Further Market Purchases
Johnson,Matthey PLC
4 July 2001
Not for release, distribution or publication in whole or in part in or into
the USA, Canada, Australia or Japan
Johnson Matthey plc ('Johnson Matthey')
Recommended cash offer for Meconic plc ('Meconic')
Further market purchases
Further to the announcement on 21 June 2001 of the recommended cash offer for
Meconic (the 'Offer') and subsequent market purchases of Meconic ordinary
shares, Johnson Matthey has now purchased in aggregate 18,700,000 Meconic
ordinary shares, representing 51.5% of Meconic's current issued share capital
(or 50.1% of the fully diluted share capital of Meconic), at 405 pence per
share in the market.
Accordingly, following settlement of the share purchases made today, the
Offer will become unconditional.
The procedure for acceptance of the Offer is set out in the Offer Document
which was posted on 3 July 2001. The Form of Acceptance should be completed
and returned as soon as possible, but in any event so as to arrive no later
than 3.00 p.m. on 24 July 2001. Terms defined in the Offer Document dated 3
July 2001 have the same meanings when used herein unless the context requires
otherwise.
A further announcement will be made in due course.
Enquiries
Johnson Matthey plc
John Sheldrick 020 7269 8403
David Morgan 020 7269 8454
Schroder Salomon Smith Barney 020 7986 4000
(financial adviser to Johnson Matthey)
James Steel
Jan Skarbek
Credit Suisse First Boston de Zoete & Bevan Limited 020 7888 8888
(brokers to Johnson Matthey)
Chris Chambers
Chris Sim
Gavin Anderson & Company 020 7457 2345
(PR Advisers)
Howard Lee
Laura Hickman
Salomon Brothers International Limited (trading as 'Schroder Salomon Smith
Barney') and Credit Suisse First Boston de Zoete & Bevan Limited ('CSFB'),
which are regulated in the United Kingdom by The Securities and Futures
Authority Limited, are acting exclusively for Johnson Matthey and no one else
in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than
Johnson Matthey for providing the protections afforded to its customers nor
for providing advice in relation to the Offer. Salomon Smith Barney is a
service mark of Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Schroder is a trademark of
Schroders Holdings plc and is used under licence by Salomon Brothers
International Limited.
This announcement does not constitute an offer or an invitation to purchase
any securities.
The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the
use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality (including, without
limitation, telephonically or electronically) of interstate or foreign
commerce of, or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, the
United States, or in or into Canada, Australia or Japan and the Offer should
not be accepted by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility or from
within the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.
The Loan Notes to be issued pursuant to the Loan Note Alternative have not
been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of
1933 (as amended) or under any relevant securities laws of any state or other
jurisdiction of the United States, nor have clearances been, nor will they
be, obtained from the securities commission or similar authority of any
province or territory of Canada and nor has a prospectus been, or will be
filed, or registration made, under any securities law of any province or
territory of Canada, nor has a prospectus in relation to the Loan Notes been,
nor will one be, lodged with or registered by the Australian Securities and
Investments Commission nor have any steps been taken, nor will any steps be
taken, to enable the Loan Notes to be offered in compliance with applicable
securities laws of Japan. Accordingly, unless an exemption under such Act or
securities laws is available, Loan Notes may not be offered, sold, re-sold or
delivered, directly or indirectly, in, into or from the United States,
Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which an offer of
Loan Notes would constitute a violation of relevant laws or require
registration thereof, or to or for the account or benefit of any US person or
resident of Canada, Australia or Japan or any other such jurisdiction.
Salomon Brothers International Limited (trading as Schroder Salomon Smith
Barney) is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Securities and Futures
Authority Limited. Salomon Smith Barney is a service mark of Salomon Smith
Barney Inc. Schroders is a trademark of Schroders Holdings PLC and is used
under licence.