Statement re: Chapelthorpe

Second Advance Value Realisation Co 28 February 2005 PRESS RELEASE BY SECOND ADVANCE VALUE REALISATION COMPANY LIMITED AND NORTH ATLANTIC VALUE LLP REGARDING CHAPELTHORPE plc On 2 February 2005, Second Advance Value Realisation Company Limited and funds managed on behalf of discretionary investment management clients by North Atlantic Value LLP ('the Requisitionists'), who together hold 10.8 per cent of the issued ordinary share capital of Chapelthorpe plc ('Chapelthorpe' or 'the Company'), requisitioned an Extraordinary General Meeting ('EGM') of Chapelthorpe for the purpose of proposing resolutions which, if passed by shareholders, would result in a major restructuring of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Requisitionists also submitted to the Company for circulation an accompanying Statement for Shareholders. On 23 February the Company responded to the requisition of 2 February, and issued a Notice convening an EGM to be held on 18 March 2005. The Statement for Shareholders of 2 February, which was not attached to the Company RNS release of 23 February, is set out below and ordinary shareholders should receive this from the Company along with the Notice of EGM. The length of the Statement for Shareholders of 2 February was restricted to 1,000 words as required by law and was written before the most recent profits warning issued by the Company on 8 February 2005. The Requisitionists will issue a detailed response to the Company's letter of 23 February in due course. Contact: Robert Legget 020 7566 5552 Progressive Value Management Limited Managers of Second Advance Value Realisation Company Limited Statement to the Holders of Ordinary Shares in Chapelthorpe plc 1 FEBRUARY 2005 Dear Shareholder, An opportunity to generate value and liquidity for Shareholders We are writing as representatives of two large shareholding groups in Chapelthorpe PLC ('Chapelthorpe' or 'the Company') to seek your support to effect changes to the Board of the Company, at the forthcoming EGM, in order to prevent the further destruction of shareholder value and to implement a clear strategy for return of value to Ordinary shareholders. 1. Destruction of Shareholder Value In 1997 Messrs. Leckie and Thompson were appointed as Group Chief Executive and Executive Director respectively. Since then: The share price has fallen from 38.25p to 20.0p, a decline of 48% whilst the FTSE Fledgling Index has risen by 152 %; Earnings per Ordinary Share have dropped by a third and dividends have collapsed by over 60%; Shareholders' funds have fallen by more than a third; Cumulative post tax losses have exceeded £26 million; More than £31 million has been spent on acquisitions without tangible benefit to shareholders; and Despite this record, Messrs. Leckie and Thompson have received total emoluments and pension contributions of over £5 million. We believe it is apparent that the Board has delivered poor operating results, wasted money on acquisitions, been slow to re-act to market developments and been excessively paid. 2. Outlook Under the Current Board In September 2004 the Board disclosed a bad debt provision of £1.8 million and a major asset write-down provision (£5.4 million). The Company's broker is forecasting a £6.3 million pre-tax loss for the current year. In December 2004 the Board announced its intention to focus on man-made fibres and release cash from the Umbrella Frames division, which 'does not fit into this new direction'. The Board stated that it intended to 'invest in, and grow, business areas where our skills are demonstrating the capability to provide good margins and growth over the longer term'. Given the dismal past performance, we do not believe that the Board will deliver real shareholder value. We are concerned that acquisitions may be under consideration and this could further erode shareholder value. 3. A Clear Alternative Strategy Our strategy is to maximise value and return it to Ordinary shareholders. We intend to achieve this by the appointment of a highly experienced team led by Ian Duncan to enhance Chapelthorpe's profitability and efficiently dispose of the Company's businesses within two years. Our proposed resolutions, if passed, will remove Messrs. Leckie, Reeve, Standen and Thompson as directors and replace them with a team consisting of: Ian Duncan aged 57, if appointed would become Executive Chairman. He was until recently an Operating Partner of Compass Partners International ('Compass'). He was formerly Chief Financial Officer for fifteen years and Deputy Chairman of Tomkins Plc. Panos Loizou aged 40, if appointed would become Chief Operating Officer. He was an Operating Principal of Compass and held senior executive positions at GE Lighting, PepsiCo and OC&C Strategy Consultants. Rory Macnamara aged 50, if appointed would become non-executive Deputy Chairman. He was a senior corporate financier with Deutsche Bank and Lehman Brothers, specialising in mergers and acquisitions. He has recently been involved as a consultant to the Board of Mentmore plc in the period prior to its acquisition by Safestore for approximately £209 million. Stuart Forshaw aged 51, if appointed would become a non-executive director. He has over 20 years experience in investment analysis, corporate broking and fund management, most recently with Tilney Investment Management. The new directors, if all the resolutions at the forthcoming EGM are passed, will represent a majority of the Board. 4. Terms of Appointment of the New Executive Directors The proposed terms of Messrs Duncan and Loizou's appointment are designed to reduce Chapelthorpe's fixed costs and to provide incentive for them to return value effectively to Ordinary shareholders in the short term. It is proposed that Dimitra Capital Partners LLP ('Dimitra'), a partnership controlled by Messrs Duncan and Loizou, would receive a fee of £200,000 per annum in respect of their services for a minimum term of six months subject to three months' notice to expire at minimum term end or thereafter. Whilst Dimitra remains under contract, it would receive a realisation fee of 1% of any capital (including special dividends) returned to Ordinary shareholders within the first twelve calendar months following the appointment of the new Board and 0.5% of any capital (including special dividends) returned to Ordinary shareholders within the second twelve calendar months. In addition Dimitra would receive a fee equivalent to 10% of all monies returned to Ordinary shareholders (and/or value retained within the Company) at contract termination (but excluding normal dividends) in excess of 20 pence per share, the closing mid-market share price on the day before notification to the Company of the issue of the EGM requisition. Messrs Duncan and Loizou (and immediate family) have invested £373,248 in the Company's Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 1% of the total equity share capital, at an average price of 17 pence per share. We urge you to VOTE IN FAVOUR OF ALL THE ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS effecting the necessary Board changes at the requisitioned Extraordinary General Meeting. The requisitionists intend to vote in favour in respect of the 22,110,000 Ordinary Shares managed by us, representing 10.8% of the total equity share capital. We believe that approval of these resolutions, and implementation of the strategy outlined in this statement, will enhance both value and liquidity for all holders of the Company's Ordinary Shares. Yours faithfully Robert W L Legget Charles D R C Groves Duly authorised and on behalf of Duly authorised and on behalf of Progressive Value Management Limited North Atlantic Value LLP Manager, Second Advance Value Realisation Company Limited Details of beneficial ownership of shares held by requisitionists referred to in letter dated 1 February 2005. Shareholders(beneficial) No. of Ordinary Shares SAVR 8,000,000 Managed by North Atlantic Value LLP Oryx International Growth Fund 4,750,000 Trident Holdings 3,677,300 Trident High Tor 695,100 Trident North Atlantic Fund 4,987,600 Total 22,110,000 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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