Diploma Regulatory News (DPLM)

17 Jan 2008 15:23

Diploma PLC17 January 2008 12 CHARTERHOUSE SQUARE, LONDON EC1M 6AX TELEPHONE: +44 (0)20 7549 5700 FACSIMILE: +44 (0)20 7549 5715 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 17 January 2008 Diploma PLC Bonus Issue Diploma PLC ("the Company") announces that at the Annual General Meeting held today a resolution was passed approving the proposed bonus issue of four new ordinary shares of 5p each ("New Shares") for each existing ordinary share held by each shareholder on the register at close of business on 18 January 2008 (the "Bonus Issue"). The New Shares will rank pari passu with the existing issued ordinary shares and will therefore exclude the right to receive the final dividend for the financial year ended 30 September 2007. The Bonus Issue is conditional upon admission of the New Shares to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the London Stock Exchange. Application has been made for up to 90,591,644 New Shares to be admitted to the Official List and to trading, and it is expected that listing will become effective and that dealings will commence on 21 January 2008. Share certificates in respect of the New Shares are expected to be posted to shareholders whose shares are held in certificated form on 25 January 2008. The New Shares are expected to be credited to the CREST accounts of those shareholders whose ordinary shares are held in CREST on 21 January 2008. As a result of the Bonus Issue, it is expected that the price of each ordinary share will change to approximately one fifth of its present level, when the existing ordinary shares are quoted "ex-bonus issue" (which is expected to be on 21 January 2008). This reflects the fact that each shareholder will have five times as many shares, albeit the same percentage interest, in the Company as were held immediately before the issue of the New Shares. Following admission of the New Shares, the Company will have 113,239,555 ordinary shares of 5p each admitted to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the London Stock Exchange. Further copies of this announcement are available at the Company's Offices at 12 Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6AX and at the Company Announcement's Department, The London Stock Exchange. A copy of this Announcement may also be viewed on the Company's website at www.diplomaplc.com. Company Secretary Diploma PLC For further enquiries please contact Nigel Lingwood, Company Secretary 020 7549 5705 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange