P524ORACLE 524 Mon17 Feb C4 1712:07
UB'S RETURN UPSETS
REVISED HANSON BID
Hanson Trust's hopes of having a clear
run at food and drink giant Imperial
have been upset by the reappearance of
Sir Hector Laing's United Biscuits.
UB was thought to have been ruled out
of the contest following the Monopolies
Commission reference of Imps agreed bid
for the group.
But UB has defied that move by mounting
its own bid for Imperial wgrth some
£300m more than the Hanson Trust offer.
The £2.5bn terms attempt to head off a
further reference by offering to sell
off some interests if the bid succeeds.
* HAVE A HOLIDAY * 580