8th May 2006 07:30
Debenhams plc08 May 2006 08 May 2006 Not for release or distribution or publication in whole or part, directly orindirectly, in, or into, the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia. DEBENHAMS PLC ANNOUNCEMENT OF EXERCISE OF OVER-ALLOTMENT ARRANGEMENTS Debenhams plc (the "Company") announces that, in connection with the initialpublic offering of the Company (the "Offer"), Citigroup Global Markets U.K.Equity Limited ("Citigroup") as stabilising manager, on behalf of Merrill LynchInternational and the other underwriters, has today given notice to exercise theover-allotment option in respect of 48,717,948 ordinary shares ("Ordinary Shares") of the Company. None of the proceeds arising from the exercise of theover-allotment option will be payable to the Company. Following the transfer ofOrdinary Shares pursuant to the over-allotment option: • 538,897,436 Ordinary Shares will be held in public hands representing afree float of approximately 62.4% of the issued share capital of the Company;and • funds managed or advised by Texas Pacific Group ( the "TPG ShareholderGroup", CVC Capital Partners Group Sarl (the "CVC Shareholder Group") andMerrill Lynch Global Private Equity (the "Merrill Lynch Shareholder Group") willown 13.2%, 9.3% and 7.2%, respectively, of the Company's issued shares. This announcement may not be distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into theUnited States, Canada, Australia or Japan. This announcement does not constituteor form part of an offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation ofan offer to buy or subscribe for, any securities referred to herein. Any purchase of or application for securities of the Company pursuant to theOffer should only be made on the basis of the information contained in theformal prospectus published on 4 May 2006 in connection with the Offer (the"Prospectus"). The Prospectus contains detailed information about the Companyand its management, as well as financial statements and other financial data.Copies of the Prospectus are available from Citigroup of Citigroup Centre,Canada Square, London E14 5LB. Citigroup Global Markets U.K. Equity Limited and Merrill Lynch International areauthorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and are acting forthe Company, the TPG Shareholder Group, CVC Shareholder Group and the MerrillLynch Shareholder Group (together the "Principal Shareholders") in connectionwith the Offer and for no one else and will not be responsible to anyone otherthan Debenhams and the Principal Shareholders for providing the protectionsafforded to their respective clients or for providing advice in relation to theOffer, the contents of this announcement or any matters referred to herein. The information contained herein is not for publication or distribution in theUnited States of America. These materials do not contain or constitute an offerof securities for sale in the United States. The securities in Debenhams plchave not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933,as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absentregistration under that Act or an available exemption from it. The Company andthe selling security holders do not intend to register the securities or conducta public offering in the United States. The Offer and the distribution of this announcement and other information inconnection with the Offer in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law andpersons into whose possession any document or other information referred toherein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction.Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of thesecurities laws of any such jurisdiction. For Enquiries: Citigroup Global Markets U.K. Equity Limited Darrell Uden, tel: +44 20 7986 0410 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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