Artisan Circular

Artisan (UK) PLC 31 August 2000 Salient Points from the Artisan (UK) plc circular to enterpriseAsia.com plc shareholders dated 31st August 2000. The current investment strategy of the EPA board has to be challenged before further dissipation of the company's gross assets erode any serious prospect of increased shareholder value. EPA's investment strategy consists of no more than 'lets stick with what we have got'. Assuming they are successful it will only result in value to existing shareholders in three to five years time, assuming such investments could be sold at a profit. Artisan is convinced that a merger of EPA with a single profitable business, rather than a strategy of taking a variety of largely minority stakes in start-up companies, will enable shareholder value in EPA to be realised. Artisan can introduce a number of viable merger candidates but has had no mandate from the EPA board to do so. It is Artisan's intention to ensure that the EPA board as a whole worked together to bring about the change in EPA's strategy which is essential to the delivery of enhanced shareholder value. The enterpriseAsia circular of 23rd August contains 'highly emotive and inaccurate statements with the sole intention of deflecting EPA shareholders from the real issues' - namely - Since the formation of EPA and £12 million of shareholders money was taken the investment climate has changed radically. Artisan obtained a significant number of shares in EPA from outgoing Chinese shareholders and investment funds - an indication of the unease surrounding the prospects of start-ups in the Asian markets. Recent research by WestLB Panmure supports Artisan's view that the most recent 'correction' in the internet sector is 'far from over'. The directors of EPA, however, have displayed an unhealthy appetite for spending shareholders' money as quickly as possible since being asked to re-think their strategy. Despite the substantial change in the global investment climate, EPA directors admit they are 'closely following the strategy set out in the prospectus' which is dependent on suitable companies being identified for investment. Consolidation is widely expected within the sector. On 29th August, The Financial Times reported the proposed auction next month of the assets of more than 30 Chinese dot.com companies. Until the requisition of the EGM the EPA board continually frustrated attempts by Artisan to enter into a sensible dialogue about the company's future. Statements by EPA of 23rd August are misleading. The offer to Artisan of two seats on the Board of EPA was subject to wholly improper conditions and was faxed to Artisan as its circular of 23rd August was being sent to the Press and shareholders. The possibility of exploring a merger with Weatherly International plc was initially encouraged by the directors of EPA and emerged from early discussions with the directors and advisers of EPA Artisan (UK) plc is the largest single shareholder in EPA with a holding representing 21.84% of the equity. No director of EPA has any significant direct personal shareholding in the company. Artisan has received two conflicting statements regarding the director's interests in EPA. An unsolicited statement from EPA's lawyers, one of whose partners is company secretary of EPA, but who is not a director, alerted Artisan 'to the possibility of errors in the Register of Directors Interests located at the Company's Registered Office'. Requests for clarification and confirmation of compliance with statutory requirements remain outstanding. Artisan's action is not an opportunistic attempt to obtain EPA's cash assets. Artisan's proposals are motivated solely by the desire to enhance shareholder value for the benefit of all shareholders. Artisan's proposals are not, and have never been, designed to achieve control of the EPA by the back door and no offer has been made by Artisan to the board of EPA. Enquiries: Artisan (UK) plc 01480 436 666 Stephen Dean, Chairman Mobile 07759 321146 Chris Musselle, Finance Director Mobile 07759 336891 Seymour Pierce Limited 020 7648 8700 Sarah Wharry Boswell City Financial PR Limited 020 7583 2001 Glenda Boswell Mobile 07768 235 735 Rodney Johnson Mobile 07787 530 592
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