Dewe Rogerson has been brought in as financial public relations advisers
by William Cook - the Sheffield-based steel casting manufacturer - to
support its fight against a pounds 58 million hostile bid by its
Midlands competitor Triplex Lloyd.
William Cook, which has had no previous public relations representation,
handed the account to Dewe Rogerson without a pitch.
The agency was contacted after Triplex Lloyd announced an offer of
either seven new Triplex shares and pounds 13.50 cash for every nine
William Cook shares or a cash alternative of 295p per share.
William Cook chairman Andrew Cook rejected the offer, and was quoted as
saying that Triplex was trying to buy them ‘on the cheap.’
The communications assignment is for the duration of the takeover bid -
which normally has a 60-day time frame -and involves raising William
Cook’s profile with City analysts and shareholders.
‘The objective of the campaign will be to get full recognition of the
quality and potential of the company and to ensure that the market
values the company fully,’ said Dewe Rogerson executive chairman Tony
Carlisle.