Forbes – Hedge funds and other investors in GUS PLC this week will try to derail its planned demerger of catalogue retailer Argos from credit checking group Experian, according to a report.
Holders of the company’s bonds plan to ignore a tender offer to buy in the debt by Tuesday’s deadline in the hope the company can be forced to improve its terms, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
GUS last month said shareholders had approved the split, which will replace the group with two publicly quoted companies — Experian and Argos Retail Group (ARG), which will also include DIY chain Homebase.
The group’s 2 bln stg of debt will be divided between the two new companies, but the hedge funds claim the split constitutes a technical default, the newspaper said.
