Re Agreement

Whitbread PLC 11 March 2004 11 March 2004 WHITBREAD PLC Britannia Soft Drinks - Signing of Agreements The board of Whitbread welcomes the announcement today by InterContinental Hotels Group PLC ('IHG') that its soft drinks subsidiary, Britannia Soft Drinks Limited ('BSD'), has signed agreements with PepsiCo, Inc. ('PepsiCo') that secure new long-term Exclusive Bottling Agreements. BSD's existing shareholders have also signed an agreement with BSD and PepsiCo which creates an opportunity to undertake an initial public offering ('IPO') of BSD. Renewal of Exclusive Bottling Agreements BSD has successfully renewed its Exclusive Bottling Agreements with PepsiCo on broadly similar terms to those of the current agreement. This maintains BSD's exclusive rights in Great Britain to the Pepsi and 7UP brands. The agreement has a term of 15 years and will be automatically extended by a further 5 years on IPO. Opportunity for Initial Public Offering BSD's existing shareholders have agreed to exchange PepsiCo's 10% shareholding in Britvic Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of BSD, for a 5% share in BSD. The existing shareholders will reduce their holdings in BSD on a pro rata basis. The ownership of BSD is now as follows: InterContinental Hotels Group 47.50% Allied Domecq 23.75% Whitbread 23.75% PepsiCo 5.00% BSD's shareholders have also agreed subject, inter alia, to market conditions, to consider an initial public offering of BSD, between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2008. Whitbread equity accounts for its interest in BSD. David Thomas, Chief Executive, said: 'These new long-term exclusive bottling agreements strengthen the already successful relationship between BSD and PepsiCo's brands. The IPO and share sale agreements will provide the opportunity, should market conditions allow, for all shareholders to realise the value in the growing business they have developed.' -ends- Please contact: David Reed 020 7806 5436 Julie Weldon 020 7806 5443 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

Companies

Whitbread (WTB)
UK 100

Latest directors dealings