Vodafone´s public offer for Europolitan

VODAFONE'S PUBLIC OFFER FOR EUROPOLITAN On 5 February 2003, Vodafone Group Plc ('Vodafone') announced a public offer for the outstanding shares which it does not already own (the 'Shares') in Europolitan Vodafone AB (publ) ('Europolitan') at a price of SEK47.00 in cash for every Share (the 'Offer'). - The prospectus detailing the Offer is made public today and shareholders will receive the prospectus on or around 17 February 2003. - The acceptance period is from 17 February 2003 until and including 7 March 2003. Vodafone reserves the right to extend the acceptance period. - The Offer is unconditional. - The Offer is recommended by the independent directors of the Board of Europolitan. - An announcement of the outcome of the Offer will be made on or around 14 March 2003. - Settlement will be made continuously and, in each case, within approximately three business days after SEB Emissioner has received a validly completed acceptance form. - No commission will be charged. Since the announcement of the Offer on 5 February 2003, Vodafone has increased its shareholding in Europolitan from approximately 74.6% to approximately 88.3% through market purchases. Upon completion of the Offer, and subject to reaching more than 90% of the shares and votes in Europolitan, Vodafone expects to implement compulsory acquisition procedures to acquire 100% of the shares in Europolitan. Furthermore, de- listing of Europolitan's shares from the Stockholm Exchange (Stockholmsbörsen) will be sought. Goldman Sachs International is acting for Vodafone Group Plc and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Vodafone Group Plc for providing the protections afforded to clients of Goldman Sachs International or for providing advice in relation to the Offer. Enskilda Securities is also acting on behalf of Vodafone Group Plc in relation to the completion of the Offer. 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 will not be 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 will furthermore not be 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/2003/02/14/20030214BIT00070/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/02/14/20030214BIT00070/wkr0002.pdf