Renewal of Working Capital Syndicated Bank Facility
June 27 2008 - 7:45AM
PR Newswire (US)
LONDON, June 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Signet Group plc (LSE and
NYSE: SIG), the world's largest speciality retail jeweller, today
announced that it has entered into a $520 million unsecured
multi-currency five year revolving credit facility agreement. This
replaces an existing $390 million facility entered into in
September 2004 which was due to expire in September 2009 and will
be used for general corporate purposes. The terms of this agreement
are the same in all material respects as those of the facility
being replaced, other than an increase in loan margin pricing
reflecting the current credit market conditions. The replacement
facility was led by Barclays Capital, Fifth Third Bank, HSBC and
The Royal Bank of Scotland. The other participating banks are ABN
Amro and National City Bank. Walker Boyd, Group Finance Director,
commented: "In the current difficult credit market conditions, this
successful financing reflects our banks' valued support for Signet.
The enlarged facility will provide the Group with additional
flexibility in funding the growth of the business over the medium
term." Enquiries: Walker Boyd, Group Finance Director +44 (0) 20
7317 9700 Tim Jackson, Investor Relations Director +44 (0) 20 7317
9700 Signet operated 1,966 speciality retail jewellery stores at 3
May 2008; these included 1,407 stores in the US, where the Group
trades as "Kay Jewelers", "Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry" and under
a number of regional names. At that date Signet operated 559 stores
in the UK, where the Group trades as "H.Samuel", "Ernest Jones" and
"Leslie Davis". Further information on Signet is available at
http://www.signetgroupplc.com/. See also http://www.kay.com/,
http://www.jared.com/, http://www.hsamuel.co.uk/ and
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/. This release includes statements
which are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements,
based upon management's beliefs as well as on assumptions made by
and data currently available to management, appear in a number of
places throughout this release and include statements regarding,
among other things, our results of operation, financial condition,
liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which
the Group operates. Our use of the words "expects," "intends,"
"anticipates," "estimates," "may," "forecast," "objective," "plan"
or "target," and other similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are
not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to general
economic conditions, the merchandising, pricing and inventory
policies followed by the Group, the reputation of the Group, the
level of competition in the jewellery sector, the price and
availability of diamonds, gold and other precious metals,
seasonality of the Group's business and financial market risk. For
a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties which could
cause actual results to differ materially, see the "Risk and other
factors" section of Signet's Annual Report & Accounts for the
year ended 2 February 2008 furnished as an exhibit to its Report on
Form 6-K furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
on 1 May 2008 and other filings with and submissions to the SEC
made by Signet. Actual results may differ materially from those
anticipated in such forward-looking statements even if experience
or future changes make it clear that any projected results
expressed or implied therein may not be realised. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, other
than as required by applicable law, rule or regulation. DATASOURCE:
Signet Group plc CONTACT: Walker Boyd, Group Finance Director, or
Tim Jackson, Investor Relations Director, both of Signet Group plc,
+44 (0) 20 7317 9700 Web site: http://www.signetgroupplc.com/.
http://www.kay.com/ http://www.jared.com/ http://www.hsamuel.co.uk/
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/
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