26 October 2020
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EC NO. 596/2014) ("MAR").
NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
Neither this Announcement nor any part of it constitutes an offer or invitation to underwrite, an offer to sell or acquire or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or acquire any securities in any jurisdiction in which any such offer or solicitation would be unlawful and the information contained herein is not for publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, Japan, any member state of the EEA or any jurisdiction in which such publication or distribution would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (as amended), under the securities legislation of any state of the United States or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, Japan or any member state of the EEA.
LEI: 213800OTQ44T555I8S71
Augmentum Fintech plc
(the “Company” or “Augmentum Fintech”)
Proposed Placing of New Ordinary Shares
Further to the announcement made by the Company on 6 October 2020, the board of directors of Augmentum Fintech, the UK’s only publicly listed fintech investment company, (the "Board") is pleased to announce its intention to conduct a placing of new ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) (“Placing Shares”) to raise gross proceeds of up to approximately £28 million (the “Placing”) at a price of 120 pence per new Ordinary Share (the “Issue Price”).
In addition to the Placing, there will be an offer made by the Company on the PrimaryBid platform of Ordinary Shares (“Retail Shares”) at the Issue Price (the "Retail Offer" and together with the Placing Shares, the ”New Ordinary Shares”) to provide retail investors with an opportunity to participate in the equity fundraising alongside institutional investors. A separate announcement will be made shortly regarding the Retail Offer and its terms. For the avoidance of doubt, the Retail Offer is not part of the Placing.
Highlights
Commenting on today's announcement, Neil England, Chairman of Augmentum Fintech plc said:
“The trend towards a digital economy has accelerated as a result of the change in life and work routines over the past year. The fintech sector has been a beneficiary of this acceleration. Augmentum is unique as a fintech specialist with a closed end structure offering patient capital to companies as they scale-up. We are well positioned in the sector with strong access to dealflow and our near term pipeline continues to grow. We believe there are further opportunities for the Company to deliver attractive returns for its shareholders.”
Background to the Company
Augmentum Fintech invests in fast growing fintech businesses that are disrupting the financial services sector. Augmentum Fintech is the UK’s only publicly listed investment company focusing on the fintech sector in the UK and wider Europe, having launched on the main market for listed securities (the "Main Market") of London Stock Exchange plc (the "London Stock Exchange") in 2018, giving businesses access to patient capital and support, unrestricted by conventional fund timelines and giving public markets investors access to a largely privately held investment sector during its main period of growth.
The Company has today separately issued a trading update.
Reasons for the Fundraise and use of proceeds
The Board, as advised by its portfolio manager, Augmentum Fintech Management Limited (the "Portfolio Manager"), believes that there continue to be attractive opportunities for the Company to deliver returns for its shareholders through investment in a portfolio of fintech businesses in the UK and wider Europe and to generate capital growth over the long term for shareholders.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Fundraise to acquire investments in accordance with the Company's investment objective and investment policy, in particular including those investments that form part of the near-term qualified pipeline, which currently contains approximately £120 million of investment opportunities across all target sectors and geographies, and continues to grow.
Overview of the Fundraise
Pursuant to the Placing and Retail Offer, the Company may issue up to 23,371,380 New Ordinary Shares to raise up to approximately £28 million (gross) or approximately £27.5 million (net of expenses) at the Issue Price of 120 pence per Ordinary Share. The Fundraise is not pre-emptive.
The Placing will commence immediately following this announcement and will be closed at 5.00 p.m. on 29 October 2020 but may be closed earlier or later at the discretion of the Joint Bookrunners. A separate announcement will be made shortly regarding the Retail Offer and its terms. For the avoidance of doubt, the Retail Offer is not part of the Placing.
The Placing Shares will, following their proposed admission to listing on the premium segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority (the "Official List") and to trading on the premium segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange ("Admission"), rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares and the Retail Shares.
The Issue Price is calculated by reference to the net asset value per Ordinary Share as at 31 March 2020 (audited) of 116.1 pence plus a premium.
The maximum number of Placing Shares that can be issued pursuant to the Placing is 23,371,380. This maximum number is governed by the maximum number of shares that can be issued by the Company pursuant to the authority to allot granted by the Company's shareholders at its general meeting held on 1 July 2019 to issue up to 150 million Ordinary Shares and/or C Shares in aggregate (such authority to expire on 31 December 2020 unless previously revoked or varied by the Company in general meeting) but limited by the maximum number of shares that the Company can issue without the need to publish a prospectus under applicable law and regulation. This number of Placing Shares represents approximately 20% of the Company’s current total issued share capital (excluding shares held in treasury). The maximum number of Placing Shares issued pursuant to the Placing will be reduced by the number of new Retail Shares issued under the Retail Offer, which is limited to 6,000,000 Retail Shares and is subject to scaling back in certain circumstances.
Each of Nplus1 and Peel Hunt has agreed to use its respective reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers (the “Placees”) pursuant to the Placing for the Placing Shares at the Issue Price on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the placing agreement which has been entered into between, inter alia, the Company and the Joint Bookrunners. The Placing is not being underwritten. In the event that commitments under the Placing exceed the maximum number of Placing Shares available, applications under the Placing will be scaled back at the absolute discretion of the Joint Bookrunners (but after consultation with the Company). The Placing is conditional upon, inter alia, Admission of the Placing Shares occurring not later than 8.00 a.m. on 3 November 2020 (or such later date and time as may be agreed between the Company and the Joint Bookrunners, not being longer than 13 November 2020).
The terms and conditions that apply to any subscription for Placing Shares procured pursuant to the Placing by Nplus1 and Peel Hunt are set out in the Appendix to this announcement.
Expected Timetable
2020 | |
Placing opens | 26 October |
Latest time and date for commitments under the Placing | 5.00 p.m. on 29 October |
Publication of results of the Placing | 30 October |
Admission and dealings in New Ordinary Shares commence | 8.00 a.m. on 3 November |
CREST accounts credited with uncertificated Placing Shares | 3 November |
Where applicable, definitive share certificates despatched by post in the week commencing | 9 November |
Any changes to the expected timetable set out above will be notified by the Company through a Regulatory Information Service. |
Applications will be made to the Financial Conduct Authority and the London Stock Exchange for all of the New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to listing on the premium listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the premium segment of the Main Market respectively. It is expected that Admission will become effective and dealings in the Placing Shares will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 3 November 2020.
For further information, please contact:
Augmentum
Tim Levene, Portfolio Manager Nigel Szembel, Investor Relations |
+44 (0)20 3961 5420 +44 (0)7802 362088 nigel@augmentum.vc |
Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker and Joint Bookrunner) Liz Yong, Luke Simpson, Tom Pocock (Investment Banking) Alex Howe, Chris Bunstead, Ed Welsby, Richard Harris (Sales) Sohail Akbar (ECM) |
+44 (0)20 7418 8900 |
Nplus1 Singer Capital Markets Limited
(Joint Broker and Joint Bookrunner) Harry Gooden, Robert Peel, James Moat (Investment Banking) Sam Greatrex, Alan Geeves, James Waterlow, Paul Glover (Sales) |
+44 (0)20 7496 3000 |
Frostrow
Victoria Hale, Company Secretary |
+44 (0)20 3170 8732 info@frostrow.com |
Notes to Editors
Augmentum Fintech invests in fast growing fintech businesses that are disrupting the financial services sector. Augmentum Fintech is the UK’s only publicly listed investment company focusing on the fintech sector in the UK and wider Europe, having launched on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in 2018, giving businesses access to patient capital and support, unrestricted by conventional fund timelines and giving public markets investors access to a largely privately held investment sector during its main period of growth.
This Announcement (as defined below) should be read in its entirety. In particular, you should read and understand the information provided in the "Important Notices" section of this Announcement.
IMPORTANT NOTICES
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (THE "APPENDIX")) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (TOGETHER, THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM ANY PART OF AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, SUBSCRIBE FOR OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE ANY SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (COLLECTIVELY, THE "UNITED STATES")), AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IS BEING MADE IN ANY SUCH JURISDICTION. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE RESTRICTIONS MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTIONS.
Terms used but not otherwise defined in this "Important Notices" section of this Announcement have the meaning attributed to them in the Announcement unless the context otherwise requires.
This Announcement is not for public release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which such release, publication or distribution would be unlawful.
The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly in the United States or to or for the account or benefit of, US Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S"), except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in the United States.
The Company is not and does not intend to become an "investment company" within the meaning of the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "US Investment Company Act"). Accordingly, the Company has not been, and will not be, registered under the US Investment Company Act and investors will not be entitled to the benefits of the US Investment Company Act.
No action has been taken by the Company, Nplus1 Singer Capital Markets Limited ("Nplus1") or Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt") or any of their respective affiliates, or any of its or their respective directors, officers, partners, employees, advisers or agents (collectively, "Representatives") that would permit an offer of the Ordinary Shares and/or the Placing Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other publicity material relating to such Ordinary Shares and/or Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons receiving this Announcement are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions contained in this Announcement. Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any action. Persons distributing any part of this Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so.
This Announcement is directed at and is only being distributed to: (a) persons in member states of the European Economic Area who are "qualified investors", as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/1129) (the "Prospectus Regulation") and to whom the Placing Shares may lawfully be marketed under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (Directive 2011/61/EU) or under the applicable implementing legislation (if any) of the relevant member state ("Qualified Investors"), (b) persons in the United Kingdom who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order") or are high net worth companies, unincorporated associations or partnerships or trustees of high value trusts as described in Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order and (ii) are Qualified Investors, or (c) otherwise, persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (each such person in (a), (b) and (c), a "Relevant Person"). No other person should act on or rely on this Announcement and persons distributing this Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. By accepting the terms of this Announcement, you represent and agree that you are a Relevant Person. This Announcement must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this Announcement or the Placing relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons.
No offering document or prospectus will be made available in any jurisdiction in connection with the matters contained or referred to in this Announcement or the Placing and no such prospectus is required (in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation) to be published.
Certain statements in this Announcement are forward-looking statements with respect to the Company's expectations, intentions and projections regarding its future performance, strategic initiatives, anticipated events or trends and other matters that are not historical facts and which are, by their nature, inherently predictive, speculative and involve risks and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about operating performance, strategic initiatives, objectives, market position, industry trends, general economic conditions, expected expenditures, expected cost savings and financial results, are forward?looking statements. Any statements contained in this Announcement that are not statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward?looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which may use words such as "aim", "anticipate", "believe", "could", "intend", "estimate", "expect", "may", "plan", "project" or words or terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. There are a number of factors including, but not limited to, commercial, operational, economic and financial factors, that could cause actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward?looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond the Company's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as changes in taxation or fiscal policy, future market conditions, currency fluctuations, the behaviour of other market participants, the actions of governments or governmental regulators, or other risk factors, such as changes in the political, social and regulatory framework in which the Company operates or in economic or technological trends or conditions, including inflation, recession and consumer confidence, on a global, regional or national basis. Given those risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Announcement. Each of the Company, Nplus1 and Peel Hunt expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required to do so by applicable law or regulation.
Nplus1 and Peel Hunt, each of which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, are acting exclusively for the Company and for no one else in connection with the Placing and will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this Announcement) as a client in relation to the Placing or any other matter referred to in this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients or for giving advice in relation to the Placing or any other matter referred to in this Announcement.
This Announcement is being issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by or on behalf of Nplus1 or Peel Hunt (apart from the responsibilities or liabilities that may be imposed by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA") or the regulatory regime established thereunder) or by their respective affiliates or any of their respective Representatives as to, or in relation to, the accuracy, adequacy, fairness or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or their respective advisers or any other statement made or purported to be made by or on behalf of Nplus1 or Peel Hunt or any of their respective affiliates or by any of their respective Representatives in connection with the Company, the Placing Shares, the Placing, the Fundraising or any other matter referred to in this Announcement and any responsibility and liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise therefor is expressly disclaimed. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Nplus1 or Peel Hunt or any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective Representatives as to the accuracy, fairness, verification, completeness or sufficiency of the information or opinions contained in this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or their respective advisers, and any liability therefor is expressly disclaimed.
This Announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning any investor's options with respect to the Placing or any other matter referred to in this Announcement. Recipients of this Announcement should conduct their own investigation, evaluation and analysis of the business, data and other information described in this Announcement. This Announcement does not identify or suggest, or purport to identify or suggest, the risks (direct or indirect) that may be associated with an investment in the Placing Shares and/or the Ordinary Shares. The price and value of securities can go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested upon the disposal of the shares. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The contents of this Announcement are not to be construed as legal, business, financial or tax advice. Each investor or prospective investor should consult his or her or its own legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser for legal, business, financial or tax advice.
Any indication in this Announcement of the price at which the Company's shares have been bought or sold in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. Persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser. No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or profit estimate for any period and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the Company for the current or future financial periods would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the Company.
All offers of the Placing Shares and/or any other shares to be offered under the Fundraising will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus. This Announcement is being distributed and communicated to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply.
The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange.
The Appendix to this Announcement sets out the terms and conditions of the Placing. By participating in the Placing, each Placee will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement (including the Appendix) in its entirety, to be participating in the Placing and making an offer to acquire and acquiring Placing Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Appendix to this Announcement and to be providing the representations, warranties, undertakings and acknowledgements contained in the Appendix to this Announcement.
Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing and no public offering of Placing Shares is being or will be made.
Neither the content of the Company's website (or any other website) nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this Announcement.
This Announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with applicable law and regulation in the United Kingdom and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.
Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any 'manufacturer' (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, Nplus1 and Peel Hunt will only procure investors through the Placing who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.
APPENDIX: TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVITED PLACEES (AS DEFINED BELOW) ONLY REGARDING THE PLACING
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING (AS DEFINED BELOW). THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (TOGETHER, THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT: (A) PERSONS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA") WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS (WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(E) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 (THE "PROSPECTUS REGULATION")) ("QUALIFIED INVESTORS"), (B) PERSONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WHO (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS WHO FALL WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF "INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS" IN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER"), OR ARE HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS OR PARTNERSHIPS OR TRUSTEES OF HIGH VALUE TRUSTS AS DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) OF THE ORDER AND (II) ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS, AND (C) OTHERWISE, PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE BE LAWFUL TO COMMUNICATE IT TO (EACH SUCH PERSON IN (A), (B) and (C), A "RELEVANT PERSON"). NO OTHER PERSON SHOULD ACT OR RELY ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX) AND PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. BY ACCEPTING THE TERMS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT YOU REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT YOU ARE A RELEVANT PERSON. THIS APPENDIX AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN RELATE IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX) DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY OR ACQUIRE SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED BELOW).
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (COLLECTIVELY, THE "UNITED STATES")), AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR REQUIRE A PROSPECTUS OR SIMILAR DOCUMENT TO BE FILED. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SAME WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
THE PLACING SHARES (AS DEFINED BELOW) HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR UNDER THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TAKEN UP, RESOLD, TRANSFERRED OR DELIVERED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY WITHIN, INTO OR IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY RELEVANT STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC OFFER OF THE PLACING SHARES IN THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED KINGDOM OR ELSEWHERE.
EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, BUSINESS, FINANCIAL, TAX AND RELATED ASPECTS OF ACQUIRING THE PLACING SHARES.
Terms used but not otherwise defined in this Appendix to the Announcement have the meaning attributed to them in the Announcement (including the "Important Notices" section of the Announcement) unless the context otherwise requires.
Persons who are invited to and who choose to participate in the placing (the "Placing") of the Placing Shares by making an oral or written offer to acquire Placing Shares (including any individuals, funds or others on whose behalf a commitment to acquire Placing Shares is given) ("Placees") will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety and to be making such offer on the terms and conditions, and to be providing (and shall only be permitted to participate in the Placing on the basis that they have provided) the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements, undertakings and agreements, contained in this Appendix. In particular, each such Placee represents, warrants, acknowledges and agrees to each of Augmentum Fintech plc (the "Company"), Nplus1 Singer Capital Markets Limited ("Nplus1") and Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt") that:
"AUGMENTUM FINTECH PLC (THE "COMPANY") HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE US INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED. IN ADDITION, THE SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES.";
The Placing Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or other regulatory authority in the United States, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of this Announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.
No representation is made by the Company, Nplus1 or Peel Hunt to any Placees regarding an investment in the Placing Shares.
Bookbuild
Nplus1 and Peel Hunt (together, the "Joint Bookrunners") will today commence the bookbuilding process in respect of the Placing (the "Bookbuild") to determine demand for participation in the Placing by Placees. This Appendix gives details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Placing. No commissions will be paid to Placees or by Placees in respect of any Placing Shares. Members of the public are not entitled to participate in the Placing.
The Joint Bookrunners and the Company shall be entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method to the Bookbuild as they may, in their absolute discretion, determine.
Details of the Placing Agreement and of the Placing Shares
The Company has today entered into an agreement (the "Placing Agreement") with Augmentum Fintech Management Limited (the "Portfolio Manager"), Frostrow Capital LLP (the "AIFM") and the Joint Bookrunners under which, subject to the conditions set out therein, each of the Joint Bookrunners has agreed, subject to the terms set out in such agreement, severally, and not jointly or jointly and severally, as agent for and on behalf of the Company, to use its reasonable endeavours to procure Placees for new ordinary shares of one penny each in the capital of the Company (the "Ordinary Shares") (the "Placing Shares") representing up to approximately 20% of the Company’s existing issued share capital at a price of 120 pence per Placing Share (the "Issue Price").
The Placing Shares will, when issued, be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid in respect of such Ordinary Shares after the date of issue of the Placing Shares.
Applications for listing and admission to trading
Applications will be made to the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") for admission of the Placing Shares to listing on the premium listing segment of the Official List of the FCA (the "Official List") and to London Stock Exchange plc (the "London Stock Exchange") for admission of the Placing Shares to trading on the premium segment of the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange (the "Main Market") (together, "Admission").
It is expected that Admission will become effective at or around 8.00 a.m. on 3 November 2020 and that dealings in the Placing Shares will commence at that time.
Participation in, and principal terms of, the Placing
Conditions of the Placing
The Placing is conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms. The obligations of the Joint Bookrunners under the Placing Agreement in respect of the Placing Shares are conditional on, inter alia:
The Joint Bookrunners have discretion to waive compliance with certain of the conditions and/or agree an extension in time for their satisfaction. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Announcement.
If (a) any of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement, including those described above, are not fulfilled (or, where permitted, waived or extended by the Joint Bookrunners) or become incapable of fulfilment on or before the date or time specified for the fulfilment thereof (or such later date and/or time as the Joint Bookrunners may agree); or (b) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below, the Placing will not proceed and the Placees' rights and obligations hereunder in relation to the Placing Shares shall cease and terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by the Placee in respect thereof.
Neither the Joint Bookrunners nor any of their respective affiliates nor any of their respective Representatives shall have any responsibility or liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision they may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or the date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision they may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in respect of the Placing generally, and by participating in the Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is in the absolute discretion of the Joint Bookrunners.
Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement
At any time before Admission, each of the Joint Bookrunners is entitled to terminate the Placing Agreement in the following circumstances, amongst others: (i) the Warranties not being true and accurate or having become misleading (or would not be true and accurate or would be misleading if they were repeated at any time before the date of Admission) by reference to the facts subsisting at the relevant time; (ii) there having been a breach by the Company, the AIFM or the Portfolio Manager of any of the terms of the Placing Agreement (other than the Warranties); (iii) in the opinion of such Joint Bookrunner following consultation with the Company and the Portfolio Manager, there has been a Material Adverse Change (as defined in the Placing Agreement); or (iv) the occurrence of a Force Majeure Event (as defined in the Placing Agreement) which would be likely in the good faith opinion of such Joint Bookrunner to prejudice the success of the Placing.
Upon such termination, the parties to the Placing Agreement shall be released and discharged (except for any liability arising before or in relation to such termination) from their respective obligations under or pursuant to the Placing Agreement, subject to certain exceptions.
By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by the Joint Bookrunners of any right of termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Joint Bookrunners, and that they do not need to make any reference to, consult with, or seek consent from, Placees and that the Joint Bookrunners shall have no liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise or failure so to exercise.
No prospectus
No offering document or prospectus has been or will be prepared or submitted to be approved by the FCA or submitted to the London Stock Exchange or in any other jurisdiction in relation to the Placing and no such prospectus is required (in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation) to be published. Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of their own assessment of the Company, the Placing and the Placing Shares based on information contained in this Announcement (including this Appendix) released by the Company today and any information publicly announced to a Regulatory Information Service by or on behalf of the Company on or prior to the date of this Announcement, and subject to the further terms set forth in the contract note or trade confirmation to be provided to individual prospective Placees. Each Placee, by accepting a participation in the Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement and all other publicly available information previously and simultaneously released by or on behalf of the Company is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and has not be independently verified by either of the Joint Bookrunners. Each Placee, by accepting a participation in the Placing, further confirms that it has neither received nor relied on any other information, representation, warranty or statement made by or on behalf of the Company, the Joint Bookrunners or any other person and neither the Joint Bookrunners nor the Company nor any of their respective affiliates nor any of their respective Representatives will be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement which the Placee may have obtained or received. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude or limit the liability of any person for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation by that person.
Registration and settlement
Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00BG12XV81) following Admission will take place within the CREST system, subject to certain exceptions. The Joint Bookrunners and the Company reserve the right to require settlement for and delivery of the Placing Shares (or a portion thereof) to Placees in certificated form or by such other means that they deem necessary if delivery or settlement is not possible or practicable within the CREST system or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in the Placee's jurisdiction.
Following the close of the Bookbuild, each Placee allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a contract note or trade confirmation stating the number of Placing Shares to be allocated to it at the Issue Price and settlement instructions. It is expected that any such contract note will be despatched on or around 30 October 2020 and that this will also be the trade date.
Each Placee agrees that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed in accordance with the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions that it has in place with the relevant Joint Bookrunner.
The Company will deliver the Placing Shares to a CREST account operated by the relevant Joint Bookrunner as agent for the Company and the relevant Joint Bookrunner will enter its delivery instruction into the CREST system. The input to CREST by a Placee of a matching or acceptance instruction will then allow delivery of the relevant Placing Shares to that Placee against payment.
It is expected that settlement will be on 3 November 2020 on a T+2 basis and on a delivery versus payment basis in accordance with the instructions given to the Joint Bookrunners.
Interest is chargeable daily on payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance with the arrangements set out above at the rate of two percentage points above LIBOR as determined by the Joint Bookrunners.
Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does not comply with these obligations, the Joint Bookrunners may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for the account and benefit of each of the Joint Bookrunners, an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. The relevant Placee will, however, remain liable for any shortfall below the aggregate amount owed by it and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes (together with any interest or penalties thereon) imposed in any jurisdiction which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf. By communicating a bid for Placing Shares, each Placee confers on each of the Joint Bookrunners all such authorities and powers necessary to carry out any such transaction and agrees to ratify and confirm all actions which the Joint Bookrunners lawfully takes on such Placee's behalf.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the contract note or trade confirmation is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that organisation.
Insofar as Placing Shares are registered in a Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the name of any person for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or that of a nominee for such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below, be so registered free from any liability to UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If there are any other circumstances in which any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes (and/or any interest, fines or penalties relating thereto) is payable in respect of the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of the Placing Shares (or for the avoidance of doubt if any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax is payable in connection with any subsequent transfer of or agreement to transfer Placing Shares), neither the Joint Bookrunners nor the Company shall be responsible for the payment thereof.
Placees will not be entitled to receive any fee or commission in connection with the Placing.
Representations and warranties
By submitting a bid and/or participating in the Placing, each prospective Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) irrevocably acknowledges, confirms, undertakes, represents, warrants and agrees (as the case may be) with the Joint Bookrunners and the Company, in each case as a fundamental term of its application for Placing Shares, that:
The agreement to allot and issue Placing Shares to Placees (or the persons for whom Placees are contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax relates only to their allotment and issue to Placees, or such persons as they nominate as their agents, direct from the Company for the Placing Shares in question. Such agreement is subject to the representations, warranties and further terms above and assumes, and is based on the warranty and representation from each Placee, that the Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to issue or transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance service. If there are any such arrangements, or the settlement relates to any other dealing in the Placing Shares, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes may be payable, for which neither the Company nor the Joint Bookrunners will be responsible and each Placee shall indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold harmless the Company, the Joint Bookrunners and their respective affiliates and their respective Representatives for any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other similar tax paid by them in respect of any such arrangements or dealings. If this is the case, each Placee should seek its own advice and notify the Joint Bookrunners accordingly.
Neither the Company nor either of the Joint Bookrunners is liable to bear any capital duty, stamp duty and all other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or other duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or penalties relating thereto) payable in or outside the United Kingdom by any Placee or any other person on a Placee's acquisition of any Placing Shares or the agreement by a Placee to acquire any Placing Shares. Each Placee agrees to indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold harmless the Company, the Joint Bookrunners and their respective affiliates and their respective Representatives from any and all interest, fines or penalties in relation to any such duties or taxes to the extent that such interest, fines or penalties arise from the unreasonable default or delay of that Placee or its agent.
Each Placee should seek its own advice as to whether any of the above tax liabilities arise and notify the Joint Bookrunners accordingly.
Each Placee, and any person acting on behalf of each Placee, acknowledges and agrees that the Joint Bookrunners and/or any of their respective affiliates may, at their absolute discretion, agree to become a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing Shares. Each Placee acknowledges and is aware that the Joint Bookrunners are receiving a fee in connection with their role in respect of the Placing as detailed in the Placing Agreement. When a Placee or person acting on behalf of the Placee is dealing with either of the Joint Bookrunners any money held in an account with the relevant Joint Bookrunner on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee will not be treated as client money within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the FCA made under FSMA. The Placee acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections conferred by the client money rules; as a consequence, this money will not be segregated from the relevant Joint Bookrunner's money in accordance with the client money rules and will be used by the relevant Joint Bookrunner in the course of its own business; and the Placee will rank only as a general creditor of the relevant Joint Bookrunner.
The rights and remedies of the Joint Bookrunners and the Company under these terms and conditions are in addition to any rights and remedies which would otherwise be available to each of them and the exercise or partial exercise of one will not prevent the exercise of others.
All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to amendment by the Joint Bookrunners (in their absolute discretion). The Joint Bookrunners shall notify the Placees and any persons acting on behalf of the Placees of any changes.
In the case of a joint agreement to subscribe for Placing Shares under a Placing, references to a "Placee" in these terms and conditions are to each of the Placees who are a party to that joint agreement and their liability is joint and several.
In this Announcement, "after-tax basis" means in relation to any payment made to the Company, the Joint Bookrunners or their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers and employees pursuant to this Announcement where the payment (or any part thereof) is chargeable to any tax, a basis such that the amount so payable shall be increased so as to ensure that after taking into account any tax chargeable (or which would be chargeable but for the availability of any relief unrelated to the loss, damage, cost, charge, expense or liability against which the indemnity is given on such amount (including on the increased amount)) there shall remain a sum equal to the amount that would otherwise have been so payable.