Hmv Group Regulatory News (HMV)

6 Dec 2005 12:47

HMV Group PLC06 December 2005 6 December 2005 HMV GROUP OFFER FOR OTTAKAR'S LAPSES HMV Group notes today's announcement by the Office of Fair Trading ("OFT")referring HMV Group's Offer for Ottakar's to the Competition Commission. HMV Group is disappointed that the OFT found difficulty in clearing thetransaction. HMV Group remains of the belief that a combination of Waterstone'sand Ottakar's will not give rise to any substantial lessening of competition andintends to pursue vigorously its position before the Competition Commission. In accordance with its terms, the Offer will now lapse. Commenting on the statement by the OFT, HMV Group's CEO, Alan Giles, said: "The OFT's statement today is very disappointing as we believe our Offer wouldhave resulted in an enhanced proposition to customers and greater sales ofbooks, with no substantial lessening in competition." "The Group intends to discuss its plans with the Competition Commission withconfidence, although it is yet to see the OFT's detailed decision. In themeantime it will continue to maximise shareholder value in Waterstone's byfocusing on growth opportunities and driving further operational improvements inthe business." Terms used in this announcement shall have the meaning given to them in theOffer Document. ENQUIRIES HMV GroupAlan Giles Tel: + 44 (0) 1628 818 355Neil BrightPaul Barker UBS Investment Bank (financial adviser and joint broker to HMV Group)Aidan Clegg Tel: +44 (0) 20 7567 8000Clive BeattieScilla Grimble Brunswick (PR adviser to HMV Group)William Cullum Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7404 5959Eilis Murphy This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of anoffer to subscribe for or buy any security, nor is it a solicitation of any voteor approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance ortransfer of the securities referred to in this announcement in any jurisdictionin contravention of applicable law. UBS Investment Bank is acting exclusively for HMV Group and no one else inconnection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than HMVGroup for providing the protections afforded to clients of UBS Investment Banknor for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the content of thisannouncement or any other matter referred to herein. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certainjurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in any suchjurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributedshould inform themselves about and observe such restrictions. Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Offerare not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwiseforwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from Australia, Canada, Japan orthe United States and will not be capable of acceptance by any such use,instrumentality or facility within Australia, Canada, Japan or the United Statesand persons seeking such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees)must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in or into or fromAustralia, Canada, Japan or the United States. The Offer (unless otherwisedetermined by HMV Group and permitted by applicable law and regulation), willnot be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of mails or anymeans or instrumentality (including, without limitation, telephonically orelectronically) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of anational, state or other securities exchange of Australia, Canada, Japan or theUnited States and the Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such use,means, instrumentality or facility. The ability of Ottakar's Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdomto accept the Offer may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions inwhich they are located. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdomshould inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange