4th Sep 2006 08:37
3i Group PLC04 September 2006 3i Group plc 4 September 2006 This document should not be transmitted, distributed, published or released inwhole or in part in or into Australia, Canada, Japan or the United States ofAmerica or in or into any other jurisdiction in which such act would constitutea violation of any relevant laws of such jurisdiction. 3i Group plc Purchase of B Shares - Company Offer 3i Group plc (the "Company") has appointed Dresdner Kleinwort WassersteinSecurities Limited ("Dresdner Kleinwort") for the purposes of the Company Offeras defined in and to be implemented in accordance with the Company's circular toShareholders dated 15 June 2006 (the "Circular"). As contemplated in the Circular, Dresdner Kleinwort hereby agrees to purchase,acting as agent for the Company, 11,111,911 B Shares, being the number of BShares in respect of which valid elections have been received and not withdrawnin favour of participation in the Company Offer, in an on-market transaction onthe terms set out in the Circular. The Company, through Dresdner Kleinwort,will purchase B Shares for 127 pence each, free of all dealing expenses andcommissions. It is expected that cheques will be sent to relevant Shareholders or paymentswill be made to relevant Shareholders through the Bankers Automated ClearingSystem, as appropriate, in respect of the proceeds of the B Shares purchasedunder the Company Offer on or around 11 September 2006. It is expected thatsales advices and balance B Share certificates will be sent to relevantShareholders, and CREST accounts of relevant Shareholders credited with anybalances of B Shares, on or around the same date. Notes: All defined terms not otherwise defined in this announcement shall bear themeanings given in Part VIII (Definitions) of the Circular. Further information and copies of the Circular and the Questions and Answersdocument for Shareholders can be found on the Company's investor relationswebsite at http://www.3igroup.com. For further information Patrick Dunne, Group Communications Director, 3i Group plc 020 7975 3283 Additional Information: None of the B Shares has been or will be registered under the US Securities Actof 1933 or any state securities laws of the United States. Accordingly, none ofthe B Shares may be offered, transferred or sold in the United States orelsewhere by Shareholders unless pursuant to a transaction that has beenregistered under the US Securities Act of 1933 and the relevant state securitieslaws or that is not subject to the registration requirements of the USSecurities Act of 1933 or such laws, either due to an exemption there from orotherwise. None of the B Shares nor this announcement has been approved, disapproved orotherwise recommended by any US federal or state securities commission nor havesuch authorities confirmed the accuracy or determined the adequacy of thisannouncement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in theUnited States. The Board has made no recommendation to individual Shareholders as to whether ornot they should actually participate in the Company Offer or in any of the otherB Share Offers as this is a matter for each Shareholder to decide depending,amongst other things, on his or her individual tax position and objectives.Shareholders should note that under the terms of the B Share Offers, there willnot be any difference in the price paid per B Share between the Initial PurchaseOffer, the Company Offer and either of the Future Purchase Offers (if made).Shareholders in any doubt as to their position should seek their own independentadvice from a suitably qualified person. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
3i Group