Offer Update
Babcock International Group PLC
07 May 2004
Not for release or publication in or into the United States, Canada, Japan or
Australia.
7 May 2004
RECOMMENDED OFFER BY CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON (EUROPE) LIMITED ON BEHALF OF
BABCOCK INTERNATIONAL GROUP PLC FOR PETERHOUSE GROUP PLC
Offer Update
On 22 March 2004 the Board of Babcock International Group PLC ('Babcock') and
the board of Peterhouse Group Plc ('Peterhouse') (other than David Jackson and
Simon Foster) announced that agreement had been reached on the terms of a
recommended cash and shares offer, to be made by Credit Suisse First Boston
(Europe) Limited on behalf of Babcock, for the entire issued and to be issued
share capital of Peterhouse. This Offer continues to be recommended by the
board of Peterhouse (other than David Jackson and Simon Foster).
The Board of Babcock announces that, as at 3.00 p.m. on 6 May 2004, the first
closing date of the Offer, valid acceptances in respect of 20,060,595 Peterhouse
Shares, representing approximately 41.8 per cent. of the existing issued share
capital of Peterhouse had been received.
The Board of Babcock accordingly announces that it is extending the Offer and
the Mix and Match Facility until 3.00 p.m. on 27 May 2004. The Offer remains
open for acceptance and Peterhouse Shareholders who have not yet accepted the
Offer are urged to return the Form of Acceptance, whether or not their
Peterhouse Shares are held in CREST, duly completed, signed and witnessed, and
accompanied by their share certificate(s) and / or other document(s) of title
(if their shares are held in certificated form) by hand or by post to
Computershare Investor Services PLC, PO Box No 859, The Pavillions, Bridgwater
Road, Bristol BS99 1XZ or by hand only to Computershare Investor Services PLC,
7th Floor Jupiter House, Triton Court, 14 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1BR by no
later than 3.00 p.m. on 27 May 2004.
Save as disclosed above, neither Babcock nor any person deemed to be acting in
concert with Babcock held any Peterhouse Shares or rights over any Peterhouse
Shares prior to the commencement of the Offer Period on 2 February 2004, or has
either acquired or agreed to acquire any Peterhouse Shares or rights over any
Peterhouse Shares since then.
Peter Rogers, Chief Executive of Babcock comments:
'We are pleased to have received over 40 per cent. acceptances from Peterhouse
Shareholders at this stage. The case remains that Babcock's offer is the only
opportunity for Peterhouse Shareholders to participate in the future growth of a
larger and stronger group and we encourage shareholders if they have not done so
already, to return their Form of Acceptance as soon as possible.'
All terms defined in the Offer Document dated 15 April 2004 have the same
meaning in this announcement, unless the context requires otherwise.
ENQUIRIES
Babcock International Group PLC +44 (0)20 7291 5000
Peter Rogers, Chief Executive
Bill Tame, Finance Director
Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited +44 (0)20 7888 8888
(Financial Adviser to Babcock)
Justin Crookenden
Richard Probert
Cazenove & Co. Ltd (Broker to Babcock) +44 (0)20 7588 2828
Malcolm Moir
Dermot McKechnie
Financial Dynamics (Public Relations Adviser to Babcock) +44 (0)20 7831 3113
Andrew Lorenz
Richard Mountain
Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited, which is regulated in the United
Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting only for Babcock and
no-one else in connection with the Offer and will not regard any other person as
its client or be responsible to anyone other than to Babcock for providing the
protections afforded to clients of Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited,
nor for giving advice in relation to the Offer.
Cazenove & Co. Ltd, which is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial
Services Authority, is acting only for Babcock and no-one else in connection
with the Offer and will not regard any other person as its client or be
responsible to anyone other than to Babcock for providing the protections
afforded to clients of Cazenove & Co. Ltd, nor for giving advice in relation to
the Offer.
The Offer is not being made directly or indirectly in or into the United States,
Canada, Australia or Japan or to any US person or resident of Canada, Australia
or Japan. Neither this document nor the accompanying documentation may be
distributed or sent in, into or from the United States, Canada, Australia or
Japan or to any US person or resident of Canada, Australia or Japan and doing so
may render invalid any purported acceptance.
The New Babcock Shares have not been, and will be not be, registered under the
US Securities Act of 1933. Accordingly, the New Babcock Shares may not be
offered, sold or delivered in the United States or to US persons, unless an
exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act 1933 (as
amended) is available. Also, the relevant clearances have not been, and will
not be, obtained from the securities commission of any province of Canada. No
prospectus in relation to the New Babcock Shares has been, or will be, lodged or
registered by the Australian Securities Commission, nor have any steps been
taken or will any steps be taken to enable the New Babcock Shares to be offered
in Japan in compliance with applicable securities laws in Japan. Accordingly,
the New Babcock Shares may not be offered, sold, re-sold or delivered, directly
or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or invitation to purchase
any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain
jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such
jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed
should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange