26th Jan 2006 14:00
Vodafone Group Plc26 January 2006 Not for release, publication or distribution in or into the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan. 26 January 2006 OFFER FOR VENFIN UNCONDITIONAL Vodafone announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Vodafone Holdings (SA)(Pty) Limited ("VHSA") has declared the offer for VenFin Limited ("VenFin") (the"Offer") wholly unconditional following strong support for the Offer. VenFinshareholders who have not yet accepted the Offer should tender their shares toreceive the Offer consideration as soon as possible. As at 12:00 on 26 January 2006 VHSA has received acceptances for 230,307,197Offer shares representing 60.8% of the Offer shares. Combined with the30,252,460 ordinary shares held by Vodafone and the 35 506 352 VenFin B sharesto be acquired by VHSA from Rembrandt Trust (Proprietary) Limited, Vodafone willhave an effective economic interest in VenFin of 66.6% and an effective votinginterest of 80.5%. Offer participants who tender their shares before the closing date will receivethe Offer consideration within five business days irrespective of the closingdate of the Offer. The closing date of the Offer has been extended to 17 February 2006 as requiredby takeover rules in South Africa. Important information The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use ofthe mails of, or by any other means or instrumentality (including, withoutlimitation, telephonically or electronically) of interstate or foreign commerceof, or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, the United States,Australia, Canada or Japan and the Offer is not capable of acceptance by anysuch use, means, instrumentality or facility or from within the United States,Australia, Canada or Japan. Accordingly, neither copies of this announcement norany related documentation are being or may be mailed or otherwise distributed orsent in or into or from the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan. -ends- For further information: Vodafone GroupInvestor Relations Media RelationsTelephone: +44 (0) 1635 664447 Telephone: +44 (0) 1635 664444 Notes to Editors About Vodafone Vodafone is the world's leading mobile telecommunications group with operationsin 27 countries across 5 continents with 179.3 million proportionate customersworldwide as at 31 December 2005 as well as 31 partner networks. For furtherinformation, please visit www.vodafone.com. About Rembrandt Trust Rembrandt Trust controls 100% of the unlisted "B" Ordinary shares in VenFin.Johann Rupert is a director of Rembrandt Trust which also controls 100% of theunlisted "B" ordinary shares in South African listed investment company RemgroLimited. Rembrandt Trust also owns all the unlisted "A" ordinary shares of M&I,the company which provides management services to both VenFin and Remgro. About VenFin VenFin is an investment holding company listed on the JSE, focused oninvestments in telecommunications, technology, media, financial and riskservices and other private equity businesses and start-up opportunities. Forfurther information, please visit www.venfin.co.za. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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