15th Jan 2007 08:00
Whitbread PLC15 January 2007 Whitbread PLC 15 January 2007 Not for release, publication or distribution in whole or in part into the UnitedStates, Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch Whitbread PLC Initial Purchase Offer for C Shares Deutsche Bank has agreed to make the Initial Purchase Offer referred to in theCircular from Whitbread to its Shareholders dated 24 November 2006 (the'Circular'). Deutsche Bank hereby makes the Initial Purchase Offer, acting asprincipal, to purchase each of the 92,531,681 C Shares in respect of which validacceptances of the Initial Purchase Offer have been received and not withdrawnfor 159 pence, free of all dealing expenses and commissions, in an off-markettransaction on the terms set out in the Circular. Settlement for the C Shares acquired under the Initial Purchase Offer will bemade on 18 January 2007 when cheques will be dispatched to Shareholders whose CShares are held in certificated form (that is, not in CREST). The CREST accountsof Shareholders whose C Shares are held in uncertificated form (that is, inCREST) will be credited with the proceeds of sale on the same day. Terms defined in the Circular have the same meaning when used this announcement. For further information: Anna Glover - Corporate Communications Director - Tel: 01582 844439 Christopher Rogers - Group Finance Director - Tel: 01582 396335 Whitbread PLC is one of the UK's leading hospitality companies, managingbusinesses in the budget hotels, restaurant and health & fitness sectors,including Premier Travel Inn, Brewers Fayre, Beefeater, Costa and David LloydLeisure. Whitbread's strategy is to create value for our shareholders by focusinginvestment and growing in expanding sectors of the hospitality industry,primarily in the UK but also in selected overseas markets. In the financial year to March 2, 2006, Whitbread generated pre-tax,pre-exceptional profit of £181.1m. Founded in 1742, the company is listed on theLondon Stock Exchange (as WTB.L) and is a member of the FTSE4Good indices. Deutsche Bank AG is authorised under German Banking Law (competent authority:BaFin - Federal Financial Supervising Authority) and with respect to UKcommodity derivatives business by the Financial Services Authority; regulated bythe Financial Services Authority for the conduct of UK business. Deutsche Bankis acting for Whitbread and no-one else in connection with the return of cashand will not be responsible for anyone other than Whitbread for providing theprotections afforded to clients of Deutsche Bank or for providing advice inrelation to the return of cash. None of the Existing Ordinary Shares, New Ordinary Shares or the C Shares havebeen or will be registered under U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the'Securities Act') or the securities laws of any other U.S. jurisdiction, andnone of them may be offered or sold in the United States unless pursuant to anexemption from, or in a transaction not subject to the registration requirementsof the Securities Act. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certainjurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in suchjurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributedshould inform themselves about and observe such restrictions. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF AN OFFER TO SELL OR THESOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SUBSCRIBE FOR ANY SECURITIES, NOR THE SOLICITATIONOF ANY VOTE OR APPROVAL IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE, ISSUEOR TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN ANYJURISDICTION IN CONTRAVENTION OF APPLICABLE LAW. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Whitbread