Disposal

ELECTRA INVESTMENT TRUST PLC 14 July 1999 Electra Investment Trust Announces The Disposal of its Shareholding in The Stationery Office Holdings Limited The Stationery Office Holdings Limited ('TSOH'), supplier of publishing services to the Government and the wider public sector, has been sold for £82m cash to Meadowpoint PLC, financed by the new E1.8bn European Apax fund. Meadowpoint PLC will also take on £35m of bank debt and other non- trading liabilities. Gross proceeds attributable to Electra Investment Trust ('EIT') are £34m in cash. This disposal represents an uplift in the Net Asset Value per EIT ordinary share of 15p over the valuation of £18.7m on 31 March (and 31 May 1999). Proceeds from this disposal will be used to reduce bank borrowings further. TSOH is one of the four independent companies created from the demerger of The Stationery Office Group Ltd ('TSO Group') on 1 April 1999. As at 31 March 1999 the valuation of EIT's holding in TSO was £70m (cost £27.1m). Since that time EIT has received cash of £26.4m resulting from the repayment of Mezzanine and Shareholder Loans and the redemption of Preference Shares. Following these repayments of capital, the net adjusted valuation of EIT's shareholding was £43.6m (cost £0.7m), representing the aggregate value of its ordinary share interest in each of the four underlying companies of the former TSO Group. EIT will continue to own 41.5 per cent of the issued share capital of each of the three remaining businesses - Security Printing Systems, TACTICA and Banner Business Supplies. As at 31 March 1999 (and 31 May) the aggregate value of these three shareholdings was £24.9m. Tim Syder, Director of Electra Fleming, commented, 'We are pleased to announce the continuation of our disposal programme to honour our commitment to shareholders. The return on this investment is demonstration of Electra's value added role of actively managing the businesses with which it is involved. 'The desire of the new owners to retain TSOH management confirms their ability which has made this business a successful one. Going forward, the company remains in very capable hands.' For further information: Hugh Mumford Electra Fleming 0171 831 6464 Tim Syder Limited Alison Hogan Brunswick Group 0171 404 5959 Harry Chathli Limited Appendix EIT EIT Value EIT Uplift Cost As at 31 March 1999 £27.1m £70.0m - Repayment of Capital £26.4m £26.4m - Adjusted Cost/Value £0.7m £43.6m - Sale of holding in TSOH £0.2m £18.7m £15.3m* Residual Cost/Value £0.5m £24.9m - * The disposal of EIT's shareholding in TSOH gives rise to an uplift of 15p per EIT ordinary share over the net asset value as at 31 March and 31 May 1999. Notes 1.In September 1996 most of the activities of Her Majesty's Stationery Office were privatised by way of a management buy-in arranged by Electra Fleming. 2.Following the reorganisation of the Group on 1 April 1999, the other three independent businesses that were demerged from TSO are: - Security Printing Systems (principal activity: high security printing). - TACTICA (principal activity: document management). - Banner Business Supplies (principal activity: office supplies). 3.Following the demerger but as part of the reorganisation, TSO was acquired by TSOH. TSOH is the dominant organisation in the dissemination of official government information in the UK in both hard copy and electronic forms. 4.The Mezzanine Debt and the Shareholder Loan Stock, raised as part of the finance required to undertake the management buy-in September 1996, were repaid on 1 April 1999. 5.The Preference Shares issued as part of the finance required to undertake the management buy-in in September 1996 were redeemed on 30 June 1999. 6.Apax Partners is one of the leading firms pursuing a balanced equity portfolio strategy. The firm invests primarily across five sectors internationally - IT, Telecoms, Biotech/Healthcare, Media and Speciality Retailing - in early stage, expansion and buy-outs.
UK 100

Latest directors dealings