Last checked at 15 Mar 2024 14:01
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION.
THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FALLING UNDER RULE 2.8 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE")
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15 MARCH 2024
STATEMENT FROM JD.COM ("JD.COM")
STATEMENT OF INTENTION NOT TO MAKE AN OFFER FOR CURRYS PLC ("CURRYS")
Further to the announcement on 19 February 2024 that JD.com was in the very preliminary stages of evaluating a possible transaction that may include a cash offer for the entire issued share capital of Currys, JD.com today confirms that, following careful consideration, it does not intend to make an offer for Currys.
This is a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies.
For the purposes of Note 2 on Rule 2.8 of the Code, JD.com and any person(s) acting in concert with it reserve the right to make or participate in an offer for Currys (and/or take any other actions which would otherwise be restricted under Rule 2.8 of the Code) within the next six months following the date of this announcement:
(i) with the agreement of Currys' Board;
(ii) following the announcement of a firm intention to make an offer for Currys by or on behalf of a third party;
(iii) following the announcement by Currys of a Rule 9 waiver proposal (as described in Note 1 of the Notes on Dispensations from Rule 9 of the Code) or a reverse takeover (as defined in the Code); or
(iv) where the Takeover Panel has determined that there has been a material change of circumstances.
Enquiries:
Goldman Sachs International Tel: +4420 7774 1000
Andre Kelleners
Milan Hasecic
Chris Emmerson
Important notices
This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or sell or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in whole or in part in, into or from certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.
Goldman Sachs International, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the UK, is acting exclusively for JD.com and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than JD.com for providing the protections afforded to clients of Goldman Sachs International or for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement.