On 13 February 2012, Vodafone Group Plc (“Vodafone”) announced that it was in the very early stages of evaluating the merits of a potential offer for Cable & Wireless Worldwide plc (the “Company”).
In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Takeover Code, Vodafone was required to, by a deadline of not later than 5.00 p.m. on 12 March 2012, either announce a firm intention to make an offer for the Company in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code or announce that it did not intend to make an offer.
In accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Takeover Code, at the request of the Company, the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers has consented to an extension of the relevant deadline for Vodafone to announce either such an offer or no intention to make an offer until 5.00 p.m. on 29 March. This is the same deadline as announced for Tata Communications Limited on 1 March 2012.
There can be no certainty that any offer will be made, nor as to the terms of any offer.
The Board will make any further announcement as may be required.
A copy of this announcement will be available at www.cw.com. The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.
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For enquiries please contact:
Institutional Investors:
Matt Hotson
Director Investor Relations and Group Communications
Cable&Wireless Worldwide
+44 (0)7822 873 039
Roy Teal
Investor Relations Manager
Cable&Wireless Worldwide
+44 (0)7822 820 762
Private Shareholders:
Paul Moore
Head of Company Secretariat
Cable&Wireless Worldwide
+44 (0)7794 999 815
Media:
Will Cameron
Head of Public Relations
Cable&Wireless Worldwide
+44 (0)7822 803 889
ABOUT CABLE&WIRELESS WORLDWIDE
Cable&Wireless Worldwide (LSE: CW) provides integrated communications and data hosting services to large enterprises and mid-market customers in both the public and private sectors.
With an unrivalled heritage and a globally significant network Cable&Wireless Worldwide can provide robust and resilient connectivity to over 150 countries.
To find out more, visit www.cw.com.
DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TAKEOVER CODE (THE “CODE”)
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any paper offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any paper offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any paper offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any paper offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a paper offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any paper offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any paper offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any paper offeror, save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a paper offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.
In relation to the interim dividend for the half-year ended 30 September 2010, the price of a new ordinary share under the scrip dividend alternative has been set at 62.60 pence. This is the average of the Company’s middle market closing price for the five consecutive dealing days commencing on the ex dividend date of 24 November 2010.
Shareholders wishing to elect to participate in the scrip dividend scheme may do so by completing a mandate form which can be downloaded from the Company’s website at www.cw.com/dividend-information or requested by telephoning the Company’s Registrar, Equiniti (UK Callers: 0871 384 2268*, overseas callers +44 (0)121 415 7173) and returning it to Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA. Shareholders who hold their shares in CREST and wish to elect to participate must do so by means of CREST procedures. All elections to participate in the scrip dividend scheme must be received by the Registrar by no later than 5:00 pm on 29 December 2010.
Please direct any enquiries to:
Equiniti
Tel: 0871 384 2268*
* Calls to this number are charged at 8p per minute plus network extras. Lines are open 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday.
| Name of contact | Paul Moore Head of Company Secretariat Cable & Wireless Worldwide plc |
| Telephone number of contact | +44 (0)20 8243 1822 |
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