Lonrho Regulatory News (LONR)

19 Apr 2005 14:39

Lonrho Africa PLC19 April 2005 For immediate release Not for release, publication or distribution in or into the United States of America,Canada, Australia or Japan 19 April 2005 Lonrho Africa Plc ("Lonrho Africa" or "the Company") Court Approval of Scheme of Arrangement Further to the announcements made on 21 February 2005 and 16 March 2005, LonrhoAfrica is pleased to announce that the Court has duly approved the Scheme ofArrangement to effect the Demerger, and confirmed the reduction of capital ofLonrho Africa provided for under the Scheme, at a hearing held earlier today.Accordingly, the Scheme is expected to become fully effective at 5.00 p.m. onThursday 21 April 2005 and dealings in Castle Shares are expected to commence onAIM at 8.00 a.m. on Tuesday 3 May 2005. Subject to the above occurring as expected, Qualifying Shareholders will receiveone Castle Share for every 1,000 Lonrho Africa Shares held as at 5.00 p.m. onMonday 18 April 2005. CREST member accounts will be credited with Castle Shareson 3 May 2005. It is expected that definitive share certificates in respect ofCastle Shares and cheques to those so entitled will be dispatched toshareholders by 9 May 2005. Copies of the admission document will be posted to Castle shareholders shortlyand will also be made available to the public, free of charge, from the officesof Strand Partners Limited at 26 Mount Row, London W1K 3SQ during normalbusiness hours on any weekday (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excepted)for a period of one month from the date of Admission. Defined terms used in this announcement have the same meanings as those definedin the Scheme Circular posted to Lonrho Africa shareholders on 21 February 2005. Enquiries: Lonrho Africa Plc Tel: (020) 7409 3494 Christopher Mills Strand Partners Limited Tel: (020) 7409 3494(Financial Adviser to Lonrho Africa)Simon RaggettMatthew Chandler CardewGroup Tel: (020) 7930 0777Nadja Vetter This announcement, for which the directors of Lonrho Africa are responsible, hasbeen approved by Strand Partners Limited solely for the purposes of section 21of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Strand Partners Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdomby the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Lonrho Africa andas nominated adviser for Castle Acquisitions Plc, and for no one else inconnection with the Proposals and will not be responsible to anyone else forproviding the protections afforded to its customers or for advising any otherperson in relation to the Proposals or the contents of this announcement. This announcement has been prepared for information purposes only and is not tobe relied upon in substitution for the exercise of independent judgement. It isnot intended as investment advice and under no circumstances is it to be used orconsidered as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, anysecurities nor a recommendation to enter into any transaction; nor shall it orany part of it form the basis of or be relied on in connection with any contractor commitment whatsoever. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange