Last checked at 20 Apr 2010 12:00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 April 2010
SOVEREIGN REVERSIONS PLC
("Sovereign" or the "Company")
As announced on 29 March 2010, Sovereign has received a preliminary approach from Grainger plc ("Grainger") which may or may not lead to an offer being made for the Company.
The Board of Sovereign confirms that it continues to work on all options to maximise value for shareholders, including remaining in dialogue with Grainger in relation to their possible offer for the Company.
There can be no certainty that an offer will be made nor as to the terms on which any offer might be made.
When the Board of Sovereign has completed its work it will make a recommendation to shareholders.
If you are in any doubt regarding dealing in your Sovereign ordinary shares while the Company is in an offer period, you should consult a person duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) ("FSMA").
A further announcement will be made in due course.
| Charles Stanley Securities, Joint Rule 3 advisor and corporate broker | Tel: 020 7149 6000 |
| Dugald Carlean / Ben Johnston | |
| Fairfax IS PLC, Joint Rule 3 advisor | Tel: 020 7598 5368 |
| David Floyd / Andrew Cox | |
| Graeme Marshall, Chief Executive, Sovereign Reversions plc | Tel: 01234 356300 |
| Mark Baker, Wriglesworth Consultancy | Tel: 07980 635243 |
Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code (the "Code")
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any paper offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any paper offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any paper offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any paper offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a paper offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any paper offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any paper offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any paper offeror, save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a paper offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. If you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure, you should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.