DundeeWealth Inc. has terminated the committee established last fall to examine unsolicited bids it received last fall.
The company said it has been advised by its controlling shareholder, the Goodman family, that it will not be considering any of the expressions of interest that have been made to date.
The company’s stock dropped to $13.30, from more than $15 following the announcement.
In a release, DundeeWealth said it is prepared to reconstitute the independent committee when and if it becomes necessary, but added that it cannot predict the timing or likelihood of this happening.
In September of last year, Scotiabank purchased a portion of the wealth management company plus the Dundee Bank of Canada for $608 million.
Around the same time, CI Financial made an offer to pick up DundeeWealth for a 52% premium, provided the Scotia sale be canceled. Rumours of other offers followed.
“We will move forward quickly building on our significant achievements in 2007 not least of which is a year-end net sales record that, exceeding $3 billion, leads all independent fund companies in Canada,” said David Goodman, president and CEO at DundeeWealth.
In a related release,DundeeWealth’s parent company, Dundee Corp., announced it intends to purchase up to 5% of the outstanding common shares of DundeeWealth Inc., sayinig that such purchases will be made from time to time subject to pricing and availability within the next 12 months.
DundeeWealth rebuffs acquisition interest
Company announces it will not be considering expressions of interest
- By: Regan Ray
- January 18, 2008 January 18, 2008
- 12:05