Esprit's Public Free Float Further Increased 
 
    HONG KONG, May 8 -- Esprit Holdings Limited ("Esprit" or the 
"Company"; HKSE: 330) has been advised by Mr. Michael Ying, Chairman of 
Esprit, that he has signed a placing agreement with Merrill Lynch Far East 
Limited ("Merrill Lynch") as Sole Placing Agent pursuant to which Merrill 
Lynch shall place Esprit shares with institutional and professional investors 
(the "Placement").  The Placement is expected to be completed on Monday, May 
12, 2003, and upon completion will increase public free float, improve trading 
liquidity and widen the shareholder base of the Company. 
    The Placement involves the sale of 42.5 million shares (or approximately 
3.6% of the issued share capital of the Company) at HK$14.70 per share (or 
approximately 4.2% discount from the closing price of HK$15.35 per Esprit 
share on Wednesday, May 7, 2003).  The Placement will reduce Mr. Ying's 
ownership in Esprit from 42.0% to 38.4% and will increase the public free 
float from approximately 49% to approximately 53%. 
 
    Esprit Holdings Limited (www.espritholdings.com) is a constituent stock of 
the Hang Seng Index, MSCI Hong Kong Index, and FTSE All-World Index for Hong 
Kong. Its subsidiaries are engaged in the retail and wholesale distribution of 
quality lifestyle products under its globally recognized ESPRIT brand and of 
cosmetic products under its RED EARTH brand. The Group controls over  
300,000 square meters of retail space in more than 40 countries and ESPRIT 
products are sold in more than 80 countries worldwide. It operates 
approximately 540 directly managed retail outlets and has over  
2,500 franchised shops internationally.  
 
    Issued by Esprit Holdings Ltd. For further details or enquiry please 
contact Alice Ng. 
 
     Tel:     (852) 2765-4232 
     Fax:     (852) 2764-1723 
     Email:   alice_ng@esprit.com.hk 
 
    The information contained herein is not for publication or distribution in 
the United States.  These materials do not contain or constitute an offer of 
securities for sale in the United Sales or to any "U.S. Person" as defined in 
Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 
"Act").  The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be 
registered under the Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States 
absent registration under such Act or an available exemption from it. 
 
SOURCE  Esprit Holdings Limited  
    -0-                             05/08/2003 
    /CONTACT:  Alice Ng, Esprit Holdings Ltd., +852-2765-4232 / 
    

 
 
 
 
 
 







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