15th Jan 2007 10:42
Countrywide PLC15 January 2007 Not for release, publication or distribution in or into or from the UnitedStates, Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE AT 10.30AM 15 January 2007 COUNTRYWIDE PLC ("COUNTRYWIDE") - ADJOURNMENT OF COURT MEETING AND EGM At the request of 3i, Christopher Sporborg, Chairman of Countrywide, will seekan adjournment of the Court Meeting and the EGM to be held this morning inrelation to Charlie Holdco 4's offer for Countrywide. 3i has indicated that it wishes to hold further consultations with Countrywide'ssignificant Shareholders. Given the importance of ensuring that the outcome ofthe EGM and the Court Meeting fairly reflects the wishes of Shareholders, theIndependent Directors have agreed to propose motions at the Court Meeting andthe EGM for their respective adjournments. The proxy votes received in relation to the Court Meeting by 10.30am on Saturday13 January 2007, being the last time and date by which proxies needed to bereceived in order to be valid at today's Court Meeting, were as follows: Court Meeting of holders of Independent Scheme Shares Total proxy votes received For Against Number Independent Scheme Number Number Shares (and %) (and %) representedTotals byproxy 91,156,722 53.35% 56,246,031 34,910,691 (61.70%) (38.30%) The total number of Shareholders voting by proxy was 1,392. Of these, 1,230voted for the Proposals, representing 88.36% of the total, and 162 voted againstthe Proposals, representing 11.64% of the total. It is important to note that the above numbers relate to proxy votes received bypost and do not take into account any votes which may be cast at the CourtMeeting by Independent Scheme Shareholders and/or their proxies (or their dulyappointed corporate representatives) attending the Court Meeting in person andvoting at it. It should also be noted that Independent Scheme Shareholders whohave voted by proxy are in any case able to change their vote by attending andvoting at the Court Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, in person. It is expected that the reconvened meetings will be held as soon as practicable,and in any event in the next two to three weeks, subject to the Court Meetingand EGM consenting to an adjournment; formal notification of the times and datesfor the reconvened meetings will be despatched to Shareholders as soon aspossible and in any event no less than seven days prior to the date appointedfor the reconvened meetings. Terms defined in the Scheme Document shall have the same meaning in thisannouncement. Enquiries Countrywide Tel: +44 (0) 783 6204 449Christopher Sporborg Hawkpoint (lead financial adviser toCountrywide) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7665 4500David Reid ScottDavid RentonJonathan Coddington Panmure Gordon (Rule 3 adviser and jointcorporate broker to Countrywide) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7459 3600Tim LinacreHugh Morgan Hoare Govett (joint corporate broker toCountrywide) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7678 8000Ranald McGregor-SmithBob CowdellJonathan Retter Brunswick Group (Countrywide PR enquiries) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7404 5959John SunnucksKate Holgate The availability of the Proposals and the release, publication or distributionof this Announcement to persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom maybe affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located.Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of,and observe, any applicable requirements. Any failure to comply with suchapplicable requirements may constitute a violation of the securities laws of anysuch jurisdictions. Hawkpoint, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by theFinancial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Countrywide and theIndependent Directors and no one else in connection with the Proposals and willnot be responsible to anyone other than Countrywide and the IndependentDirectors for providing the protections afforded to clients of Hawkpoint nor forproviding advice in relation to the Proposals, the content of this Announcementor any matter referred to herein. Panmure Gordon, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by theFinancial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Countrywide and theIndependent Directors and no one else in connection with the Proposals and willnot be responsible to anyone other than Countrywide and the IndependentDirectors for providing the protections afforded to clients of Panmure Gordonnor for providing advice in relation to the Proposals, the content of thisAnnouncement or any matter referred to herein. Hoare Govett, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by theFinancial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Countrywide and theIndependent Directors and no one else in connection with the Proposals and willnot be responsible to anyone other than Countrywide and the IndependentDirectors for providing the protections afforded to clients of Hoare Govett norfor providing advice in relation to the Proposals, the content of thisAnnouncement or any matter referred to herein. Citigroup, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by theFinancial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for 3i Investments, the 3iInvestors and Charlie Holdco 4 and no one else in connection with the Proposalsand will not be responsible to anyone other than 3i Investments, the 3iInvestors and Charlie Holdco 4 for providing the protections afforded to clientsof Citigroup nor for providing advice in relation to the Proposals, the contentof this Announcement or any matter referred to herein. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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