Atria owns 97.8 per cent of the shares and votes in Sardus
This stock exchange release may not be released, published or distributed in or
into the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan or other country where such a measure is
subject to registration or other measures other than those that applies under
Swedish legislation. The Offer is not directed towards any person in those
countries or persons in any other country whose participation requires an
additional prospectus, registration or other measures than those required by
Swedish law.
Atria owns 97.8 per cent of the shares and votes in Sardus
On 19 February 2007 Atria Group plc., through its indirectly wholly-owned
Swedish subsidiary, Atria Meat & Fast Food Aktiebolag (”Atria”), announced a
mandatory public cash offer (the ”Offer”) at 115 SEK per share to the
shareholders of Aktiebolaget Sardus (publ.) (”Sardus”). The Offer is
unconditional and has been recommended by the Board of Sardus.
The acceptance period for the Offer ended on 4 April 2007. A total of 1,724,940
shares, corresponding to 16.5 per cent of the shares and votes of Sardus on a
fully diluted basis, have been tendered in the Offer. In addition to the shares
acquired within the Offer process Atria has acquired the total of 8,209,800
shares from the market, corresponding to 78.5 per cent of the shares and votes
of Sardus on a fully diluted basis. All the shares have been acquired for 115
SEK per share. In addition thereto Atria has acquired 297,750 stock options in
Sardus, corresponding to 2.8 per cent of the shares and votes of Sardus on a
fully diluted basis. Atria has in total 9,934,740 shares and 297,750 stock
options in Sardus, which corresponds to 97.8 per cent of the shares and votes of
Sardus on a fully diluted basis.
In order to enable those shareholders of Sardus who have not accepted the Offer
yet to tender in their shares Atria has decided to extend the acceptance period
of the Offer until 13 April 2007 15.00 p.m. (Swedish time). Settlement of the
cash payment for shares that are tendered in during the extended acceptance
period will be effected approximately 19 April 2007.
Atria has decided to call for a compulsory redemption of the remaining shares in
Sardus in the near future as well as in connection therewith to seek delisting
of the share of Sardus from Stockholm Stock Exchange. Atria intends to acquire
additional shares of Sardus from the market.
Helsinki, 5 April 2007
Atria Group Plc.
The Board of Directors
Stockholm, 5 April 2007
Atria Meat & Fast Food Aktiebolag
The Board of Directors
For further information, please contact.
Matti Tikkakoski, CEO & President of Atria Group Plc
Phone: +358 50 2582
Christer Åberg, Managing Director Atria Sweden and Atria Meat & Fast Food
Aktiebolag
Phone: +46 703 90 61 00