Catena agrees a directed share issue to WDP, raising gross proceeds of SEK 2,168.5 million and welcomes a new long-term shareholder and strategic partner
The Board of Directors of Catena AB (publ) (”Catena” or the “Company”) has agreed on a directed issue of 4,122,676 shares at a subscription price of SEK 526.00 per share (the “Share Issue”), equal to a premium of 10bps compared to the latest closing price of 525.5 SEK on March 28, 2022. The issue price results in gross proceeds of SEK 2,168.5 million. The shares will be issued directly to WDP Invest NV/SA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of logistics real estate company Warehouses De Pauw NV/SA (“WDP”), which, upon settlement of the Share Issue, will obtain 9.09% of the shares and voting rights in the Company whilst Backahill, in capacity of Catena’s largest shareholder, has the intention to propose WDP’s CEO, Mr. Joost Uwents, to Catena’s Nomination Committee, as the 8th Board member in Catena.
March 29, 2022, 1.30 A.M.
In light of the acceleration of active developments from the landbank as announced during the publication of the full year 2021 results, Catena intends to use the net proceeds of the Share Issue to finance investments in property acquisitions, in accordance with recently announced acquisitions, and property development projects whilst maintaining the Company’s stable capital structure.
Catena and WDP aim to start a strategic cooperation to enable a broader geographical coverage to clients and stimulate tenant integration on the corridor between their main portfolio locations, benefitting clients with goods flowing in either direction. In addition, Catena and WDP believe that this cooperation provides strong potential for knowledge sharing in the fields of sustainability, project development and general operations in pursuit of enhancing a fully integrated client experience as well as an improved competitive position in the European logistics real estate market.
WDP envisages a stake of 10% of the shares and voting rights in Catena in the foreseeable future. Backahill intends to issue a proposal to Catena’s Nomination Committee, to expand Catena’s Board of Directors from seven to eight Board members. Therewith, subject to decision by the Company’s AGM, allowing Mr. Joost Uwents, CEO of WDP, to be elected as new ordinary Board member during the Company’s AGM on April 28, 2022.
Jörgen Eriksson, CEO of Catena, comments: “We are very pleased to be able to announce this directed Share Issue and to welcome WDP as a new, long-term shareholder. On top of that, I am very much looking forward to the cooperation with Joost Uwents whom we can consider one of Europe’s most respected thought leaders in the logistics space. The proceeds of the issue allow Catena to foster the acceleration of our portfolio growth and we see great collaboration opportunities with WDP as a key player in the European logistics real estate market.”
“We very much welcome WDP as a long-term shareholder and strategic partner of Catena. Over the last years, the logistics space has become increasingly competitive, and we recognize that an increased scale becomes even more important to sustain our competitive edge. As such, we see a strong mutual benefit of this strategic partnership. Backahill has supported the company since 2013 and will continue to do so.” According to Lennart Mauritzson, incoming Chairman of the Board of Catena.
“Catena and WDP share similar DNA of strong, successful family backed companies. Catena has structurally displayed the ability to grow its strong operating platform, its attractive development pipeline and should be considered as one of the driving forces of Scandinavian logistics properties”, comments Joost Uwents, CEO of WDP. “I very much look forward to start the cooperation with Catena’s team, to combine and exchange our experience and mutual expertise in the European logistics real estate market in pursuit of unlocking the full potential of such cooperation for all Catena and WDP stakeholders.”
WDP develops, invests and leases storage and distribution space for its own account and always maintains a long-term perspective. WDP's property portfolio amounts to around 6 million m² of logistics assets with a fair value of circa EUR 6.0 billion as of 31 December 2021 and is spread over more than 250 sites at prime logistics locations in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and Romania. WDP is listed on Euronext Brussels with a market capitalisation of EUR 7.01 billion as per March 28, 2022.
The Share Issue will be executed in accordance with the authorisation granted by the annual general meeting on April 29, 2021. The reason for deviating from the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders is to complete a fund-raise in a time and cost-efficient manner, in order to finalize negotiations regarding property acquisitions, as well as to expand the Company’s shareholder base with a strong, long-term and strategic investor without an economically dilutive effect.
The Board of Directors’ assessment is that the subscription price in the Share Issue is in accordance with market conditions since it has been determined by using the closing price of March 28, 2022 rounded up to the nearest SEK. The mechanism for the subscription price was negotiated at arm's-length between Catena and WDP and represents a premium of 10bps compared to the latest closing price of 525.5 SEK. The subscription price represents a premium of 69.25% versus Catena’s FY21 NTA and 62.48% compared to its FY21 NRV. It is therefore the Board of Directors’ assessment that the subscription price accurately reflects current market conditions and demand for Catena’s shares.
WDP, through a wholly owned subsidiary, has subscribed for all the new shares in the Share Issue, for the total amount of SEK 2,168.5 million. Payment in the Share Issue will have to be made on April 5, 2022, at the latest. Upon payment and registration of the new shares with the Swedish Companies Registration Office, Catena will deliver the shares to WDP’s wholly owned subsidiary.
Following settlement of the Share Issue, the total number of shares in Catena will increase with 4,122,676, from 41,226,764 to 45,349,440. The share capital will increase with SEK 18,139,774.40, from SEK 181,397,761.60 to SEK 199,573,536.00. Therefore, the Share Issue entails a dilution of 9.9 percent, based on the total amount of shares in Catena after the Share Issue. Accounting for the net proceeds of the Share Issue, Catena’s NRV will increase by c. SEK 18 per share and is therewith accretive by 5.6 %.
Advisers
Kempen & Co acted as Financial Advisor to the Company.
Born acted as legal counsel to the Company in the Share Issue.
For further information, please contact
Jörgen Eriksson, CEO, Tel. +46 730 70 22 42, jorgen.eriksson@catenafastigheter.se
Sofie Bennsten, Deputy CEO and CFO, Tel. +46 730 70 22 41 sofie.bennsten@catenafastigheter.se
David Silvesjö, Chief Treasury Officer, Tel. +46 730 70 22 22 david.silvesjo@catenafastigheter.se
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Catena is a listed property company that sustainably and through collaboration develops and durably manages efficient logistics facilities. Its strategically located properties supply the Scandinavian metropolitan areas and are adapted for both current and future goods flows. The overarching objective is to generate strong cash flow from operating activities to enable sustainable growth and stable returns. As of 31 December 2021, the properties had a total value of SEK 23,400.0 million. Catena’s shares are traded on NASDAQ Stockholm, Large Cap.
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