18th Oct 2007 18:12
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC18 October 2007 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITEDSTATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. 18 October 2007 European Commission approves proposed acquisition of Altadis, S.A. by ImperialTobacco Group PLC The European Commission today announced its decision to approve Imperial TobaccoGroup PLC's ("Imperial Tobacco") proposed acquisition of Altadis, S.A.("Altadis"). Gareth Davis, Chief Executive, said: "We are pleased that the EuropeanCommission has approved our proposed acquisition of Altadis, subject to theenlarged group divesting a small number of fine cut tobacco, pipe tobacco andcigar brands in certain European markets, including Interval fine cut tobacco inFrance. We always anticipated some divestments and, in the context of theoverall combined portfolios, these will not materially adversely affect theoperational and financial performance of the enlarged group." Imperial Tobacco envisages receiving approval of its proposed offer of €50 foreach Altadis share (the "Offer") from the Comision Nacional del Mercado deValores (the "CNMV"), the Spanish Securities and Exchange Commission, soon. TheOffer acceptance period will commence after the CNMV's approval is received. Enquiries Imperial TobaccoAlex Parsons Tel: +44 (0) 7967 467241(Group Media Relations Manager)Simon Evans Tel: +44 (0) 7967 467684(Group Press Officer)John Nelson-Smith Tel: +44 (0) 7919 391866(Investor Relations Manager) Citi (lead financial adviser to Imperial Tobacco) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7986 4000Ian Carnegie-BrownIan HartMark Todd Manuel Falco Tel: +34 (0) 91 538 4411 Hoare Govett Tel: +44 (0) 20 7678 8000(joint corporate broker to Imperial Tobacco)Hugo FisherPaul Nicholls Lehman Brothers Tel: +44 (0) 20 7102 1000(financial adviser to Imperial Tobacco)Ludovico del BalzoAdrian Fisk Morgan Stanley Tel: +44 (0) 20 7425 5000(financial adviser and joint corporatebroker to Imperial Tobacco)Gavin MacdonaldPaul Baker Banco Santander Tel: +34 (0) 91 289 3371(financial adviser to Imperial Tobacco)Filipe Ribeiro-FerreiraGeorg Orssich Citi, Hoare Govett Limited, Lehman Brothers Europe Limited, Morgan Stanley & Co.International Limited and Banco Santander, which are authorised and regulated inthe United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, are acting exclusivelyfor Imperial Tobacco and no one else in relation to the matters referred to inthis announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than ImperialTobacco for providing the protections afforded to clients of Citi, Hoare GovettLimited, Lehman Brothers Europe Limited, Morgan Stanley & Co. InternationalLimited and Banco Santander respectively nor for providing advice in relation tothese matters, the content of this announcement or any matter referred to in it. Copies of Imperial Tobacco's announcements are available on its website:www.imperial-tobacco.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Imperial Brands