BON.L Regulatory News (BON)

NOT FOR PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE RESTRICTIONS MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN.

20 November 2013

Bonmarché Holdings plc

("Bonmarché" or the "Company")

First day of dealings

Bonmarché, one of the UK's largest women's value retailers focused on selling affordable, stylish, premium quality clothing and accessories in a wide range of sizes for mature women, is pleased to announce that admission takes place and dealings in its ordinary shares commence at 08:00am today on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange plc under the ticker "BON".

The Company's admission document can be found at www.bonmarcheplc.co.uk.

- Ends -

For further information regarding Bonmarché, please call: 

Notes to Editors:

Bonmarché is one of the UK's largest women's value retailers focused on selling affordable, stylish, premium quality clothing and accessories in a wide range of sizes for women over 50 years old, via its own store portfolio, website, mail order catalogues and through the Ideal World TV shopping channel. Established in 1982, the Bonmarché business has more than 30 years of experience in this growing market segment, operating across the UK.

Disclaimer

This announcement is being distributed only to and directed only at persons in member states of the European Economic Area who are qualified investors within the meaning of article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive ("Qualified Investors"). In addition, in the United Kingdom, this announcement is being distributed only to and directed only at Qualified Investors (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 ("Order") (investment professionals), or (ii) who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc), (all such persons referred to above being "Relevant Persons"). The term "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC as amended and includes any relevant implementing measures in each member state of the European Economic Area. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. 

This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for, securities to any person in any jurisdiction including the United States, Canada, Australia, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa or Japan or in any jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered, sold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act or an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will be no public offer of the securities in the United States. Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in United States, Canada, Australia, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa or Japan or to, or for account or benefit of any national, resident or citizen of United States, Canada, Australia, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa or Japan. The placing and sale of the securities referred to herein has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, under the securities legislation of any state or territory or jurisdiction of the United States or under the applicable securities laws of United States, Canada, Australia, the Republic of Ireland or South Africa or Japan.

This announcement has been prepared by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No liability whatsoever (whether in negligence or otherwise) arising directly or indirectly from the use of this announcement is accepted and no representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is or will be made by the Company or Investec Bank plc or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers, representatives or other agents for any information or any of the opinions contained herein or for any errors, omissions or misstatements.

Investors should not subscribe for or purchase any securities referred to in this announcement except on the basis of information in the admission document dated 15 November 2013 and any supplement thereto in connection with the admission of the ordinary share capital of the Company to trading on AIM. In the event of any discrepancy between this announcement and the admission document, the admission document will prevail.

Neither the content of the Company's website nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into or forms part of this announcement nor, unless previously published by means of a recognised information service, should any such content be relied upon in reaching a decision as to whether or not to compare, continue to hold, or dispose of, securities in the Company.

The merits or suitability of any securities must be independently determined by the recipient on the basis of its own investigation and evaluation of the Company. Any such determination should involve, among other things, an assessment of the legal, tax, accounting, financial and other related aspects of the securities. Recipients of this announcement are recommended to seek their own independent legal, tax, financial and other advice and should rely solely on their own judgement, review and analysis in evaluating the Company and its securities.

Investec Bank plc, which is authorised in the United Kingdom by the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA") and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the PRA,, is acting exclusively as nominated adviser and broker to Company and as agent for BM Holdings S.À.R.L, (the "Selling Shareholder") and no one else in connection with the placing and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company and the Selling Shareholder for providing the protections afforded to customers of Investec Bank plc or for providing advice in relation to the placing.

Forward looking statements

Certain statements contained within the announcement are forward looking statements and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the potential returns of the group and industry and markets in which the group operates, the Directors' beliefs and assumptions made by the Directors. Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "should", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "projects", "pipeline" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward looking statements and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or the ability to identify and consummate investments and involve certain risks, uncertainties, outcomes of negotiations and due diligence and assumptions that are difficult to predict, qualify or quantify. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward looking statements or expectations. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: the general economic climate, competition, interest rate levels, loss of key personnel, the result of legal and commercial due diligence, the availability of financing on acceptable terms and changes in the legal or regulatory environment.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. The group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the group's expectations with regard thereto, any new information or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless required to do so by law or any appropriate regulatory authority.