THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPENDICES AND THE INFORMATION IN THEM, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION.
LEI: 5493002UNUYXLHOWF752
For immediate release
9 June 2020
LANCASHIRE HOLDINGS LIMITED
Proposed Placing of New Common Shares
Lancashire Holdings Limited (“Lancashire” or the “Company”) announces its intention to issue new equity, in order to take advantage of (re)insurance opportunities related to the increase in rates in the markets in which the Company’s underwriting platforms operate, through a non-pre-emptive placing (the “Placing”) of up to approximately 39.6 million new Common Shares (with a par value of US$0.50 per share in the capital of the Company) (the “Placing Shares”).
The Placing Shares will not exceed 19.5% of the Company’s existing issued share capital, which, based on the price of 726 pence per common share as at 4.00 p.m. on 9 June 2020, would raise gross proceeds of approximately £287 million (approximately US$365 million).
The Placing will be conducted through an accelerated bookbuilding process (the “Bookbuild”) which will be launched immediately following this announcement. The Placing is subject to the terms and conditions set out in Appendix 1 to this announcement (which form part of this announcement, such announcement and its Appendices together being this “Announcement”).
Background to and Reasons for the Placing
Lancashire intends to use the proceeds of the Placing to fund organic growth and take advantage of rate rises that the Company is currently seeing across the majority of its business lines. Lancashire expects these growth opportunities to be strongly aligned to Lancashire’s core areas of underwriting expertise and relationships.
Lancashire’s long-term strategy is to deploy more capital into a “hardening” market, in which pricing strengthens due to market capital constraints, and to lower the amount of capital it deploys in “softer” markets, where pricing is weaker due to an over-supply of risk capital. Lancashire matches its capital to the market opportunity, and has historically returned capital to investors when it has not been required to support attractive underwriting opportunities. This strategy has generated attractive returns across the economic cycle, having delivered an average RoE of 17.2% and an average combined ratio of 70.7% since the Group’s inception.
Improving (Re)insurance Pricing Environment
Prior to 2017, there had been protracted “softer” pricing conditions within the international (re)insurance markets due to relatively lower levels of catastrophe losses and strong capital supply. Since then, the market has faced three challenging years featuring a large number of catastrophe losses, following which the rating environment started to improve. At the beginning of 2020, the Group took the decision to retain most of its 2019 profits, by not paying a special dividend, in anticipation of continued improving market conditions, which were evidenced during the first quarter of this year. As the Company announced in its first quarter trading update, published on 30 April 2020, first quarter gross premiums written increased by 11.8% year on year to $242.8 million with a Renewal Price Index (“RPI”) of 108%.
Most significantly, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has generated (re)insurance market losses both in terms of the claims environment and the negative impact on the investment markets. In the face of these challenges there has been a retrenchment in (re)insurance market risk capital and capacity. This in turn has led recently to continued rate increases in many of the Group’s core insurance segments and accelerated rating dislocation in the catastrophe exposed reinsurance lines. For example, the Company has seen, to date, rate rises of 20%-30% for 1 June renewals in the Florida property catastrophe portfolio. Lancashire expects the momentum of rising rates to continue in this and other classes of business across its portfolio during the rest of this year and throughout 2021.
Whilst Lancashire remains strongly capitalised and has sufficient capital headroom to take some advantage of the current rate momentum, the rapid increase in rates and dislocation in reinsurance and retrocession markets that are currently being witnessed imply a return to a traditional “hard” market over the next six to 12 months. The Placing and resultant increase in capital will allow Lancashire to take full advantage of this market opportunity, if it develops in the way Lancashire considers likely.
Active Capital Management
Lancashire remains committed to a disciplined underwriting strategy and an active capital management approach in line with its long-term strategy. To date, the Company has returned in excess of $2.8 billion of capital to shareholders since inception, which amounts to 108.1% of comprehensive income. The compound annual return since inception has been 17.2%.
The Lancashire Board of Directors (the “Board”) believes that raising capital to respond rapidly and in size to take advantage of the current market opportunity offers the potential for superior returns compared to those seen in more recent years. The net proceeds of the Placing will therefore be deployed to enable Lancashire to take advantage of market opportunities in a number of areas, including natural catastrophe business where expected rate increases are likely to be more pronounced in the US, and new lines of business which Lancashire believes will now generate strong returns.
The Board also believes that there are opportunities to broaden the Group’s existing customer relationships and to attract new business. The Group anticipates being able to offer larger, better priced participations to existing clients and to develop new client relationships in what is likely to be a more dislocated market environment.
Lancashire’s efficient operating model with platforms based in Bermuda and the UK, including Lloyd’s, and access to third party capital via its Lancashire Capital Management platform, positions the Group advantageously to capture these market opportunities.
Update on Current Trading
Following the publication of its trading update for the first quarter of 2020 on 30 April 2020, Lancashire has continued to trade in line with, or better than, its expectations, noting the marked improvement in pricing as the second quarter progresses.
The COVID-19 pandemic is still an ongoing situation, making it exceptionally difficult to predict what the ultimate impact for the Group will be. As previously announced, Lancashire’s provisional loss estimate for COVID-19 is $35 million, net of reinsurance and reinstatement provision, based on claims notified and expected to be notified. Lancashire has not seen any trends in claims activity since 30 April 2020 that would indicate any material change to this estimate at this time. As noted in the Company’s recent trading statement, Lancashire does not write the following lines of business: travel insurance; trade credit; accident and health; Directors’ and Officers’ liability; medical malpractice; and long-term life. Lancashire has minimal exposure to mortgage business and is exposed to a small number of event cancellation contracts.
Since 31 March 2020, the unrealised investment losses in Lancashire’s investment portfolio have reversed and its total net investment return for the 2020 year to 29 May 2020 was 0.5%.
Lancashire’s final ordinary dividend for 2019 of $0.10 per Common Share, or $20.1 million, was approved by shareholders at its AGM on 29 April 2020 and was paid on 5 June 2020 to shareholders of record on 11 May 2020. Lancashire’s dividend policy takes into account both ordinary and special dividends, with annual ordinary interim and final dividends intentionally being low so that they can be paid in the majority of circumstances. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the Board currently expects to approve the annual ordinary interim dividend of $0.05 per Common Share at its planned July 2020 Board meeting.
Details of the Placing
The Company is seeking to issue Placing Shares representing, in aggregate, up to 19.5% of its existing issued share capital on a non-pre-emptive basis pursuant to the Placing. Therefore, the Board and senior management have consulted with the Company’s major shareholders ahead of the release of this Announcement. The Placing structure has been chosen as it minimises cost, time to completion and use of management time at an important and unprecedented time in the (re)insurance industry and the wider global economy.
The Board considers that the Placing is in the best interests of all the shareholders in the Company, as well as wider stakeholders in the Company. This conclusion has been endorsed by that consultation. A presentation has been made available on the Company’s website which contains further information relevant to the Placing.
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (“Morgan Stanley”) is acting as Sole Global co-ordinator in connection with the Placing (the “Sole Global Co-ordinator”) and Morgan Stanley and Citigroup Global Markets Limited (“Citigroup”) are each acting as joint bookrunners in connection with the Placing (Morgan Stanley and Citigroup together, the “Joint Bookrunners”). Morgan Stanley and Citigroup are also the Company’s Corporate Brokers.
The Company and the Joint Bookrunners have entered into a placing agreement dated 9 June 2020 in connection with the Placing (the “Placing Agreement”).
The Joint Bookrunners will commence the Bookbuild immediately following the release of this Announcement in respect of the Placing. The price at which the Placing Shares are to be placed (the “Placing Price”) will be determined at the close of the Bookbuild.
The book will open with immediate effect following this Announcement. The timing of the closing of the book, pricing and allocations are at the absolute discretion of the Company and the Sole Global Co-ordinator. Details of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuild.
The Placing Shares, when issued, will be fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with each other and with the existing Common Shares of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of issue.
Applications will be made (i) to the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) for admission of the Placing Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List of the FCA (the “Official List”); and (ii) to London Stock Exchange plc (the “London Stock Exchange”) for admission of the Placing Shares to trading on its Main Market for listed securities (together, “Admission”).
Settlement for the Placing Shares and Admission is expected to take place on or before 8.00 a.m. (London time) on 12 June 2020 (or such later date as may be agreed between the Company and the Sole Global Co-ordinator). The Placing is conditional upon, among other things, Admission becoming effective and the Placing Agreement not being terminated in accordance with its terms prior to Admission. Appendix 1 to this Announcement sets out further information relating to the terms and conditions of the Placing.
Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure
This Announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (“MAR”). Upon the publication of this Announcement, the inside information will be considered to be in the public domain for the purposes of MAR.
For the purposes of MAR and Article 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1055, this Announcement is being made on behalf of the Company by Christopher Head, Group Company Secretary.
For further information, please contact:
Lancashire Holdings Limited
Christopher Head +44 20 7264 4145
Group Company Secretary chris.head@lancashiregroup.com
Jelena Bjelanovic +44 20 7264 4066
Group Head of Investor Relations jelena.bjelanovic@lancashiregroup.com
Morgan Stanley (Sole Global Co-ordinator, Joint Bookrunner and Joint Corporate Broker)
Ben Grindley +44 20 7425 8000
Paul Miller
Marina Shchukina
Luka Kezic
Citigroup (Joint Bookrunner and Joint Corporate Broker)
Peter Brown +44 20 7986 4000
Nicolas Desombre
Paddy Evans
Robert Farrington
FTI
Consulting (Public Relations) +44 20 3727 1046
Edward Berry Edward.Berry@FTIConsulting.com
Tom Blackwell Tom.Blackwell@FTIConsulting.com
This Announcement 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 has been 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 the Joint Bookrunners or by any of their respective Affiliates or agents as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing. This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein are for information purposes only and are directed at and may only be communicated to (a) in the European Economic Area (“EEA”), persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/1129) (“Qualified Investors”); and (b) in the United Kingdom, Qualified Investors who are also (i) persons having 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 (the “Order”); (ii) high net worth bodies corporate, unincorporated associations and partnerships and trustees of high value trusts as described in Article 49(2) of the Order; or (iii) persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “Relevant Persons”).
Any investment or investment activity to which this Announcement relates is only available to, and will be engaged in only with, Relevant Persons. Persons distributing this Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. This Announcement is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy, subscribe for or otherwise acquire securities in any jurisdiction in which any such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of the securities laws of such jurisdictions. Persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
The distribution of this Announcement and the offering, placing and/or issue of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company, any of the Joint Bookrunners or any of their respective Affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees that would permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and each of the Joint Bookrunners to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND ALL OTHER AREAS SUBJECT TO ITS JURISDICTION AND ANY POLITICAL SUB-DIVISION THEREOF (COLLECTIVELY, THE “UNITED STATES”), AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, NOR IS IT INTENDED THAT IT WILL BE SO APPROVED.
Neither this Announcement nor any part of it constitutes or forms part of any offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for, any securities in the United States, Canada, Australia, the Republic of South Africa, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No public offering of the securities referred to herein is being made in any such jurisdiction.
This communication is not a public offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in, into or within the United States except pursuant to an 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 state or any other jurisdiction of the United States. The securities referred to herein may not be offered and sold within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein are for information purposes only and are directed at and may only be communicated to persons in Canada who are both “accredited investors” within the meaning of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions (or section 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), as applicable) and “permitted clients” within the meaning of National Instrument 31-103 – Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.
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 securities referred to herein have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such securities referred to herein 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 securities referred to herein may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the securities referred to herein offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the securities referred to herein 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, each of the Joint Bookrunners will only procure investors 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 securities referred to herein. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the securities referred to herein and determining appropriate distribution channels.
By participating in the Placing, each person who is invited to and who chooses to participate in the Placing (each a “Placee”) by making an oral and legally binding offer to acquire Placing Shares will be deemed (i) to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, (ii) to be participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on the terms and conditions contained in Appendix 1 to this Announcement, and (iii) to be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in Appendix 1 to this Announcement.
Certain statements contained in this Announcement constitute “forward-looking statements” with respect to the financial condition, performance, strategic initiatives, objectives, results of operations and business of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings (the “Group”). All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Announcement are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words “believes”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “projects”, “forecasts”, “guidance”, “intends”, “expects”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “may”, “can”, “likely”, “will”, “seeks”, “should”, or, in each case, their negative or comparable terminology and similar statements are of a future or forward-looking nature. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Group to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a description of some of these factors, see the Company’s annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2019 (the “Annual Report and Accounts”). In addition to those factors contained in the Annual Report and Accounts, any forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement may be affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Group’s clients, the securities in its investment portfolio and on global financial markets generally, as well as any governmental or regulatory changes or judicial interpretations, including policy coverage issues arising therefrom.
Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements in this Announcement may not occur. The forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement speak only as of the date of this Announcement. The Company, its directors and the Joint Bookrunners each expressly disclaim 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, the UK Listing Rules (the “Listing Rules”), MAR, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (the “DTRs”), the rules of the London Stock Exchange or the FCA.
Any indication in this Announcement of the price at which Common Shares have been bought or sold in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. No statement in this Announcement is intended as a profit forecast or 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, as appropriate, for the current or future years 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.
Any estimates relating to loss events (including, without limitation, the estimates contained in this Announcement in relation to COVID-19) involve the exercise of considerable judgement and reflect a combination of ground-up evaluations, information available to date from brokers and insureds, market intelligence, initial and/or tentative loss reports and other sources. Judgements in relation to loss arising from natural catastrophe and man-made events are influenced by complex factors. The Group cautions as to the preliminary nature of the information used to prepare such estimates as subsequently available information may contribute to an increase in these types of losses.
The Group’s reserves are estimated using actuarial and statistical projections based on the Group’s expectations at the time of the ultimate settlement and administration of claims based on facts and circumstances then known, predictions of future events, estimates of future trends in claims severity and other variable factors such as inflation and new concepts of liability. As additional information is developed, it is necessary to revise estimated potential claims and therefore the Group’s reserves. The inherent uncertainties of estimating claim reserves are exacerbated in respect of reinsurance by the significant periods of time that often elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss, the reporting of the loss to the primary insurer and, ultimately, to the reinsurer, and the primary insurer’s payment of that loss and subsequent indemnification by the reinsurer.
The RPI is an internal methodology that management uses to track trends in premium rates of a portfolio of insurance and reinsurance contracts. The RPI written in the respective segments is calculated on a per contract basis and reflects management’s assessment of relative changes in price, terms, conditions and limits and is weighted by premium volume. The calculation involves a degree of judgement in relation to comparability of contracts and the assessment noted above. To enhance the RPI methodology, management may revise the methodology and assumptions underlying the RPI, so the trends in premium rates reflected in the RPI may not be comparable over time. Consideration is only given to renewals of a comparable nature so it does not reflect every contract in the portfolio of contracts. The future profitability of the portfolio of contracts within the RPI is dependent upon many factors besides the trends in premium rates.
Each of the Joint Bookrunners are authorised by the Prudential Regulatory Authority (the “PRA”) and regulated in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the FCA. Each of the Joint Bookrunners are acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing, the content of this Announcement and other matters described in this Announcement. None of the Joint Bookrunners will regard any other person as its client in relation to the Placing, the content of this Announcement and other matters described in this Announcement and will be responsible to anyone (including any Placees) other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice to any other person in relation to the Placing, the content of this Announcement or any other matters referred to in this Announcement.
In connection with the Placing, each of the Joint Bookrunners and any of their respective Affiliates, acting as investors for their own account, may take up a portion of the Placing Shares in the Placing as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to purchase or sell for their own accounts such Placing Shares and other securities of the Company or related investments in connection with the Placing or otherwise. Accordingly, references to Placing Shares being offered, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or acquisition, placing or dealing by, each of the Joint Bookrunners and any of their respective Affiliates acting in such capacity. In addition, each of the Joint Bookrunners and any of their respective Affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for differences) with investors in connection with which each of the Joint Bookrunners and any of their respective Affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of shares. Neither of the Joint Bookrunners intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.
Each of the Joint Bookrunners and their respective Affiliates may have engaged in transactions with, and provided various commercial banking, investment banking, financial advisory transactions and services in the ordinary course of their respective businesses to, the Company and/or its Affiliates for which they would have received customary fees and commissions. Each of the Joint Bookrunners and their respective Affiliates may provide such services to the Company and/or its Affiliates in the future.
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. Following Admission, a secondary listing of the Placing Shares will be sought on the Bermuda Stock Exchange. The Placing Shares to be issued or sold pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the London Stock Exchange and the Bermuda Stock Exchange.
Appendix 1
Terms and Conditions of the Placing for invited Placees only
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDICES) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (THIS “ANNOUNCEMENT”) IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHOSE ORDINARY ACTIVITIES INVOLVE THEM IN ACQUIRING, HOLDING, MANAGING AND DISPOSING OF INVESTMENTS (AS PRINCIPAL OR AGENT) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THEIR BUSINESS AND WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND ARE: (A) IF IN A MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (THE “EEA”), PERSONS WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS (“QUALIFIED INVESTORS”), BEING PERSONS FALLING WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(E) OF PROSPECTUS REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 (THE “PROSPECTUS REGULATION”); OR (B) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS WHO ARE (I) PERSONS WHO FALL WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF “INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL” IN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE “ORDER”), OR (II) PERSONS WHO FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) (“HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC”) OF THE ORDER; OR (C) PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE BE LAWFULLY COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS REFERRED TO IN (A), (B) AND (C) ABOVE TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS “RELEVANT PERSONS”).
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY.
EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS, ACCOUNTING AND RELATED ASPECTS OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE PLACING SHARES.
THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF, OR WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF, ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR TRANSFERRED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR WITHIN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE 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 SHARES REFERRED TO IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER RESTRICTED TERRITORY OR ELSEWHERE.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS DIRECTED AT AND MAY ONLY BE COMMUNICATED TO PERSONS IN CANADA WHO ARE BOTH “ACCREDITED INVESTORS” WITHIN THE MEANING OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 45-106 – PROSPECTUS EXEMPTIONS (OR SECTION 73.3(1) OF THE SECURITIES ACT (ONTARIO), AS APPLICABLE) AND “PERMITTED CLIENTS” WITHIN THE MEANING OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 31-103 – REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, EXEMPTIONS AND ONGOING REGISTRANT OBLIGATIONS.
Unless otherwise stated, capitalised terms in this Appendix have the meanings ascribed to them in Appendix 2.
This Announcement is for information only and does not itself constitute or form part of an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities referred to herein in any jurisdiction including, without limitation, the United States, any other Restricted Territory (as defined below) or in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation is unlawful. No public offering of securities will be made in connection with the Placing in the United Kingdom, the United States, any other Restricted Territory or elsewhere.
This Announcement, and the information contained herein, is not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, to persons in the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or in any jurisdiction in which such release, publication or distribution is unlawful (each a “Restricted Territory”). The distribution of this Announcement and the Placing and/or the offer or sale of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company or by the Joint Bookrunners or any of their respective Affiliates, or any of its or their respective Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, agents or advisers which would permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons distributing any part of this Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. 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 such action. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and each of the Joint Bookrunners to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.
All offers of the Placing Shares 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 UK only in circumstances to which section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (“FSMA”) does not apply.
The Placing has not been approved and will not be approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any State securities commission or any other regulatory authority in the United States, or the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda or the Bermuda Monetary Authority 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 unlawful.
Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to in this Announcement may not be offered or sold in any Restricted Territory or to, or for the account or benefit of, a citizen or resident, or a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organised in or under the laws of a Restricted Territory.
This Announcement has been 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 any Joint Bookrunners or any of their respective Affiliates, or any of their or their respective Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, agents or advisers as to or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
The Joint Bookrunners are acting exclusively for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Placing and are not, and will not be, responsible to anyone (including the Placees) other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their clients nor for providing advice in relation to the Placing and/or any other matter referred to in this Announcement.
None of the Company or the Joint Bookrunners, or their respective Affiliates, or any of their or their respective Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, agents or advisers makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, to any Placees regarding any investment in the securities referred to in this Announcement under the laws applicable to such Placees. Each Placee should consult its own advisers as to the legal, tax, business, financial, accounting and related aspects of an investment in the Placing Shares.
By participating in the Placing, Placees (including individuals, funds or otherwise) by whom or on whose behalf a commitment to acquire Placing Shares has been given will (i) be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement, in its entirety; and (ii) be making such offer on the terms and conditions contained in this Appendix, including being deemed 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 and undertakings set out herein.
In particular each such Placee represents, warrants and acknowledges that:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PLACEES ONLY REGARDING THE PLACING
Defined terms used in this Appendix are set out in Appendix 2.
Bookbuild
Following this Announcement, the Joint Bookrunners will commence a bookbuilding process in respect of the Placing (the “Bookbuild”) to determine demand for participation in the Placing by Placees. No commissions will be paid to Placees or by Placees in respect of any Placing Shares. The book will open with immediate effect following the release of this Announcement. Members of the public are not entitled to participate in the Placing. This Appendix gives details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Placing.
Details of the Placing Agreement and of the Placing Shares
The Joint Bookrunners are acting as placing agents and joint bookrunners in connection with the Placing. The Joint Bookrunners have entered into an agreement with the Company (the “Placing Agreement”) under which, subject to the conditions set out therein, the Joint Bookrunners, as agents for and on behalf of the Company, will agree to use their respective reasonable endeavours to procure Placees for the Placing Shares at a price determined following completion of the Bookbuild and as set out in the Placing Agreement, and to the extent that, following the execution of the Terms of Placing (as defined below) (if executed) by all the parties to the Placing Agreement, any Placee defaults in paying the Placing Price in respect of any of the Placing Shares allocated to it, to subscribe in their agreed proportions for such Placing Shares at the Placing Price on the Closing Date.
The price per Common Share at which the Placing Shares are to be placed (the “Placing Price”) and the final number of Placing Shares will be decided at the close of the Bookbuild following the execution of the terms of placing by the Company and the Joint Bookrunners (the “Terms of Placing”). The timing of the closing of the book, pricing and allocations are at the discretion of the Company and the Sole Global Co-ordinator. Details of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuild.
The Placing Shares have been or will be duly authorised and will, when issued, be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Common Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid in respect of the Common Shares after the date of issue. The Placing Shares will be issued free of any encumbrances, liens or other security interests. Placees will receive Depositary Interests representing Placing Shares in CREST (as defined below). The Placing Shares will be allotted to the Depositary or its nominated custodian and, as soon as practical following Admission (as defined below), the Depositary shall issue Depositary Interests to the CREST account of Morgan Stanley (as settlement manager) to be held by Morgan Stanley as nominee for the relevant Placees, pending transfer of the legal title to those Depositary Interests to the relevant Placees.
The Placing will be effected by way of a placing of new Common Shares in the Company for non-cash consideration. Morgan Stanley will subscribe for ordinary shares and redeemable preference shares in Project Lincoln Funding Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, for an amount equal to the gross proceeds of the Placing. The Company will allot and issue the Placing Shares on a non-pre-emptive basis to Placees in consideration for the transfer to it of the ordinary shares and redeemable preference shares in Project Lincoln Funding Limited that will have been allotted and issued to Morgan Stanley.
Application for admission to trading
The Company will apply to the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) for admission of the Placing Shares to 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 to trading of the Placing Shares on its Main Market for listed securities (“Admission”). It is expected that Admission will become effective at 8.00 a.m. (London time) on 12 June 2020 (or such later date as may be agreed between the Company and the Sole Global Co-ordinator).
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 Joint Bookrunners’ obligations under the Placing Agreement are conditional on certain conditions, including:
If: (i) any of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement, including those described above, are not fulfilled or (where applicable) waived by the Sole Global Co-ordinator by the relevant time or date specified (or such later time or date as the Company and the Sole Global Co-ordinator may agree); or (ii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below, the Placing will lapse 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 it in respect thereof.
The Sole Global Co-ordinator may, at its discretion, extend the time for satisfaction of any condition or waive compliance by the Company with the whole or any part of any of the Company’s obligations in relation to the conditions in the Placing Agreement save that the above conditions relating, inter alia, to (i) the execution of the Terms of Placing, (ii) Admission taking place, (iii) the Company allotting and/or issuing, as applicable, the Placing Shares and (iv) the publication by the Company of the results of the Placing may not be waived. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees’ commitments as set out in this Announcement.
None of the Joint Bookrunners nor any of their respective Affiliates, nor any of its or their respective Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, agents or advisers shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision it may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision it 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 within the absolute discretion of the Joint Bookrunners.
By participating in the Bookbuild, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations hereunder terminate only in the circumstances described above and under “Termination of the Placing Agreement” below, and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee.
Termination of the Placing Agreement
The Sole Global Co-ordinator is entitled, at any time before Admission, to terminate the Placing Agreement in accordance with its terms in certain circumstances, including, inter alia, if: (i) there has been a breach by the Company of any of the warranties contained in the Placing Agreement; (ii) there has been a breach by the Company of any undertakings or covenants contained in the Placing Agreement which, in the opinion of the Sole Global Co-ordinator, acting in good faith, is material in the context of Admission or the Placing; (iii) in the opinion of the Sole Global Co-ordinator, acting in good faith, there has been a Material Adverse Change, whether or not such Material Adverse Change was foreseeable at the date of the Placing Agreement; (iv) the applications for Admission are withdrawn or refused by the FCA or the London Stock Exchange; (v) a statement published by the Company in relation to the Placing is or has become untrue or incorrect or misleading, or any matter has arisen which would, if the statements published by the Company in relation to the Placing were to be issued at that time, constitute an inaccuracy or omission therefrom, in each case which the Sole Global Co-ordinator, acting in good faith, considers to be material in the context of the Placing or Admission; or (vi) where any of the following events have occurred and the effect of which is such as to make it, in the opinion of the Sole Global Co-ordinator, acting in good faith, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the Placing, to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placing Shares, or may materially and adversely impact dealing in the Placing Shares following Admission: a material adverse change in international financial markets; any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, war, act of terrorism, declaration of emergency or martial law or other calamity or crisis or event or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial, economic, monetary or market conditions; a suspension or limitation to trading in any securities of the Company or to trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ National Market or the London Stock Exchange; a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance; a material adverse change in taxation; the imposition of exchange controls; or the declaration of a banking moratorium.
By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by the Sole Global Co-ordinator of any right of termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Company or the Sole Global Co-ordinator or for agreement between the Company and the Sole Global Co-ordinator (as the case may be) and that neither the Company nor the Sole Global Co-ordinator need make any reference to, or consultation with, Placees and that neither the Company nor the Sole Global Co-ordinator, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any of its or their respective Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, agents or advisers shall have any liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise.
No prospectus
No offering document, prospectus or admission document has been or will be prepared or submitted to be approved by the FCA (or any other authority) in relation to the Placing, and Placees’ commitments will be made solely on the basis of publicly available information taken together with the information contained in this Announcement, and any Exchange Information (as defined below) previously published by or on behalf of the Company simultaneously with or prior to the date of this Announcement and subject to the further terms set forth in the contract note (referred to in paragraph 5 above under “Participation in, and principal terms of, the Placing”) to be provided to individual prospective Placees.
Each Placee, by participating in the Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement and the publicly available information released by or on behalf of the Company is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms to the Joint Bookrunners and the Company that it has neither received nor relied on any other information, representation, warranty, or statement made by or on behalf of the Group (other than publicly available information) or the Joint Bookrunners or their respective Affiliates or any other person and none of the Joint Bookrunners or the Company, or any of their respective Affiliates or any other person will be liable for any Placee’s decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement which the Placees may have obtained or received (regardless of whether or not such information, representation, warranty or statement was given or made by or on behalf of any such persons). By participating in the Placing, each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Group in making an offer to participate in the Placing. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude or limit the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation by that person.
Lock-up
The Company has undertaken to the Joint Bookrunners that, between the date of the Placing Agreement and 90 calendar days after the Closing Date, it will not, without the prior written consent of the Sole Global Co-ordinator, enter into certain transactions involving or relating to the Common Shares, subject to certain customary carve-outs agreed between the Sole Global Co-ordinator and the Company.
By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by the Sole Global Co-ordinator of any power to grant consent to waive the undertaking by the Company of a transaction which would otherwise be subject to the lock-up under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Sole Global Co-ordinator and that it need not make any reference to, or consult with, Placees and that it shall have no liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise of the power to grant consent.
Registration and settlement
Settlement of transactions in the Depositary Interests representing the Placing Shares (ISIN: BMG5361W1047) following Admission will take place within the relevant system administered by Euroclear (“CREST”), using the delivery versus payment mechanism, subject to certain exceptions. Subject to certain exceptions, the Joint Bookrunners and the Company reserve the right to require settlement for, and delivery of, the Placing Shares to Placees by such other means that they deem necessary if delivery or settlement of Depositary Interests representing the Placing Shares is not practicable in CREST within the timetable set out in this Announcement or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in the Placee’s jurisdiction.
Following the close of the Bookbuild for the Placing, each Placee allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a contract note stating the number of Placing Shares to be allocated to it at the Placing Price, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee to the Joint Bookrunners and settlement instructions. Placees should settle against Morgan Stanley CREST Participant ID: 50703 Member Account ID: FIRM. It is expected that such contract note will be despatched on or around 10 June 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 either the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions that it has in place with the relevant Joint Bookrunner.
The Company will procure that the Depositary shall deliver the Depositary Interests representing the Placing Shares to a CREST account operated by Morgan Stanley as agent for the Company and Morgan Stanley will enter its delivery (DEL) instruction into the CREST system. Morgan Stanley will hold any Depositary Interests representing the Placing Shares delivered to this account as nominee for the Placees. The input to CREST by a Placee of a matching or acceptance instruction will then allow delivery of the relevant Depositary Interests representing the Placing Shares to that Placee against payment.
It is expected that settlement of the Depositary Interests representing the Placing Shares will be on 12 June 2020 on a T+2 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 agrees that, if it does not comply with these obligations, the Joint Bookrunners may subscribe for and retain such shares as principal or may sell any or all of the Placing Shares and/or Depositary Interests representing those Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee’s behalf and retain from the proceeds, for the Company’s account and benefit, 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 shall be required to bear any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or other stamp, securities, transfer, registration, execution, documentary or other similar impost, duty or tax (together with any interest or penalties) which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares and/or Depositary Interests representing the Placing Shares. The foregoing is without prejudice to any cause of action the Joint Bookrunners may have against a defaulting Placee. If Placing Shares and/or Depositary Interests representing the Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the contract note is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that organisation. Insofar as Placing Shares and/or Depositary Interests representing the 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 and/or Depositary Interests representing the Placing Shares should, subject to as provided below, be so registered free from any liability to UK stamp duty or UK stamp duty reserve tax. If there are any circumstances in which any other stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (and/or any interest, fines or penalties relating thereto) is payable in respect of the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of the Placing Shares and/or Depositary Interests representing 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 and/or Depositary Interests representing the Placing Shares), neither the Joint Bookrunners nor the Company shall be responsible for the payment thereof.
Representations and warranties
By participating in the Placing each 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 (in their capacity as joint bookrunners and as placing agents of the Company in respect of the Placing) and the Company, in each case as a fundamental term of its application for Placing Shares, the following:
Notice to Canadian Investors
General
The Joint Bookrunners may, but are under no obligation to, permit certain persons that are in Canada or subject to the securities laws of Canada to participate in the Placing. This Announcement, including this Appendix, is being delivered solely, and for the confidential use of only the Canadian Purchasers (as defined below) identified by a Joint Bookrunner to evaluate an investment in the Placing Shares. The information contained within this Announcement does not constitute an offer in Canada to any other person, or a general offer to the public, or a general solicitation from the public, to subscribe for or purchase the Placing Shares. The distribution of this Announcement and the offer and sale of Placing Shares in certain of the Canadian provinces may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes must inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions.
Any distribution made in Canada will be made in reliance upon an exemption from the prospectus requirement of applicable Canadian securities laws. Accordingly, Placees do not receive the benefits associated with a subscription for securities issued pursuant to a prospectus, including the review of offering materials by any securities regulatory authority. No securities commission or similar securities regulatory authority in Canada has reviewed or in any way passed upon this Announcement or the merits of the Placing Shares and any representation to the contrary is an offence under applicable Canadian securities laws.
Placing in Canada
The offering of Placing Shares in Canada or to a person subject to Canadian securities laws is being made only to “permitted clients” as defined in National Instrument 31-103 - Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations under the “accredited investor” exemption to the prospectus requirement as set out in Section 2.3 of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(2) of the Securities Act (Ontario), as applicable. A Placee that is in Canada or subject to Canadian securities laws will, upon a Placee’s participation being confirmed, be deemed to have represented and warranted to the Company and Joint Bookrunners that it is a “permitted client” and purchasing the Placing Shares from a Joint Bookrunner which is a dealer permitted to rely on the “international dealer exemption” contained in, and that such Placee has received the notice from such dealer referred to in, section 8.18 of National Instrument 31-103 – Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations (such a Placee, a “Canadian Purchaser”). A “permitted client” includes, among other things: (i) a person or company, other than an individual or an investment fund, that has net assets of at least Cdn. $25 million as shown on its most recently prepared financial statements; (ii) an individual who beneficially owns financial assets (being cash, securities, contracts of insurance, deposits, or evidence of a deposit) having an aggregate realizable value that, before taxes but net of any related liabilities, exceeds Cdn. $5 million; and (iii) a person or company acting on behalf of a managed account which is managed by that person or company, if it is registered or authorised to carry on business as an adviser or the equivalent under the securities legislation of any province or territory of Canada, or the securities legislation of any other country.
By purchasing the Placing Shares, the Canadian Purchaser acknowledges that its name, address, telephone number and other specified information, including the number of Placing Shares it has purchased, may be disclosed to Canadian securities regulatory authorities and become available to the public in accordance with the requirements of applicable laws. The Canadian Purchaser consents to the disclosure of that information.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this Announcement (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
The Canadian Purchaser acknowledges that, pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 - Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”), the Joint Bookrunners may not be required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with the offering of Placing Shares.
Resale Restrictions
The Placing Shares have not been nor will they be qualified for offer or sale to the public under applicable Canadian securities laws and, accordingly, the Placing Shares acquired by Canadian Purchasers may not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in any manner unless such sale, transfer or disposition complies with the resale restrictions of the applicable securities laws of the relevant Canadian jurisdiction.
Unless determined otherwise in compliance with applicable law, Canadian Purchasers acquiring Placing Shares must not trade the Placing Shares before the date that is four months and a day after the later of the distribution date of the Placing Shares and the date that the Company became a reporting issuer in any province or territory of Canada and the Placing Shares will be subject to the following legend restriction and a legend to the following effect will be placed on certificates, if any, representing the Placing Shares:
“UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST NOT TRADE THIS SECURITY BEFORE THE DATE THAT IS 4 MONTHS AND A DAY AFTER THE LATER OF (I) [INSERT DISTRIBUTION DATE], AND (II) THE DATE THAT THE ISSUER BECAME A REPORTING ISSUER IN ANY PROVINCE OR TERRITORY OF CANADA.”
The above constitutes written notice of the legend requirement set out in section 2.5 of National Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities (“NI 45-102”) pursuant to, and as required by, subsection 2.5(2)(3.1) of NI 45-102.
The Company is not presently, nor does it intend to become, a “reporting issuer”, as such term is defined under applicable Canadian securities laws, in any province or territory of Canada. Canadian Purchasers are advised that the Placing Shares will not be listed on any stock exchange in Canada and that no public market for the Placing Shares is expected to exist in Canada following the Placing. Canadian Purchasers are further advised that the Company is not required to file, and currently does not intend to file, a prospectus or similar document with any securities regulatory authority in Canada qualifying the resale of Placing Shares to the public in any province or territory of Canada. Accordingly, the applicable hold period for the Placing Shares may never expire, and if no further statutory exemption may be relied upon and if no discretionary order is obtained, this could result in a Canadian Purchaser having to hold the Placing Shares for an indefinite period of time.
The foregoing is a summary only of applicable Canadian resale restrictions and is subject to the express provisions of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All Canadian Purchasers should consult with their own Canadian legal advisors to determine the extent of the applicable hold period and the possibilities of utilizing any further statutory exemptions or the obtaining of a discretionary order.
General
The foregoing acknowledgements, agreements, undertakings, representations, warranties and confirmations are given for the benefit of the Company as well as each of the Joint Bookrunners (for their own benefit and, where relevant, the benefit of their respective Affiliates and any person acting on their behalf) and are irrevocable. Each Placee, and any person acting on behalf of a Placee, acknowledges that none of the Joint Bookrunners or Company owe any fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the Placing Agreement.
Please also note that the agreement to allot and issue Placing Shares to Placees (or the persons for whom Placees are contracting as nominee or agent) free of UK stamp duty and UK stamp duty reserve tax relates only to their allotment and issue to Placees, or such persons as they nominate as their agents or nominees, direct from the Company for the Placing Shares in question. None of the Company or the Joint Bookrunners will be responsible for any UK stamp duty or UK stamp duty reserve tax (including any interest and penalties relating thereto) arising in relation to the Placing Shares in any other circumstances.
Such agreement is subject to the representations, warranties and further terms above and also assumes, and is based on a warranty 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. Neither the Joint Bookrunners nor the Company are liable to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or any other similar duties or taxes (“transfer taxes”) that arise (i) if there are any such arrangements (or if any such arrangements arise subsequent to the acquisition by Placees of Placing Shares), or (ii) on a sale of Placing Shares, or (iii) for transfer taxes arising otherwise than under the laws of the United Kingdom. Each Placee to whom (or on behalf of whom, or in respect of the person for whom it is participating in the Placing as an agent or nominee) the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares has given rise to such transfer taxes undertakes to pay such transfer taxes forthwith, and agrees to indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold the Joint Bookrunners, the Company and their respective Affiliates harmless from any such transfer taxes, and all interest, fines or penalties in relation to such transfer taxes. Each Placee should, therefore, take its own advice as to whether any such transfer tax liability arises.
Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of each Placee acknowledges and agrees that any of the Joint Bookrunners 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 the Joint Bookrunners, any money held in an account with any of the Joint Bookrunners 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 Joint Bookrunners’ money in accordance with the client money rules and will be used by the Joint Bookrunners in the course of its own business; and the Placee will rank only as a general creditor of the Joint Bookrunners.
All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to amendment. The Joint Bookrunners shall notify the Placees and any person acting on behalf of the Placees of any changes.
Past performance is no guide to future performance and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
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.
Each Placee may be asked to disclose in writing or orally to the Joint Bookrunners:
Appendix 2
Definitions
The following definitions apply throughout this Announcement unless the context otherwise requires:
Admission | means the admission of the Placing Shares to the Official List becoming effective in accordance with the Listing Rules and the admission of the Placing Shares to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s main market becoming effective in accordance with the Admission and Disclosure Standards; |
Admission and Disclosure Standards | means the Admission and Disclosure Standards of the London Stock Exchange, as amended from time to time; |
Affiliate | has the meaning given in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act or Rule 405 under the Securities Act, as applicable and, in the case of the Company, includes its consolidated subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time; |
Announcement | means this announcement (including its Appendices); |
Bookbuild | means the bookbuilding process to be commenced by the Joint Bookrunners to use reasonable endeavours to procure Placees for the Placing Shares, as described in this Announcement and subject to the terms and conditions set out in this Announcement and the Placing Agreement; |
Canadian Purchaser | has the meaning given to it in Appendix 1 to this Announcement; |
Citigroup | means Citigroup Global Markets Limited; |
Closing Date | means the day on which the transactions effected in connection with the Placing will be settled pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Placing Agreement; |
Common Share | means a common share, with a par value of US$0.50, in the capital of the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Depositary Interests in respect of, and representing on a one-for-one basis, Common Shares, if applicable); |
Company | Lancashire Holdings Limited; |
CREST | means the relevant system (as defined in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 3755)) in respect of which Euroclear is the Operator (as defined in such Regulations) in accordance with which securities may be held and transferred in uncertificated form; |
Deed Poll | means the deed poll in respect of Depositary Interests dated December 2005 executed by the Depositary in favour of the holders and prospective holders of Depositary Interests; |
Depositary | means Link Market Services Trustees Limited of The Registry 34 Beckenham Road Beckenham Kent BR3 4TU United Kingdom; |
Depositary Interest | means a depositary interest held in dematerialised form through CREST representing one Common Share and issued by the Depositary (or its nominee) from time to time pursuant to the Deed Poll and “Depositary Interests” shall be construed accordingly; |
DTRs | means the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules made by the FCA pursuant to Part VI of FSMA, as amended from time to time; |
EEA | means the European Economic Area; |
Euroclear | means Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales; |
Exchange Information | means the business and financial information the Company is required to publish in accordance with MAR and the rules and practices of the London Stock Exchange and/or the FCA; |
FCA or Financial Conduct Authority | means the UK Financial Conduct Authority; |
FSMA | means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended, including any regulations made pursuant thereto; |
Group | means the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time; |
Information | means publicly available information relating to the Group or information made available (whether in written or oral form) relating to the Group; |
Investor Representation Letter | has the meaning given to it in Appendix 1 to this Announcement; |
Joint Bookrunners | means each of Morgan Stanley and Citigroup; |
LIBOR | means the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate, or any successor or replacement thereof; |
Listing Rules | means the listing rules made by the FCA under Part VI of FSMA, as amended from time to time; |
London Stock Exchange | means London Stock Exchange plc; |
MAR | means the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014; |
Material Adverse Change | means any material adverse effect or change in or affecting, or any development reasonably likely to give rise to or involve a material adverse change in or affecting, the condition (financial, operational, legal or otherwise) or the earnings, management, business affairs, solvency, credit rating or prospects, of the Company or the Group taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business; |
Morgan Stanley
(Sole Global Co-ordinator) |
means Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc; |
NI 33-105 | has the meaning given to it in Appendix 1 to this Announcement; |
NI 45-102 | has the meaning given to it in Appendix 1 to this Announcement; |
Official List | means the Official List maintained by the FCA in accordance with section 74(1) of FSMA for the purposes of Part VI of FSMA; |
Option Agreement | means the option agreement entered into between the Company, Morgan Stanley and Project Lincoln Funding Limited on or about the date hereof; |
Order | means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended; |
Placee | means any person procured by the Joint Bookrunners (acting as agents for and on behalf of the Company), on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, to subscribe for the Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing; |
Placing | has the meaning given in paragraph 1 of this Announcement; |
Placing Agreement | has the meaning given to it in Appendix 1 to this Announcement; |
Placing Price | means the price per Placing Share as may be agreed between the Sole Global Co-ordinator and the Company, and as shall be specified in the executed Terms of Placing; |
Placing Shares | has the meaning given in paragraph 1 of this Announcement; |
PRA or Prudential Regulation Authority | means the UK Prudential Regulation Authority; |
Prospectus Regulation | means the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129; |
QIB | means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A of the Securities Act; |
Qualified Investor | has the meaning given in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation; |
Regulation S | means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act; |
Regulations | means the Criminal Justice Act 1993, MAR and in connection with money laundering and terrorist financing under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (as amended), the Terrorism Act 2000, the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001, the Terrorism Act 2006, the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 and the Money Laundering Sourcebook of the FCA and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any government agency having jurisdiction in respect thereof; |
Regulatory Information Service | means a primary information provider that has been approved by the FCA to disseminate regulated information; |
Relevant Persons | means (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of “investment professionals” in Article 19(5) of the Order; (ii) high net worth bodies corporate, unincorporated associations and partnerships and trustees of high value trusts as described in Article 49(2) of the Order; or (iii) persons to whom this Announcement may otherwise lawfully be communicated; |
Restricted Territory | means the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any jurisdiction in which the release, publication or distribution of this Announcement is unlawful; |
Securities Act | means the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended; |
Subscription and Transfer Agreement | means the subscription and transfer agreement entered into between the Company, Morgan Stanley and Project Lincoln Funding Limited on or about the date hereof; |
subsidiary | has the meaning given to that term in the Companies Act 2006; |
subsidiary undertaking | has the meaning given to that term in the Companies Act 2006; |
Terms and Conditions | means the terms and conditions of the Placing set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement; |
Terms of Placing | has the meaning given to it in Appendix 1 to this Announcement; |
Transfer taxes | means stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or any other similar duties or taxes; |
uncertificated or in uncertificated form | means in respect of a share or other security, where that share or other security is recorded on the relevant register of the share or security concerned as being held in uncertificated form in CREST and title to which may be transferred by means of CREST; |
United Kingdom or UK | means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and |
United States or US | means the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America, the District of Columbia and all other areas subject to its jurisdiction and any political sub-division thereof. |
All references to “US$”, “$” or “dollars” are to the lawful currency of the United States of America and all references to “pounds” and “are to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom. |