
London Clubs International PLC
24 February 2006
London Clubs International plc
('London Clubs')
DISPOSAL OF LES AMBASSADEURS CLUB LIMITED
Following our announcement of 9 February, the Board of LCI announces it has
agreed to dispose of Les Ambassadeurs Club Limited ('Les A Limited') to Twinwood
Limited for a total consideration of £115 million in cash, to be adjusted by
reference to the net current assets of Les A Limited as at completion and the
recovery of gaming debts post completion. As part of the transaction, Twinwood
has provided a guarantee of £11.5m. Completion is expected on or before 31
March 2006.
Les A Limited owns Les Ambassadeurs, a premier casino in Mayfair, London serving
a specific niche at the very high end of the casino market.
The disposal is conditional upon, amongst other things, shareholder approval. A
Circular containing details of the transaction and a notice convening an
extraordinary general meeting of LCI will be sent to shareholders in due course.
The proceeds of the disposal will be used to reduce LCI's indebtedness and is
part of a strategy to reposition LCI to take advantage of deregulation of the UK
casino industry following the passing of the Gambling Act 2005.
As at 27 March 2005, Les A Limited had gross assets of £157.6m, net assets of
£150.0m and, in the year ended 27 March 2005, it contributed £5.6m to Group
profit before taxation. On 17 January 2006 a dividend of £58.0m was paid by Les
A Limited to its parent company London Clubs Management Limited, thus reducing
net assets. The employees working at Les Ambassadeurs, who are currently
employed by LCI's subsidiary London Clubs Management Limited, will be
transferred to Les A Limited as part of the transaction.
Commenting on the disposal, Michael Beckett, Chairman of LCI, said:
'The disposal of Les Ambassadeurs will allow the Group to develop its casino
estate and build out the new licences it has secured in London and the regions.
These casinos will benefit to a greater degree from the deregulation of the UK
casino industry. The disposal is also expected to reduce the volatility, and
thereby improve the quality, of the Group's earnings'.
24 February 2006
Enquiries:
London Clubs International plc
Bill Timmins, Chief Executive 020 7518 0000
Linda Lillis, Finance Director
NM Rothschild
Robert Leitao 020 7280 5000
Panmure
Andrew Godber 020 7459 3600
College Hill Associates
Matthew Smallwood 020 7457 2020
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