Daisy quartet heads for exit

Four Daisy directors resign as firm plans post-takeover stock market exit

Daisy has announced four of its directors are heading for the exit, three days after it set the date for its stock market exit.

Peter Dubens, Christina Kennedy, Laurence Blackall and Ian McKenzie have all resigned as directors, effective from 19 December, according to a statement released to the London Stock Exchange this morning.

Dubens is the founder of former Daisy backer Oakley Capital, Kennedy was a senior independent non-executive director, and Blackall and McKenzie held the respective roles of non-executive director and independent non-executive director.

The news follows the company moving to become private after a buyout deal for £494m - led by its chief executive Matt Riley and a pair of private investors - was accepted. The firm's shares are set to be taken off AIM on 22 January.

Matthew Riley, current chief executive of Daisy said in a statement: "I would like to thank Peter, Christina, Laurence and Ian for the contribution they have each made to Daisy's successful execution of its acquisition-led strategy since its admission in 2009.

"The guidance and support they have given during this period has helped to deliver shareholders 185 pence per Daisy share under the terms of the offer, compared to the placing price in July 2009 of 80 pence per Daisy share - an increase of 131.3 per cent. I wish each of them every success in their future ventures."

Riley is set to become Daisy's executive chairman of the firm, which he founded in 2001, with Computacenter's managing director Neil Muller moving into the chief executive role in February. The pair are expected to work closely together when Muller joins the company.