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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
G. WILLI-FOOD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
TENDER OFFER FOR GOLD FROST SHARES
YAVNE, ISRAEL - FEBRUARY 5, 2009 -- G. WILLI-FOOD INTERNATIONAL LTD. (NASDAQ:
WILC) (the "COMPANY" or "G. WILLI FOOD"), announces that it has today commenced
a tender offer to purchase from the holders of shares and/or depositary
interests of Gold Frost Ltd. ("GOLD FROST") all of the issued and outstanding
share capital of Gold Frost not already held by G. Willi Food for a price of 5
pence per share or per depositary interest in cash.
Gold Frost was admitted to the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange ("AIM")
on 9 March 2006. On 28 May 2008, following a resolution of the shareholders of
Gold Frost, the AIM admission was cancelled. As stated in the admission document
relating to the admission of Gold Frost to AIM, transactions in Gold Frost
shares and depositary interests are not subject to the provisions of the
Takeover Code and accordingly the protections provided to shareholders under the
Takeover Code are not available to holders of Gold Frost shares and depositary
interests.
The tender offer is subject to the condition that the number of shares and
depositary interests duly tendered constitute, upon expiration of the Offer
Period (as defined below) and together with the shares held by G. Willi Food at
such time, more than 95 per cent of the issued and outstanding share capital of
Gold Frost. G. Willi Food currently holds approximately 89.99 per cent of the
issued and outstanding share capital of Gold Frost. If the tender offer is
completed, G. Willi Food expects to pay an aggregate amount of approximately
(pound)264,593 for all the shares and depositary interests (including those not
tendered in the tender offer).
The tender offer will expire on March, 5th 2009, at 3:00 pm London time (the
"OFFER PERIOD"). If upon expiration of the Offer Period the number of Gold Frost
shares and depositary interests tendered pursuant to the tender offer, together
with the Gold Frost shares and depositary interests held by Willi Food, exceeds
95% of Gold Frost's issued and outstanding share capital, Willi Food will
purchase all of the issued and outstanding Gold Frost shares and depositary
interests currently not owned by it (including those not tendered in the tender
offer) at the tender offer price. If upon expiration of the Offer Period Willi
Food will hold 95 per cent or less of the issued and outstanding share capital
of Gold Frost, the offer will be null and void, and Willi Food will not purchase
any of the tendered Gold Frost shares or depositary interests.
COMPANY CONTACT:
G. Willi-Food International Ltd.
Ety Sabach, CFO
+972-8-932-1000
ety@willi-food.co.il
THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
RELATING TO FUTURE EVENTS OR OUR FUTURE PERFORMANCE, SUCH AS STATEMENTS
REGARDING TRENDS, DEMAND FOR OUR PRODUCTS AND EXPECTED REVENUES, OPERATING
RESULTS, AND EARNINGS. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN
RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE OUR ACTUAL RESULTS, LEVELS
OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY
FUTURE RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED IN THOSE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE RISKS AND OTHER FACTORS
INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: CHANGES AFFECTING CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES,
INCLUDING THE NIS/U.S. DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE, PAYMENT DEFAULT BY ANY OF OUR MAJOR
CLIENTS, THE LOSS OF ONE OF MORE OF OUR KEY PERSONNEL, CHANGES IN LAWS AND
REGULATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE RELATING TO THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY, AND
INABILITY TO MEET AND MAINTAIN REGULATORY QUALIFICATIONS AND APPROVALS FOR OUR
PRODUCTS, TERMINATION OF ARRANGEMENTS WITH OUR SUPPLIERS, IN PARTICULAR ARLA
FOODS, LOSS OF ONE OR MORE OF OUR PRINCIPAL CLIENTS, INCREASING LEVELS OF
COMPETITION IN ISRAEL AND OTHER MARKETS IN WHICH WE DO BUSINESS, CHANGES IN
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN ISRAEL, INCLUDING IN PARTICULAR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN
THE COMPANY'S CORE MARKETS, OUR INABILITY TO ACCURATELY PREDICT CONSUMPTION OF
OUR PRODUCTS AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIMS. WE CANNOT
GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS. THE
MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE ALSO INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
SUMMARIZED UNDER THE HEADING "RISK FACTORS" IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON
FORM 20-F FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE FACTORS ARE UPDATED FROM TIME TO TIME THROUGH THE
FILING OF REPORTS AND REGISTRATION STATEMENTS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION. WE DO NOT ASSUME ANY OBLIGATION TO UPDATE THE FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE.