5th Jul 2006 14:14
Doughty Hanson & Co Managers Ltd05 July 2006 Not for release or distribution or publication in whole or part in or into the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia. 5 July 2006 LAUNCH OF SHARE PLACING IN RHM PLC BY DOUGHTY HANSON & CO LIMITED Doughty Hanson & Co Limited ("Doughty Hanson"), one of the largest independentprivate equity firms in Europe, together with a number of co-investors(including funds managed by Doughty Hanson and its affiliates, the "SellingShareholders"), announces today the commencement of an accelerated bookbuiltsecondary placing (the "Placing") of approximately 93 million ordinary shares(the "Placing Shares") in RHM plc ("RHM"). The Placing represents 26.6% of theoutstanding issued share capital of RHM and also represents the entire holdingof the Selling Shareholders. Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited ("CreditSuisse") is acting as sole bookrunning lead manager. The sale price will be determined and announced after closing of the acceleratedbookbuilding process. The timing of closing of the bookbuilding process will bedetermined in due course by Credit Suisse. Enquiries: Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) LimitedJames Leigh-Pemberton Tel: + 44 (0)20 7888 1944Tom Ahearne Tel: + 44 (0)20 7888 3818 MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING.THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANY OFFER OF SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES ARE ONLYADDRESSED TO AND DIRECTED AT PERSONS WHO ARE (1) QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THEMEANING OF DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC AND ANY RELEVANT IMPLEMENTING MEASURES (THE "PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE") AND (2) WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERSRELATING TO INVESTMENTS WHO FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(1) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICESAND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE "ORDER") OR AREPERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) ("HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES,UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC") OF THE ORDER (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEINGREFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS"). THE INFORMATION REGARDING THE PLACING SETOUT IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARENOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THISANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGEDIN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. This announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer of securities,or constitute a solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe forsecurities. Neither this announcement nor any copy of it may be taken,released, published, transmitted or distributed, directly or indirectly in orinto the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan, or any jurisdiction wheresuch announcement would be unlawful. Any failure to comply with thisrestriction may constitute a violation of United States, Canadian, Australian orJapanese securities laws, or any jurisdiction where such announcement would beunlawful. No action has been taken by the Selling Shareholders, or any of their respectiveaffiliates, or any other person that would permit an offer of the Placing Sharesor possession or distribution of this announcement or any other offering orpublicity material relating to the Placing Shares in any jurisdiction whereaction for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession thisannouncement comes into should inform themselves about and observe any suchrestrictions. This announcement does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in anyjurisdiction, including the United States. The securities referred to hereinhave not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933(the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United Statesunless they are registered under the Securities Act or pursuant to an availableexemption therefrom. No public offering of securities of RHM plc is being madein the United States. Any investment decision to buy securities in the Placing must be made solely onthe basis of publicly available information which has not been independentlyverified by Credit Suisse or the Selling Shareholders. Credit Suisse are acting for the Selling Shareholders only in connection withthe Placing, and no one else, and will not be responsible to anyone other thanthe Selling Shareholders for providing the protections offered to clients ofCredit Suisse nor for providing advice in relation to the Placing. This does not constitute a recommendation concerning the Placing. The value ofshares can go down as well as up. Past performance is not a guide to futureperformance. Potential investors should consult a professional adviser as tothe suitability of any offering for the individual concerned. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
RHM.L