Update relating to Shareholder Return

RNS Number : 4679H

Compass Group PLC

08 June 2017

 

LEI: 2138008M6MH9OZ6U2T68

COMPASS GROUP PLC

("the Company")

            UPDATE RELATING TO THE SHAREHOLDER RETURN BY WAY OF A SPECIAL DIVIDEND OF £1 BILLION AND SHARE CAPITAL CONSOLIDATION ("SHAREHOLDER RETURN")

Following the approval by Shareholders of all of the resolutions proposed at the General Meeting of the Company held on 7 June 2017 relating to its proposed Shareholder Return and Share Consolidation, the Share Consolidation is expected to occur on 26 June 2017 and the payment of the Special Dividend is expected to occur on 17 July 2017.

The Share Consolidation will consolidate every 26 Existing Ordinary Shares of 10 5/8 pence each into 25 New Ordinary Shares of 11 1/20 pence each.  The Share Consolidation remains conditional on the admission of the New Ordinary Shares of 11 1/20 pence each to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities becoming effective.  An application will be made to the UK Listing Authority for an amendment to the Official List and to the London Stock Exchange for an amendment to trading to reflect the Share Capital Consolidation.

The New Ordinary Shares are expected to be admitted to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to commence trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities by or as soon as practicable after 8.00 a.m. on 27 June 2017.

EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS
Expected date by which the dividend reinvestment plan will operate on the Existing Ordinary Shares by reference to the Interim Dividend payable on 19 June 2017	Monday 19 June 2017
Payment of Interim Dividend	Monday 19 June 2017
Latest time and date for dealings in Existing Ordinary Shares	4.30 p.m. on Monday 26 June 2017
Cancellation of trading in the Existing Ordinary Shares	4.30 p.m. on Monday 26 June 2017
Record Time for entitlement to the Special Dividend and for the Share Consolidation.  Share register of Existing Ordinary Shares closed and Existing Ordinary Shares disabled in CREST	6.00 p.m. on Monday 26 June 2017
Admission of New Ordinary Shares to the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities and commencement of dealings in New Ordinary Shares	By or as soon as practicable after 8.00 a.m. on Tuesday 27 June 2017
CREST accounts credited with New Ordinary Shares	By or as soon as practicable after 8.00 a.m. on Tuesday 27 June 2017
Special Dividend and fractional entitlement payments issued by cheque, BACS or by way of a CREST credit	Monday 17 July 2017
Despatch of share certificates in respect of New Ordinary Shares	Monday 17 July 2017
Expected date by which the dividend reinvestment plan will operate by reference to the Special Dividend	Monday 17 July 2017

Notes:

Capita Asset Services Shareholder Helpline

Shareholder Helpline

If you have any questions about the Shareholder Return or Share Capital Consolidation, please call the Shareholder Helpline on 0800 280 2545 (from inside the United Kingdom) or [phone] (if calling from outside of the United Kingdom) between 9.00 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday (except UK public holidays).  Calls to the Shareholder Helpline are free of charge from a BT landline.  Costs for calls from mobile telephones and other network providers may vary.  Calls to the Shareholder Helpline from outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rates.  Please note that calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.  For legal reasons, the Shareholder Helpline will be unable to give advice on the merits of the Shareholder Return or Share Capital Consolidation or to provide financial, investment, or tax advice.

All time references above are to London, United Kingdom ("UK") time.

These dates are given on the basis of the Board's current expectations and are subject to change.  If any of the above times and/or dates change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified to Shareholders by announcement through a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on www.compass-group.com.

Terms used in this announcement but which are not otherwise defined shall have the same meanings as set out in the circular published by the Company on 15 May 2017.

Enquiries to:

Mark J White, General Counsel and Company Secretary

Sandra Moura, Group Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs Director

Compass Group PLC               Tel. [phone]

Notes to Editors: Compass Group PLC is a world-leading food and support services company, which generated annual revenues of £19.6 billion in the year to 30 September 2016.  It operates in over 50 countries, employs over 500,000 people and serves over 5 billion meals every year.  The Company specialises in providing food and a range of support services across the core sectors of Business & Industry, Healthcare & Seniors, Education, Defence, Offshore & Remote, Sports & Leisure and Vending with an established brand portfolio.

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