Tesco Regulatory News (TSCO)

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

28 February 2018

Tesco and Booker merger approved by shareholders

Further to Tesco PLC's earlier announcement confirming the approval of the merger with Booker Group plc by Tesco shareholders, Tesco is pleased to note that Booker shareholders have also voted in favour of the merger. The combined business is expected to start operating on 5 March 2018.

Commenting on today's votes by shareholders, Dave Lewis, Group Chief Executive of Tesco, said:

"I'm delighted that the shareholders of both companies have supported the merger. 

This merger is about growth, bringing together our complementary retail and wholesale skills to create the UK's leading food business. This opens up new opportunities to provide food wherever it is prepared or eaten - 'in home' or 'out of home' - and will benefit our customers, suppliers, colleagues and shareholders."

Enquiries:

Tesco

Investor Relations: Chris Griffith +44 (0)1707 912 900

Media: Jane Lawrie +44 (0) 1707 918 701

Greenhill (lead financial adviser to Tesco)

David Wyles +44(0) 207 198 7400

Charles Gournay

Barclays (financial adviser, corporate broker and sponsor to Tesco)

Alisdair Gayne +44(0) 207 623 2323

Nicola Tennent

Citi (financial adviser and corporate broker to Tesco)

Andrew Seaton +44(0) 207 500 5000

Ed McBride

Teneo Blue Rubicon (public relations adviser to Tesco)

Philip Gawith +44(0) 207 420 3143

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP are retained as legal advisers for Tesco.

Terms used but not defined in this Announcement have the meaning set out in the announcement of the Merger released on 27 January 2017.

Important Notices

This Announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute or form part of any offer to sell or subscribe for or any invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities of the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Merger. It does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent document.

Overseas Jurisdictions

The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in or into jurisdictions other than the UK may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the law of any jurisdiction other than the UK should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. In particular the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom, to vote their Booker Shares with respect to the Scheme at the Scheme Court Meeting, or to appoint another person as proxy to vote at the Scheme Court Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Merger disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person. This Announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law and the Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside of England and Wales. Unless otherwise determined by Tesco or required by the Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Merger will not be made available directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the Merger by any such use, means, instrumentality or form within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction

Copies of this Announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Merger will not be and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction or any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of the Merger. If the Merger is implemented by way of Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law or regulation), the Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into or by use of the mails or any other means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile, email or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities or from within any Restricted Jurisdiction.

The availability of New Tesco Shares under the Merger to Booker Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom or the ability of those persons to hold such shares may be affected by the laws or regulatory requirements of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are resident. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements.

Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders are contained in the Scheme Document.

Forward‑looking statements

This Announcement (including information incorporated by reference into this Announcement), oral statements made regarding the Merger, and other information published by Tesco and Booker contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements" with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Booker and Tesco and the Booker Group and the Tesco Group, and certain plans and objectives of Booker and Tesco with respect to the Combined Group. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of Tesco and Booker about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement include statements relating to the expected effects of the Merger on Tesco and Booker, the expected timing and scope of the Merger and other statements other than historical facts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects", "does not expect", "is expected", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Although Tesco and Booker believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, Tesco and Booker can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the satisfaction of the Conditions, as well as additional factors, such as: risks relating to the Tesco Group's credit rating; local and global political and economic conditions including Brexit; the Tesco Group's and the Booker Group's economic model and liquidity risks; financial services risk; the risks associated with each of Tesco's and Booker's brand, reputation and trust; environmental risks; safety, technology, data security and data privacy risks; changes in consumer habits and preferences; legal or regulatory developments and changes; the outcome of any litigation; the impact of any acquisitions or similar transactions; competition and market risks; competitive product and pricing pressures; business continuity and crisis management; pensions risks; joint venture governance and partnerships; and failure to report accurate financial information in compliance with accounting standards and applicable legislation. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors. Neither Tesco nor Booker, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this Announcement will actually occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Each forward looking statement speaks only as of the date of this Announcement. None of Booker, the Booker Group, Tesco or the Tesco Group undertakes any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.