Exhibit 99.2
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN
15 March 2007
IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP PLC |
APPROACH TO ALTADIS S.A. |
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC confirms that it has made an approach to Altadis S.A. in relation to a possible combination of Imperial Tobacco Group and Altadis at a price of €45.0 per Altadis share in cash, recognising that, as previously announced by Altadis, a dividend of €0.5 per Altadis share is payable on 20 March. Discussions are at a very early stage and there can be no certainty that this approach will lead to an offer being made.
Enquiries:
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC | |
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Alex Parsons Group Media Relations | Telephone: +44 (0) 117 933 7241 |
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John Nelson-Smith Investor Relations | Telephone: +44 (0) 117 933 7032 |
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Citigroup (lead financial adviser to Imperial Tobacco Group PLC) | |
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Ian Carnegie-Brown Ian Hart Mark Todd | Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7986 4000 |
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Manuel Falco | Telephone:+34 91 538 4411 |
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Hoare Govett Limited (joint corporate broker to Imperial Tobacco Group PLC) | Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7678 8000 |
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Hugo Fisher | |
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Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited (financial adviser and joint corporate broker to Imperial Tobacco Group PLC) | Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7425 5000 |
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Paul Baker | |
Citigroup, Hoare Govett Limited and Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited which are authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, are acting exclusively for Imperial Tobacco Group PLC and no one else in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Imperial Tobacco Group PLC for providing the protections afforded to clients of Citigroup, Hoare Govett Limited and Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited nor for providing advice in relation to these matters, the content of this announcement or any matter referred to herein.
Copies of our announcements are available on our website: www.imperial-tobacco.com