Booker : Placing of Shares in Booker Group plc

NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL TO DO SO. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

PLACING OF 156,621,525 ORDINARY SHARES IN BOOKER GROUP PLC ("BOOKER" OR THE "COMPANY") BY METRO AG

3 September 2014

Metro has sold 156,621,525 ordinary shares indirectly held in the Company, being its entire shareholding in the Company, which represents approximately 9% of the Company's total issued ordinary share capital. 

Background to the Placing

On 30 May 2012 Booker announced the acquisition of Metro's UK cash and carry operations and the formation of a strategic partnership with Metro to facilitate competence sharing for mutual benefit.  As a consequence of this transaction Metro became a significant indirect shareholder in Booker.  These arrangements have worked very well for both Metro and Booker given the strong performance of the enlarged business. 

Metro and Booker will continue with their strategic partnership. 

CW, CEO of Booker, commented:

"The acquisition of Metro UK has been a very successful part of our proven strategy to 'broaden' the Booker business.  All of us at Booker thank Olaf Koch and his team at Metro for their support and cooperation over the last two years, and we look forward to further cooperation through the continuation of our strategic partnership."

Enquiries:

J.P. Morgan Cazenove                            +44 (0)20 7742 4000

Klaus Hessberger

Toby Radford

Barry Meyers

Luke Bordewich

Tulchan Communications                        +44 (0)20 7353 4200

(PR adviser to Booker)

Susanna Voyle

Will Smith

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Any forward looking statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date of this announcement and involves risks and uncertainties beyond Booker's control and actual future business, strategy, plans and/or results may differ materially from those expected or implied in these forward looking statements. Booker undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements except as required by applicable law.

This announcement is not an offer of securities or investments for sale nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities or investments in any jurisdiction. The distribution of this announcement and the information relating to the Placing in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and persons into whose possession this announcement or any other information referred to herein may come should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction.  Any failure to comply with any such restriction may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction.