foster’s extends takeover offer for southcorp 20 April...

foster’s extends takeover offer for southcorp 20 April 2005
Foster’s Extends Takeover Offer for Southcorp
Foster’s Group Limited (Foster’s) today announced that its offer for Southcorp Limited (Southcorp)
has been extended by two weeks and is now scheduled to close at 5:00pm Melbourne time on
Thursday 12 May 2005.
A shareholder letter and formal notice extending the offer period is attached.
Ends
Further information:
Media
Lisa Keenan
Director - External Communications
Tel: +61 3 9633 2265
Mob: 0409 150 771
Investors
Chris Knorr
Vice President - Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9633 2685
Mob: 0417 033 623
20 April 2005
Dear Southcorp shareholder,
FOSTER’S OFFER FOR SOUTHCORP EXTENDED
I am writing to inform you that Foster’s Group Limited (Foster’s) offer for Southcorp Limited
(Southcorp) has been extended so that the offer is now scheduled to close at 5:00pm Melbourne
time on Thursday 12 May 2005. Overleaf is a formal notice extending the offer period and
varying the terms of the offer accordingly.
Foster’s offer of $4.14 cash per share is an outstanding price for Southcorp shareholders and I urge
you to accept. To do so, simply follow the instructions set out on the acceptance form sent to you
with the Bidder’s Statement.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the offer enquiry line on 1800 101 769
from Australia or +61 3 9415 4242 from outside Australia, or visit the Foster’s website on
www.fostersgroup.com.
Yours sincerely
Frank Swan
Chairman, Foster’s Group Limited
009188 V_00EYHA
Notice of extension of the Offer Period
To: Southcorp Limited (Southcorp) and each person to whom an offer has been made (Offer) under
the bidder’s statement dated 18 January 2005 (Bidder’s Statement) by Beringer Blass Wines Pty
Ltd (BBW).
1 Extension of the Offer
BBW gives notice under sections 630(2) and 650D of the Corporations Act and ASX Listing Rule
3.2 that:
(a) it varies the Offer by extending the period during which the Offer will remain open by a
further 14 days so that the Offer will now close at 5pm (Melbourne time) on 12 May 2005;
(b) the new date for giving the notice of the status of the conditions of the Offer will be
4 May 2005;
(c) the following conditions of the Offer have either been fulfilled or waived as at the date of this
notice:
(i) ACCC - section 2.12(b) of the Bidder’s Statement;
(ii) Hart-Scott-Rodino (USA) - section 2.12(c) of the Bidder’s Statement;
(iii) Competition Act (Canada) - section 2.12(d) of the Bidder’s Statement;
(iv) Investment Canada Act - section 2.12(e) of the Bidder’s Statement; and
(v) European Commission Approval - section 2.12(f) of the Bidder’s Statement;
(d) BBW and its associates had a relevant interest in 18.8% of the ordinary shares of Southcorp
when the Offer was made; and
(e) BBW and its associates have a relevant interest in approximately 19.2% of the ordinary
shares of Southcorp.
2 Right of withdrawal
In accordance with section 650E of the Corporations Act, as this extension of the Offer results in a
total extension of the Offer by more than 1 month, those shareholders who have validly accepted
the Offer on or before the date of this notice may withdraw their acceptance by giving notice to
BBW within 1 month of the day after the day on which they receive a copy of this notice.
3 Previous variation
The Offer was previously varied by notices dated 7 March 2005, 23 March 2005 and 4 April 2005.
4 ASIC
A copy of this notice was lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
(ASIC) on 20 April 2005. ASIC takes no responsibility for the contents of this notice.
DATED: 20 April 2005
Signed for BBW by Mr Frank Swan and Mr Trevor O’Hoy, being directors of BBW who are authorised to
sign this notice pursuant to a resolution passed by the directors of BBW.
Frank Swan
Director
Trevor O’Hoy
Director