Statement re. Press Comment
May 17 2010 - 2:01AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMLBE TIDMMWB
RNS Number : 0015M
Liberty PLC
17 May 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
17 May 2010
LIBERTY PLC
("LIBERTY" OR "THE COMPANY")
STATEMENT RE: PRESS COMMENT
The Board of Liberty, the iconic British brand and Regent street emporium, notes
the weekend press comment that states a potential bidder for the Company was
"frozen out" of the bidding process and was prevented from making a higher
offer.
Liberty and its advisors reiterate that Pyrrho Investments Ltd ("Pyrrho") had
ample opportunity to increase its proposed 185p a share offer for the Company
but refused to do so on an unconditional basis. At the same time Liberty
received a proposed 186p per share offer from BlueGem (the "BlueGem Proposed
Offer") that was unconditional and had received hard irrevocables to vote in
favour of the BlueGem Proposed Offer from shareholders owning 86.3% of Liberty's
Ordinary shares.
Pyrrho claimed that it would have made a higher offer for the Company on or
before 7 May 2010, but when offered the opportunity to make a higher bid it
declined to do so. Yet comments attributed to Pyrrho in the weekend's press
claimed it had informed the Liberty Board before 7 May 2010 that it was prepared
to make a higher bid than 186p a share.
Neither the Liberty Board nor the Company's shareholders received an increased
offer from Pyrrho before 7 May 2010.
Pyrrho's argument that the Liberty Board's acceptance of BlueGem's unconditional
186p a share offer is materially to the detriment of Liberty shareholders is
totally without foundation. Liberty's shareholders have the benefit of a
proposed offer of 186p a share that is supported by four months of due diligence
and financial backing.
In contrast Pyrrho, which as a 21% shareholder in MWB Group Holdings Plc, the
majority shareholder in Liberty, has been aware of the possibility that Liberty
could be sold since the end of July 2009. Yet its earliest indication of
interest was 4 May 2010 when Pyrrho said it was considering a bid for Liberty of
between 190-200p a share. But two days later it proposed a lower offer of only
185p a share and Liberty was informed by Pyrrho's advisors that it was not
prepared to increase the offer on an unconditional basis over 185p.
The Board of Liberty made an informed choice based on the submitted proposals it
had received on 6 May 2010. This was the correct way to proceed and the Board
acted properly and in the best interests of the Liberty shareholders.
Ends.
For further information, please contact:
Liberty Plc
Richard Balfour-Lynn, Chairman +44
(0) 20 7706 2121
Baron Phillips Associates (Financial PR Adviser)
Baron Phillips
+44 (0) 20 7920 3161
Seymour Pierce Limited
Nicola Marrin
+44 (0) 207 107 8000
Jonathan Wright
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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