Takeover code17 Feb 2011 16:53
From the takeover code
'a shareholder must make an offer when its shareholding, including that of parties acting in concert (a "concert party"), reaches 30% of the target;
information relating to the bid must not be released except by announcements regulated by the Code;
the bidder must make an announcement if rumour or speculation have affected a company's share price;
the level of the offer must not be less than any price paid by the bidder in the three months before the announcement of a firm intention to make an offer;
if shares are bought during the offer period at a price higher than the offer price, the offer must be increased to that price;
The Rules Governing the Substantial Acquisition of Shares, which used to accompany the Code and which regulated the announcement of certain levels of shareholdings, have now been abolished, though similar provisions still exist in the Companies Act 1985.
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