EAS.L Regulatory News (EAS)

1 Jun 2005 07:00

Refco Trading Services (UK) Ltd01 June 2005 Refco Trading Services (UK) Limited Recommended Offer for EasyScreen plc Offer Closed For immediate release 1 June 2005 Dawnay, Day Corporate Finance Limited ("Dawnay Day") announces, on behalf ofRefco Trading Services (UK) Limited ("Refco"), that as at 1pm yesterday theRecommended Offer for the whole of the issued share capital of EasyScreen plc("EasyScreen") not already owned by Refco ("the Offer") is closed. Prior to the commencement of the Offer Period, Refco and its Associate held8,676,721 EasyScreen Shares representing 9.09% of its issued ordinary sharecapital. During the Offer Period Refco has acquired 44,395,248 EasyScreenShares, representing 46.51% of its issued share capital. As at 1pm on 31 May2005 Refco and its Associate held 53,071,969 EasyScreen Shares, representing55.61% of its issued share capital. As at 1.00pm on 31 May 2005 valid acceptances of the Offer had been received inrespect of 37,890,693 EasyScreen Shares representing 39.69% of its issued sharecapital. The above total includes acceptances in respect of 9,374,355 EasyScreenshares, representing 9.82% of the issued share capital of EasyScreen, which weresubject to irrevocable undertakings to accept the Offer. As at 1pm on 31 May 2005 the aggregate of acceptances received and EasyScreenShares held by Refco and its Associate is 90,962,662 EasyScreen Shares,representing 95.30% of EasyScreen's issued share capital. As stated in the Offer Document, Refco intends to apply the provisions ofSections 428-430F (inclusive) of the Companies Act 1985 ("the Act") to acquirecompulsorily any remaining EasyScreen Shares. In those circumstances anyremaining EasyScreen Shareholders will be offered the consideration equivalentto the Offer, as required by Section 430 of the Act. The Offer was declared unconditional in all respects on 9 May 2005. Applicationwas made on 26 May 2005 to the UK Listing Authority for the cancellation of thelisting of EasyScreen Shares on the Official List and to the London StockExchange for the cancellation of trading of EasyScreen Shares on its main marketfor listed securities. It is anticipated that the cancellation of listing and oftrading will take place with effect from 8am on 27 June 2005. It is also theintention of Refco to propose a resolution to re-register EasyScreen as aprivate company. Words and expressions used in this announcement have the same meanings as in theOffer Document dated 4 April 2005. The issue of this announcement has been approved by the Refco Board. TheDirectors of Refco are the persons responsible for the information contained inthis announcement. To the best of their knowledge and belief (having taken allreasonable care to ensure that such is the case) the information for which theyare responsible contained in this announcement is in accordance with the factsand does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. Eachof the Directors of Refco accepts responsibility accordingly. This announcement has been approved for the purposes of section 21 of theFinancial Services and Markets Act 2000 by Dawnay Day. Dawnay Day, which isregulated by the Financial Services Authority, is acting for Refco and no oneelse and will not be responsible to anyone other than Refco for providing theprotections afforded to customers of Dawnay Day or for providing advice inrelation to the Offer. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR INPART IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA ORJAPAN. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange