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Press Releases
WESTON Seeking to Go Private Through Employee Ownership
WEST
CHESTER, PA - October 24,2000 - Roy F. Weston, Inc., today
announced that a Special Committee of its Board of Directors
has agreed to grant certain exclusive negotiating rights
to American Capital Strategies (NASDAQ:ACAS) concerning
the possible merger of WESTON into a new entity that would
be owned by American Capital, a group of WESTON's senior managers
and a broad-based employee stock ownership plan. WESTON
previously announced that the Special Committee, with assistance
from the investment-banking firm of Raymond James & Associates,
was evaluating WESTON's strategic alternatives.
No
definitive merger agreement has been signed and the terms of
any potential transaction remain subject to completion of due diligence
by American Capital, obtaining of financing by American Capital, and
negotiation and completion of a definitive agreement with the Company
and of agreements with senior management concerning their investment
in the transaction. If these matters are successfully completed, the
merger transaction will require recommendation by the Special Committee,
and approval by the Board of Directors and the shareholders of WESTON.
There can be no assurance that any contemplated transaction will be
completed.
Holders
of a majority of WESTON's non-publicly traded Common Shares,
representing approximately 61% of the voting power of all WESTON
outstanding shares, have agreed that if the Company and American Capital
reach a definitive agreement that is recommended by the Special Committee,
approved by the Board of Directors, and put to a shareholder
vote, their shares will, subject to certain conditions, be voted in
favor of such a transaction. Neither American Capital nor WESTON
intends to comment further on the details of ongoing negotiations
unless and until a definitive agreement is reached.
American
Capital is presently engaged in due diligence and is working to secure
bank financing that would be required in order to complete the transaction.
William
L. Robertson, WESTON's Chief Executive, stated: "We are encouraged
by the Special Committee's work to evaluate our strategic alternatives
and are excited about the possibility of reaching an agreement
with American Capital that would greatly benefit our shareholders,
employees and clients."
Based
in West Chester, Pennsylvania, WESTON provides services through
a network of 60 offices throughout the United States. An industry
pioneer since 1957, WESTON provides infrastructure redevelopment services
worldwide. With an emphasis on creating lasting
economic solutions for its clients, the company's services
include site remediation, infrastructure operations and knowledge
management to bring impaired facilities, land, water and resources
back to productive use.
Statements
in this release which discuss any aspect of a potential merger
transaction involving WESTON and American Capital Strategies
are forward looking statements. These
forward looking statements are subject to a variety of risks
and uncertainties, including but not limited to whether
American Capital and WESTON will reach a definitive agreement
for such a transaction; the agreement of WESTON's senior management
to invest in such a transaction; the outcome of American Capital's
due diligence review of WESTON; the ability of American
Capital to secure the necessary financing to complete such a transaction;
and the outcome of any required shareholder vote on such
a transaction. The reader is cautioned that there
is presently no definitive agreement between WESTON and American
Capital and that a transaction between WESTON and American Capital,
including the potential transaction discussed in this release, might
not occur. WESTON expresses no opinion on the likelihood that
such a transaction will occur. Other
risks and uncertainties concerning WESTON's performance are
discussed under the heading "Forward Looking Statements" in WESTON's
Second Quarter 2000 Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2000, and in WESTON's
previous SEC filings. WESTON disclaims any intent or obligation
to update forward looking statements.
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| WESTON Contact |
Edmund B. Pettiss, Jr.
Senior Vice President
Marketing & Communications
610-701-3159
E-mail
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