Focus Dynamics PLC - Defence Document Posted
07 Septiembre 1999 - 4:51AM
UK Regulatory
RNS No 0572r
FOCUS DYNAMICS PLC
7 September 1999
FOCUS DYNAMICS plc
("Focus Dynamics" or "the Company")
DEFENCE DOCUMENT POSTED
The board of Focus Dynamics is today posting a defence
document to its shareholders which categorically rejects
the unsolicited offer from Breckenburn Limited
("Breckenburn") to acquire the entire issued share
capital of Focus Dynamics.
The Board believes that Breckenburn's Offer is an
opportunistic attempt to deprive shareholders of the true
realisable value of Focus Dynamics' assets at a price
which is significantly below the Company's fair break up
value. The Board continues to recommend rejection of the
Breckenburn for the following reasons:
* At 31st July 1999, the Focus Group had net cash
balances of approximately #2.774 million, equivalent to
16.8p per Focus Dynamics share - over half the value of
the Breckenburn Offer.
* The Board has received a number of indicative offers
for the Components Division from potential purchasers
which would have realised values for that division at
levels ranging up to #4.124 million. If a sale were to
occur at that level that offer would equate to 25.0p of
cash per Focus Dynamics share.
* Both Trevor Wheatley and Bill Eastwood, directors of
Breckenburn and former Directors of Focus Dynamics, were
supportive of the decisions to invest some #5.7 million,
equivalent to 34.8p per Focus Dynamics share, in
acquiring Dietz, the principal constituent of the
Industrial Control Division. Breckenburn is now trying
to buy the whole Group for less than the cost of that
investment.
* If the Offer is successful a company controlled by
Trevor Wheatley will gain control of the Industrial
Control Division for less than a quarter of the price
(before any payment for the net cash and net current
assets within the Industrial Controls Division) paid for
it by the Company.
* The Filtration Division has been restructured to
further reduce its costs and a new Managing Director
recently appointed - with the benefit of the Technip
contract, which is expected to make a significant
contribution in the current financial year, this division
should be capable of disposal at an acceptable level
within the foreseeable future.
* The Directors acknowledged that recent trading had
been disappointing in their statement of 15th July 1999,
but since the release of that statement, trading has been
more encouraging throughout the Group's businesses. The
Board believes that the Company's share price has been
adversely affected not only by market sentiment towards
the Company and smaller engineering companies generally
but also by concerns about the potential litigation from
Emerson Electric Co arising out of the restrictive
convenants previously entered into with Emerson Electric
Co by Trevor Wheatley, the professional costs of
defending that action, the costs of defending a previous
hostile bid and the costs of remaining as a listed
company.
* Whilst the parties expressing an interest in the
Company as a whole have now withdrawn, the Directors are
of the view that a reasonable break up valuation should
return to shareholders substantially in excess of the
current bid level. Consequently, in the absence of a
higher offer, the Board intends to recommend the orderly
disposal of the constituent businesses of the Company
with a view to returning substantially more than 32p of
cash per Focus Dynamics share to shareholders within six
months.
The Board strongly urges shareholders to reject the Offer
and to take no action in response to the Breckenburn
Offer Document and has been so advised by Albert E Sharp
Securities.
The Directors have no intention of accepting the Offer in
respect of their personal holdings in Focus Dynamics,
amounting to 403,575 ordinary shares, representing 2.45
per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of Focus
Dynamics.
Focus Dynamics Chairman, Sir James McKinnon, commented:
"We have been considering our future as a listed company
with a view to maximising shareholder value. It seems
clear that the Breckenburn Offer is an opportunistic
attempt to break up this group without a satisfactory
return to shareholders. We are confident a better result
can be achieved."
Copies of the Focus Dynamics defence document are
available from Albert E Sharp Securities, 60 Lombard
Street, London, EC3V 9EA and at Temple Court, 35 Bull
Street, Birmingham, B4 6ES and at Focus Dynamics' Office,
10 St Giles, Technology Park, Newtown, Powys, SY16 3AJ.
Enquiries:
Focus Dynamics plc 01686 622222
Mike Gulliford, Chief Executive
Albert E Sharp Securities 0171 464 8421
Guy Peters
Square Mile Communications 0171 601 1000
Kevin Smith
Terms defined in the Offer Document have the same meaning
in this press release, unless the context requires
otherwise.
Albert E Sharp Securities, which is regulated by The
Securities and Futures Authority Limited, is acting for
Focus Dynamics plc and no-one else in connection with the
Offer from Breckenburn and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Focus Dynamics plc for providing the
protections afforded to customers of Albert E Sharp
Securities, or for giving advice in relation to that
Offer.
END
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