Agreeement and equity issue
11 Marzo 2003 - 10:11AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:5880I
Hampton Trust PLC
11 March 2003
STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11 March 2003
HAMPTON TRUST PLC ("Hampton Trust" or the "Company")
Hampton Trust announces that it has entered into an agreement with Parkwell
House Limited ("Parkwell") regarding the release of guarantees over the ground
rent of certain of its properties. The consideration payable for the release of
the guarantees is approximately #680,095, which will be satisfied by the issue
of 13,601,890 ordinary shares of 5 pence each in the capital of the Company (the
"New Ordinary Shares"). As part of the same agreement, Parkwell has further
undertaken to procure the agreement of Almont Limited ("Almont") to the release
of guarantees over the ground rent of certain of its properties on or before 31
March 2003. The consideration for the release of these guarantees will be
satisfied by the issue by the Company of #1,045,000 5 per cent. unsecured loan
notes 2005 to Almont.
The New Ordinary Shares will be issued at a price of 5 pence each and will rank
pari passu with the existing issued ordinary shares of 5 pence each in the
capital of the Company. Parkwell has undertaken that it will not dispose of any
of the New Ordinary Shares for a period of 12 months following their issue and
for a subsequent further period of 6 months, it will only dispose of the New
Ordinary Shares through a firm of stockbrokers to be nominated by the Company.
Applications have been made to the UK Listing Authority and to the London Stock
Exchange for the admission of the New Ordinary Shares to the Official List and
to trading on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities. It is
expected that such admission will become effective and dealings will commence on
17 March 2003.
Graeme Jackson, Chairman and Chief Executive of Hampton Trust commented:
"We anticipate that these transactions will result in minimum annual savings to
the Company of approximately #190,000 in ground rent alone. Furthermore, by
securing the release from these guarantees, we will be free to dispose of our
leasehold interests in the properties without the risk of the freeholder
requiring us to purchase their interest at a punitive rate of twelve times the
initial guaranteed rent."
Enquiries:
Hampton Trust PLC 020 7499 4994
Graeme Jackson, Chairman and Chief Executive
David Diemer, Asset Management Director
Liz Hughes
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