| CORP. INFORMATION |
British contract research organization that has been driven almost out of business by animal rights activists, says it has secured a refinancing of its existing bank loans until June 30, 2006. The new loan, from unidentified U.S. interests, came on the same day that the company's previous loans were due to expire, which would have driven Co. into bankruptcy. Under a rarely used power, U.K. financial authorities have waived the requirement that the company divulge its new backers. Co.`s former bankers and shareholders, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, have been eager to sever links with the company, which conducts animal testing among other forms of safety testing, because their own employees and customers have been targeted
by animal rights protesters. Employees at Co have been assaulted, received letter bombs, and had their cars fire-bombed. Protesters at the activist group Animal Cruelty (SHAC) have vowed to discover the U.S. investors and turn the protests against them. One SHAC leader says, "If they think they can remain secret, they are mad."
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