17/06/2004

M&S reject revised offer from Revival

Marks & Spencer have rejected an increased offer from retail entrepreneur Philip Green's company Revival Acquisitions.

Following a meeting between Marks & Spencer's Chairman Paul Myners and Chief Executive Stuart Rose, who met with Philip Green and a representative of Goldman Sachs yesterday afternoon, the substantially increased bid was rejected.

Revival Acquisitions placed a revised proposal on the table that valued Marks & Spencer's ordinary shares at not less than 370 pence in cash - effectively valuing the company at around £8.1 billion.

An previous bid valuing M&S ordinary shares at up to 310 pence, equivalent to £7 billion, was rejected earlier this month. But on the earlier offer M&S shares surged 3% on speculation of a takeover by Green - and yesterday topped 363 pence on the news of the increased bid.

The board of M&S, which is being advised by Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Cazenove, met to consider the revised proposal, but again stated that at 370 pence the offer would "significantly undervalue the group and its prospects".

The Board informed Revival Acquisitions that it would not be recommending the latest offer to shareholders.

Recently appointed Chief Executive Stuart Rose has conducted a senior management shake up as his review of the lack-lustre M&S operation aimed at improving overall performance is due to be completed by July 12 this year.

(SP)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

03 June 2004
Green bid values M&S at £9bn
A hostile bid by Philip Green to take over the High Street giant Marks and Spencer has valued the company at around £9 billion, the BBC has reported today.
02 February 2004
ITV shares begin trading on London Stock Exchange
ITV plc, the company formed on the merger of Carlton and Granada, has launched its shares on the London Stock Exchange. All dealing in Carlton and Granada shares concluded on Friday's close, while ITV plc shares opened at 141 pence, reaching 146.25p by 4pm.
21 June 2002
Musgrave Group offers £175m to acquire Budgens
Musgrave Group, Ireland’s largest food distributor, has announced a £175million (275 million euro) offer to buy up the remaining shares in Budgens. The agreed deal will see Musgrave offer of 135 pence (Sterling) per share to the shareholders of Budgens to acquire the outstanding shares in that company that it does not already own.
25 September 2001
TBI bid is dropped by Vinci
French construction giant Vinci has announced its offer for TBI, the owners of Belfast International Airport, has lapsed after TBI shareholder acceptances fell below the 90 per cent level needed for the deal to go ahead. In a press statement Vinci stated that as of 3.
28 August 2001
Share surge as trading begins on Woolworths
Shares in UK store chain Woolworths have surged on their first hours of trading, up from an opening price of 25 pence to 31.25 pence.