09.02.2007 16:19:00
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CORRECTING and REPLACING Laidlaw International Announces Agreement to Be Acquired by FirstGroup
Figure at the end of first graph should read: $800 million of debt (sted
$0.8 million of debt)
The corrected release reads:
LAIDLAW INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO BE ACQUIRED BY FIRSTGROUP
Laidlaw International, Inc. (NYSE:LI) announced today that it has
entered into a merger agreement with FirstGroup plc under which
FirstGroup will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Laidlaw
International in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $3.6
billion, including the assumption of $800 million of debt.
Under the terms of the agreement, Laidlaw shareholders will receive
$35.25 for each outstanding share of Laidlaw common stock. The
transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors of Laidlaw
International, which has agreed to recommend to Laidlaw stockholders
that they vote in favor of the transaction.
The merger is conditioned upon approval by the stockholders of both
Laidlaw and FirstGroup and certain regulatory approvals, as well as
other customary closing conditions.
Kevin Benson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Laidlaw
International, said, "Our goal for the past
four years has been to develop, demonstrate and deliver shareholder
value. We believe this transaction is the epitome of that goal and
represents an excellent opportunity for both companies’
employees and shareholders. The combination of Laidlaw and FirstGroup
will bring together well known brands and well respected companies that
share a very strong focus on employee and customer satisfaction. It will
provide a sound economic and operational base from which to continue
many of the efficiency initiatives that we have underway.”
Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive of FirstGroup, added, "FirstGroup’s
acquisition of Laidlaw will considerably enhance FirstGroup’s
existing activities in North America, which themselves have grown
strongly since we first invested in the U.S. in 1999. The improved
earnings and strong cash flows arising from the acquisition will
strengthen the Group’s position. FirstGroup
aims to be the leader in delivering safe, reliable, innovative and
sustainable transport services. Laidlaw is an established, well run
company that shares our commitment to safety and delivering high quality
services to our customers and communities we serve.”
Laidlaw International will hold its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on
February 9, 2007, at 11:00 am (Central Time) at the Hilton --
Lisle/Naperville, 3003 Corporate West Drive, Lisle, Illinois. A web cast
of the meeting will be accessible at Laidlaw’s
website: www.laidlaw.com.
Laidlaw will also hold a conference call hosted by Mr. Benson to discuss
the proposed merger with FirstGroup on Friday, February 9, 2007 at 3:30
p.m. (Eastern Time). A web cast of the conference call will be
accessible at Laidlaw’s website: www.laidlaw.com.
To participate in the call, please dial:
866-700-7101 -- (US and Canada)
617-213-8837 -- (International)
A replay of the conference call will be available approximately one hour
after completion of the call through February 16, 2007. To access the
replay, dial 888-286-8010 (U.S and Canada) or 617-801-6888
(International); access code: 60079872.
Archives of the annual meeting and investor conference call will be
accessible at the Laidlaw website: www.laidlaw.com.
Morgan Stanley is acting as financial advisor to Laidlaw, and Skadden,
Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as Laidlaw’s
legal advisor. JPMorgan Cazenove is acting as financial advisor to
FirstGroup, and Davis Polk & Wardwell and Slaughter and May are acting
as FirstGroup’s legal advisors.
About Laidlaw International, Inc.
Laidlaw International, Inc. is a holding company for North America’s
largest providers of school and inter-city bus transport services and a
leading supplier of public transit services. The company’s
businesses operate under the brands: Laidlaw Education Services,
Greyhound Lines, Greyhound Canada and Laidlaw Transit. The company's
shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:LI). For more
information on Laidlaw, visit the website: www.laidlaw.com.
About FirstGroup PLC
FirstGroup plc is a UK-based international passenger transport group
providing services in the UK and North America. The Group is the UK’s
largest bus operator running more than one in five of all local bus
services. FirstGroup is also the UK’s largest
rail operator with four passenger franchises -- First Great Western,
First Capital Connect, First TransPennine Express and First ScotRail.
The Group operates one quarter of the UK passenger rail network, with a
balanced portfolio of intercity, commuter and regional services,
carrying over 250m passengers per annum. In North America the Group has
three operating divisions: Yellow School Buses (First Student), Transit
Contracting and Management Services (First Transit) and Vehicle Fleet
Maintenance and Support Services (First Services). FirstGroup’s
shares trade on the London Stock Exchange (RIC: FGP.L). For more
information on FirstGroup, visit the website: www.firstgroup.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release, including statements
regarding the benefits of the transaction with FirstGroup PLC, that are
not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology
such as: believe, hope, may, anticipate, should, intend, plan, will,
expect, estimate, continue, project, positioned, strategy and similar
expressions. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that include, but are not limited to,
The ability to successfully integrate Laidlaw International and
FirstGroup into a combined company and execute its business strategy;
Economic and other market factors, including competitive pressures in
the transportation industry and changes in pricing policies;
The ability to implement initiatives designed to realize synergies,
increase operating efficiencies or improve results;
Continued increases in prices of fuel and potential shortages;
Control of costs related to accident and other risk management claims;
The potential for rising labor costs and actions taken by organized
labor unions;
Terrorism and other acts of violence;
Other risks and uncertainties related to the proposed transaction,
including but not limited to the satisfaction of the conditions to
closing; including receipt of stockholder, regulatory, and other
approvals; and
Other risks and uncertainties described in Laidlaw’s
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or
should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary
materially from those indicated. In light of these risks and
uncertainties you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to
publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to
consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects as
may be detailed in the Company’s other
filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the above-described transactions, Laidlaw will file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission a preliminary proxy
statement and a definitive proxy statement. The proxy statement will be
mailed to the stockholders of Laidlaw. Stockholders of Laidlaw are urged
to read the proxy statement and other relevant materials when they
become available because they will contain important information about
the acquisition and Laidlaw. Investors and security holders may obtain
free copies of these documents (when they are available) and other
documents filed with the SEC at its web site at www.sec.gov.
In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of
the documents filed with the SEC by Laidlaw by going to Laidlaw’s
Investor page on its corporate website at www.laidlaw.com
or by directing a request to Laidlaw International, 55 Shuman Boulevard,
Suite 400, Naperville, IL, 60563. Attention: Investor Relations.
Laidlaw and FirstGroup and their respective directors and executive
officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies
from the stockholders of Laidlaw in connection with the merger.
Information about Laidlaw and its directors and officers can be found in
Laidlaw International’s Proxy Statements and
Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Information about
FirstGroup and its directors and officers can be found in FirstGroup’s
Annual Reports available on FirstGroup’s
Investor Centre page on its corporate website at www.firstgroup.com.
Additional information regarding the interests of those persons may be
obtained by reading the proxy statement when it becomes available.
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