The tender
offer is expected to commence within 10 business days of the date of the
merger agreement. Following the closing of the tender offer, an affiliate
of Centro and New Plan will merge and common stockholders who did not
tender their shares in the tender offer will receive per share cash
consideration equal to the offer price. Completion of the tender offer will
be subject to the receipt of valid tenders for a majority of New Plan's
fully diluted shares of common stock and Series D preferred stock, voting
as a single class, and the satisfaction of other customary conditions.
New Plan will pay its regular quarterly dividend of $0.3125 per share
on its common stock for the first quarter of 2007, but will not pay
dividends on its common stock thereafter.
Separately, limited partners in Excel Realty Partners, L.P., one of New
Plan's subsidiaries, will be given the option to receive $33.15 per
partnership unit, or to remain as limited partners and receive newly issued
preferred units. Holders of shares of New Plan preferred stock will receive
cash in an amount equal to the liquidation preference of their shares as a
result of a liquidation of New Plan that is expected to occur shortly after
the completion of the merger.
The transaction was unanimously approved by New Plan's Board of
Directors. The transaction is not contingent on receipt of financing by
Centro or on approval of the transaction by Centro shareholders. The tender
offer is expected to close in the second quarter of 2007, subject to
customary closing conditions.
"We have significantly repositioned New Plan over the past several
years, recycling over $5 billion of capital and increasing the intrinsic
value of our portfolio. We have built a best-in-class national platform and
regional operating system, extensively grown our assets under management,
created a leading redevelopment program and enhanced our retailer
relationships. Today's transaction recognizes the underlying value of our
portfolio, in particular our operating platform, and accomplishes our
ultimate objective of maximizing shareholder value," commented Glenn J.
Rufrano, Chief Executive Officer of New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Inc.
Brian Healey, Chairman of Centro, commented, "The New Plan acquisition
is another landmark transaction for Centro in addition to our previous
acquisitions of public companies in the U.S. of Kramont Realty Trust and
Heritage Property Investment Trust, Inc."
Andrew Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Centro, commented "We are
excited with the opportunity this acquisition represents for Centro. Centro
Watt's fully-integrated national platform is well placed to manage the
diverse style and geographic mix of its expanded U.S. retail property
platform."
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. acted as financial advisor to New Plan and
Merrill Lynch & Co. acted as financial advisor in the capacity of
delivering a fairness opinion. Hogan & Hartson LLP acted as legal advisor
to New Plan and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as Centro's
legal advisor.
About New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: NXL)
New Plan is one of the nation's largest real estate companies, focusing
on the ownership, management and development of community and neighborhood
shopping centers. The Company operates as a self-administered and self-
managed REIT, with a national portfolio of 467 properties, including 177
properties held through joint ventures, and total assets of approximately
$3.5 billion. The properties are strategically located across 38 states and
include 453 community and neighborhood shopping centers, primarily grocery
or name-brand discount chain anchored, with approximately 67.6 million
square feet of GLA, and 14 related retail real estate assets, with
approximately 658,000 square feet of GLA. For additional information,
please visit http://www.newplan.com.
About Centro Properties Group (ASX: CNP)
Centro Properties Group specializes in the ownership, management and
development of shopping centers. Centro is Australia's largest manager of
retail property investment syndicates with over 80% market share as well as
being a leading manager of direct property funds and wholesale funds which
invest in Centro's quality retail properties in Australasia and the United
States. Centro has a market capitalization of A$8.1 billion and funds under
management of A$15.6 billion. Centro continues to maximize returns to
investors through its customer focused and value adding team based
approach. Please visit http://www.centro.com.au.
Additional Information about the Tender Offer and Merger and Where to
Find It
This press release is being made in connection with the proposed
acquisition of New Plan by Centro. In connection with the tender offer, New
Plan will file a solicitation/recommendation statement with the SEC, and,
if required or necessary, will file a proxy statement or information
statement with the SEC. Stockholders are urged to read these documents
carefully and in its entirety if and when they become available because
they will contain important information about the tender offer and/or the
proposed merger.
When solicitation/recommendation statement, proxy statement and/or
information statement become available, they will be mailed to New Plan
stockholders who are entitles to receive such statements. In addition, the
solicitation/recommendation statement, proxy statement and/or information
statement as well as other filings containing information about New Plan,
the tender offer and the merger, if and when filed with the SEC, will be
available free of charge at the SEC's Internet Web site, http://www.sec.gov. In
addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the
solicitation/recommendation statement, proxy statement and/or information
statement as well as other filings containing information about New Plan,
the tender offer and the merger that are filed with the SEC by New Plan, if
and when available, by contacting New Plan Investor Relations at (212)
869-3000 or accessing New Plan's investor relations website at
http://www.newplan.com.
New Plan and its directors and officers and other members of management
and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of
proxies in the event that a proxy statement is used in connection with the
merger. Information regarding New Plan's directors and executive officers
is detailed in its proxy statements and annual reports on Form 10-K,
previously filed with the SEC, and the proxy statement, if and when filed,
relating to the merger, when it becomes available.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this communication that are not historical fact,
including, without limitation, as to the expected closing and the financial
benefits of the proposed acquisition of New Plan by Centro, may constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
the actual results of New Plan to differ materially from historical results
or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements, including without limitation: national or local economic,
business, real estate and other market conditions; the competitive
environment in which New Plan operates; financing risks; possible future
downgrades in our credit ratings; property ownership / management risks;
the level and volatility of interest rates and changes in capitalization
rates with respect to the acquisition and disposition of properties;
financial stability of tenants; New Plan's ability to maintain its status
as a REIT for federal income tax purposes; acquisition, disposition,
development and joint venture risks, including risks that developments and
redevelopments are not completed on time or on budget; governmental
approvals, actions and initiatives; potential environmental and other
liabilities; and other factors affecting the real estate industry
generally. New Plan refers you to the documents filed by New Plan from time
to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the
section titled "Risk Factors" in New Plan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2006, which discuss these and other factors
that could adversely affect New Plan's results.
SOURCE New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.newplan.com
http://www.centro.com.au
CONTACT:
Stacy Slater, Senior Vice President -
Corporate Communications of New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Inc.,
+1-212-869-3000, sslater@newplan.com; or Andrew Scott, Chief
Executive Officer of Centro Properties Group, +61-3-8847-0033, or
+61-419-548-068; or Philippa Kelly, General Manager -
Institutional Funds Management, +613-8847-0136, +61-402-021-413
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