£88.8M Offer for Rest of Monarch Development Corp.

Taylor Woodrow PLC 7 April 2000 Taylor Woodrow plc Announces offer to Acquire Minority of Monarch Development Corporation, Toronto. Taylor Woodrow plc today announces that it intends to make a cash offer of C$11.25 per share to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Monarch not currently owned by Taylor Woodrow and its affiliates for a total consideration of approximately C$206 million (£88.8 million). Taylor Woodrow and its affiliates currently own approximately 55% of Monarch's common shares. Two institutional shareholders, The Standard Life Assurance Company and Lincluden Management Limited, have conditionally agreed to accept the offer in respect of approximately 31% of Monarch's common shares. Taken together, these interests aggregate approximately 86% of Monarch's common shares. Monarch is one of Canada's most prominent housebuilders, holding a particularly strong position in high rise condominium developments in and around Toronto. Taylor Woodrow Communities, Monarch's highly successful US joint venture with Taylor Woodrow, is a leading provider of high value, master planned communities in Florida and Texas. In addition, Monarch has a significant investment property portfolio in Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, Monarch had gross operating revenues in 1999 of C$523.3 million. Its 1999 pre-tax earnings were a record C$63.1 million, up 31.3% on the previous year. Net assets at 31 December 1999 totalled C$330.9 million. Keith Egerton, Chief Executive of Taylor Woodrow said 'This proposed acquisition is a very significant step for the Group. It fits superbly with our strategy to grow our core worldwide housing and property businesses. It is also favourably timed; we anticipate continued robust growth in Monarch's principal markets of high rise condominiums and amenitised communities. 'Moreover, the proposed acquisition, which will be immediately earnings-enhancing, will enable us to streamline our North American housing operations into one efficient management structure. We will also step up the active management of Monarch's investment property portfolio.' Taylor Woodrow's offering circular is expected to be mailed to Monarch shareholders during the week of 24 April, 2000, with a view to completing the transaction by late May, 2000. Warburg Dillon Read has been retained to advise Taylor Woodrow in connection with the offer. Contacts for more information: Taylor Woodrow: Analysts - David Green, tel. 00 44 (0)20 7629 1201 Media and other - Nicholas Jones, tel. 00 44 (0)20 7629 1201 Monarch: David George - 001 416 491 7440 Notes to Editors Monarch has been in business for 82 years and has recorded 59 consecutive years of profitability. Among its recent acquisitions in partnership with Taylor Woodrow is Steiner Ranch, near Austin Texas, a master planned community for 2,300 high value homes and apartment units. At year-end 1999 Monarch had a landbank of around 2,000 high rise condominium units and a C$220 million investment property portfolio. Taylor Woodrow is an international leader in housing, property and construction support. Headquartered in London, it has significant housing operations in the UK, United States, Canada, Spain and Australia. In the year ended 31 December, 1999 it had turnover of £1.5 billion and pre-tax profits of £125 million. TAYLOR WOODROW - THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPER
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