The St. Joe Company
(NYSE: JOE) (the "Company") today announced that it has entered into
a sales agreement (the "Sales Agreement") with AgReserves, Inc., a
Utah corporation, to sell approximately 382,834 acres of its non-strategic timberland
and rural land in Northwest Florida for $565 million. The final price is
subject to an adjustment set forth in the Sales Agreement. This proposed
transaction does not include land within the Company's existing residential or
commercial real estate segments or its resorts, leisure or leasing segment, nor
include any land for which the Company had plans to develop or use in these
types of operations in the foreseeable future.
"This sale of timberland will help the Company concentrate
on its core business activity of real estate development in Northwest Florida ," said Park
Brady, CEO for The St. Joe Company. "The proceeds from the sale will
provide the Company with significant liquidity and numerous opportunities to
create long-term value for our shareholders."
The land to be sold includes the majority of the Company's
timberlands in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin , Gadsden , Gulf, Jefferson , Leon , Liberty and Wakulla counties
and had an aggregate carrying value of approximately $54 million at October 31, 2013 . AgReserves, Inc. is assuming agreements and
contracts existing on the purchased timberlands and intends to maintain timber
and agricultural uses of the lands.
"AgReserves has demonstrated its commitment to wise land
stewardship and prudent resource management during more than 60 years of
ranching and agricultural operations in east central Florida . We will apply that
same commitment and expertise to managing the property we are acquiring in Florida 's panhandle. We look
to the long term in everything we do," said Paul Genho, Chairman of the
Board for AgReserves, Inc. AgReserves, Inc. is a tax-paying affiliate of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The transaction was unanimously approved by the board of
directors of the Company and by AgReserves Inc., and is subject to customary
closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and the approval of the
shareholders of the Company. The transaction is expected to close in the first
quarter of 2014. Following the sale, the Company will own approximately 184,000
acres of land concentrated primarily in Northwest Florida , which includes
lands used or intended to be used in its real estate development operations.
TAP Advisors acted as financial advisor to the Company in
connection with this transaction, with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and
Greenberg Traurig P.A. as legal counsel. Foley & Lardner LLP and Kirton
McConkie PC acted as legal counsel to AgReserves, Inc.
http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://live.oysterradio.com/
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