I hold a few of these - has been very quiet and not a trade but a longer term play on possibility of M+A. It used to be a cheap way into Autonomy


ains :-))


ENIC plc ("ENIC" or "the Company")

Offer approach

The Company has received an approach which may or may not lead to an offer for
the entire issued share capital of the Company.

A further announcement will be made as soon as practicable.


Shares opened at 24.5p - sold at 41p + special cert = profit 67.3%

Currently the market shows 38.5/40p and with 40p cash on offer plus the deal on Spurs - I think it's worth waiting for the paperwork and money if you hold any sort of number - its commision free as well. Using an OD @ 8% is a cheap way of funding if necess.

ains



'While Kondar has no plans for ENIC to dispose of its interest in Tottenham
Hotspur plc, ENIC Shareholders who validly accept the Offer will be issued with
a certificate pursuant to a deed poll entitling them in certain circumstances to
participate in any sale of this interest to a third party following the Offer
becoming or being declared unconditional in all respects. Further details of
these arrangements are set out in the following announcement'

I see there is some buying @ 39.75p





LONDON (SHARECAST) - Shares in Enic rose in early trading as the sports and entertainment group announced that it has agreed a cash offer with managing director Daniel Levys private company Kondar, at 40p a share valuing the business at 40.3m.

The independent directors of Enic, which owns a 28% stake in football club Tottenham Hotspur, said that the uncertainty surrounding the prospects for the football sector and stock market aided their decision.

Kondar, whose sole director is Daniel Levy, said it has no plans for Enic to dispose of its interest in the club, but said that current shareholders will be entitled to sell this interest in certain circumstances.

The news will fuel speculation, already rife, that Levy is planning to buy out the rest of the Tottenham.

Enics interim results, announced at the same time, revealed a pre-tax loss of 9.4m for the six months to December 2002, against a profit of 1m a year earlier. Turnover fell from 15.2m to 4.8m.

Big broker trade going through 2.5 million @ 39.5p


ains

Kondar offers 40m for ENIC _ KAM PATEL Money AM
It's in cash, there is a hefty premium, and ENIC goes private if offer accepted


Kondar, a private concern, has made an recommended cash offer of 40p a share for sports management group ENIC, valuing the target at 40.3m. Kondars sole director in Daniel Levy, who also managing director of ENIC and chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, the football club in which ENIC has a 29.8% stake.

The 40p a share offer represents a 60% premium to the closing price of 25p for ENIC on 21 February 2003, the last dealing day before an announcement that ENIC was in discussions which could lead to an offer.

The offer also represents a premium of 30.7% to the average closing price of 30.6p for ENIC over the six months. ENIC shares are up 9% to 39.25p.

Kondar has already received irrevocable undertakings to accept its offer parties owning in total 51.66% of ENIC. The irrevocables include the Levy familys interests in ENIC.

Kondar said it has no plans for ENIC to dispose of its interest in Tottenham
Hotspur, although it will be disposing of other non-core assets. Following acceptance of the offer, it intends to take ENIC private.

Stephen Davidson, chairman of ENIC, said, 'The independent directors believe that the Offer gives ENIC Shareholders an opportunity to realise their investment in ENIC at a fair and reasonable price and at a time when prospective investment in the football sector carries a high degree of risk.'

Enic also announced its interim results for the six months ending December 2002. They show a loss before tax of 8.6 million on turnover of 32.8 million. Net assets at the end of the period totalled 29m.

Explaining the background to its acceptance of the offer, ENIC said many of Europe's football clubs are suffering from lower than expected media and broadcasting revenues. This together with the Bosman ruling, which enables players to leave clubs free of charge upon expiry of their contracts, has resulted in a sharp decline in the prices achievable in the player transfer market, traditionally a source of windfalls and funding for many football clubs.

ENIC said it has noted the recent funding requirements of many of the clubs in which ENIC has investments (in particular those of Glasgow Rangers, AEK Athens, Slavia Prague and Vicenza) and believes that in the near future it may become necessary for it to invest further cash in order to fund and protect the future value of its football investments.

The share price of Tottenham Hotspur meanwhile has declined significantly since ENIC acquired its stake in December 2000.

Against this uncertain background of the football sector, ENIC believes it would be inappropriate to use its cash resources to invest further in the football sector without offering ENIC shareholders the opportunity of a cash exit at a fair price. It also said that institutional investors are increasingly reluctant to invest in companies with small market capitalisations and that this shift will continue to have a material impact on ENIC's share price.

The group added that because of these factors the prospects for material growth in the ENIC share price are limited and it has concluded that ENIC shareholders are unlikely to benefit from the company remaining a publicly quoted company.

A few heavy trades going through - total volume now nearly 7 million ...... clearly a done deal

citwire

Levy launches 40m Enic bid
Published: 11:21 Mon 10 March 2003
By Laurence Fletcher, Funds Correspondent


Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has launched a 40 million buyout bid for sports and media investment company Enic, but says he has no current plans to sell the group's stake in the mid-table Premiership club.


Levy, who is also managing director of Enic (ENI), has offered shareholders 40p a share via his buyout vehicle Kondar for the 36 million company, as determined by Friday's closing price.

The offer has been recommended by Enic's directors and owners of 52% of the company have agreed to sell their stakes. These include executive director Charles Lewis, son of Kondar backer Joe Lewis.

Enic announced two weeks ago it had received a bid approach, prompting speculation Levy was poised to take the company private.

This has followed pressure from shareholders to break Enic up, although Levy said today he had no plans to sell the company's 29.9% stake in Spurs.

Nevertheless, shareholders who accept Levy's bid will be entitled to profit from any sale of the Tottenham stake if it is sold for more than 18p per share.

Enic snapped up Sir Alan Sugar's stake in Tottenham in December 2000, and has also bought into Glasgow Rangers, FC Basel, Vicenza, AEK Athens and Slavia Prague.

Its gaming and media interests include a profitable stake in computer network group Autonomy (AU.), and holdings in Paradigm Media Investments (PAR) and UKbetting (UKB).

However, more recently the business plan has come under pressure. Last year the group withdrew from an unprofitable venture in a chain of 16 Warner Brothers merchandising stores.

The shares have fallen from more than 370p in early 2000 to below 25p last month on concerns over the group's strategic direction. The shares rose 3.25p to 39.25p today while shares in Tottenham (TTNM)gained 1.5p to 18.5p on hopes of further action there.

Today's offer coincided with Enic's interim results which revealed a 9.4 million loss in the six months to December compared with a 1 million profit a year earlier.

Citywire Verdict:

In today's statement, both Levy and the directors have highlighted the 'certainty' of the cash offer, compared with the 'high degree of risk' afforded by investments in the football sector.

However, Citywire has recently highlighted stakebuilding in the sector by a number of noteworthy investors, including secret buying into Manchester United (MNU) by Dutch TV billionaire Jon de Mol and buying by JP McManus and John Magnier.

Investec smaller companies expert Dan Hanbury, AA-rated by Citywire and manager of the 20 million Investec UK Smaller Companies Acc, told Citywire last month he had bought into Manchester United because of the club's success on the field and its likelihood of achieving a Champions' League place.

He also believed falling player costs and improving margins had changed the dynamics of the industry, making stocks such as Aston Villa (ASV), Southampton (SOO), Sunderland (SUA) and Newcastle United (NCU) good value.

Levy's bid appears to be a well timed offer at the bottom of the cycle, which could yet provide him with a good return. He would do well not to sell the Tottenham stake for some time.

2003 Citywire

Closed up nearly 10% on the day with 6.9 million shares traded and close to the bid price

Kondar Limited said today it has agreed with the Independent Directors of ENIC the terms of a recommended cash offer, to be made by Shore Capital and Corporate, on behalf of Kondar, to acquire ENIC.

The offer will be 40p in cash for each ENIC Share and will value the entire issued share capital of ENIC at 40.3m. While Kondar has no plans for ENIC to dispose of its interest in Tottenham Hotspur plc, ENIC Shareholders who validly accept the offer will be issued with a certificate pursuant to a deed poll entitling them in certain circumstances to participate in any sale of this interest to a third party following the offer becoming or being declared unconditional in all respects.

Kondar, a private limited company registered in England and Wales, was incorporated on 9 October 2002 for the purpose of making the offer. The sole director of Kondar is Daniel Levy who has not been involved in the consideration of the offer by the independent directors nor in their decision to recommend the offer.

Daniel Levyv is managing director of ENIC. He is also chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, in which ENIC has a 29.8% interest, and of Paradigm in which, in certain circumstances, he could have an interest. Levy said, "This offer presents ENIC shareholders with a good opportunity to realise their investment for cash, with certainty, at a very substantial premium to the share price prior to the announcement that discussions were taking place." Stephen Davidson, the chairman of ENIC, said, "The independent directors believe that the offer gives ENIC shareholders an opportunity to realise their investment in ENIC at a fair and reasonable price and at a time when prospective investment in the football sector carries a high degree of risk." The offer will represent a premium of 60% to the closing middle market price of 25p per ENIC Share on 21 February 2003, the last dealing day prior to the announcement that the company was in discussions with respect to a possible offer. The offer will also represent a premium of 30.7% to the average closing middle-market quotation of 30.6p per ENIC Share over the six months prior to commencement of the offer period. Kondar has received irrevocable undertakings to accept the offer from the concert party (comprising the family interests of Charles Lewis and Daniel Levy who are treated by the Panel as acting in concert under the City Code and who already own, in aggregate, 51.66% of the issued share capital of ENIC) and the Independent Directors in respect of, in aggregate, 52,312,658 ENIC Shares representing 51.94%, of ENIC's issued share capital.

The independent directors have noted the recent funding requirements of many of the clubs in which ENIC has investments (in particular those of Glasgow Rangers, AEK Athens, Slavia Prague and Vicenza) and believe that, in the near future, it may become necessary for ENIC to invest further cash in order to fund and protect the future value of its football investments. In addition, the share price of Tottenham Hotspur plc has declined significantly since ENIC acquired its stake in December 2000. At 31 December 2002, ENIC had net cash resources of 26.5m and its other investments largely comprised minority shareholdings in small publicly quoted businesses, the shares of which are traded in relatively illiquid markets. Against the uncertain background of the football sector, the independent directors believe that it would be inappropriate to use ENIC's cash resources to invest further in the football sector without offering ENIC Shareholders the opportunity of a cash exit at a fair price. Such an exit would enable individual ENIC Shareholders to make their own investment decisions regarding the football sector and other sectors in which ENIC currently has investments.

Levy's 40m Enic bid backed by board
By Susie Mesure
11 March 2003


Daniel Levy, the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, moved to tighten his grip on the Premiership football club yesterday by launching a recommended 40.3m bid to take its biggest shareholder, Enic, private.

Mr Levy, who speaks for more than half of Enic's shares, plans to retain the company's 29.8 per cent holding in Spurs, which it acquired two years ago. However, in the event of a bid for the north London club in the next 18 months, Mr Levy has pledged to pass some of the proceeds from a deal on to Enic's shareholders.

Stephen Davidson, Enic's chairman, said the company's independent directors felt the offer allowed shareholders to cash in their investment at a "fair and reasonable price and at a time when prospective investment in the football sector carries a high degree of risk".

Enic, which yesterday revealed it had plunged into the red, has focused on football since turning its back on the gaming and entertainment sectors. The group also has stakes in Glasgow Rangers, AEK Athens, FC Basel, Slavia Prague and Vicenza.

Mr Levy, who teamed up with Charlie Lewis, the son of the Bahamas-based financier Joe Lewis, to make the 40p-a-share offer, has received acceptances for just under 52 per cent of Enic's stock. The offer is 60 per cent higher than Enic's share price the day before it revealed it was in takeover talks. Enic's shares hit a peak of 382.5 in early 2000, at the height of the stock market boom. "This offer presents shareholders with a good opportunity to realise their investment for cash, with certainty," Mr Levy said.

Commenting as he unveiled Enic's interim results, Mr Davidson blamed lower-than-expected sponsorship, merchandising and broadcasting revenues for the group's pre-tax loss of 9.4m. This compared with a profit of 1m the previous year. Turnover fell 70 per cent to 4.8m.
11 March 2003 07:29

Paperwork has just dropped through the letter box ..... that was quick and the ink is still wet ..... end of March deadline


In a different market I would be inclined to turn it down as they get a massive cash mountain and buy the rest at the low point in the cycle .... but a profit is a profit - only after you bank it.



ains

such a mind the man has,SUCH a mind, we are all indeed cockroaches to his DDT

oops

Not many days left to accept the current offer

ains


Investing With The Toon Army

By Stuart Watson (TMFTiger)
March 24, 2003


So is it time to pile back in football shares? The sector saw a surge in popularity in the late 1990s on hopes that pay-per-view TV and related income streams would provide substantial profits. Although the share prices of some football clubs have done pretty well in recent months, the sector as a whole is still down by two-thirds over the last three years.

Manchester United (LSE: MNU), which reports its results next Tuesday, has seen its share price rise as various investors connected to Sir Alex Ferguson have upped their holdings, fuelling takeover rumours. At 330m, it remains by far the most highly valued football club.

Arsenal, quoted on the junior OFEX market, has not fared quite as well. But it still commands a market value of 95m (making it the second biggest company on OFEX after Weetabix). It is due to update investors on its progress by the end of this month. Like many clubs, including Tottenham (LSE: TTNM) and Liverpool, Arsenal is looking to move to a bigger ground to cash in on the game's current popularity. With many clubs having considerable levels of debt already, they are seeking innovative ways of funding these new developments.

This morning also saw some impressive results from Newcastle United (LSE: NCU). Interim sales increased by 57% to 56m and pre-tax profits came in at 9.1m. Payments from the club's recent run in the Champions League and more TV cash from BSkyB (LSE: BSY) were responsible for most of the uplift.

An increase in the interim dividend means the shares are yielding a tempting 11.8%. John Hall and his family own around half of the company's shares, so they obviously like their dividends! But a look at the cash flow statement might make many investors think twice. Although Newcastle has swapped debts of 21m due to NTL into deferred shares, it still owes 57m. That figure is still rising, although the company did say this morning that it had completed "an extensive capital expenditure programme stretching over ten years" suggesting its future spending could be a little lighter, at least for a short while.

Like many industries, the spoils in football only go to the few clubs that are at the top of the tree. Unfortunately for investors with a penchant for sporty shares, those at the top of tree tend to change a little too rapidly. That makes the sector a poor one for the long-term investor and more for fans and those interested in framing their shares. That said, Newcastle's devoted fan base and chunky dividend makes it an interesting possibility for those who fancy a shorter-term punt though.

The author is a long-suffering Tottenham fan and thankfully ditched his Tottenham shares some time ago

Rebels protest at Enic break-up proposal

John Cassy
Thursday March 27, 2003
The Guardian

A plan by Tottenham Hotspur football club chairman Daniel Levy and secretive Bahamas based billionaire Joe Lewis to take the Enic sports investment group

private and then break it up has caused a rebellion by minority shareholders.
Investors claim that the 40m offer for the group undervalues it to the extent that investments in the north London club and several other European teams are valued at nothing once cash and other assets owned by the company have been taken into account.

Investors who own about 15% of Enic's shares but asked not to be named demanded that Enic remain a public company so all shareholders had an equal chance of benefiting from the break up.

The minority shareholders complain that they are being railroaded into accepting the deal, as Mr Levy and Mr Lewis control 52% of the shares.

"This offer fundamentally undervalues the company," said one large investor. "Why is it being taken private when it could be broken up in public to the benefit of all shareholders? It all seems too cosy to me."

The deal has been proposed following a collapse in the share prices of both football clubs and Enic.

One large shareholder claimed the group's assets excluding the football clubs were worth almost 45m.

He said that the addition of stakes in clubs including Tottenham, Glasgow Rangers, AEK Athens, Basel of Switzerlands and Italy's Vicenza, made it worth more than 50m.

Saleable assets detailed in the offer document are together valued at 38.7m.

They include 28m of cash, 3.3m of shares in software company Autonomy, a 2.4m stake in UK Betting and a 5m investment in cash shell Paradigm Media Investments.

Enic also has a 27-year agreement worth more than 6m to lease a Las Vegas property to a hotel.

Enic insiders disputed the valuations, insisting the assets would not be easy to sell and shareholders were better off accepting a guaranteed cash bid of 40m than taking the risk that offers would not materialise and the football investments would continue to lose money.

An Enic spokesman said that the offer represented fair value and pointed out that the company's independent directors, advised by investment bank WestLB, had recommended all shareholders accept it.

"Considering the current environment for football club shares this is a fair offer at a significant premium to the prevailing price before the offer came in."

Enic chairman Stephen Davidson, one of the independent non-executive directors, is understood to believe that shareholders are better off selling up to Mr Levy and Mr Lewis because the football clubs are likely to continue to lose money.

He is also thought to be conscious that Enic's ownership of a stake in the Warner Brothers' Studio Stores chain could cost it up to 9m in the unlikely event the retail environment worsened to a point where the chain hit difficulties.

Mr Levy is understood to have been planning to take Enic private for several months but has been focused on restoring the glory days at Spurs.

Two years ago Enic paid 80p per share to buy into the club. The stock now trades at just 18.5p, the price Mr Levy yesterday paid for 1,000 Spurs shares as a gift for his son Joshua.

Enic shares have not traded at the 40p offer price since July 2001 - last night they stood at 39.5p - but were once valued at 360p each.

I have accepted on half my holding at this time and will decide on other half over weekend


As at 10.15 a.m. on 28 March 2003, valid acceptances of the Offer had been
received by Kondar in respect of 70,277,161 ENIC Shares representing 69.77 per
cent. of the issued share capital of ENIC. In addition, since the Offer was
made on 10 March 2003, Kondar has purchased 5,852,460 ENIC Shares representing
5.81 per cent. of the issued share capital of which, for the purposes of Rule 10
of the City Code, 5,651,635 ENIC Shares (representing 5.61 per cent. of the
issued share capital) are currently counted towards the acceptance condition.
Accordingly, for the purposes of the Offer, Kondar owns or has received
acceptances to accept the Offer in respect of a total of 75,928,796 ENIC Shares
representing 75.38 per cent. of the issued share capital.



The total figure for acceptances includes acceptances in relation to 52,306,658
ENIC Shares (representing approximately 51.93 per cent. of the issued share
capital) which had been the subject of irrevocable undertakings to accept the
Offer. This number includes acceptances from the Concert Party (whose members
are treated as acting in concert under the City Code), comprising the members of
the Charles Lewis sub-concert party (in respect of 40,378,169 ENIC Shares
representing 40.09 per cent. of the issued share capital) and the members of the
Daniel Levy sub-concert party (in respect of 11,651,745 ENIC Shares representing
11.57 per cent. of the issued share capital), and from the Independent Directors
(in respect of 276,744 ENIC Shares representing 0.27 per cent. of the issued
share capital of a total of 282,744 ENIC Shares representing 0.28 per cent. of
the issued share capital subject to irrevocable undertakings to accept the Offer
given by the Independent Directors).



In the light of the above, all conditions to which the Offer is subject have now
been satisfied and Kondar has declared the Offer wholly unconditional. Shore
Capital is satisfied that Kondar has available to it sufficient resources to
enable it to satisfy full acceptance of the Offer.



Save as disclosed in this announcement, neither Kondar nor any person acting or
deemed to be acting in concert with Kondar for the purposes of the Offer held
any ENIC Shares or rights over such shares prior to the commencement of the
Offer Period on 24 February 2003 and none of these have acquired or agreed to
acquire any such shares (or rights over such shares) during the Offer Period and
no acceptances have been received from any persons acting or deemed to be acting
in concert with Kondar for the purposes of the Offer.



The first closing date for the Offer is 3.00 p.m. on 31 March 2003. ENIC
Shareholders who wish to accept the Offer and have not yet done so are strongly
encouraged to return their completed Forms of Acceptance in accordance with the
instructions printed thereon as soon as possible. Additional Forms of
Acceptance are available from Computershare Investor Services PLC (telephone
0870 702 0100). Holders of ENIC Shares in uncertificated form are strongly
encouraged to send (and CREST sponsored members procure that their CREST sponsor
sends) to CRESTCo a TTE instruction in relation to such shares. The
consideration due to accepting ENIC Shareholders will be despatched, in respect
of valid acceptances received not later than the close of business on 31 March
2003, on or before 14 April 2003 and, in respect of acceptances received
thereafter, within 14 days of such receipt.



ENIC has today made application for the cancellation of the trading of ENIC
Shares on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange and on
the Bourse de Luxembourg. Such cancellation is expected to take place not later
than 29 April 2003.



A further announcement of acceptances will be made following the first closing
date of 31 March 2003.

KONDAR LIMITED AND ENIC PLC, 1 APRIL 2003


THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR
INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN


Recommended cash offer to acquire ENIC plc ('ENIC')
made by Shore Capital and Corporate Limited
on behalf of Kondar Limited ('Kondar')

Acceptances at first closing date and extension of the Offer


Kondar announces that, as at 3.00 p.m. on 31 March 2003, the first closing date
of the Offer, valid acceptances of the Offer had been received in respect of
76,421,677 ENIC Shares representing 75.87 per cent. of the issued share capital
of ENIC. Since the Offer was made on 10 March 2003, Kondar has purchased
5,852,460 ENIC Shares representing 5.81 per cent. of the issued share capital of
which, for the purposes of Rule 10 of the City Code, 5,752,460 ENIC Shares
(representing 5.71 per cent. of the issued share capital) are currently counted
towards the acceptance condition. Accordingly, for the purposes of the Offer,
Kondar owns or has received acceptances to accept the Offer in respect of a
total of 82,174,137 ENIC Shares representing 81.58 per cent. of the issued share
capital.



Prior to the commencement of the Offer Period on 24 February 2003 Kondar owned
no ENIC Shares. Persons deemed to be acting in concert with Kondar for the
purposes of the Offer held 52,029,914 ENIC Shares representing 51.66 per cent.
of the issued share capital of ENIC. Valid acceptances of the Offer have been
received in respect of all of these ENIC Shares.



Save as referred to above, neither Kondar nor any person acting or deemed to be
acting in concert with Kondar for the purposes of the Offer held any ENIC Shares
or rights over such shares prior to the commencement of the Offer Period on 24
February 2003 and none of these have acquired or agreed to acquire any such
shares (or rights over such shares) during the Offer Period and no acceptances
have been received from any persons acting or deemed to be acting in concert
with Kondar for the purposes of the Offer.



The Offer, which was declared wholly unconditional on 28 March 2003, has been
extended and will remain open for acceptances received no later than 3.00 p.m.
on 14 April 2003. ENIC Shareholders who wish to accept the Offer and have not
yet done so are strongly encouraged to return their completed Forms of
Acceptance in accordance with the instructions printed thereon as soon as
possible. Additional Forms of Acceptance are available from Computershare
Investor Services PLC (telephone 0870 702 0100). Holders of ENIC Shares in
uncertificated form are strongly encouraged to send (and CREST sponsored members
procure that their CREST sponsor sends) to CRESTCo a TTE instruction in relation
to such shares.



Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions contained in this
announcement are the same as those used in the document containing the Offer
dated 10 March 2003.



1 April 2003

having taken the money on half my holding it's now time to take the rest ..... the bidder has around 95% acceptances and will be taking the others through the courts if nec .... time to take the profits and reinvest. May as well go direct and get the 40p and no expenses ......


ains :-))

Kondar are now claiming oover 90% .... I received the money from my first acceptance which I put into Tads:-)) ..... waiting on the money from the 2nd acceptance



ains

LONDON (AFX) - Kondar Ltd said that as at 3.00 pm yesterday, it either owned or had received valid acceptances in respect of a total of 97.293 mln shares or a 96.59 pct stake under its recommended cash offer for ENIC PLC.
In a statement, the company said it is issuing to ENIC shareholders who have not yet validly accepted the Offer, formal notices to acquire their shares compulsorily.

Hmmmmmmm ...... just received a cheque for my last 25K Enic shares ..... always amazes me just how many of these cheques arrive during a long bank holiday weekend or Saturday morning.

Also received the 'form of cerificate' for the special additional payment related to a future disposal of spurs shares by the new company. A multi page document accompanies the certificate but is somewhat less than clear on what the relevant action period actually is .... oh well .... back to looking at the original documents concerning the bid offer and checking with brokers to see if my nominee holdings also received the certificate .... is it worth the bother?


ains