Ontario Teachers’ to gain 100 pct stake in Nextgen with CIMIC exit

CIMIC Group Ltd has agreed to sell its 29 percent interest in Australian network connectivity provider Nextgen Group Pty Ltd to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. CIMIC said it expects to receive net proceeds of about US$190 million to US$210 million from the exit. Ontario Teachers’, which acquired a majority stake in Nextgen in June 2013, will as a result of the transaction have 100 percent ownership of the company. CIMIC said the agreement with the Canadian pension fund is subject to the close of Nextgen’s sale of network assets to Vocus Communications Ltd. The sale was announced by Nextgen, Ontario Teachers’ and CIMIC in June.

PRESS RELEASE

CIMIC Announces Agreement to Divest Nextgen Group Investment

CIMIC Group today announced that it had reached an agreement to divest all of its investment in Nextgen Group to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (Ontario Teachers’).

Nextgen Group comprises the Nextgen Networks data connectivity services business, the North West Cable System, the Australia Singapore Cable Project and the Metronode data centre business.

CIMIC owns approximately 29% of Nextgen Group with Ontario Teachers’ holding the remaining interest.

On 29 June 2016 CIMIC announced that Nextgen Group had entered into a binding agreement with Vocus Communications to sell certain Nextgen Group assets, being Nextgen Networks, the North West Cable System and the Australia Singapore Cable Project (Networks Sale).

Subject to the completion of the Networks Sale and certain other conditions including Foreign Investment Review Board approval, CIMIC has reached an agreement to divest all of its interest in Nextgen Group to Ontario Teachers’.

CIMIC expects to receive total net proceeds from its exit from Nextgen Group of approximately $190 million to $210 million, subject to commercial conditions, retention amounts, customary adjustments and deductions for transaction costs and debt. The final financial impact on CIMIC will be known after completion of the divestment, expected by the end of 2016.

CIMIC Group Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Marcelino Fernández Verdes said: “The sale of our share in Nextgen Group enables us to realise the value built during our beneficial partnership with Ontario Teachers’.

“Our focus remains on the delivery of sustainable returns to all shareholders through our core businesses of construction, mining, mineral processing and public private partnerships.”

Issued by CIMIC Group Limited ABN 57 004 482 982  www.cimic.com.au

Further information
Ms Marta Olba, Group Manager Investor Relations T+61 2 9925 6134
Ms Fiona Tyndall, General Manager Communications T+61 2 9925 6188

CIMIC Group Limited (ASX: CIM) is one of the world’s leading international contractors and the world’s largest contract miner. CIMIC Group has operations that have been in existence since 1934, was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 1962 and has its head office in Sydney, Australia. CIMIC provides construction, mining, mineral processing, engineering, concessions, and operation and maintenance services to the infrastructure, resources and property markets. It operates in more than 20 countries throughout the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, North America, Sub‐Saharan Africa and South America and, at 30 June 2016, employed approximately 43,500 people directly and through its investments.

Photo courtesy of Nextgen Group Pty Ltd