"Indigo Capital LLC notes the current press speculation linking it to Regus and would like to clarify its intentions in respect of Regus," the statement said before going on to do precisely the opposite. "Indigo Capital is interested in exploring a wide range of strategic, commercial and financing alternatives with the Board of Regus, one of which may include a recommended take-over."
At the same time Indigo bought a further 6 million shares in Regus lifting its total holding to 88 million shares or 15.11% of the company. But it may be that the Stock Exchange statement was prompted by the attentions of the UK regulatory authorities which, it has been reported, have been monitoring Indigo's stake-building. Cantor Fitzgerald Europe has also been buying up Regus stock, and now holds 13.18% of the company. If the two are deemed to be acting in concert then their combined holding is now very close to the level at which a bid for Regus would become mandatory.
But recommending an offer from Indigo may not be the only way out for Regus' founder and majority shareholder Mark Dixon. According to reports in The Times Dixon has reopened talks with equally troubled rival HQ Business Centres, which is already under Chapter 11 protection in the USA. The discussions reportedly centre on a plan to put Regus US operations into Chapter 11 before merging them with HQ's business.
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