Response to announcement by Romac Investments Ltd

 

TIDMSOR 
 
RNS Number : 5994E 
Supporta PLC 
23 December 2009 
 

23 December 2009 
Supporta plc ("Supporta" or the "Company") 
 
 
The Board of Supporta notes the announcement by Romac Investments Limited 
("Romac") on 22 December 2009 and wishes to repeat the statement set out in the 
offer announcement from Mears Group plc ("Mears") on 18 December 2009: 
 
 
"Supporta is in receipt of indicative interest from another party however this 
offer remains conditional upon, amongst other things, due diligence. Accordingly 
it is the Supporta Directors' opinion that there can be no guarantee that any 
formal offer from this third party or any other parties will be forthcoming." 
 
 
The third party mentioned above and in the announcement by Romac is currently 
undertaking a due diligence exercise with the full assistance of the Board of 
Supporta.  The third party who at this stage does not wish to be named has 
confirmed that both its desire to make an offer and the price at which any offer 
would be made remains subject to the completion of a due diligence exercise. 
 
 
Accordingly, the Board remains of the opinion that there can be no guarantee 
that any formal offer from this third party will be forthcoming. 
 
 
For further information, please contact: 
+--------------+---------------+ 
| Supporta     | Tel:          | 
| plc          | 01527 575 232 | 
+--------------+---------------+ 
| Clive        |               | 
| Grace,       |               | 
| Chairman     |               | 
+--------------+---------------+ 
| John         |               | 
| Jasper,      |               | 
| Group        |               | 
| Chief        |               | 
| Executive    |               | 
+--------------+---------------+ 
|              |               | 
+--------------+---------------+ 
| Brewin       | Tel:          | 
| Dolphin      | 0845 213 4730 | 
| Investment   |               | 
| Banking      |               | 
+--------------+---------------+ 
| Matt         |               | 
| Davis        |               | 
+--------------+---------------+ 
| Sean         |               | 
| Wyndham-Quin |               | 
+--------------+---------------+ 
 
 
Dealing disclosure requirements 
 
 
Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the Code, if any person is, or becomes, 
"interested" (directly or indirectly) in 1 per cent. or more of any class of 
"relevant securities" of Supporta or Mears all "dealings" in any "relevant 
securities" of that company (including by means of an option in respect of, or a 
derivative referenced to, any such "relevant securities") must be publicly 
disclosed by no later than 3.30 p.m. on the Business Day following the date of 
the relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the date on which 
the Offer becomes, or is declared, unconditional as to acceptances, lapses or is 
otherwise withdrawn or on which the "offer period" otherwise ends. If two or 
more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether 
formal or informal, to acquire an "interest" in "relevant securities" of 
Supporta or Mears, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of 
Rule 8.3 of the Code. 
 
 
Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the Code, all "dealings" in "relevant 
securities" of Supporta or Mears by Mears or Supporta, or by any of their 
respective "associates", must be disclosed by no later than 12.00 noon on the 
business day following the date of the relevant transaction (unless the 
"dealing" is for discretionary clients and the associate is an "exempt fund 
manager" in which case the "dealing" must be privately disclosed in accordance 
with Notes 4(b) and 5(b) to Rule 8 of the Code). 
 
 
A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose "relevant 
securities" "dealings" should be disclosed, and the number of such securities in 
issue, can be found on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. 
 
 
"Interests in securities" arise, in summary, when a person has long economic 
exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of 
securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an "interest" by 
virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any agreement 
to purchase, option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities. 
 
 
Terms in quotations marks are defined in the Code, which can also be found on 
the Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to the application of Rule 8 of 
the Code to you, please contact an independent financial adviser authorised 
under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended), consult the 
Panel's website or contact the Panel on telephone number [phone] or 
fax [phone]. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are 
required to disclose a "dealing" under Rule 8 of the Code, you should consult 
the Panel. 
 
 
If you are in any doubt about the action you should take, you are recommended to 
seek your own personal financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank 
manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial adviser authorised under 
the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) if you are resident in 
the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorized independent 
financial adviser. 
 
 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
   END 
 
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