Offer for Bullough plc

Montpellier Group PLC 17 April 2003 Montpellier Group plc Cash Offer by Rowan Dartington & Co. Limited on behalf of Tobull Limited for Bullough plc This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution in, into or from the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan Montpellier announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Tobull Limited ('Tobull') has today announced a firm intention to make an offer for the entire issued share capital of Bullough plc, at a price of 12 pence per Bullough Share ('the Offer'). Full details of the Offer are set out below: SUMMARY: • The board of Tobull, a wholly owned subsidiary of Montpellier Group plc, announces the terms of a cash offer, to be made by Rowan Dartington on behalf of Tobull, for Bullough, valuing the existing issued ordinary share capital of Bullough at approximately £6.38 million. • The Offer will be 12 pence in cash per Bullough Share. • The Offer Price represents a premium of approximately 85 per cent. over the closing middle market price of 6.5 pence per Bullough Share on 16 April 2003, the business day immediately prior to the date of this announcement. • Commenting on today's announcement, Ralph Baber, Chairman of Tobull, said: '12 months ago, on 16 April 2002, the closing mid-market price of Bullough Shares was 24 pence. Since then, the share price has declined by approximately by 72.3 per cent. The company has in recent years suffered significant trading losses. Since the year ended 31 December 2000 the company has incurred total after tax losses of £18.5 million representing approximately 35 pence per share. The Offer is being made at a significant premium to the current price of Bullough Shares, and provides shareholders with the certainty of 12 pence in cash.' ENQUIRIES: Montpellier Group plc 0207 522 3200 Paul Sellars, Chief Executive Tobull Limited 020 7522 3333 Ralph Baber, Chairman Rowan Dartington & Co. Limited 0117 933 0020 John Wakefield, Director Rowan Dartington, which is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Tobull as financial adviser within the meaning of the Rules of the Financial Services Authority and for no one else in connection with the Offer and is not advising any other person or treating any other person as its client in relation thereto and will not be responsible to anyone other than Tobull for providing the protections afforded to clients of Rowan Dartington, or for providing advice to any other person in relation to the Offer, the contents of this announcement or any other matter referred to herein. This announcement is published on behalf of Tobull and has been approved by Rowan Dartington & Co. Limited in accordance with the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The Offer will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. This includes, but is not limited to, facsimile or other electronic transmission, telex and telephone. Accordingly copies of this announcement are not being, and must not be, mailed or otherwise distributed or sent in, into or from the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. The directors of Tobull and the directors of Montpellier (all of whose names are set out below) accept responsibility for the information contained in this press announcement other than that relating to Bullough and the directors of Bullough. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the directors of Tobull and the directors of Montpellier (each having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this document for which they are responsible is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. The directors of Tobull are shown below. The registered office of Tobull is at 39 Cornhill, London EC3V 3NU. Ralph Baber, Chairman Claes Piehl, Executive Director David Wood, Executive Director Ewen Wigley, Executive Director The directors of Montpellier are shown below. The registered office of Montpellier is also at 39 Cornhill, London EC3V 3NU. Cedric Scroggs, Non Executive Chairman Peter Gyllenhammar, Non Executive Deputy Chairman Paul Sellars, Managing Director Roger Feast, Executive Director This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution in, into or from the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan Cash Offer by Rowan Dartington & Co. Limited on behalf of Tobull Limited for Bullough plc 1. Introduction The board of Tobull, a wholly owned subsidiary of Montpellier, announces the terms of a cash offer, to be made by Rowan Dartington on behalf of Tobull, to acquire all of the issued, and to be issued, ordinary share capital of Bullough (other than the 15,876,318 Bullough Shares already owned by Tobull). 2. The Offer On behalf of Tobull, Rowan Dartington will offer to acquire, on the terms and subject to the conditions to be set out or referred to in the Offer Document and in the Form of Acceptance, all of the Bullough Shares (other than the Bullough Shares already owned by Tobull) on the following basis: for each Bullough Share 12 pence in cash The Offer values Bullough's existing issued ordinary share capital at approximately £6.38 million. The Offer price of 12 pence per Bullough Share represents a premium of approximately 85 per cent. over the closing middle market price of 6.5 pence per Bullough Share on 16 April 2003 (the business day immediately prior to the making of this announcement). 3. Bullough Share Option Scheme The Offer extends to any Bullough Shares unconditionally allotted, issued or transferred while the Offer remains open for acceptance (or such earlier date as Tobull may, subject to the City Code, determine, being not earlier than the date on which the Offer becomes unconditional as to acceptances or, if later, the first closing date of the Offer), including any Bullough Shares which are unconditionally allotted or issued pursuant to the exercise of options granted under the Bullough Share Option Scheme. 4. Information on Bullough The Bullough Group is a manufacturing engineering group whose trading activities are comprised in two divisions, Workplace Solutions and Temperature Control. The Workplace Solutions division manufactures and supplies office furniture, principally into the UK market. For the year ended 31 December 2002, it achieved an operating loss from continuing operations of £5.4 million on sales of £49.2 million. The Temperature Control division designs and manufactures oil fired boilers and gas fired warm air central heating units for the residential and public sector markets. For the year ended 31 December 2002, it achieved an operating profit from continuing activities of approximately £1.25 million on turnover of £19.3 million For the year ended 31 December 2002, the Bullough Group reported a pre-tax loss of £7.4 million on sales of £82.7 million, of which £68.5 million were from continuing operations. Over the period since 1998, the Bullough Group's turnover has decreased from over £111 million. It last made a profit in 2000 and has not paid a dividend in respect of any year since then. Over that period, shareholders' funds have decreased by 50 per cent. from £46.8 million to £23.3 million. 5. Information on Tobull and Montpellier Tobull is a wholly owned subsidiary of Montpellier, set up specifically for the acquisition of Bullough. The principal activities of Montpellier are those of an investment company. Its subsidiaries are engaged in construction, land and property development and strategic investment management including corporate finance activities. These activities are carried out in the United Kingdom and United States. For the year ended 30 September 2002, Montpellier had turnover of £448 million (year ended 30 September 2001: £312 million) and achieved profit before taxation of £4.9 million (year ended 30 September 2001: £3.5 million). Earnings per ordinary share (basic) for the year ended 30 September 2002 were 7.25 pence (2001: 5.34p) and net assets per ordinary share as at 30 September 2002 were approximately 44 pence (2001: 39p). 6. Background to and reasons for the Offer Tobull is part of the investment division of Montpellier. The investment division invests principally in businesses which are under-performing but asset-backed with a view to identifying ways to realise the locked-in value. The directors of Montpellier believe that the acquisition of Bullough by Tobull is consistent with this strategy and represents an exciting opportunity to acquire a well-established business operating in niche markets. 7. Management and employees Tobull recognises the skills, technical ability and experience of the senior management and employees of Bullough. The board of Tobull confirms that the existing rights of all employees of the Bullough Group will be fully safeguarded. 8. Financing of the Offer The Offer is to be financed from a term loan facility and guarantee facility to be provided by Bank of Scotland. 9. Further terms of the Offer The Bullough Shares will be acquired by Tobull fully paid and free from all liens, equitable interests, charges, encumbrances, rights of pre-emption and other third party rights of any nature whatsoever and together with all rights now or hereafter attaching thereto, including, without limitation, the right to receive and retain all dividends and other distributions declared, made or payable on or after 17 April 2003, being the date of the announcement of the firm intention to make the Offer. The Offer will be made on the further terms and subject to the conditions which are set out in Appendix I and to those terms which will be set out in the Offer Document and in the Form of Acceptance, and such further terms as may be required to comply with the appropriate rules and regulations of the City Code. 10. Cancellation of trading on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and compulsory acquisition of Bullough Shares On receipt of valid acceptances in respect of not less than 90 per cent. of the Bullough Shares which are the subject of the Offer, Tobull intends to apply the provisions of sections 428 to 430F of the Companies Act to acquire compulsorily any Bullough Shares in respect of which valid acceptances have not been received. Further, Tobull intends to apply to the London Stock Exchange for the dealing facility in Bullough Shares to be withdrawn as soon as it is appropriate and possible to do so following the Offer becoming or being declared unconditional in all respects. 11. The Offer Document Rowan Dartington, which is acting as financial adviser to Tobull, will despatch the Offer Document, together with the Form of Acceptance, within 28 days after the date of this announcement. 12. General Save as otherwise disclosed in this press announcement, neither Tobull, nor Montpellier, nor any Tobull director, nor any Montpellier director nor, to the best of Tobull's knowledge and belief, any person acting in concert with Tobull for the purposes of the Offer, owns or controls any Bullough Shares or any options to purchase any Bullough Shares or has entered into any derivative referenced to securities of Bullough which remains outstanding. Further details of the bases and sources of certain financial information in this announcement are set out in Appendix II. Appendix III contains definitions of the terms used in this announcement. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Montpellier Group plc 0207 522 3200 Paul Sellars, Chief Executive Tobull Limited 020 7522 3333 Ralph Baber, Chairman Rowan Dartington & Co. Limited 0117 933 0020 John Wakefield, Director Rowan Dartington, which is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Tobull as financial adviser within the meaning of the Rules of the Financial Services Authority and for no one else in connection with the Offer and is not advising any other person or treating any other person as its client in relation thereto and will not be responsible to anyone other than Tobull for providing the protections afforded to clients of Rowan Dartington, or for providing advice to any other person in relation to the Offer, the contents of this announcement or any other matter referred to herein. This announcement is published on behalf of Tobull and has been approved by Rowan Dartington & Co. Limited in accordance with Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. This includes, but is not limited to, facsimile or other electronic transmission, telex and telephone. Accordingly copies of this announcement are not being, and must not be, mailed or otherwise distributed or sent in, into or from the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. The directors of Tobull and the directors of Montpellier accept responsibility for the information contained in this press announcement, save that the only responsibility accepted by the directors of Tobull and the directors of Montpellier in respect of the information relating to the Bullough Group, which has been compiled from published sources, has been to ensure that such information has been correctly and fairly reproduced or presented. Save as aforesaid, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the directors of Tobull and the directors of Montpellier (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information for which they are responsible contained in this press announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. The directors of Tobull are shown below. The registered office address of Tobull is at 39 Cornhill, London EC3V 3NU. Ralph Baber, Chairman Claes Piehl, Executive Director David Wood, Executive Director Ewen Wigley, Executive Director The directors of Montpellier are shown below. The registered office of Montpellier is also at 39 Cornhill, London EC3V 3NU. Cedric Scroggs, Non Executive Chairman Peter Gyllenhammar, Non Executive Deputy Chairman Paul Sellars, Managing Director Roger Feast, Executive Director APPENDIX I CONDITIONS AND FURTHER TERMS OF THE OFFER The Offer by Rowan Dartington, on behalf of Tobull, will comply with the applicable rules and regulations of the City Code. Conditions of the Offer 1. The Offer will be subject to the following conditions: (a) valid acceptances being received (and not, where permitted, withdrawn) by not later than 3.00 p.m. (London time) on the first closing date of the Offer, (or such later time(s) and/or date(s) as Tobull may, in accordance with the City Code, decide) in respect of not less than 90 per cent. (or such lesser percentage as Tobull may decide) in nominal value of Bullough Shares to which the Offer relates, provided that this condition shall not be satisfied unless Tobull shall have acquired or agreed to acquire, whether pursuant to the Offer or otherwise, Bullough Shares carrying in aggregate more than 50 per cent. of the voting rights then normally exercisable at general meetings of Bullough including for this purpose (to the extent, if any, required by the Panel) any such voting rights attaching to any Bullough Shares that are unconditionally allotted or issued before the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional as to acceptances whether pursuant to the exercise of any outstanding subscription or conversion rights or otherwise. For the purposes of this condition Bullough Shares which have been unconditionally allotted but not issued shall be deemed to carry the voting rights they will carry upon issue. (b) the office of Fair Trading not having indicated that it is the intention of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry or, after the coming into force of Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002, that it intends itself, to refer the proposed acquisition of Bullough by Tobull, or any matters arising therefrom or related thereto, to the Competition Commission. (c) there being no provision of any agreement, arrangement, licence, permit, franchise or other instrument to which any member of the wider Bullough Group is a party or by or to which any member of the wider Bullough Group or any of its assets may be bound, entitled or subject, which in consequence of the Offer or the proposed acquisition of any shares or other securities in Bullough or because of a change in the control or management of Bullough or otherwise, would or could result in: (i) any monies borrowed by or any other indebtedness (actual or contingent) of, or grant available to, any such member being or becoming repayable or capable of being declared repayable immediately or earlier than their or its stated maturity date or repayment date or the ability of any such member to borrow monies or incur any indebtedness being withdrawn or inhibited or being capable of becoming or being withdrawn or inhibited; (ii) any such agreement, arrangement, licence, permit, franchise or other instrument or the rights, liabilities, obligations or interests of any such member thereunder being terminated or modified or adversely affected or any material obligation or liability arising thereunder on any member of the wider Bullough Group or any adverse action being taken thereunder against any member of the wider Bullough Group; (iii) any assets or interests of any such member being disposed of or any right arising under which any such asset or interest could be required to be disposed of; (iv) the creation of any mortgage, charge or other security interest over the whole or any part of the business, property or assets of any such member or any such security (whenever arising or having arisen) becoming enforceable; (v) the rights, liabilities, obligations or interests of any such member in, or the business of any such member with, any person, firm or body (or any arrangement or arrangements relating to any such interest or business) being terminated, adversely modified or affected; (vi) the value of any such member or its financial or trading position or prospects being adversely affected; (vii) any such member ceasing to be able to carry on business under any name under which it presently does so; or (viii) the creation of any liability, actual or contingent, of any such member; and no event having occurred which, under any provision of any agreement, arrangement, licence, permit, franchise or other instrument to which any member of the wider Bullough Group is a party, or by or to which any such member or any of its assets may be bound, entitled or subject, would or might reasonably be expected to result in any of the events or circumstances as are referred to in sub-paragraphs (i) to (viii) of this paragraph (c); (d) no government or governmental, quasi-governmental, supranational, statutory, regulatory, environmental or investigative body, court, trade agency, association, institution or any other body or person whatsoever in any jurisdiction (each a ''Third Party'') having decided to take, institute, implement or threaten any action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference, or enacted, made or proposed any statute, regulation, decision or order, or having taken any other steps which would or might reasonably be expected to: (i) require, prevent or delay the divestiture, or alter the terms envisaged for any proposed divestiture, by any member of the wider Tobull Group or any member of the wider Bullough Group of all or any portion of their respective businesses, assets or property or impose any limitation on the ability of any of them to conduct their respective businesses (or any of them) or to own any of their respective assets or properties or any part thereof; (ii) require, prevent or delay the divestiture by any member of the wider Tobull Group of any shares or other securities in Bullough; (iii) impose any material limitation on, or result in a material delay in, the ability of any member of the wider Tobull Group or of the wider Bullough Group directly or indirectly to acquire or to hold or to exercise effectively any rights of ownership in respect of shares or loans or securities convertible into shares or any other securities (or the equivalent) in any member of the wider Bullough Group or the wider Tobull Group or management control over any such member; (iv) make the Offer or its implementation or the acquisition or proposed acquisition by any member of the wider Tobull Group of any shares or other securities in, or control of, Bullough void, illegal, and/or unenforceable under the laws of any jurisdiction, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, restrain, restrict, prohibit, delay or otherwise interfere with the same, or impose additional conditions or obligations with respect thereto, or otherwise challenge or interfere therewith; (v) require any member of the wider Tobull Group or the wider Bullough Group to offer to acquire any shares or other securities (or the equivalent) or interest in any member of the wider Bullough Group or the wider Tobull Group owned by any third party; (vi) impose any limitation on the ability of any member of the wider Bullough Group to co-ordinate its business, or any part of it, with the business of any other member of the wider Bullough Group or any member of the wider Tobull Group; or (vii) otherwise adversely affect the business, assets, profits or prospects of any member of the wider Tobull Group or of any member of the wider Bullough Group in a manner which is adverse to, and material in the context of, the wider Tobull Group or the wider Bullough Group respectively; and all applicable waiting and other time periods during which any Third Party could institute, implement or threaten any such action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference or enact, make or propose any such statute, regulation, decision or order or take any other such step under the laws of any jurisdiction having expired, lapsed or been terminated; (e) all necessary filings or applications in any relevant jurisdiction having been made, all statutory or regulatory obligations in any relevant jurisdiction having been complied with and all appropriate waiting periods and any other time periods (including extensions thereto) under any applicable legislation or regulations of any jurisdiction, having expired, lapsed or been terminated in each case in connection with both the Offer or the acquisition by any member of the wider Tobull Group of any shares or other securities in, or control of, Bullough and all authorisations, orders, recognitions, grants, consents, licences, confirmations, clearances, permissions and approvals necessary or appropriate for or in respect of both the Offer and the proposed acquisition of any shares or other securities in, or control of, Bullough by any member of the wider Tobull Group having been obtained in terms and in a form satisfactory to Tobull from all appropriate third parties or persons or bodies with whom any member of the wider Bullough Group has entered into contractual arrangements and all such authorisations, orders, recognitions, grants, consents, licences, confirmations, clearances, permissions and approvals, together with all authorisations, orders, recognitions, grants, licences, confirmations, clearances, permissions and approvals necessary or appropriate to carry on the business of any member of the wider Bullough Group remaining in full force and effect and all filings necessary for such purpose having been made and there being no notice or intimation of any intention to revoke or not to renew any of the same and all necessary statutory or regulatory obligations, authorisations, orders, recognitions, grants, consents, licences, confirmations, clearances, permissions and approvals in any jurisdiction having been complied with; (f) no member of the wider Bullough Group having, since 31 December 2002: (i) save as between Bullough and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Bullough, issued, agreed to issue, authorised or proposed the issue of additional shares of any class; (ii) save as between Bullough and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Bullough, issued, agreed to issue, authorised or proposed the issue of securities convertible into shares of any class or rights, warrants or options to subscribe for, or acquire, any such shares or convertible securities; (iii) other than to another member of the Bullough Group, recommended, declared, paid or made or proposed to recommend, declare, pay or make to Bullough Shareholders any bonus, dividend or other distribution whether payable in cash or otherwise; (iv) save for intra-Bullough Group transactions, merged or demerged with any body corporate or acquired or disposed of or transferred, mortgaged or charged or created any security interest over any assets or any right, title or interest in any asset (including shares and trade investments) or authorised or proposed or announced any intention to propose any merger, demerger, acquisition or disposal, transfer, mortgage, charge or the creation of any security interest or undertaken any liability (in each case other than in the ordinary course of business) which is material in the context of the Bullough Group; (v) save for intra-Bullough Group transactions, made or authorised or proposed or announced an intention to propose any change in its loan capital; (vi) issued, authorised or proposed the issue of any debentures or save in the ordinary course of business (and save for intra-Bullough Group transactions) incurred or increased any indebtedness or become subject to any contingent liability; (vii) purchased, redeemed or repaid or announced any proposal to purchase, redeem or repay any of its own shares or other securities or reduced or made any other change to any part of its share capital; (viii) implemented, or authorised, proposed or announced its intention to implement, any reconstruction, amalgamation, scheme, commitment or (otherwise than in the ordinary course of business) any other transaction or arrangement or entered into or changed the terms of any contract or arrangement with any director or senior executive; (ix) entered into or varied or authorised, proposed or announced its intention to enter into or vary any contract, transaction or commitment (whether in respect of capital expenditure or otherwise) which is of a long-term, onerous or unusual nature or magnitude or which is or could be restrictive on the businesses of the wider Bullough Group or which involves or could involve an obligation of such a nature or magnitude or which is other than in the ordinary course of business and which is material in the context of the Bullough Group; (x) (other than in respect of a member which is dormant and was solvent at the relevant time) taken any corporate action or had any legal proceedings started or threatened against it for its winding-up, dissolution or reorganisation or for the appointment of a receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, trustee or similar officer of all or any of its assets or revenues or any analogous proceedings in any jurisdiction or had any such person appointed; (xi) been unable, or admitted in writing that it is unable, to pay its debts or having stopped or suspended (or threatened to stop or suspend) payment of its debts or ceased (or threatened to cease) carrying on all or a substantial part of its business; (xii) entered into any contract, transaction, agreement or arrangement which would be materially restrictive on the business of any member of the wider Bullough Group or any member of the wider Tobull Group; (xiii) made any amendment to its memorandum or articles of association or equivalent documents; (xiv) waived or compromised any claim otherwise than in the ordinary course of trading; or (xv) entered into any contract, commitment, arrangement or agreement or passed any resolution or made any offer which remains open for acceptance with respect to, or announced any intention to, or to propose to, effect any of the transactions, matters or events referred to in this paragraph (f); (g) since 31 December 2002: (i) no adverse change or deterioration having occurred in the business, assets, financial or trading position or profits or prospects of any member of the wider Bullough Group which is material in the context of the wider Bullough Group; (ii) no litigation, arbitration proceedings, prosecution or other legal proceedings to which any member of the wider Bullough Group is or may become a party (whether as a plaintiff, defendant or otherwise) and no investigation against or in respect of any member of the wider Bullough Group having been instituted, announced or threatened by or against or remaining outstanding in respect of any member of the wider Bullough Group which in any such case would or could adversely affect any member of the wider Bullough Group to an extent which is material in the context of the wider Bullough Group taken as a whole; (iii) no contingent or other liability having arisen which would or could materially and adversely affect any member of the wider Bullough Group; and (iv) no steps having been taken which would or could result in the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of any licence held by any member of the wider Bullough Group which is necessary for the proper carrying on of its business and which is material in the context of the wider Bullough Group; (h) Tobull not having discovered: (i) that any financial, business or other information concerning any member of the wider Bullough Group as contained in the information publicly disclosed at any time by or on behalf of any member of the wider Bullough Group is misleading, contains a misrepresentation of fact or omits to state a fact necessary to make that information not misleading; or (ii) that any member of the wider Bullough Group is subject to any liability, contingent or actual, which is not disclosed in the annual report and accounts of Bullough for the year ended 31 December 2002 and which is material in the context of the wider Bullough Group; (i) Tobull not having discovered that: (i) any member of the wider Bullough Group has failed to comply with any applicable legislation or regulation of any relevant jurisdiction with regard to the disposal, spillage, release, discharge, leak, production or emission of any waste or hazardous substance or any substance likely to harm human health or animal health or the environment, or that there has otherwise been any such disposal, spillage, release, discharge, leak, production or emission (whether or not the same constituted a non-compliance by any person with any such legislation or regulations, and wherever the same may have taken place) any of which disposal, spillage, release, discharge, leak, production or emission would or could, if known to any third party, give rise to any liability actual or contingent on the part of any member of the wider Bullough Group and which would or could affect materially and adversely the wider Bullough Group; or (ii) there is, or is likely to be, for any reason whatsoever any liability (actual or contingent) of any member of the wider Bullough Group to remediate and / or ameliorate any property, structure or building or any controlled waters or any other asset, now or previously owned, occupied, operated or made use of or controlled by any member of the wider Bullough Group, under any environmental legislation, regulation or order of any government, governmental, quasi-governmental or state or local government, supranational, statutory or other regulatory body, agency or court in any relevant jurisdiction and which would or could affect materially and adversely the wider Bullough Group; or (iii) circumstances exist whereby any third party or any other person or class of persons would be likely to have any claim or claims in respect of any product, including by-products and waste, or process of manufacture or materials used therein now or previously manufactured, sold or in any way carried out by any past or present member of the wider Bullough Group which claim or claims would or could affect materially and adversely the wider Bullough Group. Subject to the requirements of the Panel, Tobull reserves the right to waive, in whole or in part, all or any of the above conditions, except condition (a) and (b). Tobull shall be under no obligation to waive or treat as satisfied any of the conditions (c) to (i) (inclusive) by a date earlier than the latest date specified below for the satisfaction thereof, notwithstanding that the other conditions of the Offer may at such earlier date have been waived or fulfilled and that there are at such earlier date no circumstances indicating that any of such conditions may not be capable of fulfilment. If Tobull is required by the Panel to make an offer for Bullough Shares under the provisions of Rule 9 of the City Code, Tobull may make such alterations to any of the above conditions as are necessary to comply with the provisions of that Rule. The Offer will lapse unless the conditions set out above are fulfilled or (if capable of waiver) waived or, where appropriate, have been determined by Tobull in its reasonable opinion to be or to remain satisfied no later than 21 days after the first closing date of the Offer or after the date on which the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional as to acceptances, whichever is the later, or such later date as the Panel may agree. The Offer will lapse if it is referred to the Competition Commission before 3.00 p.m. on the first closing date of the Offer or the date on which the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional as to acceptances, whichever is the later. The Offer will be governed by English law and be subject to the jurisdiction of English courts. APPENDIX II BASES AND SOURCES (i) Tobull Limited was incorporated on 13 April 2003 and has not yet produced statutory accounts. Unless otherwise stated, the financial information concerning Montpellier has been extracted from Montpellier's report and accounts for the year ended 30 September 2002 or has been supplied by Montpellier. Unless otherwise stated, the financial information concerning Bullough has been extracted from Bullough's report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2002 or other published sources. (ii) The value of the Offer assumes that there are currently 53,172,410 Bullough Shares in issue. (iii) The closing middle market price of Bullough Shares is derived from the AIM Appendix to the Daily Official List for the relevant date. APPENDIX III DEFINITIONS The following definitions apply throughout this announcement, unless the context requires otherwise: 'Act' or 'Companies Act' the Companies Act 1985, as amended 'Bullough Group' Bullough, its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings 'Bullough Share Option Scheme' the Bullough Executive Share Option Scheme 'Bullough Shareholders' holders of Bullough Shares 'Bullough Shares' the existing unconditionally allotted or issued and fully paid ordinary shares of 20p each in the capital of Bullough and any further such shares which are unconditionally allotted or issued while the Offer remains open for acceptance (or by such earlier date or dates as Tobull may, subject to the City Code, decide) 'Bullough' Bullough plc 'business day' a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are generally open in London for usual business 'City Code' the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers 'Daily Official List' the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List 'Form of Acceptance' the form of acceptance and authority relating to the Offer which is to be despatched with and accompany the Offer Document 'London Stock Exchange' London Stock Exchange plc 'Montpellier' Montpellier Group plc 'Montpellier Group' Montpellier, its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings 'Offer Document' the document to be sent to Bullough Shareholders containing and setting out the terms and conditions of the Offer 'Offer Period' the period commencing on 17 April 2003 (the date of the announcement by Tobull of a firm intention to make an offer for Bullough) until whichever of the following dates shall be the latest: (i) 3.00 pm on the first closing date of the Offer; (ii) the time and date on which the Offer becomes unconditional; and (iii) the time and date on which the Offer lapses 'Offer' the offer to be made by Rowan Dartington on behalf of Tobull to acquire all of the Bullough Shares (save for the Bullough Shares already owned by Tobull) on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance and including, where the context so requires, any subsequent revision, variation, extension or renewal of such offer 'Panel' the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers 'Rowan Dartington' Rowan Dartington & Co. Limited 'Securities Act' the United States Securities Act of 1933 as amended 'Tobull' Tobull Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Montpellier 'UK' or 'United Kingdom' the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 'US Persons' has the meaning given to it by Regulation S under the Securities Act 'USA' or 'United States' the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia and any other areas subject to its jurisdiction 'wider Bullough Group' Bullough and its subsidiary undertakings, associated undertakings and other undertakings in which Bullough and/or such undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a significant interest 'wider Tobull Group' Tobull and its parent undertaking, associated undertakings and other undertakings in which Tobull and/or such undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a significant interest In relation to the definitions of wider Tobull Group and wider Bullough Group 'parent undertaking', ''subsidiary undertaking'', ''associated undertaking'' and ''undertaking'' have the meanings given by the Companies Act, other than paragraph 20(1)(b) of Schedule 4A to the Companies Act which shall be excluded for this purpose, and ''significant interest'' means an interest in ten per cent. or more of the equity share capital (as defined in the Companies Act). 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