Apax Partners

Somerfield Plc completion of acquisition by Violet Acquisitions Limited

Further to the announcement on 20 December 2005, the Court Orders sanctioning the Scheme and confirming the Capital Reduction have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and, in respect of the Capital Reduction, been registered.  The Scheme has now become effective and the entire issued share capital of Somerfield is owned by Violet Acquisitions Limited.

Admission to trading of the Somerfield Shares on the London Stock Exchange’s market for listed securities and the listing of the Somerfield Shares on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority were cancelled at 8.00 a.m. today.

Somerfield Shareholders on the register at the Scheme Record Time, being 6.00 p.m. on 20 December 2005, will receive either 197 pence in cash for each Scheme Share or Loan Notes under the Loan Note Alternative in accordance with valid elections made by them. Any cash consideration due to holders of Somerfield Shares in uncertificated form will be paid via CREST, and any cheques in respect of any cash consideration due to holders of Somerfield Shares in certificated form will be despatched, by no later than 4 January 2006.  Certificates for the Loan Notes will be despatched to those Somerfield Shareholders that have validly elected for the Loan Note Alternative, by no later than 4 January 2006.

The directors of Somerfield accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement.  To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Somerfield directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

Terms used in this announcement have the same meanings as set out in Somerfield’s circular to shareholders dated 4 November 2005.
 
Enquiries:
Cardew Group (public relations adviser to Somerfield)  020 7930 0777
Anthony Cardew
Nadja Vetter
Sofia Rehman