28th May 2009 07:00
28 May 2009
Booker Group plc ('the Company')
CHANGES OF NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND
RELEASE OF SHARES TO EMPLOYEES
The Board of Booker Group plc announces that Richard Farr (51) has joined the Board as an independent Non-Executive Director. Separately Kevin Lyon, Non-Executive Director, has stepped down. Both changes have effect from close of business 27 May 2009.
Richard is a qualified Chartered Accountant and was a director and subsequently partner in the restructuring and pensions practices at PricewaterhouseCoopers between 2001 and 2007 during which time he was seconded to the Pensions Regulator. Richard has wide commercial experience, having previously co-led IPOs/reverse take-overs and the public to private turnarounds of a number of companies. Prior to joining Booker, Richard was a director of Swiss Re Capital Markets Limited. Richard is currently a director of Blue Sky (London) Limited.
Richard Rose, Chairman of Booker, said:
"Kevin has made a great contribution to Booker as a private then AIM listed company. After four years on the Board he has decided to pursue other opportunities. We wish him well and thank him for the support he has given to the company.
We are delighted to announce Richard's appointment. He has a great deal of financial and business knowledge and will make a good contribution to the Board."
The Booker Board, from close of business 27 May 2009, consists of Richard Rose (Chairman), Charles Wilson (Chief Executive), Jonathan Prentis (Group Finance Director), Bryan Drew (Commercial Director), Bryn Satherley (Operations Director), Lord Bilimoria (Senior Independent Non-Executive Director), Andrew Cripps (Non-Executive Director), Richard Farr (Non-Executive Director) and Karen Jones (Non-Executive Director).
Save as disclosed in the notes below, there is nothing further to disclose in relation to the appointment of Richard Farr, Bryan Drew and Bryn Satherley under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM rules.
The Company also announces that the 208,523,960 Ordinary Shares of 1 pence each in the capital of the Company (representing approximately 14 per cent of the Company's issued share capital) which are registered in the name of the Company as nominee for relevant employees pursuant to the terms of the leaver and lock-in agreements entered into on 4 June 2007 in connection with the reverse acquisition of Blueheath Holdings plc will be released and transferred to the relevant employees entitled thereto on or about 1 June 2009. As a result of such release and transfer, these Ordinary Shares will cease to be disclosed as an aggregated holding in the Company's disclosure of substantial interests in its share capital with effect from 1 June 2009.
For further information contact:
Tulchan Communications (PR Adviser to Booker Group plc)
020 7353 4200
Susanna VoyleLucy Legh
Investec Bank plc (Nominated Adviser to Booker Group plc)
020 7597 5970
Keith Anderson
Notes:
Full name: Richard Eric Farr (51)
Current directorships: Blue Sky (London) Limited
Former directorships/partnerships: Swiss Re Capital Markets Limited
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Full name: Bryan John Charles Drew (48)
Current directorships: None
Former directorships: HUB Wholesale Limited
Full name: Bryn Alan Hywel Satherley (48)
Current directorships: Poundcroft Limited
Former directorships: None
Related Shares:
Booker Group