Offer Declared Unconditional
Guinness Peat Group PLC
30 April 2002
For immediate release
Not for release, publication or distribution in whole or in part, in or into the
United States, Canada, Australia or Japan
30 April, 2002
Guinness Peat Group plc
and
J O Hambro Capital Management Limited
Mandatory Cash Offer for Nationwide Accident Repair Services plc
Offer Declared Unconditional
In relation to the offer announced by Strand Partners Limited ('Strand') on 14
March 2002 on behalf of Guinness Peat Group plc ('GPG') and J O Hambro Capital
Management Limited ('JOHCM') to acquire the issued share capital of Nationwide
Accident Repair Services plc ('Nationwide') not already held by them, the
Offerors are pleased to announce the acquisition through the market of 3,076,000
Nationwide Shares, representing 11.64 per cent. of the issued share capital of
Nationwide ('the Acquisition'). As a result of the Acquisition, the Offerors
together hold 15,431,712 Nationwide Shares, representing 58.37 per cent. of the
issued share capital of Nationwide.
The sole condition of the Increased and Final Offer having been met as a result
of the Acquisition, the Offerors hereby declare the Increased and Final Offer
unconditional in all respects.
As at 3.00pm on 26 April 2002, being the first closing date of the Increased and
Final Offer, valid acceptances of the Offer had been received in respect of a
total of 75,461 Nationwide Shares, representing approximately 0.29 per cent. of
the current issued ordinary share capital of Nationwide and representing
approximately 0.52 per cent. of the Nationwide Shares to which the Increased and
Final Offer relates.
As at 3.00pm on 29 April 2002, being the last business day prior to the
Increased and Final Offer becoming and being declared unconditional in all
respects, valid acceptances of the Offer had been received in respect of a total
of 76,461 Nationwide Shares, representing approximately 0.29 per cent. of the
current issued ordinary share capital of Nationwide and representing
approximately 0.52 per cent. of the Nationwide Shares to which the Increased and
Final Offer relates. Prior to the announcement of the Increased and Final Offer,
the Offerors together held 11,826,463 Nationwide Shares, representing 44.74 per
cent. of the entire issued share capital of Nationwide. During the Offer Period,
the Offerors have acquired through the market a further 3,605,249 Nationwide
Shares (including the Acquisition), representing 13.64 per cent. of the issued
share capital of Nationwide.
As announced on 29 April 2002, the closing date for the Increased and Final
Offer has been extended and will remain open until at least 14 days after the
posting of the Increased and Final Offer Document to Nationwide Shareholders.
Nationwide Shareholders who wish to accept the Increased and Final Offer but
have not yet done so are strongly encouraged to return their completed Forms of
Acceptance (and supporting documents) as soon as possible to Capita IRG Plc at
Bourne House, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TH (telephone: 0870 162
3100).
The Increased and Final Offer Document will be posted to Nationwide Shareholders
shortly.
Enquiries:
Guinness Peat Group
Tel: (020) 7236 0336
(Representing the Offerors)
Blake Nixon
UK Executive Director
Strand Partners Limited
Tel: (020) 7409 3494
(Financial Adviser to GPG and JOHCM)
Simon Raggett
Warren Pearce
Strand Partners, which is authorised in the United Kingdom by The Financial
Services Authority, is acting for GPG and JOHCM and no one else in connection
with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than GPG and JOHCM
for providing the protections afforded to customers of Strand Partners, nor for
giving advice in relation to the Offer.
The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into, and may not be
accepted in or from, the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. Accordingly,
copies of this announcement are not being, and must not be, mailed or otherwise
distributed or sent in or into or from the United States, Canada, Australia or
Japan.
Strand Partners Ltd has approved the contents of this announcement solely for
the purpose of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The
principal place of business of Strand Partners Limited is 110 Park Street,
London, W1K 6NX.
The GPG Directors and the JOHCM Directors accept responsibility for the
information contained in this announcement save that the only responsibility
accepted by them in respect of such information as relates to Nationwide (which
has been compiled from public records) has been to ensure that such information
has been correctly and fairly reproduced and presented. Subject as aforesaid, to
the best of the knowledge and belief of the GPG Directors and the JOHCM
Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case),
such information is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything
likely to affect the import of such information.
This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, an offer or an
invitation to purchase any securities.
END
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