HELLENIC COMPANY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TELEMATIC APPLICATIONS (FORTHNET) S.A. ("FORTHNET" announces that its shareholders Novator Equities Ltd, Cycladic Catalyst Master Fund and Foundation for Research and Technology (together the "Selling Shareholders") notified FORTHNET of the successful completion of the accelerated book building process for the sale of existing FORTHNET shares held by them to international and domestic qualified investors (within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive (Directive 2003/71/EC) via a private placement outside the US, under the Reg S exemption (the "Placement"). 8.1m shares were placed at EUR10.20 per share, representing 21.0% of FORTHNET''s outstanding share capital. The final size of the Placement was significantly above the minimum thresholds initially set by each of the Selling Shareholders due to strong international and domestic demand.
It is expected that the shares placed will be transferred during the course of today and the relevant trade will be settled on Wednesday, 17 January, 2007.
Merrill Lynch International acted as Sole Bookrunner, with Alpha Finance as Co-Lead Manager for the Placement.
Merrill Lynch International is acting for the Selling Shareholders and no one else in connection with the Placement. Merrill Lynch will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this communication) as its client in relation to the Placement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Selling Shareholders for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for giving advice in relation to the placement or the contents of this communication or any transaction or arrangement referred to in this communication.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES. SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING DISTRIBUTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ONLY TO, AND IS DIRECTED AT (A) PERSONS WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS WHO FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(1) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE "ORDER") OR (B) HIGH NET WORTH ENTITIES, AND OTHER PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED, FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(1) OF THE ORDER (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS"). THE SECURITIES TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES ARE AVAILABLE ONLY TO, AND ANY INVITATION, OFFER OR AGREEMENT TO SUBSCRIBE, PURCHASE OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE SUCH SECURITIES WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLY TO OR WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH, RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY PERSON WHO IS NOT A RELEVANT PERSON SHOULD NOT ACT OR RELY ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR ANY OF ITS CONTENTS. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO.
ANY OFFER OF SECURITIES TO THE PUBLIC THAT MAY BE DEEMED TO BE MADE PURSUANT TO THIS COMMUNICATION IN ANY EEA MEMBER STATE THAT HAS IMPLEMENTED EU DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC (TOGETHER WITH ANY APPLICABLE IMPLEMENTING MEASURES IN ANY MEMBER STATE, THE "PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE") IS ADDRESSED SOLELY TO QUALIFIED INVESTORS (WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE) IN THAT MEMBER STATE.