Lew ups stake in DJs to 9.9pc

Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19/24 : 6/19/2014

The takeover worth $A2.2bn of Australian department stores chain David Jones (DJs) by South Africa’s Woolworths will need to be approved by DJs shareholders in a vote on 30 June 2014. However, a complication may have arisen under collateral benefits law, as retailing sector stalwart Solomon Lew has disclosed he now holds 9.9% of the target. While his motives are not clear, there is speculation he wants to push Woolworths into buying his 11.8% blocking stake in Country Road. Such a side deal would attract scrutiny by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission and the Takeovers Panel

CORPORATES
DAVID JONES LIMITED – ASX DJS, COUNTRY ROAD LIMITED – ASX CTY, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. TAKEOVERS PANEL, AUSTRALIAN RETAIL INVESTMENTS PTY LTD, CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH, GOLDMAN SACHS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BLACKROCK INCORPORATED, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSBIL DEXIA LIMITED, PERPETUAL INVESTMENTS, PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, PENGANA CAPITAL LIMITED, BT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX BTT