DUBLIN, IRELAND, Dec. 15, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) --
WATERFORD WEDGWOOD PLC ("Waterford Wedgwood" or "the Company")
RIGHTS ISSUE UPDATE
Further to the approval of the resolutions at yesterday's extraordinary general meeting and the announcement this morning by Waterford Wedgwood U.K. plc of a firm intention to make an offer for the issued share capital of Royal Doulton plc not already owned by the Waterford Wedgwood Group, the Board of Waterford Wedgwood is pleased to advise that documentation in connection with the Rights Issue is expected to be posted to Stockholders today.
The expected timetable of principal events in connection with the Rights Issue is as follows:
Record Date for the Rights Issue 6.00 p.m. on 10 December,
2004
Despatch of Listing Particulars 15 December, 2004
(including Notice of the Second
Extraordinary General Meeting) and
the Provisional Allotment Letter
(to Qualifying Non-CREST
Stockholders only)
Ex-Rights date (i.e. being the 8.00 a.m. on 16 December,
date from which the Existing Stock 2004
Units will trade excluding the
entitlement to participate in the
Rights Issue)
Dealings in the Rights Issue Units 8.00 a.m. on 16 December,
commence, nil paid 2004
Nil Paid Rights and Fully Paid 8.00 a.m. on 16 December,
Rights enabled in CREST 2004*
Stock accounts in CREST credited 16 December, 2004
with Nil Paid Rights
Recommended latest time for 4.30 p.m. on 31 December,
requesting withdrawal of Nil Paid 2004
Rights from CREST (i.e. if Nil
Paid Rights are in CREST and
Stockholders wish to convert them
to certificated form)
Latest time for depositing 3.00 p.m. on 4 January, 2005
renounced Provisional Allotment
Letters, nil paid, in CREST or for
dematerialising Nil Paid
Rights into a CREST stock account
Latest time and date for splitting 3.00 p.m. on 5 January, 2005
Provisional Allotment Letters, nil
paid
Latest time and date for 11.00 a.m. on 7 January,
acceptance and payment in full 2005
Latest time and date for receipt 10.00 a.m. on 8 January,
of Forms of Proxy in connection 2005
with Second Extraordinary General
Meeting
Second Extraordinary General 10.00 a.m. on 10 January,
Meeting 2005
Recommended latest time for 4.30 p.m. on 24 January,
requesting withdrawal of Fully 2005
Paid Rights from CREST
Latest time for depositing 3.00 p.m. on 25 January,
renounced Provisional Allotment 2005
Letters, fully paid, in CREST or
for dematerialising Fully
Paid Rights into a CREST stock
account
Latest time and date for 3.00 p.m. on 26 January,
splitting, fully paid 2005
Latest time and date for 11.00 a.m. on 28 January,
registration of renunciation, 2005
fully paid
Expected date for crediting Rights 31 January, 2005
Issue Units to CREST stock
accounts
Expected date of despatch of on or before 7 February,
definitive stock certificates in 2005
respect of Rights Issue Units
*or as soon as practicable after Admission
Notes:
(1) All references to time in this announcement are to time in Dublin and London.
(2) The dates set out above may be adjusted by Waterford Wedgwood, in which event details of new dates will be notified, via a Regulatory Information Service, to the Irish Stock Exchange, the UK Listing Authority and the London Stock Exchange and, where appropriate, to Qualifying Stockholders.
(3) Terms defined in the Listing Particulars dated 15 December, 2004 shall have the same meaning in this announcement.
This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, an offer of, or the solicitation of any offer, to subscribe for or buy any of the Rights Issue Units to be issued or sold in connection with the Rights Issue. Offers should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Listing Particulars issued in connection with the Rights Issue and any supplements thereto. The Listing Particulars contain detailed information about the Rights Issue, Waterford Wedgwood and its management, as well as financial information.
The offer of the Rights Issue Units in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore potential investors should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act. This announcement and the information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution in or into the United Stats, Canada, Australia or Japan.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange