3i receives proceeds of c.£85m from sale of shares in Basic-Fit

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THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN. NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOR ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL FORM THE BASIS OF, OR BE RELIED UPON IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY OFFER OR COMMITMENT WHATSOEVER IN ANY JURISDICTION.

3i Group plc (“3i”) announces that 3i, and funds managed by 3i, have sold 3.7 million shares in Basic-Fit N.V. ("Basic-Fit"), the European market leader in the value-for-money fitness market, at a price of €30.50 per share.

As part of this transaction, 3i has reduced its stake from 23.7% to 18.0% and received proceeds of approximately c.£85 million. Following the offering, 3i’s remaining stake is worth approximately £272 million. 

These proceeds take 3i’s cash return to date from its investment in Basic-Fit to 2.2x and, including remaining value, to 5.5x. Basic-Fit listed on the Euronext Amsterdam N.V. at €15.00 per share in June 2016. 

* Values translated at an exchange rate of €1.1176:£1 

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For further information, contact:

3i Group plc

Notes to editors:  

About 3i Group

3i is a leading international investment manager focused on mid-market private equity and infrastructure. Its core investment markets are northern Europe and North America. For further information, please visit: www.3i.com. 

Regulatory information 

This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc, advised by 3i Europe plc (Benelux).

Important Regulatory Notice

This announcement is not for publication, distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States of America

(including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia), Canada, South Africa, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction where such an announcement would be unlawful. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession this document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration thereunder or pursuant to an available exemption therefrom. Neither this document nor the information contained herein constitutes or forms part of an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States. There will be no public offer of any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from the issuer or the selling security holder and that will contain detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements.

In member states of the European Economic Area (“EEA”) which have implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), this announcement and any offer if made subsequently is directed exclusively at persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (“Qualified Investors”). For these purposes, the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC, as further amended and implemented. In the United Kingdom this announcement is directed exclusively at Qualified Investors (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order

2005, as amended (the “Order”) or (ii) who fall within Article 49(2)(A) to (D) of the Order, and (iii) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated; any other persons in the United Kingdom should not take any action on the basis of this announcement and should not act on or rely on it. 

This announcement is not an offer of securities or investments for sale nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities or investments in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. No action has been taken that would permit an offering of the securities or possession or distribution of this announcement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (the “Managers”) or by any of their affiliates or agents as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.

In connection with the offering of the shares of Basic-Fit N.V. (the “Shares”), the Managers and any of its affiliates acting as an investor for their own account may take up as a proprietary position any Shares and in that capacity may retain, purchase or sell for their own account such Shares. In addition the Managers or their affiliates may enter into financing arrangements and swaps with investors in connection with which the Managers (or its affiliates) may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of Shares. The Managers do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so.

The information contained in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy or completeness. This announcement does not purport to identify or suggest the risks (direct or indirect) which may be associated with an investment in the Shares. Any investment decision in connection with the Shares must be made solely on the basis of all publicly available information relating to the Shares (which has not been independently verified by the Managers).

The Managers are acting on behalf 3i and funds managed by 3i and no one else in connection with any offering of the Shares and will not be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to clients of the Managers nor for providing advice in relation to any offering of the Shares. 

This communication and any subsequent offer of securities may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons receiving this communication or any subsequent offer should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction and must not under any circumstances forward this communication to any other person. Failure to comply with such restrictions may violate securities laws of any such jurisdiction.