27th Aug 2008 07:00
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION, INCLUDING AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND JAPAN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27 August 2008
Taylor Nelson Sofres plc ("TNS")
TERMINATION OF DISCUSSIONS WITH GFK
The Board of TNS announces that on the evening of Tuesday 26 August 2008 it was informed by GfK Aktiengesellschaft ("GfK") that GfK is no longer pursuing a possible offer for TNS.
TNS continues to recommend that TNS shareholders reject the offer announced by WPP Group plc ("WPP") on 9 July 2008 (the "WPP Offer"). Based on the closing price of 506.5 pence per WPP share as at 26 August 2008, the WPP Offer values each TNS share at 268.7 pence. This price undervalues TNS and fails to take into account:
How well the business is performing as evidenced by the strong set of results announced by TNS this morning for the six months ended 30 June 2008 and the Board's confidence in the outlook for the full year;
TNS' position as a market leader in the fast growing market information industry;
The strong strategic direction the management team has established to continue to deliver growth;
TNS' significant investment in both globalising its offering and expanding its online capabilities;
TNS' Adjusted Operating Margin objective of over 12.5% in the medium term; and
That previous acquisitions in the sector have valued target companies above WPP's valuation of TNS.
Consequently, the Board of TNS recommends that TNS shareholders reject the WPP Offer by taking no action in response to the Offer and, in particular, that they do not complete any form of acceptance that they have received with WPP's Offer document.
Enquiries:
Press enquiries to Brunswick +44 20 7404 5959
David Yelland, Jonathan Glass
TNS +44 20 8967 1584
Janis Parks, Head of Investor Relations
Deutsche Bank +44 20 7545 8000
(Lead Financial Adviser and Joint Broker)
Kristian Bagger, Gavin Deane, Manny Chohhan
Charles Wilkinson, Martin Pengelley (Corporate Broking)
JPMorgan Cazenove +44 20 7588 2828
(Financial adviser and Joint Broker)
Malcolm Moir, Andrew Hodgkin, Hugo Baring
Deutsche Bank AG is authorised under German Banking Law (competent authority: BaFin - Federal Financial Supervising Authority) and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for the conduct of UK business. Deutsche Bank AG is acting as lead financial adviser and also as joint corporate broker to TNS and no-one else in connection with the WPP Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than TNS for providing the protections afforded to the clients of Deutsche Bank AG nor for providing advice in relation to the WPP Offer or any matter referred to herein.
JPMorgan Cazenove, which is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting as financial adviser and joint corporate broker to TNS and no-one else in connection with the WPP Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than TNS for providing the protections afforded to customers of JPMorgan Cazenove or for providing advice in relation to the WPP Offer or any other matter referred to herein.
Forward looking statements
Certain statements contained in this announcement constitute "forward looking statements". In some cases, these forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "plans", "prepares", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology.
Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of TNS or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements.
Such forward looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding TNS' present and future business strategies and the environment in which TNS will operate in the future. These forward looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement.
Except as required by the FSA, the London Stock Exchange, the Listing Rules, the Disclosure Rules and Transparency Rules or any other applicable law, TNS expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any change in TNS' expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Nothing in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that the earnings per TNS share for the current or future financial periods will necessarily be greater (or lesser) than those for the relevant preceding financial period.
Dealing Disclosure Requirements
Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code"), if any person is, or becomes, "interested" (directly or indirectly) in 1% or more of any class of "relevant securities" of TNS or WPP, 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 pm (London time) on the London 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 TNS or WPP, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the Code, all "dealings" in "relevant securities" of TNS or WPP by TNS or WPP, or by any of their respective "associates", must be disclosed by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant transaction.
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 Takeover 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 option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities.
Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Code, which can also be found on the Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a "dealing" under Rule 8, you should consult the Panel.
Related Shares:
WPP