Oak Holdings PLC
07 March 2008
Oak Holdings plc / Epic: OAH / Index: AIM / Sector: Property Development
7 March 2008
OAK AND SHEFFIELD STEELERS
Sign Memorandum of Understanding
Oak Holdings plc ('Oak' or 'Oak Holdings'), the AIM listed property development
and consultancy company, is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum
of Understanding ('MoU') with Sheffield Steelers, one of Britain's top
ice-hockey teams. The MoU covers the collaboration in the development of the
Steelers' own purpose-built arena at Oak's £350m YES! Project, the leisure based
resort, activity and convention destination in South Yorkshire.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sheffield-based Steelers will be the first ice
hockey club in the UK to have its own purpose-built arena. Steelers' management
says this will not only be a first in UK ice-hockey but it will benefit the
club and its fans.
Steelers' owner Bob Phillips said 'This is a great deal for us, but more
importantly, it's a great deal for our fans and sponsors in delivering a long
term sustainable business for the Steelers club. It will help us in our plans
to grow our club and in our work to expand interest in ice-hockey throughout
Yorkshire.'
The Steelers average about 4,300 spectators per home match. Their proposed new
base at YES! will cover 60,000 sq ft, hold about 5,000 spectators, and offer its
own amenities plus all the others available within YES!, which is forecast to be
Europe's largest covered leisure destination. In addition, YES! will regenerate
327 acres of former coalfield land, creating up to 3,000 new jobs for people
across South Yorkshire and beyond.
The Steelers are set to relocate to YES! in 2011.
Steve Lewis, Chief Executive of Oak Holdings, said: 'We're very proud to be
associated with the Steelers. This is a significant step forward not just for
YES! and the Steelers, but for the sport of ice hockey.
'The road, public transport and infrastructure improvements will make access to
the venue very easy. Moreover, we aim to ensure that whilst with us the fans
and their families will enjoy an all-round enjoyable experience.'
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has worked closely with Oak Holdings over
the past four years. The council's cabinet has recently approved Heads of Terms,
setting out the commercial terms between the Local Authority and Oak for a
Development Agreement and terms for a 250 year lease at the YES! Project.
Council leader Cllr Roger Stone said: 'We see the Steelers deal as a win-win
all-round - for the club and its fans, for the sport, and for Sheffield,
Rotherham and the rest of South Yorkshire.'
Signing the Steelers is the latest development for YES! Among other partners,
Oak has signed Memoranda of Understanding with extreme-sports specialist Venture
Xtreme and hi-tech golf driving-range company Baydrive. They have also signed
strategic partnerships with BT and E.On.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Oak Holdings plc Tel: 020 7493 5522
Steve Lewis, Chief Executive
Mike Hill, Finance Director
Rawlings Financial PR Limited Tel: 01756 770376
John Rawlings
Catriona Valentine
Arbuthnot Securities Limited Tel: 020 7012 2000
Tom Griffiths
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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