Teachers' set to score with £73-million offer for Goals Soccer Centres

TORONTO, July 20, 2012 /CNW/ - Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (Teachers'), through its private equity investment division, Teachers' Private Capital (TPC), today announced that its cash offer for the entire share capital of Goals Soccer Centres plc (Goals or the company) has been unanimously recommended to shareholders by the company's directors.

The transaction will require, among other things, approval by a majority of Goals' shareholders representing at least 75% in value of the company's shares. Under the terms of the offer, the fully diluted share capital of Goals is valued at approximately £73.1 million (C$115.6 million).

Goals owns and operates 43 outdoor five-a-side football centres in the United Kingdom and one in the United States.  Five-a-side football is a growing leisure activity. It has a broad appeal across age groups and geographies, with facilities offering recreation and entertainment options. More than 100,000 customers visit Goals locations every week. Goals has approximately 800 employees and had revenues of £30.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

"We believe that this will be a win-win for investors, employees and the thousands of players who enjoy using Goals' facilities each week," said Jo Taylor, TPC Vice-President and head of Teachers' London office. "The management team has built a robust business since acquiring Goals in 2000, and we are excited at the growth plans for the future. Our aim is to cement Goals' position as the UK's premier five-a-side operator and help the business to achieve its full potential."

"The Goals management team is excited about partnering with Teachers'. This investment will represent a significant step in the implementation of management's strategy to expand our scale, geography and capability," said Keith Rogers, Managing Director of Goals. "Twelve years ago, we positioned Goals to capture value through the provision of 'next generation soccer facilities' across the UK. With Teachers', we can now deliver our longer-term vision allowing thousands more players, young and old, access to the unique Goals experience."

TPC activities include leading deals on a sole or partnered basis, investing in private equity funds in markets and sectors that it cannot efficiently access directly and co-investing with other like-minded private equity funds. TPC manages a global portfolio valued at approximately $12 billion.

In addition to its TPC holdings, Teachers' also has considerable infrastructure, public equity and real estate investments in the UK, including Camelot UK Lotteries Ltd., HS1 rail network, Birmingham and Bristol international airports, Scotia Gas Networks PLC and Thomas More Square. Teachers' total UK investments exceed £4 billion.

About Teachers'
With $117.1 billion in assets as of December 31, 2011, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan is the largest single-profession pension plan in Canada.  An independent organization, it invests the pension fund's assets and administers the pensions of 300,000 active and retired teachers in Ontario. For more information visit www.otpp.com

Deborah Allan
Director, Communications and Media Relations
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
[phone]
[email protected]