AusLeisure

A currently unpublished independent expert's report has declared BGH Capital's takeover offer for Village Roadshow both fair and reasonable, as the theme park and cinema business' largest independent shareholder agitates for the Australian regulator to stop the deal.

As reported by the Australian Financial Review, the Village Roadshow board is soon expected to release an independent report by Grant Samuel declaring the scheme fair and reasonable ahead of the 26^th November vote for shareholders.

In the first Federal Court of Australia scheme hearing, Philip Crutchfield, QC, representing Village revealed the assessment of the BGH offer by independent corporate advisory firm Grant Samuel.

New York-based funds manager Mittleman Brothers has been vocally against the BGH offers, and hired Clifford Chance to represent it in Australia, and has attempted to convince the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) to look into the matter.

The Australian Security and Investment Commission did not petition to appear at the first hearing, which finished in less than an hour on Friday.

Mittleman Brothers Chief Investment Officer Chris Mittleman was on the Microsoft Teams call for the hearing, but did not petition the court to talk. Mittleman, which owns 10.1% in Village shares, making it the largest independent shareholder, had 15.9% of its fund weighted to the theme parks and cinema business when it owned 8.5%.

Having been critical of the two proposed structures put forward and recommended by Village's independent board committee, Chris Mittleman wrote last week “given our belief that the (independent board committee) and the (Village) board of directors have not properly discharged their duty to act in the interests of shareholders by protecting them from blatant opportunism on the part of BGH, we have engaged legal counsel in Australia to petition ASIC in hopes of garnering regulatory intervention, and failing that, having our objections brought to the attention of the court.”

The Australian Financial Review has reported that the Village IBC is confident the offer is in the best interests of Village shareholders, in the absence of a superior offer.

Under the deal, revealed by the Australian Financial Review in August, Village and BGH would enter into an implementation agreement for Village shareholders to receive up to $2.45 per share.

Structure A would consist of a base price of $2.20 per share, with an additional 25¢ per share, contingent on the reopening of theme parks and cinemas and Queensland borders being reopened to all people from NSW and Victoria.

Structure B, if structure A is voted down, would be a lower $2.10 per share offer, and would allow the Kirby brothers and Burke to vote on the transaction. It would also include the same 25¢ additional payments if conditions are met.

Village Roadshow Corporation owns 34% of the ASX-listed Village Roadshow Limited and is owned equally by board members John Kirby, Robert Kirby and Graham Burke.

The three each own additional shares, giving them a combined controlling 42% voting stake. In structure A, the Kirby brothers and Burke are not able to vote, and the deal needs 75% of the remaining shareholders to vote in favour.

Village Roadshow’s major Gold Coast theme parks, Wet'n'Wild, Warner Bros Movie World and Sea World, reopened in June and July.

Image: The Storm Coaster at Village Roadshow's Sea World.

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29th August 2020 - Village Roadshow commits to theme ride regeneration despite impact of Coronavirus losses

17th August 2020 - Village Roadshow moves toward acquisition by private equity firm

17th July 2020 - Village Roadshow reopens Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast

17th June 2020 - Village Roadshow announces reopening schedule for Gold Coast theme parks

5th June 2020 - Ardent and Village Roadshow look for early reopening of Gold Coast theme parks

15th May 2020 - Fair Work Commission rules against Village Roadshow Theme Parks worker who opposed being forced to take leave

12th May 2020 - Village Roadshow Chief Executive calls for JobKeeper extension as Queensland Government’s Coronavirus easing roadmap suggests reopening of theme parks, entertainment venues and stadiums in June

6th April 2020 - Village Roadshow Theme Parks backs staff during lockdown

24th January 2020 - Private equity group BGH Capital submits rival bid for Village Roadshow

20th December 2019 - Private equity firm makes $750 million offer for Village Roadshow

15th October 2019 - Village Roadshow reveals profit turnaround in last financial year

13th September 2019 - Village Roadshow Theme Parks announces naming rights partnership with Gold Coast Marathon

11th September 2019 - Village Roadshow Theme Parks reveal schedule for opening of new Sea World attractions

22nd July 2019 - Ongoing board changes at Village Roadshow see appointment of Clark Kirby as Chief Executive

3rd July 2019 - Access and perimeter security solution secures Village Roadshow Theme Parks

27th May 2019 - Village Roadshow Theme Parks to operate China’s Lionsgate Entertainment World

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