04/05/2004
Announcement of exercise of over-allotment option
Dignity plc (the 'Company') announces that in connection with the initial public offering of the Company, Panmure Gordon, a division of Lazard & Co., Limited, has exercised, in its entirety, the over-allotment option over 9,782,609 ordinary shares in the Company, taking the total offering size to 74,999,999 ordinary shares. Gross proceeds received by the selling shareholders from the exercise of the over-allotment option are approximately £22.5 million.
For further information, please contact:
Dignity plc:
Peter Hindley, Chief Executive
Mike McCollum, Finance Director
Tel: 0121 354 1557
Buchanan Communications:
Richard Oldworth/Mark Edwards
Tel: 020 7466 5000
Lazard:
Andrew Godber
Tel: 020 7187 2000
Application has been made to the Financial Services Authority, in its capacity as the UK Listing Authority, for the shares which were subject of the over-allotment option or which were otherwise to be over-allotted to be admitted to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to the London Stock Exchange for such shares to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's market for such listed securities.
This announcement does not form part of any offer of securities, or constitute a solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for shares. Prices and values of, and income from, shares may go down as well as up. Past performance cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial advisor.
This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution in or into Australia, Canada, Japan or the United States. The Shares may not, directly or indirectly, be offered or sold within the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.
Shares in the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the 'Securities Act') as amended, or under the securities legislation of any state of the United States, and have not been and will not be offered or sold in the United States. The relevant clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained from the Securities Commission of any province or territory of Canada; no document in relation to the shares has been or will be, lodged with, or registered by, The Australian Securities and Investments Commission; and no registration statement has been, or will be, filed with the Japanese Ministry of Finance in relation to the Shares.
Lazard & Co., Limited (through its division Panmure Gordon) and Investec Bank (UK) Limited, each of which is regulated in the United Kingdom by The Financial Services Authority, are acting for Dignity plc and no-one else in connection with the initial public offering of the Company and will not be responsible to any person other than Dignity plc for providing the protections afforded to their clients or for advising any other person in relation to the initial public offering of the Company or any matter referred to in this document or other information contained herein.