Issue of Equity
November 26 2003 - 3:09AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:5028S
Clan Homes PLC
26 November 2003
ANNOUNCEMENT
Clan Homes plc ("Clan")
Sale of ordinary shares in Clan by Western Caledonian Assets Limited ("Western")
to, and Cash Subscription by, David Hickey and others ("the New Investors")
(together "the Arrangements")
Introduction
The Board of Clan announces that on 25 November 2003 Clan, Western and the New
Investors entered into a subscription and share purchase agreement ("the
Agreement") under which the New Investors have agreed to acquire from Western
200,000 Clan Ordinary Shares and have agreed, simultaneously with such
acquisition, to subscribe for 100,000 New Clan Ordinary Shares, in each case at
a price of 100 pence per Clan Ordinary Share. Following Admission (as after
defined) the New Investors will hold in aggregate 300,000 Clan Ordinary Shares,
equivalent to 27.8% of the enlarged issued ordinary share capital of Clan and
Western will hold 529,681 Clan Ordinary Shares, equivalent to 49.0% of the
enlarged issued ordinary share capital. The New Clan Ordinary Shares are
expected to be admitted to trading on AIM on 1 December 2003 ("Admission").
Pursuant to the Agreement Western has undertaken, inter alia, to issue to its
shareholders (within seven days following completion) a notice convening an
annual general meeting of Western at which the shareholders will consider a
proposed resolution to wind up Western voluntarily.
David Hickey has been appointed a Director of Clan with immediate effect and
Robert Biggar and Francis Wilson have agreed to resign as Directors of Clan with
effect from 31 December 2003 and 30 November 2003 respectively.
David Hickey
David Hickey is executive chairman of Lighthouse Group plc, an AIM quoted
supplier of services to independent financial advisers. He is also non-executive
chairman of, and the largest single shareholder in Just Car Clinics Group plc,
an AIM quoted repairer of motor vehicles. A qualified Chartered Accountant, his
career includes almost 20 years in corporate finance in the City of London,
initially with HSBC James Capel and latterly with Guinness Mahon & Co Limited
and its successor business, Investec Henderson Crosthwaite, where he was head of
the Corporate Finance Division.
Following Admission, David Hickey will have a potential beneficial interest in
100,000 Clan Ordinary Shares, equivalent to 9.25% of the enlarged issued
ordinary share capital of Clan.
Further information in respect of David Hickey in terms of Schedule 2 Paragraph
(f) of the AIM Rules is set out in the Appendix to this announcement.
Background to and reasons for the Arrangements and intended strategy for Clan
In July 2003 and in previous communications with shareholders, the Board of Clan
expressed its intention to liquidate Clan's property portfolio and reported on
progress in executing this strategy. It has subsequently been announced that
Alan Thomson, the Chairman of Clan, had exercised his option, approved by Clan
shareholders in general meeting on 27 August 2003, to purchase the majority of
Clan's remaining property assets. Following this transaction and the sale of the
Company's property to Southern Caledonian Properties Limited on 26 November
2003, Clan's residual assets comprise three properties (28 Craigieburn Park,
Aberdeen, 36 Craigieburn Park, Aberdeen and 19 Tennent Avenue, East Kilbride)
and #780,000 in cash. The Directors are continuing to dispose of the remaining
property assets on an orderly basis.
Completion of the Arrangements will increase Clan's cash balances by #100,000.
The subscription price of 100p per Clan Ordinary Share represents a premium of
approximately 20% to the average price of 83p per Clan Ordinary Share during the
3 months preceding this announcement.
David Hickey and Alan Thomson, the continuing Directors of Clan, believe that
shareholder value is most likely to be enhanced by procuring a reverse takeover
for Clan and that, whilst the search for a suitable acquisition candidate
proceeds, the ongoing operating costs of Clan should be minimised in order to
preserve Clan's cash resources at or around their current level. Taking this
into account, they have each entered into letters of appointment in respect of
the future provision of their services to Clan at an annual fee of up to #7,500
each. Mr Thomson will receive compensation of #33,000 in return for the
cancellation of his existing service contract with Clan. In the event of no
transaction completing within the foreseeable future, the continuing Directors
will determine the most attractive way of returning cash to shareholders.
In scrutinising potential acquisitions, the continuing Directors have agreed to
apply the following criteria:
* An experienced management team;
* A track record of recent profits; and
* A desire for additional capital to finance expansion.
These criteria were successfully applied by David Hickey in engineering the
reverse takeover in December 2002 of the business and assets of Car Clinics out
of Dixon Motor Holdings Limited and into Bikenet plc (now Just Car Clinics Group
plc).
Enquiries:
Clan Homes plc:
Alan Thomson 07768 017012
David Hickey 07712 880 902
Brewin Dolphin Securities Limited:
Jon Fitzpatrick 0141 221 7733
Appendix
1. The following information falls to be disclosed in relation to David Hickey
in terms of paragraph (f) of schedule 2 of the AIM Rules:
(i) David Martin James Hickey, aged 48
(ii) Current directorships
Just Car Clinics Group plc
Lighthouse Group plc
Past directorships
Dixon Motors PLC
Claims Direct plc
Guinness Mahon and Co Ltd
Investec Bank UK Ltd
(iii) Not applicable
(iv) Not applicable
(v) David Hickey was from July 2000 until August 2001 a
non-executive director of Claims Direct plc. In July 2001 Claims Direct
plc received a cash offer, acceptance of which was recommended by the
directors, including David Hickey. In August 2001 David Hickey resigned
as a director of Claims Direct plc when the offer became unconditional
and played no further part in the management of the affairs of the
company. Claims Direct plc was placed into administrative receivership
in July 2002.
(vi) Not applicable
(vii) Not applicable
(viii) Not applicable
2. Revised 3% interests in Clan shares
Western Caledonian Assets Limited
49.00%
R Baker Esq
9.25%
J Dixon Esq
9.25%
Deutsche Bank Trustee Services (Guernsey) Limited
9.25%
Brewin Nominees Limited
5.74%
Speirs & Jeffrey Client Nom Limited
5.83%
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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