EAST Kilbride-based Goals Soccer Centres and its Canadian suitor have been given extra time to strike a deal.
The approach by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan was first announced on April 2 but after a succession of extensions, the Takeover Panel has given the £73 billion fund until 5pm on July 9 to make an offer or confirm it is walking away.
Goals said: "The company remains in offer discussions with Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan which has been reviewing information which has been made available to it, subject to strict terms of confidentiality, by the company.
"The anticipated timetable for the completion of these discussions is consistent with the extended deadline."
Goals's shares remained unchanged at 128.5p yesterday. This values the company at £62.5 million.
Shortly before the interest from Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan was revealed, the shares had been trading at 108p but reached a high of 133p in early April.
Analysts have predicted the suitor might pay between 130p and 158p per share, valuing Goals at up to £77m.
Goals's largest shareholder is chief executive Keith Rogers, whose 8.4% stake has a paper value of £5.3m.
Goals charges around £5.50 per head for its pitches and last year posted a 21% increase in pre-tax profit to £9.2m.
However, it has halted its expansion drive in order to squeeze more profits out of existing sites. It is also embroiled in a dispute with HM Revenue & Customs about whether VAT is payable on bookings for its leagues.
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