24th Jun 2008 12:07
For Immediate Release 24th June 2008
Booker Group plc ("Booker" or "the Company")
Announcement
Booker is pleased to announce that the proportion of the Company held by institutional investors has increased following the placing today of some of the original shareholders' stakes in the Company. The approximate shareholdings are now as follows:-
|
20th June 2008 |
24th June 2008 |
|
|
Milton* |
31.4% |
- |
|
Institutional Shareholders |
23.7% |
43.7% |
|
Kaupthing Bank HF |
6.2% |
- |
|
Kaupthing Capital Partners (KCP II) |
- |
22.0% |
|
Booker Management (ex C Wilson) |
14.5% |
14.5% |
|
Charles Wilson |
8.1% |
8.3% |
|
West Coast Capital |
5.8% |
2.2% |
|
HBOS Plc |
5.0% |
4.0% |
|
Kevin Stanford |
4.4% |
4.4% |
|
Other |
0.9% |
0.9% |
|
TOTAL |
100.0% |
100.0% |
As part of the placing arrangements, Kaupthing Capital Partners has agreed not to dispose of its shares in Booker for a period of 12 months from the date of this announcement, without the consent of the Company and Investec. Charles Wilson has purchased 2 million shares at 22p and Kevin Lyon (non executive Director) has purchased 200,000 shares at 22p.
The Company is planning to move from AIM to the Official List of the London Stock Exchange by the Spring of 2009.
Charles Wilson, Chief Executive of Booker, said:
"We are pleased that the changes to our investor base, with an increase in the level of institutional shareholders, will help facilitate Booker's move from Aim to the Main Market. This will be complete by Spring 2009.
Baugur is leaving our shareholder register, a result of their future focus on retail rather than wholesale investments, and we would like to thank them for the support they have given Booker over the past few years. West Coast Capital and HBOS have sold part of their stakes to help accommodate institutional demand. We welcome the fact that Kaupthing Capital Partners has taken a stake in Booker as they have extensive experience in the UK food and wholesale markets.
Current trading remains in line with management expectations."
* Milton is an investment vehicle controlled by Baugur
For further information contact:
Tulchan Communications (PR Adviser to Booker Group plc)
020 7353 4200
Susanna Voyle
Investec Bank UK (Nominated Adviser to Booker Group plc)
020 7597 5970
Keith Anderson
Related Shares:
Booker Group