To:
CONFIDENTIAL
City of
Buenos Aires, September 24th, 2021
To:
To
the Board of Directors of IRSA Propiedades Comerciales
S.A.
Dear
Board Members of IRSA Propiedades
Comerciales S.A.,
As
regards the proposed merger agreement involving IRSA Propiedades Comerciales S.A.
(“IRSA “ or “Company”) and IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones S.A.
(“IRSA Holding“ or “Counterparty”), which
shall be subject to official meeting of the board of directors on
or before September 30, 2021 (“Board of Directors”), we
were requested by the Board of Directors to issue an opinion
concerning the fairness, to the Company, from a financial
standpoint, of the share exchange ratio of the shares received by
the Company, in relation to the shares of IRSA Holding in the
context of the referred merger
(“Transaction”).
The
Transaction consists in the merger of the Company with IRSA
Holding. As consideration for the merger, the shareholders of the
Company excluding IRSA Holding are expected to receive 1.40 IRSA Holding shares in
exchange for each Company’s share.
Please
note that the above description of the Transaction does not purport
to exactly reproduce the details of the Transaction, which are
contained in the draft of the merger agreement which shall be
subject to approval by the Board of Directors of each
company.
This
letter is based on our conclusions dated on September
24th,
2021. Our analysis does not differentiate classes of any shares
issued by the Company and does not include operating, tax or other
benefits or losses of any type whatsoever, the closing of the
Transaction and/or any other transaction.
Preparation of a
financial analysis is a complex process involving several
definitions of the most appropriate and relevant methods for its
performance and the application of such methods to particular
circumstances. In order to reach the conclusions presented in this
letter, we performed a quantitative and qualitative analysis of
several factors we considered relevant and applied the methods we
deemed appropriate. In this sense, an incomplete and/or an
individual analysis of any fact, premise or method we considered in
our analysis or a different combination of some of these facts,
premises or methods shall not lead to the conclusions presented in
this letter or may result in an incomplete understanding of said
conclusions.
When
preparing our opinion, we, among other things, (i) reviewed certain
financial and commercial information provided by the Company and
the Counterparty relating to the Transaction, (ii) reviewed certain
audited financial statements and certain financial and operational
data, including financial projections of the Company and the
Counterparty, as well as valuation and/or appraisal reports, which
may have been prepared by the Company, the Counterparty and/or any
external advisors they may have selected and hired independently,
which were provided and discussed with the management of the
Company and the Counterparty, (iii) held discussions with
management of the Company and the Counterparty with respect to
current, past and projected operations, as well about the
characteristics of the Transaction, (iv) considered other factors
and information and conducted further analysis we considered
appropriate, (v) compared the financial and operating performance
of Company and the Counterparty with publicly available information
related to comparables we deemed relevant, (vi) reviewed certain
internal financial analysis and projections prepared by Company and
the Counterparty. We also took into account other information,
including economic and market information, financial studies,
analysis, research and financial data that we believe, in our sole
discretion, are relevant.
For purposes of
drafting our opinion, we did not undertake to perform and did not
perform an independent verification of any information used,
reviewed or considered by us in this work, including, but not
limited to financial, accounting, commercial and legal information,
and we assumed, with Company’s consent, the accuracy,
truthfulness, consistency, completeness and sufficiency of such
information. With respect to the financial projections and to the
sensitive issues in connection with the future performance of
the Counterparty, which were provided
to us or discussed with us by the management of the Company, we
assumed that such forecasts were prepared in good faith, in a
reasonable and precise manner, in order to reflect the best
estimates or judgments of the Company’s management as regards
Company’s future financial performance and the potential
impact that certain sensitive issues capable of affecting its
financial performance may have upon such projections. We have also
assumed that, according to Company’s and
Counterparty’s
recommendation, no relevant changes have occurred in connection
with the assets, financial condition, result of the transactions,
business or perspectives of the Company and the Counterparty
as from the
dates the most recent financial statements and other information of
the Company were made available to us.
Additionally, we
did not assume any responsibility for independent verification or
appraisal of the shares, quotas or any assets or liabilities
(contingent or otherwise) of the Company and the
Counterparty. Accordingly, concerning the liabilities and
contingencies of the Company and the Counterparty, we considered
only the values properly disclosed in the financial statements of
the Company, while it did not consider the possibility of eventual
incorrectness or insufficiency, nor effects of any lawsuits and/or
administrative proceedings (civil, environmental, fiscal, labor,
social security etc.) underway involving the Company and
the Counterparty or that may impact the value attributable to
the
Company and the Counterparty in the Transaction. Additionally,
Itaú BBA did not evaluate the solvency or fair value of
the
Company and the Counterparty considering laws related to
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters.
Furthermore,
Itaú BBA assumes no liability regarding issues related to the
good standing and maintenance in the current terms of the contracts
entered into by the Company and the Counterparty with third
parties. We emphasize that the conclusions of this opinion consider
the full regularity and expected term of material contracts entered
into by the Company and the Counterparty with third parties. If
such contracts are discontinued, modified, terminated and/or
otherwise fail to generate the expected results for the Company, in
whole or in part, the conclusions of Itaú BBA could be
materially different from those presented in this opinion. We
understand the Company and the Counterparty were advised by its
legal counsels with respect to the validity of such
contracts.
We were
not asked to consider, and this opinion does not consider, the
merits regarding the Transaction when compared to any alternative
strategy that might exist for the Company and
the Counterparty, nor does it indicate that the consideration
received in the Transaction is the best attainable under any
circumstances.
Additionally, we do not intend to set the price at which the shares
of the Company and
the Counterparty should be negotiated in the Transaction or at any
time. The decision as to whether to proceed with the Transaction or
any related transaction may depend on an assessment of factors
unrelated to the financial analysis on which our opinion is
based.
This
opinion was prepared using consensus market forecasts of an
Argentine macroeconomic scenario and is based on the market,
economic, monetary and other effective conditions existing at the
time this opinion was drafted and on the information which was made
available to us up to date, so that it is valid exclusively on this
date. Additionally, our analysis does not consider nor include
regulatory changes in the specific economic sector of the Company
and/or the Counterparty.
We have
acted as financial advisor of the Board of Directors in the context
of providing a Fairness Opinion for the Transaction. For providing
such services we will be entitled to receive a customary fee from
the Company, as set forth in the Engagement Letter. In addition,
the Company has agreed to indemnify us as a result of our
engagement hereunder.
At this
date, the Company has a business relationship with Itaú BBA
and its affiliates, including short term loans and
overdrafts.
We
confirm that we have no other interest, whether direct or indirect,
in the Company, in the Counterparty or in the
Transaction.
We
provided investment banking, banking services and financial
services, including credit granting, to the Company and to their
respective affiliates from time to time in the past, for which we
were compensated, and we may, in the future, provide such services
to the Company and to their respective affiliates, for which we
expect to be compensated, in arm’s length
conditions.
In the
usual course of our activities we may purchase, hold or sell, on
our behalf or on behalf and at the behest of our customers, shares,
debt instruments and other securities and financial instruments
(including bank loans and other liabilities) of the Company, its
affiliates and of any other companies that may be involved in the
Transaction.
The
professionals of the securities analyses department (research) and
other divisions of Itaú Group, including Itaú BBA, may
base their analyses and publications on different operating and
market assumptions and on different methodologies when compared
with those used in the preparation of this Fairness Opinion, so
that the research reports and other publications prepared by them
may contain results and conclusions that are different from those
prepared herein, considering that such analyses and reports are
performed by analysts who are independent from any relationship
with the professionals who performed in the preparation of this
Fairness Opinion. We adopt policies and procedures designed to
protect the independence of our security analysts, whose views may
differ from those of our investment banking department. We also
adopt policies and procedures designed to protect the independence
between the investment banking and the other areas and departments
of Itaú BBA and other companies of Itaú Group, including
but not limited to asset management, proprietary share trading
desk, debt instruments, securities and other financial
instruments.
Our
opinion is limited to the fairness of the valuation of the share
exchange ratio of the shares received by the Company, in relation
to the shares of IRSA Holding in the context of the Transaction,
from a financial standpoint, as of the present date. We did not
analyze the Transaction from a legal, regulatory or any other
standpoint and, therefore, we are not responsible (either by force
of an agreement, civil liability provisions or otherwise) for such
analysis, including reputational risks assumed by the Company
regarding the Transaction. You will also note that we are not an
accounting firm and we did not render accounting or auditing
services in connection with this Transaction. Additionally, we are
not providing any advice and/or service related to due diligence,
legal, regulatory, credit, tax, accounting or other non-financial
aspects of the Transaction. When preparing our opinion, we did not
take into account (i) the tax effects arising from the Transaction;
(ii) the impact of any commissions or expenses that may result from
closing of the Transaction.
The
presentation of this opinion was approved by a fairness opinion
committee of Itaú BBA. This opinion is issued for the
exclusive use of the boards of directors of the Company in
considering the Transaction, as detailed above, and shall not be
used for any other persons or purposes, nor shall it grant any
rights or remedies to the boards of directors or board of officers
of the Company or of the Counterparty, to any of its affiliates,
shareholders, securities holders, creditors or to any third
parties. Nevertheless, this opinion may be disclosed and/or
forwarded, upon any written requirement made by any regulatory
authority, including but not limited to, Comisión Nacional de
Valores, Bolsas y Mercados Argentinos S.A., Xxxxxxx Abierto
Electrónico, Securities and Exchange Commission of the United
States and upon requirement of Bank of New York Mellon pursuant to
the Indenture agreement that rules the notes under New York Law,
United States, issued by the Company. Moreover, the content of the
Fairness Opinion can only be available for review, in physical form
and at the Company’s headquarters, to (i) the independent
accountant to be hired by the Company for purposes of performing an
accountant’s certificate as per regulatory requirements and
(ii) the Company’s shareholders according to the information
they are legally enable to receive prior to any shareholders’
meeting, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the Companies Law
19,550, remaining, in any case, expressly forbidden copies or
reproduction, in whole or in part of the Fairness Opinion. This
document is not nor shall it be used as a recommendation to or as
an opinion for the Company, the Counterparty, its directors,
officers, affiliates or shareholders. The Company, the
Counterparty, its directors, officers, affiliates or shareholders
shall conduct their own analysis of the Transaction, and such
analysis shall be based on their own financial, tax and legal
advisors. This Fairness Opinion shall not be used as an appraisal
report or as a matter of meeting any legal, regulatory, contractual
or other applicable requirements regarding the Transaction or the
corporate events related to the Transaction.
Based
on and subject to the above and to other factors we have taken into
consideration, we are of the opinion that, as of this date, a share
exchange ratio of 1.40 to each share issued by the Company, in
relation to each share issued by the Counterparty is fair, from a
financial standpoint, for the Company in the strict context of the
Transaction.
This
opinion cannot be disclosed, forwarded or notified, either in whole
or in part, to any third party for any reason whatsoever, except
upon our prior written consent or in those cases specifically set
out above. Physical or electronic copies of this opinion may not be
made publically available under any circumstances without the
consent of Itaú BBA.
This
letter shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws
of the Republic of Argentina. Any proceeding related to or arising
out of this letter shall be commenced, prosecuted or continued in
the exclusive state court of the city of Buenos Aires,
Argentina.
Yours
Sincerely,
Banco
Itaú Argentina S.A.
By:
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Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
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By:
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Xxxx Xxxxx
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Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name:
Xxxx Xxxxx
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Xxxxxx:
Attorney-in-fact
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Xxxxxx:
Attorney-in-fact
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