LONDON, March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Signet Group plc , the world's largest speciality retail jeweller, today announced that the Group has entered into an agreement to issue $380 million long term fixed rate senior unsecured notes (the "Senior Notes"). The Group intends to use the net proceeds of the issue principally to replace its existing $251 million receivables securitisation (which is due to expire in November 2006) and for general corporate purposes.
The Senior Notes have three tranches as set out below:
Amount Interest rate Term Maturity
$100 million 5.95% 7 years 2013
$150 million 6.11% 10 years 2016
$130 million 6.26% 12 years 2018
Funding and Completion is expected on 23rd May 2006.
Enquiries: Walker Boyd, Group Finance Director +44(0)20 7317 9700
Tim Jackson, Investor Relations Director +44(0)20 7317 9700
This announcement is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy the securities of Signet Group plc (the "Company," and such securities, the "Securities") in the United States or in any other jurisdiction.
The Securities have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. No public offering of Securities of the Company is being made in the United States.
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area, which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each a Relevant Member State), no offer of the Securities to the public is being or will be made in that Relevant Member State other than to:
-- legal entities which are authorised or regulated to operate in the
financial markets or, if not so authorised or regulated, whose
corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities; or
-- any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least
250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet
of more than euro 43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover
of more than euro 50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or
consolidated accounts;
-- fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than "qualified
investors" as defined in the Prospectus Directive); or
-- in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the
Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer of the Securities to the public" in relation to any Securities in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Securities, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State, and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
This communication is directed only at (i) persons outside the United Kingdom, or (ii) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 or (iii) high net worth bodies corporate, unincorporated associations and partnerships and trustees of high value trusts as described in Article 49(2) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is only available to and will only be engaged in with such persons and persons within the United Kingdom who receive this communication (other than persons falling within (ii) and (iii) above) should not rely on or act upon this communication.
