Crescent Capital Partners’ Full Takeover Offer For Abano Healthcare Opens
Offer allows Abano shareholders to capture a substantial premium
Auckland, NZ (December 19, 2007): The full takeover offer by Crescent Capital Partners Limited (Crescent) for all of the shares in Abano Healthcare Group Limited (Abano) is now open, with offer documents being mailed to shareholders today.
Crescent’s full cash offer of $5.20 per share represents a premium of 53 percent to the closing share price of Abano
prior to the announcement of the partial takeover by Masthead Portfolios Limited (Masthead) and is higher than any share price achieved by Abano despite all the takeover activity, and with the market fully
informed about the company’s projections.
“Our full cash offer of $5.20 per share provides shareholders with the opportunity to substantially capture the full
value of Abano’s long term projections right now rather than be exposed to the risk of Abano not achieving these future
performance targets,” said Michael Alscher, Executive Director of Crescent Capital Partners. “We believe those
projections are very optimistic. In our view they are not based on a realistic assessment of the market here or in
Australia.”
“Since announcing our intention to make an offer, Masthead’s partial takeover offer has lapsed and no other offer has
been forthcoming. We have already obtained a 10.9% stake in Abano from RotoruaTrust and based on extremely positive
market feedback, we expect a strong take-up of our offer from shareholders.”
Mr Alscher also noted that the NZX50 index had fallen 8.5 percent since the release by Abano of its Target Company
Statement responding to the Masthead offer and that the outlook was not good for Abano shareholders if the Crescent
offer was not successful.
“Prior to our offer being announced, Abano’s share price appeared to be falling and had dropped to levels as low as
$4.65. However even at this level the share price will have included a premium relating to the Masthead offer and
speculation around the likelihood of another offer being presented to the market. Looking ahead, shareholders will be
exposed to the prospect of a material fall in the value of their shares if our offer is not successful and no other
offer is forthcoming.”
With Crescent currently holding a 10.9 percent stake in Abano, another full offer is unlikely.
“We encourage shareholders to sell into our offer early as we believe our offer is compelling and that no better offer
will eventuate in the foreseeable future. Shareholders can also be reassured by the provision of a withdrawal clause
within our offer which allows shareholders to withdraw their acceptance in the event of a higher full offer being made
for Abano,” said Alscher.
“The offer will enable most shareholders to crystallise a substantial profit and, as it is a full takeover offer, will
also allow shareholders to capture the full control premium on their total shareholding.”
The Abano Board has already acknowledged that although they were not prepared to recommend the offer, it was potentially
at a level which Abano shareholders may find attractive and that it would be up to Abano shareholders to decide on the
merits. Shareholders can expect to receive a Target Company Statement shortly after Christmas.
Crescent will pay broker handling fees in connection with its takeover offer for Abano Healthcare Group Limited.
ENDS