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MAS PLC - Notice to MAS plc shareholders in respect of the dividend for the seven months ended 28 February 2012

Release Date: 19/07/2012 10:00
Code(s): MSP
Wrap Text
MAS plc
Incorporated in the Isle of Man
Registration number 2893V

Registered as an external company in the Republic of South Africa Registration number 2010/000338/10 JSE share code: MSP ISIN: IM00B4LFGH00 ('MAS' or the 'Company')
NOTICE TO MAS PLC SHAREHOLDERS IN RESPECT OF THE DIVIDEND FOR THE SEVEN MONTHS ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2012
As announced on 25 April 2012, shareholders are advised that the board of the Company has declared a dividend of 1.60 euro cents per share in respect of the seven months ended 28 February 2012 ('the Dividend'). The dividend will be by way of a cash dividend ('the Cash Dividend') unless shareholders elect to receive new, no par value, ordinary shares in MAS plc ('New Shares') credited as fully paid in lieu of the Cash Dividend. Such New Shares will be issued at '1.02 per share and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing shares in the Company.
The rationale for the issue of New Shares in lieu of the Cash Dividend is to afford shareholders the opportunity to increase their shareholding in the Company and retain the Company's flexibility on cash resources.
In line with the Company's policy, the Dividend is funded out of distributable core income.
As at the date of this document, the Company had 42,154,015 ordinary, no par value shares in issue. Salient dates and times
The salient dates and times of the Dividend for shareholders on the European share register and shareholders on the South African share register are set out below.
2012 Announcement of euro to rand conversion rate (relevant to shareholders on South African register only) on Thursday, 26 July Last day to receive prescribed forms confirming withholding taxation exemption (only applicable to South African resident shareholders) Thursday, 2 August Last day to trade on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and JSE in order to be eligible for receipt of the dividend Thursday, 2 August Trading commences ex-dividend on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and JSE Friday, 3 August Record date for shareholders recorded on the European and South African share registers Friday, 10 August Closing date for receipt of completed dividend election forms by no later than 12:00 CET Friday, 10 August Share certificated and dividend cheques posted, CREST/CSDP/participant/broker accounts credited/updated, payment of the Cash Dividend and listing of New Shares on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and JSE Friday, 17 August Announcement on LuxSE website and SENS of the amount of New Shares issued on or around Friday, 17 August
Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between Friday, 3 August 2012 and Friday, 10 August 2012, both days included and transfers between the European and South African share registers may not take place during that period.
Dematerialised shareholders should not trade their share entitlements until the shares have been updated to their account with their CSDP or broker. Tax considerations
There is no withholding tax payable in the Isle of Man. South African resident shareholders
As the Company is not a South African registered company, it does not have any STC credits.
The Cash Dividend and the issue of New Shares may have tax implications for shareholders.
The receipt of New Shares by South African resident shareholders should not be classified as a dividend or a foreign dividend for South African tax purposes and accordingly South African dividends tax should not be levied on the New Shares. However, the legislation in this regard is complex and its implementation is currently uncertain. Accordingly, shareholders should seek independent professional tax advice. For those South African resident shareholders receiving the Cash Dividend, such amount will be regarded as a foreign dividend but may be subject to South African dividends tax at a rate of 15%, unless an exemption as set out in the South African Income Tax legislation applies.
A notice to MAS shareholders in respect of the Dividend together with accompanying election forms, have been posted to shareholders today, 19 July 2012. 19 July 2012 For further information please contact:
Helen Cullen, Company Secretary, MAS plc +44 1624 625000 Java Capital, JSE Sponsor +27 11 2830089 Charl Brand, M Partners, Luxembourg +352 263 868 602
Date: 19/07/2012 10:00:00 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE'). The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on, information disseminated through SENS.

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