Europolitan offer period extension

EUROPOLITAN OFFER PERIOD EXTENSION 10 March 2003 For Immediate Release - Not for release or distribution in the United States of America, Canada or Japan VODAFONE SHAREHOLDING IN EUROPOLITAN INCREASED TO 98.2% AND OFFER PERIOD EXTENDED Vodafone Group Plc ('Vodafone') today announces that it has further increased its shareholding in Europolitan Vodafone AB (publ) ('Europolitan') to approximately 98.2% as at 7 March 2003 on an undiluted basis. Vodafone's shareholding in Europolitan on 13 January 2003, the day Vodafone announced it was in discussions with the Board of Europolitan regarding a possible offer, was 74.6% on an undiluted basis. The increase in shareholding was effected through market purchases and the acquisition of shares tendered in Vodafone's recommended public offer for the outstanding shares it does not already own in Europolitan (the 'Offer'). Vodafone also announces that it is extending the acceptance period for the Offer to 21 March 2003 (from 7 March 2003) to provide shareholders in Europolitan who have not yet tendered their shares the opportunity to do so. The terms of and the procedures for accepting the Offer otherwise remain unchanged. As previously announced, Vodafone intends to implement compulsory acquisition procedures to acquire 100% of the shares in Europolitan following completion of the Offer. Furthermore, de-listing of Europolitan's shares from the Stockholm Exchange (Stockholmsbörsen) will be sought. An announcement of the outcome of the Offer will be made on or around 27 March 2003. For further information contact: Vodafone Group Plc Tim Brown, Group Corporate Affairs Director Melissa Stimpson, Director of Group Investor Relations Bobby Leach, Head of Group Financial Media Relations Darren Jones, Senior Investor Relations Manager Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310 Goldman Sachs International Simon Dingemans Tel: +44 (0) 20 7774 1000 Enskilda Securities Martin Brandt Tel: +46 (8) 52 22 95 00 Tavistock Communications Lulu Bridges/John West Tel: +44 (0) 20 7600 2288 The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States of America, Canada or Japan, and copies of this document and any future related materials are not being and may not be mailed or otherwise distributed or sent in or into the United States of America, Canada or Japan. The Offer is not being directed to persons whose participation in the offering requires that further Offer documents are issued or that registration or other measures are taken, other than those required under Swedish law. No document relating to the Offer may be distributed in or into any country where such distribution or offering requires any of the aforementioned measures to be taken or would be in conflict with any law or regulation of such a country. This announcement has been issued by Vodafone Group Plc and is the sole responsibility of Vodafone Group Plc and has been approved solely for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by Goldman Sachs International. - ENDS - ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/03/10/20030310BIT00180/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/03/10/20030310BIT00180/wkr0002.pdf