Burberry Demerger
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Burberry demerger 17 November 2005 GUS plc, the retail and business services group, today announces details of its plans to demerge its remaining 65% stake in Burberry Group plc. Subject to GUS and Burberry shareholder approval, this will be achieved by way of a dividend in specie to take effect on 13 December 2005 and will be accompanied by a consolidation of GUS shares. Sir Victor Blank, Chairman of GUS, commented: “The demerger of our remaining stake in Burberry is another major step in focusing GUS on fewer activities. Distributing our stake to existing GUS shareholders will enable them to participate directly in the exciting growth opportunities we see at Burberry. We wish everyone at Burberry well as a fully independent company and thank them for their wonderful support.” Benefits of the demerger The Board of GUS believes the significant benefits from the demerger include that it: enables GUS to release the value of its shareholding in Burberry directly to its shareholders; simplifies the management of GUS by substantially eliminating the need to deal with Burberry matters, including financial reporting, pensions, taxation and human resources management; allows the management of GUS to focus on its other businesses, Argos Retail Group and Experian; assists GUS and Burberry to manage independently their individual capital requirements and balance sheet structures; and allows GUS shareholders who retain their demerger entitlement of Burberry shares to participate directly in Burberry's future. Further details A GUS circular setting out the detailed proposals regarding the demerger will be sent to GUS shareholders on 19 November 2005. GUS will hold an EGM to seek the approval of GUS shareholders for these proposals on 12 December 2005. Burberry will also hold an EGM on the same day to obtain approval from its non-GUS shareholders. If the proposals are approved by the shareholders of both GUS and Burberry, GUS shareholders will be credited with their entitlement to Burberry shares and the new consolidated GUS shares at 0700 hours on 13 December 2005 (the record time). Dealings will start at 0800 hours on 13 December 2005. For every 1,000 existing GUS shares held on the record date, GUS shareholders will receive 305 Burberry shares and approximately 859 new GUS shares. The latter is for illustrative purposes only and is based on share prices at the close of business on 15 November 2005. The exact consolidation ratio for the existing GUS shares will be based on the average closing price of GUS and Burberry shares for the four days up to and including 17 November 2005 and will be announced tomorrow. Assuming the new GUS and Burberry shares are both retained until the dividend record dates (6 January 2006 for both companies), GUS shareholders will be eligible for the interim dividend from Burberry (2.5p per Burberry share) and the interim dividend from GUS (9.6p per new consolidated GUS share). This is equivalent to approximately 9.0p per existing GUS share, calculated on the basis of the illustrative consolidation ratio set out above. Enquiries GUS David Tyler Group Finance Director 020 7495 0070 Fay Dodds Director of Investor Relations Finsbury Rupert Younger 020 7251 3801 Rollo Head GUS and Burberry announcements are available on www.gusplc.com . Information on Burberry Group plc Burberry is an internationally recognised luxury goods brand. It is engaged in the design, manufacture and distribution of Burberry products worldwide, including men's and women's clothing, accessories and fragrances through its own retail stores and via its wholesale customers. Burberry also licenses third parties to manufacture and distribute products using the “Burberry” brand. The current executive directors of Burberry are Rose Marie Bravo, Chief Executive and Stacey Cartwright, Chief Financial Officer. For the year ended 31 March 2005, under UK GAAP, Burberry reported turnover of £715m and profit on ordinary activities before tax of £164.4m. As at 31 March 2005, Burberry had consolidated gross assets of £682.2m and consolidated net assets of £454.6m, again under UK GAAP. This financial information is extracted from the audited accounts for Burberry for the year ended 31 March 2005. In the six months ended 30 September 2005, under IFRS, Burberry reported turnover of £355m and profit before taxation of £78.1m. As at 30 September 2005, Burberry had consolidated gross assets of £673.1m and consolidated net assets of £462.2m, again under IFRS. This financial information is extracted from the unaudited interim financial statements for Burberry for the six months ended 30 September 2005. Burberry Ordinary Shares are listed on the Official List and traded on the London Stock Exchange. The Burberry Ordinary Shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold unless pursuant to a transaction that is registered under the Securities Act, or not required to be registered thereunder, or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements thereof. The Burberry Ordinary Shares referred to in this announcement have not been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other US regulatory authority, nor have such authorities passed upon or determined the adequacy or accuracy of this announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States. JPMorgan Cazenove Limited ("JPMorgan Cazenove") is acting for GUS in connection with the demerger and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than GUS for providing the protections afforded to clients of JPMorgan Cazenove or for providing advice in relation to the demerger or any other matters referred to in this announcement. .