Advisers wooed in Elders takeover

The vote is currently “too close to call”, according to Hamilton director Giles Craig.

An alternative proposal from Elders involves overseas buyer Santanol taking over the 15 schemes for a total of $70 million, which Craig says vastly underrepresents the value of the assets.

The Santanol proposal will require approval from at least 12 of the 15 schemes, with 15 separate meetings to be held on Thursday 14 March. Each scheme requires 75 per cent grower approval at a vote for the Santanol proposal to be accepted.

“Financial planners and growers we have spoken to are very unhappy with the Santanol proposal and are keen to see an alternative,” Hamilton stated.

According to Hamilton, the average price being offered by Santanol to growers is $39,576 per hectare of sandalwood.

Hamilton said TFS values the standing sandalwood at $133,693 per hectare, the TFS share of managed investment scheme sandalwood at $89,625 per hectare, and newly-planted sandalwood at $81,314 per hectare, while the wholesale price for new schemes is $66,000 per hectare.

Hamilton said under its counter proposal for growers, they would exchange their sandalwood interests for shares in Hamilton.

“For each dollar that Santanol plans to pay, we intend to offer one Hamilton share. As a result, growers will own $68 million to 70 million, or about 95 per cent of Hamilton shares,” Hamilton stated.

If growers accept the Santanol offer, Hamilton said it will not make any offer to growers, but if growers reject the Santanol offer, Hamilton will then put its offer to them.