Offer for Preference Shares

ITV PLC 17 May 2004 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN 17 May 2004 ITV plc ('ITV') Offer for the Carlton Convertible Preference Shares The Board of ITV announces that ITV has today made a cash offer (the 'Offer') to acquire all of the existing issued 6.5p (net) cumulative convertible redeemable preference shares of 5p each in the capital of Carlton Communications Plc (the 'Carlton Convertible Preference Shares'). Holders of Carlton Convertible Preference Shares who validly accept the Offer will receive 102.5 pence for every Carlton Convertible Preference Share held. All accepting shareholders will receive the 1 July 2004 dividend of 3.25p (net) per Carlton Convertible Preference Share the record date for which is 28 May 2004. Background As part of the proposals made on 8 December 2003 in connection with the merger of Granada plc and Carlton Communications Plc to form ITV, ITV made an offer to all holders of Carlton Convertible Preference Shares ('Carlton Convertible Preference Shareholders') of 102 pence in cash per share (together with an amount equal to any accrued but unpaid dividend). The offer was structured as a scheme of arrangement under section 425 of the Companies Act and therefore required the approval of a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of those Carlton Convertible Preference Shareholders present and voting in person or by proxy at the meeting held on 13 January 2004. Although a significant proportion of Carlton Convertible Preference Shareholders did vote in favour of the offer, the required voting threshold was not met and therefore ultimately the offer did not proceed. Further details of the Offer In light of the foregoing, there is no acceptance threshold to be met before this new Offer can proceed. This means that all Carlton Convertible Preference Shareholders (including those who voted to accept the previous offer) have the opportunity to accept this new Offer. The terms of the Offer include a loan note alternative. The full terms and conditions of the Offer (including details of the loan note alternative and how the Offer may be accepted) are set out in an offer document (the 'Offer Document') which will be posted to Carlton Convertible Preference Shareholders today. The Offer will close at 3.00pm on Friday, 4 June 2004 which is after the 28 May 2004 record date for the payment of the 1 July 2004 dividend. For the avoidance of doubt, accepting shareholders will receive this dividend payment even if they return their forms of acceptance prior to 28 May 2004. Enquiries: Simon Rigby - Citigate Dewe Rogerson 020 7638 9571 Alex Brown The Offer has been made to all Carlton Convertible Preference Shareholders including those to whom the Offer Document may not be despatched. Copies of the Offer Document and accompanying forms of acceptance are available for collection from Capita IRG, Corporate Actions, PO Box 166, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TH. The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan and the Offer is not capable of acceptance from within the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. Neither the Offer Document nor the accompanying form of acceptance is being mailed or otherwise distributed or sent in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. This announcement is not being made or otherwise distributed or sent to, into or from the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. Persons reading this announcement (including nominees, trustees and custodians) must not distribute or send this announcement, the Offer Document or a form of acceptance (or any other related offering documentation) in, into or from the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan nor use United States, Canadian, Australian or Japanese mails for any purpose, directly or indirectly, in connection with the Offer and doing so may invalidate any purported acceptance of the Offer. The loan notes to be issued pursuant to the Offer have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) (the 'Securities Act') or under any relevant securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States or any relevant securities laws of Canada, Australia or Japan. Accordingly, unless an exemption is available under the Securities Act or other relevant securities laws, the loan notes may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. This announcement has been prepared by and is the sole responsibility of ITV, constitutes a financial promotion and has been approved solely for the purpose of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by UBS Limited, of 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP. UBS Limited is acting for ITV in relation to the Offer and is not acting for any other person in relation to the Offer. UBS Limited will not be responsible to anyone other than ITV for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any other matter referred to herein. This announcement does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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