BRUSSELS, BELGIUM--(Marketwire - Oct 25, 2012) - Pursuant to the Belgian Law of May
2, 2007 relating to the publication of major shareholdings in listed
companies,
Delhaize Group (Euronext Brussels: DELB - NYSE: DEG), the Belgian
international
food retailer, has received a notification of the threshold of 10% being
crossed
by Silchester International Investors LLP which owns 10.05% of Delhaize
Group's
voting rights.
On October 22, 2012, Silchester International Investors LLP notified
Delhaize
Group that as of October 19, 2012 Silchester International Investors LLP
owned
10 242 561 Delhaize Group shares, representing 10.05% of its voting rights.
This is an increase of 5 115 879 shares compared to the previous
notification of
ownership of 5 126 682 shares received on July 1, 2011.
Silchester International Investors LLP is controlled by Silchester
Partners
Limited, which holds over 90% of its capital interests. Stephen C.
Butt,
Silchester's Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, and his family
control
approximately 50.5% of the shares of Silchester Partners Limited.
Silchester International Investors LLP acts as the fully
discretionary
investment manager for a number of funds, such as Silchester
International
Investors International Value Equity Taxable Trust, Silchester
International
Investors International Value Equity Group Trust, Silchester
International
Investors Tobacco Free International Value Equity Trust,
Silchester
International Investors International Value Equity Trust and The Cavella
Trust.
Silchester International Investors LLP has sole and exclusive proxy
voting
authority over the Delhaize Group voting rights that are the subject of
this
disclosure. The notification mentioned however that Silchester
International
Investors LLP does not act as custodian, and therefore the Delhaize Group
shares
are not held in its name.
» Delhaize Group
Delhaize Group is a Belgian international food retailer present in
eleven
countries on three continents. At the end of the second quarter of
2012,
Delhaize Group's sales network consisted of 3 365 stores. In 2011,
Delhaize
Group posted EUR 21.1 billion ($ 29.4 billion) in revenues and EUR 475
million ($
661 million) in net profit (Group share). At the end of June 2012,
Delhaize
Group employed approximately 158 000 people. Delhaize Group's stock is
listed on
NYSE Euronext Brussels (DELB) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEG).
This press release is available in English, French and Dutch. You can also
find
it on the website http://www.delhaizegroup.com. Questions can be
sent to
investor@delhaizegroup.com.
cautionary note regarding forward looking statements
Statements that are included or incorporated by reference in this press
release
and other written and oral statements made from time to time by Delhaize
Group
and its representatives, other than statements of historical fact, which
address
activities, events and developments that Delhaize Group expects or
anticipates
will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, expected
costs
savings under the New Game Plan, the closing, conversion and opening of
stores,
anticipated revenue and net profit growth, strategic options, future
strategies
and the anticipated benefits of these strategies, are
"forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws
that are
subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements
generally
can be identified as statements that include phrases such as
"guidance,"
"outlook," "projected," "believe," "target," "predict," "estimate,"
"forecast,"
"strategy," "may," "goal," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan,"
"foresee,"
"likely," "will," "should" or other similar words or phrases. Although
such
statements are based on current information, actual outcomes and
results may
differ materially from those projected depending upon a variety of
factors,
including, but not limited to, changes in the general economy or the
markets of
Delhaize Group, in strategy, in consumer spending, in inflation or
currency
exchange rates or in legislation or regulation; competitive factors;
adverse
determination with respect to claims; inability to timely develop,
remodel,
integrate, open, convert or close stores; and supply or quality control
problems
with vendors. Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results
to differ materially from those stated or implied by such
forward-looking
statements are described in Delhaize Group's most recent Annual Report on
Form
20-F and other filings made by Delhaize Group with the U.S.
Securities and
Exchange Commission, which risk factors are incorporated herein by
reference.
Delhaize Group disclaims any obligation to update developments of these
risk
factors or to announce publicly any revision to any of the
forward-looking
statements contained in this release, or to make corrections to reflect
future
events or developments.
Press release in pdf format:
http://hugin.info/133961/R/1651941/533069.pdf
This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of
Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Delhaize Group via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1651941]