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STOCKMANN RECEIVED 96.4 PER CENT OF THE SHARES IN LINDEX AND COMPLETES ITS PUBLIC TENDER OFFER
STOCKMANN RECEIVED 96.4 PER CENT OF THE SHARES IN LINDEX AND COMPLETES ITS
PUBLIC TENDER OFFER. FOLLOWING THE ACQUISITION STOCKMANN GROUP WILL BE
OPERATING IN EIGHT COUNTRIES. PRO FORMA SALES OF A CALENDER YEAR WILL
AMOUNT TO APPROXIMATELY EUR 2.3 BILLION AND THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL TO
NEARLY 16,000.
As the conditions to completion of Stockmann plc’s public tender offer to
acquire all the outstanding shares in AB Lindex (publ) have been
fulfilled, Stockmann has decided to complete the offer. Stockmann will
also extend the acceptance period under the offer.
Stockmann plc (“Stockmann”) announced on 1 October 2007 a public tender
offer (the “Offer”) for all the outstanding shares in AB Lindex (publ)
(“Lindex”). The acceptance period under the Offer has ended on 30 November
2007.
At the end of the acceptance period, Lindex’ shareholders holding an
aggregate of 66,299,446 shares, corresponding to approximately 96.43 per
cent of the share capital and the total number of votes in Lindex, had
accepted the Offer.
As the Offer has been accepted by shareholders holding more than 90 per
cent of the total number of shares in Lindex, all the conditions to
completion of the Offer have been fulfilled and Stockmann has decided to
complete the Offer according to the terms and conditions thereof.
Settlement in respect of the shares tendered under the Offer will take
place on 5 December 2007, as of which date the sales and result of Lindex
will be consolidated into the accounts of Stockmann Group in proportion to
Stockmann’s shareholding. In addition to the shares tendered to Stockmann
under the Offer, Stockmann does not own shares in Lindex.
Stockmann will, as soon as practicable after settlement, initiate
compulsory redemption proceedings under the Swedish Companies Act to
acquire all remaining shares in Lindex. In connection therewith, Stockmann
will promote a delisting of Lindex’ shares.
Stockmann has decided to extend the acceptance period under the Offer
until 12.00 a.m. (CET) on 14 December 2007, so as to allow time for
remaining shareholders in Lindex who wish to accept the Offer to do so.
The terms of the Offer remain as previously announced. Settlement of valid
acceptances received during the extension of the acceptance period is
expected to take place by 19 December 2007. Stockmann may also purchase
further shares in Lindex on the market.
For further information, please contact
Hannu Penttilä, CEO, tel +358 9 121 5801
Heikki Väänänen, Executive VP, Director, Department Store Division,
tel. +358 9 121 5230, or
Pekka Vähähyyppä, ekonomidirektör, tel. +358 9 121 3351.
Helsinki, 3 December 2007
STOCKMANN plc
Hannu Penttilä
CEO
DISTRIBUTION
OMX Nordic Exchange Helsinki
Principal media
This announcement is not and must not, directly or indirectly, be
distributed or made public in Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa.
The Offer is not being made to persons in those jurisdictions or elsewhere
where their participation requires further offer, filings or other
measures in addition to those required by Swedish law. This announcement
shall not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to
sell any securities. Investors are urged to read the offer document
relating to the Offer as it contains important information regarding the
Offer.
The Offer described in this announcement is made for the securities of
Lindex and is subject to the laws of Sweden. It is important that U.S.
holders understand that the Offer is subject to disclosure and takeover
laws and regulations in Sweden that may be different from those in the
United States. To the extent applicable, Stockmann will comply with
Regulation 14E under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the “Exchange Act”). Stockmann does intend, however, to treat the Offer
as an offer on which the “Tier II” exemption mentioned in Rule 14d-1 (d)
under the Exchange Act is applicable.