Minority Buyout Proposal

Peel Hldgs PLC 30 June 2004 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND OR SOUTH AFRICA 30 June 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Peel Holdings p.l.c. ('Peel') Recommended proposal for Peel Acquisitions Ltd ('Acquisitions') to buy-out the minority shareholdings in Peel Holdings p.l.c. for 1240p per Ordinary Share in cash by way of a scheme of arrangement under section 425 of the Companies Act 1985 • The Board of Directors of Peel and Acquisitions announce that they have agreed the terms of a recommended Proposal to be made by Acquisitions for the acquisition of all of the outstanding 6.63 per cent. of Peel Shares not currently owned by the Majority Shareholders by way of a scheme of arrangement under section 425 of the Companies Act. • Under the Proposal, which is being recommended by Rothschild, Scheme Shareholders will receive: for each Scheme Share 1240p in cash • As an alternative, eligible Scheme Shareholders can elect to receive Loan Notes instead of all or part of their Cash Consideration receivable under the Scheme. • The Scheme Price represents a premium of approximately 36.6 per cent. over the Closing Price of 907.5p per Peel Share on 29 June 2004, the last dealing day prior to this announcement, and a premium of approximately 45.7 per cent. over the average Closing Price of a Scheme Share for the twelve months up to that date. • In addition, the Scheme Price represents a premium of approximately 2.9 per cent. to the Adjusted Net Assets per Peel Share (further details of which are set out in paragraph 6 of this Announcement) of 1205p as at 31 March 2004. • Under the Proposal, the Majority Shareholders, who currently own 93.37 per cent. of Peel Shares, will not receive the Cash Consideration but instead will receive in aggregate such number of ordinary shares of 25p each in Acquisitions with an aggregate nominal value equal to the aggregate Cash Consideration that would have been payable to them had Cash Consideration been offered to and accepted by them in respect of all the Majority Shares in exchange for the cancellation of the Majority Shares held by them under the Cancellation Agreement. • The Scheme is expected to become effective by mid-August and is subject to the approval of Independent Scheme Shareholders at a Court Meeting, an Extraordinary General Meeting of Peel and a Class Meeting. • Peel has also today announced its preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2004 details of which are contained in a separate announcement to shareholders. Commenting on the proposal, John Whittaker, Chairman of Acquisitions, said: 'The Majority Shareholders wish to be free to develop Peel in a more flexible way that is commensurate with the prospects and risk profile of the Peel Group. This may involve taking decisions that might be unattractive to remaining minority shareholders. The Majority Shareholders want to provide minority shareholders, who are faced with the limited liquidity of Peel Shares, with an opportunity to realise their investments in Peel at a favourable time in the property cycle. The Majority Shareholders have sought to put forward a proposal at a generously priced level, which represents a significant premium of approximately 36.6 per cent. to the prevailing share price and 2.9 per cent. to the Adjusted Net Assets of 1205p per share. In addition, the Proposal may enable some minority shareholders to mitigate their liability to capital gains tax and may enable shareholders to significantly increase the income received on their capital when compared with the dividend yield of Peel Shares.' This summary should be read in conjunction with the full text of this announcement. Enquiries: Rothschild Richard Bailey, Andrew Thomas, Claudio Veritiero Telephone: 0161 827 3800 The Directors of Peel Holdings p.l.c. accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors, who have taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case, the information contained in this announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. Rothschild, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, is acting for Peel Holdings p.l.c and no one else in connection with the Proposal and will not be responsible to anyone other than Peel Holdings p.l.c. for providing the protections afforded to clients of Rothschild or for providing advice in relation to the Proposal, the contents of this announcement or any transaction or arrangement referred to herein. Recommended proposal for Peel Acquisitions Limited to buy-out the minority shareholdings in Peel Holdings p.l.c. for 1240p per Ordinary Share in cash by way of a scheme of arrangement under section 425 of the Companies Act 1985 1. Introduction Today, the Boards of Peel and Acquisitions announce that they have agreed the terms of a recommended proposal by Acquisitions for the acquisition of all the outstanding Ordinary Shares of Peel (other than those owned by the Majority Shareholders). The outstanding Shares currently represent 6.63 per cent. of the Ordinary Shares with full voting rights. The Proposal is to be effected by way of a scheme of arrangement under section 425 of the Act. Acquisitions is a company owned by the Majority Shareholders and incorporated for the purpose of making the Proposal. 2. Responsibility for considering the Proposal Rothschild has been appointed by Peel to provide an independent opinion on the terms of the Proposal. As a consequence of the Peel Directors' involvement in Acquisitions or of their connection to the proposed shareholders in Acquisitions or their continuing involvement with Peel, the Board of Peel is precluded by the rules of the City Code from giving advice to Peel Shareholders on the terms of the Proposal and on the appropriate course of action for them to take. This announcement sets out the background to the Proposal and explains that Rothschild, as the independent adviser to Peel, considers the terms of the Proposal to be fair and reasonable. 3. Summary of the terms of the Proposal The Proposal will be effected by way of a scheme of arrangement under section 425 of the Act. Under the Scheme, holders of Scheme Shares will receive: for each Scheme Share 1240p in cash As an alternative to some or all of the Cash Consideration receivable under the Scheme, eligible Scheme Shareholders may elect to receive Loan Notes in return for the cancellation of their Scheme Shares. The cash payment of 1240p per Scheme Share values the entire existing issued share capital of the Company with full voting rights at approximately £832.4 million and the Scheme Shares at approximately £55.2 million. The Scheme Price represents: • a premium of approximately 36.6 per cent. over the Closing Price of 907.5p per Ordinary Share on 29 June 2004, being the last business day before Peel announced the Proposal; • a premium of approximately 45.7 per cent. over the average Closing Price of 851.3p per Ordinary Share for the twelve months ended 29 June 2004, being the last business day before Peel announced the Proposal; and • a premium of approximately 2.9 per cent. to the Adjusted Net Assets of 1205p per Share as at 31 March 2004. Further details of the Adjusted Net Assets are set out in paragraph 6 below and in the preliminary announcement of the audited results of Peel for the year ended 31 March 2004, which were also announced today. The Majority Shareholders currently own or control 62,678,499 Ordinary Shares (representing 93.37 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital with full voting rights). The Majority Shareholders have entered into the Cancellation Agreement with Acquisitions under which they have agreed that in exchange for the cancellation of the Majority Shares held by them at the Scheme Record Time, Acquisitions will issue to them such number of ordinary shares of 25p each in Acquisitions as have an aggregate nominal value equal to the aggregate Cash Consideration which would have been payable to the Majority Shareholders if the Cash Consideration had been offered to them and been accepted in respect of all the Majority Shares, less the aggregate number of nil paid ordinary shares of 25p each in Acquisitions held by the Majority Shareholders as at the date of the Cancellation Agreement. The Majority Shares held by the Majority Shareholders will be cancelled under the Scheme and in connection with this, an equivalent number of new Peel Shares will be issued to Acquisitions. The effect of the Scheme will be that Peel will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Acquisitions. The Majority Shareholders will not be eligible to receive either the Cash Consideration or Loan Notes in respect of the Majority Shares. All of the Directors who hold Ordinary Shares other than Mr John Whittaker will be parties to the Scheme and have indicated that they intend to vote in favour of the Proposal and to receive the Cash Consideration or the Loan Note Alternative under the terms of the Scheme in respect of their aggregate holdings of 160,008 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 3.70 per cent. of the Independent Scheme Shares. Other than Mr John Whittaker and his related interests (further details of which are set out in paragraph 8), none of the Directors will receive shares in Acquisitions. Acquisitions proposes to finance the Proposal through, inter alia, a £55 million acquisition facility being provided by The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and (to the extent required) its own resources. Full details of the Proposal (including the Explanatory Statement) which is subject to the terms and conditions set out in Appendix I will be sent to Shareholders in a document expected to be posted later today (the 'Scheme Document'). 4. Loan Note Alternative Under the Proposal, eligible Scheme Shareholders may elect to receive Loan Notes instead of all or part of the Cash Consideration due to them under the Scheme on the following basis: for every £1 of Cash Consideration under the Scheme £1 nominal of Loan Notes The Loan Note Alternative is conditional upon the Scheme becoming effective. Fractional entitlements to Loan Notes will not be issued, and entitlements will be rounded down to the nearest £1 and Acquisitions will be entitled to retain any such fractional entitlements. The Loan Notes will be guaranteed by The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as to principal only and not as to interest. The Loan Notes will bear interest, payable half yearly in arrears (less any tax required by law to be deducted therefrom) on 31 March and 30 September in each year, at the rate per annum calculated to be one half of one per cent. below the LIBOR rate offered at 11.00 a.m. by The Royal Bank of Scotland plc for six months' sterling deposits on the first business day of the relevant interest period. The first interest payment will be on 31 March 2005 in respect of the period from (and including) the date of first issue of any Loan Note up to (but excluding) 31 March 2005. Noteholders will have the right to redeem all or part of their Loan Notes for cash at par (plus accrued interest) on such date (or if later the date falling six months after first issue of the Loan Notes) and on any subsequent interest payment dates up to and including 30 September 2014. The Loan Notes will be transferable in units of £500 but no application will be made for them to be listed or dealt on any stock exchange. The Loan Notes are not being offered or issued to Restricted Overseas Persons (including US Persons). Rothschild has advised Peel that, in its opinion, based on market conditions at 29 June 2004 (being the latest practicable date prior to this announcement), the estimated value of the Loan Notes, if they had been in issue on that date, would have been 99p per £1 in nominal value. Further details of the terms of the Loan Notes and instructions on how to elect for the Loan Note Alternative will be provided in the Scheme Document. 5. Background to the Proposal Peel was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1983 (prior to which it had been listed for a number of years on the Manchester Stock Exchange) and the listing of Peel's shares was transferred to AIM in January 2000. The Majority Shareholders have a long-standing involvement in the ownership and management of the Peel Group and currently hold 93.37 per cent. of the Peel Shares with full voting rights. Over a number of years the Majority Shareholders have supported the funding and development of the Peel Group and have been influential in building significant asset value and generating capital and income growth for all Shareholders. However, given that the Majority Shareholders now own approximately 93.37 per cent. of the Peel Shares with full voting rights, liquidity in Peel's Shares has been limited and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. The Company has in the past sought to provide some liquidity in the Shares through share buy-backs. The Peel Directors believe, however, that in view of the limited liquidity and limited opportunities for Shareholders to realise the capital value of their investment in a tax efficient manner, the Proposal should be attractive. The Proposal should also benefit the Peel Group's business by returning it to private ownership and thereby offering it the greater flexibility afforded to private companies and by removing the ongoing cost associated with complying with the AIM rules. Accordingly, the Proposal provides an opportunity for Scheme Shareholders to realise their investment in cash at a premium of approximately 36.6 per cent. per Ordinary Share to the Closing Price on 29 June 2004 being the last business day prior to this announcement. Furthermore, depending on their financial and tax circumstances, eligible Scheme Shareholders may elect for the Loan Note Alternative which may enable them to mitigate and/or defer their capital gains tax liabilities (in respect of which Shareholders are recommended to take their own independent advice). The Loan Note Alternative may also allow shareholders to receive significantly higher income from their capital when compared with the historic dividend yield of Peel Shares. In addition, there are a number of other factors against which the Proposal should be considered: • In common with many property companies, Peel's Shares have traded in recent years at a substantial discount to their reported net asset value. The Directors believe that the size of the discount is due to widespread lack of investor interest in smaller listed companies in certain sectors, in particular those in the property sector and the recognition amongst the investor community that the value of Adjusted Net Assets is a more appropriate estimation of the underlying net asset value of property companies. • The Directors consider that the period of significant growth of the Peel Group has in recent years been due in particular to the strong performance of The Trafford Centre (particularly following the recent five-yearly rent reviews). Whilst the success of the now mature Trafford Centre is reflected in the current valuation of £1,230 million, the Directors believe that the rate of asset growth will decline. • A material proportion of Peel's profit is currently generated from investment properties and property development. The Directors consider that profits from these activities have become increasingly difficult to predict owing to the nature, timing and impact of asset disposals, the increasing constraints on growth presented by planning regulations and the changing nature of the Group's development activities. • The Directors consider that the less positive economic outlook for interest rates, consumer spending, house prices and property yields may have an impact on future returns generated by Peel. • The Group's development activities continue to comprise capital intensive projects. However, many of these development projects are characterised by a more volatile and uncertain profile for returns and profitability, as is the case with the Group's investment in and development of regional airports which are highly capital intensive and for which it is difficult to predict when a capital return or profit will be achieved. However, the Directors consider that an acceptable return will be generated by the airports division over the long-term. 6. Adjusted Net Assets In assessing the Proposal, Rothschild has had regard, inter alia, to the net asset value of Peel extracted from the audited financial statements as at 31 March 2004. Set out below is a calculation which has been prepared by the Peel Directors of the Adjusted Net Assets as at 31 March 2004, being the net asset value as at 31 March 2004 adjusted for contingent taxation and the fair value of financial assets and liabilities ('marking debt to market') in accordance with FRS 13. Net assets per Ordinary £' 000 Share Shareholders funds at 31 March 2004 1,238,724 1845p Less: Adjustment for FRS 13 (91,973) (137p) Adjustment for contingent tax liabilities (337,772) (503p) Adjusted Net Assets at 31 March 2004 808,979 1205p Shareholders should note that the Adjusted Net Assets has been prepared for illustrative purposes only and because of its nature, cannot give a complete picture of the financial position of Peel. The Scheme Price represents a premium of approximately 2.9 per cent. to the Adjusted Net Assets of 1205p per Share as at 31 March 2004. Shareholders should note that the Directors consider that adjusted net asset value, commonly referred to as 'triple net asset value', is in line with the calculation of net asset value that will be reported by the Group in future years following the introduction of new international accounting standards in 2005/06. 7. Property valuation Independent valuations of most of the Group's investment properties and holdings as at 31 March 2004 and, in respect of the remainder of the Group's properties, as at 31 December 2003 and 2 February 2004, will be included in the Scheme Document. 8. Information on the Majority Shareholders Acquisitions, which was incorporated on 8 June 2004, has been established to effect the acquisition of Peel's issued share capital pursuant to the Proposal. Acquisitions is wholly owned by the Majority Shareholders (being the Whittaker Group and the Olayan Group). John Whittaker has been Chairman of Peel since 1973. He has led the development of Peel since then including the re-flotation on the London Stock Exchange in 1983, the acquisitions of The Manchester Ship Canal Company, London Shop plc and Clydeport plc, the development of The Trafford Centre, the transfer to AIM in January 2000 and the £610 million bond issue secured against future rental income from The Trafford Centre in 2000. The Whittaker Group comprises Tokenhouse Holdings Limited (a private company controlled and 99.4 per cent. owned by the trustees of the Whittaker family trust), Cronkdrean Limited (a private company owned by Tokenhouse Holdings Limited), Cheeseden Investment Limited (a private company owned by the trustees of the Whittaker family trust) and Velida Investments Limited (a private company ultimately owned by the trustees of the Whittaker family trust), together with a pension fund in which family members of John Whittaker have an interest. The Whittaker Group currently owns or controls 45,778,145 Ordinary Shares, representing 68.20 per cent. of the Ordinary Shares with full voting rights. The Olayan Group is a multi-national group with financial, commercial and industrial interests in the USA, Europe and the Middle East. The Olayan Group made its initial investment in Peel Shares in 1988 and increased its holding of Peel Shares to the current level following a rights issue made by Peel in 1989 and subsequently acquired approximately 785,000 Convertible Preference Shares which have since been redeemed or converted into Ordinary Shares. The Olayan Group currently owns or controls 16,900,354 Ordinary Shares, representing 25.17 per cent. of the Ordinary Shares with full voting rights. The Olayan Group has had board representation since 1991 and has contributed significantly to the strategic direction of the business since that time. In the 16 years since their original investment, the Olayan Group has formed a good working rapport with the Whittaker Group which is expected to continue after the Scheme becomes effective. 9. Arrangements with the Majority Shareholders The Majority Shareholders currently own or control in aggregate 100 per cent. of the ordinary shares of 25p in Acquisitions. The Majority Shareholders currently own or control in aggregate 62,678,499 Ordinary Shares representing 93.37 per cent. of the issued Ordinary Shares with full voting rights. The Majority Shareholders have entered into the Cancellation Agreement with Acquisitions under which, conditionally upon the Scheme becoming effective, the Majority Shares will be cancelled in consideration for the issue to the Majority Shareholders of such number of ordinary shares of 25p each in Acquisitions as have an aggregate nominal value equal to the aggregate Cash Consideration which would have been payable to the Majority Shareholders if the Cash Consideration had been offered to them and had been accepted in respect of all the Majority Shares, less the aggregate number of nil paid ordinary shares of 25p each in Acquisitions held by the Majority Shareholders as at the date of the Cancellation Agreement. Under the Scheme, in respect of the Majority Shares cancelled, Peel will issue an equivalent number of new ordinary shares of 25p each to Acquisitions. 10. Management and employees The board of Acquisitions has given assurances to Rothschild that, following the Scheme becoming effective, the existing employment rights, including pension rights, of all the employees of Peel will be fully safeguarded. 11. Resolutions and meetings In order to enable the Proposal to become effective, it is intended that the following meetings of Shareholders will be convened for 26 July 2004: (a) the Court Meeting of Independent Scheme Shareholders to approve the Scheme; (b) the Extraordinary General Meeting to consider and, if thought fit, to pass the resolutions necessary to approve and implement the Scheme and sanction the related reduction of capital by the Company, to effect the redesignations of share capital involved in the Scheme and to amend the Articles of Association of the Company; and (c) the Class Meeting to consider and, if thought fit, to pass the resolution necessary to consent to the redesignation of share capital involved in the Scheme. Because of their prospective interests in shares in Acquisitions, the Majority Shareholders will not be entitled to attend and vote at the Court Meeting and will abstain from voting at the Extraordinary General Meeting in respect of the Majority Shares held by them respectively. However, they will undertake to the Court to be bound by the Scheme in respect of the Majority Shares held by them. Further, the Majority Shareholders will not be entitled to participate in the Class Meeting. The Excluded Shareholders (who are connected to Peel or the Majority Shareholders) to the extent that they hold Peel Shares as at the Scheme Record Time will receive cash in exchange for Shares on the same terms as apply to Independent Scheme Shareholders. The Excluded Shareholders will not receive shares in Acquisitions. Because of the connection of the Excluded Shareholders with Peel or the Majority Shareholders, the Excluded Shareholders will not be entitled to attend and vote at the Court Meeting and will abstain from voting at the Extraordinary General Meeting in respect of the Excluded Shares held by them. The Excluded Shareholders will undertake to the Court to be bound by the Scheme in respect of such Shares. The Excluded Shareholders will not be entitled to participate in the Class Meeting. Notices convening the above meetings, together with details of the resolutions to be put to those meetings and details of the actions that Shareholders should take will be provided in the Scheme Document. 13. Cancellation of AIM trading facility If the Scheme is approved the London Stock Exchange will be requested to cancel the trading facility of the Ordinary Shares on AIM with effect from the Effective Date. 14. Disclosure of relevant securities in issue in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code Pursuant to Rule 2.10 of the City Code, in connection with the proposed scheme of arrangement Peel announces that it has 103,913,142 ordinary shares of 25p each in issue (ISIN: GB0006784077). Of these, 36,785,416 are held by Largs Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Peel and these shares have no voting rights and do not have an entitlement to receive dividends and will not participate in the proposed Scheme. 15. Opinion It is the opinion of Rothschild that the Proposal is fair and reasonable. In providing this advice they have taken into account, inter alia, the premium to the Adjusted Net Assets, the factors set out in the Scheme Document and the commercial assessments of the board of Peel. Enquiries: Rothschild Richard Bailey, Andrew Thomas, Claudio Veritiero Telephone: 0161 827 3800 The Directors of Peel Holdings p.l.c. accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors, who have taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case, the information contained in this announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. Rothschild, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, is acting for Peel Holdings p.l.c. and no one else in connection with the Proposal and will not be responsible to anyone other than Peel Holdings p.l.c. for providing the protections afforded to clients of Rothschild or for providing advice in relation to the Proposal, the contents of this announcement or any transaction or arrangement referred to herein. APPENDIX 1 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PROPOSAL The Proposal is conditional upon the Scheme becoming effective. The Scheme will become effective upon: (i) approval of the Scheme by a majority in number representing at least three-quarters in value of the holders of Independent Scheme Shares present and voting in person or by proxy at the Court Meeting; (ii) the resolutions required to implement the Scheme being passed at the Extraordinary General Meeting; (iii) the extraordinary resolution required to implement the Scheme being passed at the Class Meeting; (iv) the Scheme being sanctioned by the Court, with or without modification, and confirmation of the reduction of capital involved therein by the Court; (v) delivery to the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales for registration of an office copy of the Order sanctioning the Scheme and confirming the reduction of capital and, in relation to the reduction of capital, registration of the Order by the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales; (vi) no government or governmental, supranational or trade agency or regulatory body or court or other person or persons having instituted or threatened any action, suit or investigation or having enacted or made any statute or regulation or order that would (a) restrain, prohibit or otherwise challenge the Scheme; (b) result in a material delay in the ability of Acquisitions, or render it impossible or unduly onerous for it to acquire the entire issued share capital of Peel when the Scheme becomes effective or render impossible or unduly onerous the cancellation or transfer of the Scheme Shares; (c) require the divestiture by Peel or any of its subsidiaries of all or any material part of their businesses, assets or properties or impose any material limitation on their ability to conduct their respective businesses and own their respective assets or properties; (d) impose any material limitations on the ability of Acquisitions to implement the Scheme; or (e) otherwise materially adversely affect the financial position of Peel and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole); (vii) all authorisations, orders, grants, recognitions, confirmations, consents, clearances, certificates, licences, permissions and approvals necessary or appropriate for or in respect of the implementation of the Scheme and the proposed acquisition of Peel having been obtained, in terms and in a form reasonably satisfactory to Acquisitions, and where the absence of any such authorisations, orders, grants, recognitions, confirmations, consents, clearances, certificates, licences, permissions and approvals would, or might reasonably be expected to, have a material adverse effect on the Enlarged Group taken as a whole, these remaining in full force and effect and no indication of an intention to revoke or not renew any of these being received where such revocation or non-renewal would have a material adverse effect on the Enlarged Group as a whole and all necessary filings in connection with the Proposal having been made and all necessary waiting periods (including any extensions thereof) under any applicable legislation or regulation of any jurisdiction and all necessary statutory and regulatory obligations in connection with the Proposal in any jurisdiction having expired, lapsed or been terminated; (viii) acquisitions having not discovered that any financial, business or any other information regarding the Peel Group which has been publicly disclosed or announced at any time by Peel or any of its subsidiaries is materially misleading or contains misrepresentations of facts or omits to state a fact necessary to make the information contained therein not misleading, and which in any such case is material in the context of the Scheme; and (ix) since 31 March 2003, being the date to which the latest report and accounts of Peel were made up, and unless otherwise publicly announced by Peel on or prior to 30 June 2004 (whether in the preliminary announcement of the results of Peel for the twelve months ended 31 March 2004 or otherwise): (a) no litigation or arbitration proceedings, prosecutions or other legal proceedings to which Peel or any other member of the Peel Group is a party (whether as plaintiff or defendant or otherwise) in each case which is both material and adverse in the context of the Peel Group taken as a whole, having been instituted or threatened or remaining outstanding; (b) there not having become apparent to Acquisitions any liability (contingent or otherwise) which has not been disclosed or reflected or provided for in the last published audited consolidated accounts of Acquisitions or otherwise publicly disclosed being a liability of Peel or any other member of the Peel Group which is material in the context of the Peel Group taken as a whole; or (c) them having been no material adverse change in the business, financial or trading position of the Peel Group taken as a whole. Acquisitions reserves the right to waive conditions (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix) in whole or in part. Application to the Court at the Court Hearing to sanction the Scheme will not be made unless conditions (i), (ii) and (iii) have been fulfilled and conditions (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix) above are fulfilled and/or waived by Acquisitions. If the Scheme does not become effective on or before 30 September 2004, or such later date (but no later than 31 December 2004 in any event) as Acquisitions and Peel may agree and the Court may permit, it will not thereafter become effective. APPENDIX II DEFINITIONS In this announcement, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the following meanings: 'Acquisitions' Peel Acquisitions Limited; 'Act' the Companies Act 1985, as amended from time to time; 'AIM' the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange; 'Adjusted Net Assets' the net asset value of Peel extracted from the audited financial statements as at 31 March 2004 adjusted for, inter alia, contingent taxation and fair value of financial assets and liabilities ('marking debt to market') in accordance with FRS 13; 'business day' any day on which the London Stock Exchange is open for business; 'Cancellation Agreement' the Cancellation Agreement dated 29 June 2004 and made between Acquisitions and the holders of the Whittaker Group Shares and the Olayan Group Shares, further details of which will be set out in the Scheme Document; 'Cash Consideration' the Scheme Price; 'City Code' the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers; 'Class Meeting' the separate general meeting of the holders of Independent Scheme Shares to be convened for 11:20 a.m. on 26 July 2004 or as soon thereafter as the Extraordinary General Meeting has adjourned or concluded) or any adjournment thereof; 'Closing Price' the closing middle market quotation of the relevant share; 'Court' the High Court of Justice in England and Wales; 'Court Hearing' the hearing by the Court of the Petition to sanction the Scheme under section 425 of the Act and to confirm the reduction of Peel's share capital under section 137 of the Act; 'Court Meeting' the meeting of registered holders of Independent Scheme Shares convened by order of the Court under section 425 of the Act, including any adjournment thereof; 'Effective Date' the date on which the Scheme becomes effective in accordance with its terms; 'Enlarged Group' Acquisitions, Peel and its subsidiary undertakings; 'Election Record Date' 12 August 2004; 'Excluded Shareholders' certain Scheme Shareholders who are connected with Peel or the Majority Shareholders and who currently hold in aggregate 121,871 Scheme Shares; 'Excluded Shares' Scheme Shares which are held by the Excluded Shareholders; 'Explanatory Statement' the explanatory statement from Rothschild prepared in compliance with section 426 of the Act to be set out in the Scheme Document; 'Extraordinary General Meeting' the extraordinary general meeting of Peel to be held on 26 July 2004, notice of which will set out at the end of the Scheme Document including any adjournment thereof; 'FRS 13' Financial Reporting Standard 13 issued by the Accounting Standards Board; 'Independent Scheme Shareholders' the registered holders of Independent Scheme Shares; 'Independent Scheme Shares' Scheme Shares other than the Excluded Shares; 'Largs Shares' the 36,785,416 Ordinary Shares held in the name of Largs Limited; 'LIBOR' London Inter-Bank Offer Rate; 'Loan Note Alternative' the loan note alternative forming part of the Scheme under which Scheme Shareholders may elect to receive Loan Notes in lieu of all or part of the Cash Consideration to which they would otherwise be entitled under the Scheme; 'Loan Notes' the guaranteed, unsecured loan notes to be issued by Acquisitions pursuant to the Loan Note Alternative, further particulars of which will be set out in the Scheme Document; 'London Stock Exchange' London Stock Exchange plc; 'Majority Shares' the 62,678,499 Ordinary Shares currently owned or controlled by the Whittaker Group and by the Olayan Group, together with any Ordinary Shares acquired by the Whittaker Group prior to the Election Record Date; 'Majority Shareholders' the holders of Majority Shares; 'Olayan Group' collectively Crescent Holding GmbH, Competrol (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Competrol Establishment and Olayan Investments Company Establishment; 'Olayan Group Shares' the 16,900,354 Ordinary Shares owned or controlled by the Olayan Group or in which the Olayan Group has an interest; 'Order' the order of the Court sanctioning the Scheme under section 425 of the Act and confirming the reduction of Peel's share capital under section 137 of the Act; 'Peel Shares', 'Ordinary Shares' ordinary shares of 25p each in the capital or 'Shares' of Peel; 'Peel Directors' or 'Directors' John Whittaker, Robert Eric Hough, Peter Anthony Scott, Paul Philip Wainscott, John Niven Duncan, Thomas Eardley Allison, Michael George Butterworth, David Jonathan Glover, Peter John Hosker and Peter John Nears; 'Peel' or 'the Company' Peel Holdings p.l.c.; 'Peel Group' the Company, its subsidiaries and associated undertakings; 'Ordinary Shares with full voting the ordinary shares of 25p each issued rights' in the capital of Peel which hold full voting rights; 'Proposal' the proposal for Acquisitions to acquire Peel as described in the Scheme Document; 'Restricted Overseas Persons' holders of Scheme Shares whose addresses in the register of members are in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Ireland and South Africa; 'Rothschild' N M Rothschild & Sons Limited; 'Scheme' the proposed scheme of arrangement under section 425 of the Act between Peel and the registered holders of (i) the Independent Scheme Shares, (ii) the Excluded Shares, (iii)the Whittaker Group Shares and (iv) the Olayan Group Shares to be set out in the Scheme Document, with, or subject to, any modification, addition or condition approved or imposed by the Court; 'Scheme Document' the document expected to be posted to shareholders on the 30 June 2004 setting out the details of the Proposal; 'Scheme Price' 1240p per Scheme Share; 'Scheme Shareholders' registered holders of Scheme Shares; 'Scheme Shares' (i) the Shares in issue at the date of the Scheme Document (other than any Majority Shares and the Largs Shares); (ii) such other Shares, if any, as may be issued after the date of the Scheme but before the Court Meeting; and (iii) such other Shares issued thereafter but prior to the Scheme Record Time in respect of which the original or any subsequent holders thereof are bound by the Scheme, or shall by such time have agreed in writing to be bound by the Scheme; 'Scheme Record Time' 5.00 p.m. on the business day before the day on which the Order is drawn up and sealed by the Court; 'Shareholders' registered holders of Ordinary Shares; 'Whittaker Group' together Tokenhouse Holdings Limited, Cronkdrean Limited, Cheeseden Investment Limited and Velida Investments Limited, together with a pension fund in which family members of John Whittaker have an interest; 'Whittaker Group Shares' the 45,778,145 Ordinary Shares currently owned or controlled by members of the Whittaker Group or in which members of the Whittaker Group have an interest. 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