OCCC Announces Aggressive Global Expansion
Consortium focuses on the future: restructures portfolio and opens new international subsidiaries
TORONTO, Canada -- March 30, 2003. As part of its ongoing plan to become the agile market leader in fast-moving B2B Weblog platform enterprises, the O'Connor Clarke Consortium (BSX: OCC) announced today the acceleration of the next phase in the company’s strategic international growth initiative.
In order to fund this escalated momentum, the management of OCCC announced the recent completion of a planned series of tactical equity-based transactions through which the Consortium was able to liquidate certain non-core assets and holdings. In particular, the Consortium disclosed the divestment of its majority position in Bag & Baggage, LLP.
“We were pleased to support the management of Bag & Baggage in their time of need,” commented Michael O’Connor Clarke, OCCC Chairman and CEO. “Our relatively substantial equity position in respect to Ms. Howell’s blog served its purpose for the brief time that it was part of our corporate portfolio. OCCC has, however, no long-term plans or aspirations regarding the Bag & Baggage brand and we have, therefore, gladly released our share holdings to the open market once more.”
Having successfully supported Bag & Baggage in its defense of a recent hostile takeover bid by the infamous MLOD cartel, the Consortium is moving rapidly to leverage its global position with the opening of the first in a planned international network of OCCC Weblog affiliate offices. The first of the Consortium’s new global operations, in New York, Paris and Taipei, will benefit the Consortium’s international clients as well as Canada-based customers and business partners seeking personalized service and deep industry expertise.
“We are excited about the opportunities that these moves give us in Europe, North America and the Pacific Rim, building our international presence and broadening the OCCC offer in line with our stated plans,” said Mr. O’Connor Clarke. “Our existing Canadian capability, these new global outlets, and our recent expansion of the OCCC ‘home team’ combine to give us a powerful platform to develop significant business initiatives and explore cross-border opportunities in this attractive growth market.”
The first OCCC international affiliates to commence operations include a new Enterprise B2B “Blortal” (“Blog-Portal”) solutions provider: Suit & Suitcase in New York, NY, U.S.A. In addition, the Consortium also launched its first European Weblog franchise, Val et Valises in Paris, France; and a new affiliate service custom-built for the Pacific Rim market: Lug & Luggage.
“At the time of the MLOD bid, we committed to our customers, investors, partners and employee that we would, if successful, aggressively move forward with alacrity to deliver synergies quickly and enhance our offer in the global theatre of operations,” said Mr. O’Connor Clarke. “We were, and we have. Did. Er...Will. Are! Yes – are, that’s it. Ahem.”
TORONTO, Canada -- March 30, 2003. As part of its ongoing plan to become the agile market leader in fast-moving B2B Weblog platform enterprises, the O'Connor Clarke Consortium (BSX: OCC) announced today the acceleration of the next phase in the company’s strategic international growth initiative.
In order to fund this escalated momentum, the management of OCCC announced the recent completion of a planned series of tactical equity-based transactions through which the Consortium was able to liquidate certain non-core assets and holdings. In particular, the Consortium disclosed the divestment of its majority position in Bag & Baggage, LLP.
“We were pleased to support the management of Bag & Baggage in their time of need,” commented Michael O’Connor Clarke, OCCC Chairman and CEO. “Our relatively substantial equity position in respect to Ms. Howell’s blog served its purpose for the brief time that it was part of our corporate portfolio. OCCC has, however, no long-term plans or aspirations regarding the Bag & Baggage brand and we have, therefore, gladly released our share holdings to the open market once more.”
Having successfully supported Bag & Baggage in its defense of a recent hostile takeover bid by the infamous MLOD cartel, the Consortium is moving rapidly to leverage its global position with the opening of the first in a planned international network of OCCC Weblog affiliate offices. The first of the Consortium’s new global operations, in New York, Paris and Taipei, will benefit the Consortium’s international clients as well as Canada-based customers and business partners seeking personalized service and deep industry expertise.
“We are excited about the opportunities that these moves give us in Europe, North America and the Pacific Rim, building our international presence and broadening the OCCC offer in line with our stated plans,” said Mr. O’Connor Clarke. “Our existing Canadian capability, these new global outlets, and our recent expansion of the OCCC ‘home team’ combine to give us a powerful platform to develop significant business initiatives and explore cross-border opportunities in this attractive growth market.”
The first OCCC international affiliates to commence operations include a new Enterprise B2B “Blortal” (“Blog-Portal”) solutions provider: Suit & Suitcase in New York, NY, U.S.A. In addition, the Consortium also launched its first European Weblog franchise, Val et Valises in Paris, France; and a new affiliate service custom-built for the Pacific Rim market: Lug & Luggage.
“At the time of the MLOD bid, we committed to our customers, investors, partners and employee that we would, if successful, aggressively move forward with alacrity to deliver synergies quickly and enhance our offer in the global theatre of operations,” said Mr. O’Connor Clarke. “We were, and we have. Did. Er...Will. Are! Yes – are, that’s it. Ahem.”
