old news worth readingCrown Corporation Limited
19 November 2003
19th November 2003
CROWN CORPORATION LIMITED (London Stock Exchange; AIM:CCO)
NORTHERN FINANCIAL CORPORATION (TSX: NFC)
CROWN CORPORATION TO INVEST SUBSTANTIAL CASH RESOURCES IN PUBLIC CANADIAN
COMPANIES
CROWN CORPORATION ENGAGES NORTHERN SECURITIES AS FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR M&A AND
RESTRUCTURING SERVICES
LONDON, ENGLAND and TORONTO, CANADA, November 19, 2003 - Crown Corporation
Limited (LSE; AIM:CCO) ('Crown'), the active management company which recently
listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange,
announced today the engagement of Northern Securities Inc. ('Northern'), a
wholly owned subsidiary of Northern Financial Corporation (TSX:NFC), as
financial advisor to Crown to provide mergers and acquisition and restructuring
services.
Crown plans to acquire substantial equity interests in publicly traded small cap
Canadian companies, many of which are expected to be underperforming their peer
group, for the purpose of restructuring and turning around their businesses.
As an active investor Crown plans to acquire equity interests of sufficient size
to provide significant influence in the restructuring of the companies. Crown
has substantial cash resources of 219 million Euro (340 million CAD) earmarked
for investment in North American companies, primarily Canadian companies.
Crown's market capitalization is £ Sterling 306 million (680 million CAD).
Crown plans to invest in a wide range of industries including electronics,
manufacturing, business services, entertainment and media, merchandising,
broadcasting, communications, and industrial products. Crown does not plan to
have investments in more than 10 public companies at any particular time. Crown
anticipates that it will likely take until 2005 before all of its currently
available funds are fully invested.
Dr. Mariusz Rybak, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Crown
stated: 'Northern knows the small cap market in Canada very well and has
specialized expertise in sourcing and dealing with undervalued, underperforming
and financially distressed companies. Northern will assist us in the
acquisition of Crown's equity investments, the restructuring of these companies
and the eventual disposition of our investments.'
Dr. Jean-Pierre Regli, Chief Financial Officer of Crown commented: 'Crown's key
objective is to realize substantial returns from our investments. We expect to
provide considerable value added services to the companies in which we invest.
These services include new management or management services, provision of
capital, financial restructurings, and the development of new business
strategies.'
Vic Alboini, Chairman of Northern stated: 'We see a great fit between our
expertise and Crown's strategy. We have built up a strong reputation providing
investment banking services for growth companies in need of capital to implement
well defined growth plans. These companies provide excellent investment
opportunities when they possess a combination of superior products or services,
outstanding management, and sound financial and marketing plans. The unique
restructuring perspective of Northern will assist Crown in the provision of
restructuring services to the companies in which Crown invests, for the purpose
of developing substantial capital appreciation in the value of these
investments.'
Ends
About Crown:
Crown Corporation Limited is an active management company with substantial cash
resources that are planned for investment in underperforming companies in a wide
range of industries, primarily in Canada and the United States. The common
shares and warrants of Crown are listed on the Alternative Investment Market of
the London Stock Exchange under the symbol CCO.
About Northern:
Northern Financial Corporation wholly owns Northern Securities Inc., a full
service brokerage firm that provides financial advisory services to retail and
institutional clients and investment banking services to small capitalization
companies.
www.crowncorporation.com