**CTC Increases Stake in Ermes Department Stores Following Mandatory Takeover Bid**
The Cyprus Trading Corporation (CTC) has significantly increased its ownership in Ermes Department Stores Plc, now holding 86.275 percent of the retailer's shares after completing a mandatory takeover bid. This move comes as part of a strategic effort to consolidate control over the department store chain.
According to preliminary results released by CTC, shareholders tendered a total of 15,810,257 Ermes shares during the offer period, which concluded on July 13. This amount represents an acceptance rate of 9.060 percent of the total shares available for the bid. At the offer price of €0.014 per share, CTC is set to pay approximately €221,344 for the shares submitted through this bid.
Before the bid, CTC already held 134,740,047 shares, accounting for 77.215 percent of Ermes' issued share capital. The additional shares acquired through the takeover bid bring CTC's total direct participation to 150,550,304 shares. However, it is important to note that these figures are preliminary and subject to change pending a final review of the acceptance and transfer forms. Any applications that contain missing or incorrect information may be rejected, which could affect the final outcome of the bid.
CTC's takeover bid is deemed successful under Article 10(1) of Cyprus’ Takeover Bids Law, as the corporation controlled more than 50 percent of Ermes’ voting rights prior to initiating the process. Despite this success, CTC's new holding of 86.275 percent remains below the 90 percent threshold required under Cyprus law to exercise squeeze-out rights over remaining minority shareholders.
The mandatory bid was initiated on April 2, following CTC's acquisition of 17.5 million shares from Department Stores Realisations Limited, previously known as Debenhams Retail Plc. This transaction, valued at €127,758.43, increased CTC's direct stake from 67.186 percent to 77.215 percent, thereby triggering the obligation to make a public offer for the remaining shares of Ermes.
The offer period for the bid commenced on May 25 after receiving approval from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) for the takeover documentation. The independent assessment conducted by Grant Thornton deemed the offer price of €0.014 as fair and reasonable, considering Ermes' accumulated losses, limited trading activity, and the company's ongoing withdrawal from various segments of the retail market.
CTC engaged the Cyprus Investment and Securities Corporation Limited (CISCO) to act as its adviser for the takeover and as the underwriter operator in accordance with the relevant rules of the Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE).
As CTC moves closer to consolidating its control over Ermes, the future of the department store chain remains to be seen, particularly in light of the challenges facing the retail sector in Cyprus. The company’s strategy and operational decisions in the coming months will be critical in determining the success of its investment and the overall direction of Ermes Department Stores.