29 January 2009
Silentpoint plc
(Silentpoint, the `Company')
Proposed cancellation of admission to trading on AIM
Silentpoint plc, (AIM: SLP), an investment company, announces that an
application has been made today for the cancellation of admission to trading on
AIM of its ordinary shares (the "Cancellation"), subject to the approval of the
Company's shareholders. The Company will post a circular to its shareholders
later today to convene a general meeting to be held on 20 February 2009 ('GM')
in order to consider a special resolution to approve the Cancellation.
It is expected that, subject to shareholder approval at the GM, the
Cancellation will take effect at 7.00 am on 27 February 2009.
Full details of the reasons behind the decision to propose the Cancellation to
shareholders, including details of what action shareholders should take, are
set out in the circular which has been posted to shareholders today.
In summary, the board of directors of the Company (the 'Directors') have been
considering for some time the merits or otherwise of the Company's Ordinary
Shares continuing to trade on AIM. The following factors were taken into
account during their review:
* the current economic turmoil has led to major falls in the values of the
global stock markets, from which Silentpoint is not immune. The Directors
believe that the stock market operates on a short-term investment horizon
which can have little basis in the underlying fundamentals of a business
such as Silentpoint. The susceptibility of the share price to market
conditions is not to the benefit of the business;.
* Silentpoint, like most other small cap listed companies is unable to raise
capital from institutional investors, as they appear to be uninterested in
committing funds to companies in the small cap sector . The Directors do
not expect this situation to change in the foreseeable future especially in
the light of the present problems of the stock market;
* the low liquidity of shares in Silentpoint leads to a volatility in the
share price, which may not reflect the true worth of the business;
* the costs, management time and regulatory burdens associated with
maintaining an AIM listing compared to the resources available to the
Company;
* the ability of the Company as a listed company to react quickly to the
requirements of the business and the market in which it trades is
constrained by the reporting obligations set out in the AIM Rules; and
* interest rates are at a record low and the Company is receiving a minimal
level of interest income on its cash deposits. The Board's view is that
interest rates are likely to remain at a low level for at least the next 12
months..
The Directors have therefore concluded that it is no longer in the best
interests of the Company or its shareholders as a whole to maintain admission
to trading on AIM of its Ordinary Shares.
If Shareholders wish to sell their Ordinary Shares on AIM before the
Cancellation takes effect, they must do so prior to the Cancellation becoming
effective, which is expected to be on 27 February 2009.
Shareholders should be aware that, if the resolution to approve the
Cancellation is passed, there will be no facility to buy or sell Ordinary
Shares on any exchange with effect from 27 February 2009.
Haresh Kanabar, Chairman of Silentpoint plc commented: 'The Board has
unanimously decided to recommend the Cancellation to the shareholders as we
feel that the current economic environment means there is little benefit to
Silentpoint and its shareholders in its shares remaining listed. The
Cancellation will reduce the Company's regulatory and reporting costs
significantly.`
Silentpoint plc
Smit Berry Tel: 020 8656 4648
Haresh Kanabar Tel: 020 7297 0010
John East & Partners Limited
David Worlidge/Simon Clements Tel: 020 7628 2200