
oOh!media rejects takeover bids as bidding war ignites
oOh!media (ASX:OML) has confirmed the receipt of a fresh takeover bid, sparking a potential bidding war for the outdoor advertising giant.
The group announced it has received an unsolicited, non-binding indicative proposal from I Squared Capital to acquire 100% of its share capital at $1.45 per share.
The offer outpaces a previous bid of $1.40 per share from Pacific Equity Partners disclosed in late April.
Both proposals are structured as schemes of arrangement and remain subject to several conditions, including satisfactory due diligence.
Despite the mounting interest, the oOh!media Board of Directors has unanimously rejected both offers, stating that neither adequately reflects the company's intrinsic value.
The board has advised both ISQ and PEP that it will not recommend any binding offer at or below these current price points.
However, the board has agreed to grant both parties limited access to due diligence information, provided they sign non-disclosure agreements.
The transparency is intended to see if either firm can produce a revised proposal that meets the board's expectations.
Further complicating the corporate tussle, oOh!media revealed it is in preliminary discussions with other interested parties regarding potential change-of-control proposals.
While the company has paused its on-market share buyback programme amidst these negotiations, there is no certainty that any revised or new offers will result in a formal recommendation to shareholders.