Vodafone Group Plc
10 March 2003
10 March 2003
For Immediate Release - Not for release or distribution in the United States of
America, Canada or Japan
VODAFONE SHAREHOLDING IN EUROPOLITAN INCREASED TO 98.2%
AND OFFER PERIOD EXTENDED
Vodafone Group Plc ('Vodafone') today announces that it has further increased
its shareholding in Europolitan Vodafone AB (publ) ('Europolitan') to
approximately 98.2% as at 7 March 2003 on an undiluted basis. Vodafone's
shareholding in Europolitan on 13 January 2003, the day Vodafone announced it
was in discussions with the Board of Europolitan regarding a possible offer, was
74.6% on an undiluted basis. The increase in shareholding was effected through
market purchases and the acquisition of shares tendered in Vodafone's
recommended public offer for the outstanding shares it does not already own in
Europolitan (the 'Offer').
Vodafone also announces that it is extending the acceptance period for the Offer
to 21 March 2003 (from 7 March 2003) to provide shareholders in Europolitan who
have not yet tendered their shares the opportunity to do so. The terms of and
the procedures for accepting the Offer otherwise remain unchanged.
As previously announced, Vodafone intends to implement compulsory acquisition
procedures to acquire 100% of the shares in Europolitan following completion of
the Offer. Furthermore, de-listing of Europolitan's shares from the Stockholm
Exchange (Stockholmsborsen) will be sought.
An announcement of the outcome of the Offer will be made on or around 27 March
2003.
For further information contact:
Vodafone Group Plc
Tim Brown, Group Corporate Affairs Director
Melissa Stimpson, Director of Group Investor Relations
Bobby Leach, Head of Group Financial Media Relations
Darren Jones, Senior Investor Relations Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310
Goldman Sachs International
Simon Dingemans
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7774 1000
Enskilda Securities
Martin Brandt
Tel: +46 (8) 52 22 95 00
Tavistock Communications
Lulu Bridges/Justin Griffiths
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7600 2288
The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into the United
States of America, Canada or Japan, and copies of this document and any future
related materials are not being and may not be mailed or otherwise distributed
or sent in or into the United States of America, Canada or Japan.
The Offer is not being directed to persons whose participation in the offering
requires that further Offer documents are issued or that registration or other
measures are taken, other than those required under Swedish law. No document
relating to the Offer may be distributed in or into any country where such
distribution or offering requires any of the aforementioned measures to be taken
or would be in conflict with any law or regulation of such a country.
This announcement has been issued by Vodafone Group Plc and is the sole
responsibility of Vodafone Group Plc and has been approved solely for the
purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by Goldman
Sachs International.
- ends -
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