Issue of B Shares
THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. When
considering what action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own
financial advice from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or
other independent financial adviser duly authorised under the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if
you reside elsewhere, another appropriately authorised financial advisor.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your Rolls-Royce Group plc
Ordinary Shares on or before October 13, 2006 please send this document to the
purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom
the sale or transfer was effected for transmission to the purchaser or
transferee.
Application will be made to the competent authority in the UK for the B Shares
to be admitted to the Official List and for admission to trading on the London
Stock Exchange. It is expected that Admission of the B Shares will become
effective on January 2, 2007.
Rolls-Royce Group plc
ISSUE OF B SHARES
SUMMARY OF TERMS OF THE ISSUE
To be valid, Redemption/Conversion Mandates, in respect of Certificated
Shareholders must be returned in the prescribed manner to Computershare
Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS13 8FA or by
hand (during normal business hours) to Computershare Investor Services PLC, 2nd
Floor, Vintners Place, 68 Upper Thames Street, London, EC4V 3BJ so as to be
received by no later than 5.00 p.m. on December 1, 2006.
If you have any queries in relation to this proposal or the completion of the
Redemption/Conversion Mandate or the manner in which elections for
uncertificated holders can be made, you may call Computershare Investor
Services PLC on 0870 703 0162 (or +44 870 703 0162 if calling from outside of
the UK) between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. on any Business Day. Computershare
Investor Services PLC will not provide advice on the merits of the proposals
set out in this document or give any financial or taxation advice or advise you
on what election you should make.
This document is issued in accordance with Section 1.2.2(4) of the Prospectus
Rules of the UK Listing Authority. A copy of the original circular issued in
relation to the B Shares on March 22, 2004 can be found in the Investors'
section on the Group's website www.rolls-royce.com or may be requested from the
Company during normal office hours.
TIMETABLE
Record Date for B Share Entitlements. October 13, 2006
CREST B Share Entitlements credited to CREST Accounts. October 27, 2006
Record Date for B Share Dividend (existing B Shares). November 24, 2006
Latest time and date for receipt by the Registrars of the completed December 1,
2006 (5pm)
Redemption/Conversion Mandates, B share certificates and CREST
USE elections.
Official Listing of B Shares on London Stock Exchange January 2, 2007
Crediting of CREST accounts with B Shares in respect of those January 2, 2007
January 2007 B Shares retained.
Payment of B share dividend on July 2006 issue and all B Shares January 2, 2007
issued and still in issue other than January 2007.
Conversion/ Redemption takes place. January 3, 2007
Official Listing of ordinary shares on London Stock Exchange January 3, 2007
following conversion.
Despatch of cheques/adjustment of CREST accounts/payment into January 3, 2007
bank accounts in respect of B Shares which have been redeemed.
Adjustment of CREST accounts for Ordinary Shares in respect of January 3, 2007
B Shares converted into uncertificated Ordinary Shares.
Despatch of share certificates for Ordinary Shares in respect of On or as soon
as possible after
B Shares converted into certificated Ordinary Shares and despatch January 3,
2007
of share certificates for B Shares in respect of the balance of
Shareholders who did not elect to redeem or convert all their
B Shares and who have not applied to have their B Shares in
uncertificated form.
KEY INFORMATION
B Shares Issued per Ordinary Shares held on the Record Date 36.7
Conversion Share Value ("CSV") 477p
PART 1: DETAILS OF B SHARES AND THE PROPOSED REDEMPTION AND CONVERSION OFFER
1. Allotment of B Shares and Admission
The sum of £200 million standing to the credit of the Company's merger reserve
is to be capitalised and applied in paying up the B Shares with a nominal value
of 0.1 pence each. On January 2, 2007 B Shares will be issued to Shareholders
who appear on the Company's register of members on the Record Date, October 13,
2006, on the basis of 36.7 B Shares for each Ordinary Share then held. As
fractions of B Shares cannot be issued, the total number of B Shares to be
issued to you will be rounded down to the nearest whole B Share. The last date
on which transfers of Ordinary Shares will be accepted for registration for
participation in this issue of B Shares is October 13, 2006.
These B Shares are referred to as the January 2007 B Shares. The total number
of January 2007 B Shares to be issued will be 65,094,719,939 which will bring
the total amount of the B Shares in issue to 77,711,189,659. None of the
January 2007 B Shares will be marketed or made available in whole or in part to
the public.
Application will be made for the January 2007 B Shares to be admitted to the
Official List and dealings are expected to commence on the London Stock
Exchange on January 2, 2007. The B Shares previously issued by the Company
(which have not been redeemed or converted), are listed on the Official List
and traded on the London Stock Exchange.
2. Features of B Shares
B Shares are non-cumulative redeemable convertible preference shares with a
nominal value of 0.1 pence (one tenth of a penny) each. The following is a
brief summary of the rights and restrictions of the B Shares, the full terms of
which are set out in the articles of association of the Company:
(a) Income
(i) Out of the profits available for distribution, the holders of the B Shares
shall be entitled, in priority to any payment of a dividend to the holders of
Ordinary Shares, to be paid a non-cumulative preferential dividend per B Share
at such rate on the nominal value thereof (exclusive of any associated tax
credit relating thereto or withholding tax deductible therefrom) as calculated
in accordance with sub-paragraph (ii) below, such dividend to be paid
half-yearly in arrears in respect of Calculation Periods (as defined below) on
January 2 and July 1 in each year or, if any such date is not a Business Day,
on the next day which is a Business Day (without any interest or payment in
respect of such delay) (each a ``Payment Date''). The first dividend on the
January 2007 B Shares will be paid on July 2, 2007 in respect of the dividend
Calculation Period commencing on January 1, 2007.
(ii) Each of the periods commencing on January 1 and ending on June 30 and
commencing on July 1 and ending on December 31 (as applicable) is called a
``Calculation Period''. The rate per annum of the B preferential dividend for
each Calculation Period shall be 75 per cent of LIBOR on the first Business Day
immediately preceding the first day of the relevant Calculation Period.
(iii) Payments of B preferential dividends in respect of the Calculation Period
commencing on January 1, 2007 shall be made to holders on the register of B
Shareholders on June 8, 2007.
Payments of B preferential dividends in respect of subsequent Calculation
Periods shall be made to holders on the register of B Shareholders on a date
selected by the directors being not less than 15 days nor more than 120 days
(or, in default of selection by the directors, the date falling 120 days) prior
to the relevant Payment Date. The aggregate dividend due to each B Shareholder
will be rounded down to the nearest penny.
(iv) The holders of the B Shares shall not be entitled to any further right of
participation in the profits of the Company.
(v) All B preferential dividends which are unclaimed for a period of 12 years
from the date when the dividend became due for payment shall be forfeited and
shall revert to the Company.
(b) Capital
The B Shares will not rank pari passu with the Ordinary Shares. On a return of
capital on a winding-up, the holders of the B Shares shall be entitled, in
priority to any payment to the holders of Ordinary Shares, to the repayment of
the nominal capital paid up or credited as paid up on the B Shares held by
them, together with a sum equal to the outstanding preferential dividend which
will have accrued but not been paid until the date of the return of capital.
The holders of the B Shares shall not be entitled to any further right of
participation in the profits or assets of the Company. If, on a return of
capital, the amounts available for payment are insufficient to cover in full
the amounts payable on the B Shares, the holders of such shares will share pro
rata in the distribution of assets (if any) in proportion to the full
preferential amounts to which they are entitled. The aggregate amount due to
each B Shareholder on the return of capital on a winding-up will be rounded
down to the nearest whole penny.
(c) Voting and general meetings
The B Shares will carry limited voting rights. The holders of B Shares shall
not be entitled in respect of their holdings of such shares to receive notice
of any general meeting of the Company or to attend, speak or vote at any such
general meeting except any general meeting at which a resolution to wind up the
Company is to be considered in which case the holders of the B Shares shall
have the right to attend the general meeting and shall be entitled to speak and
vote only on such resolution. Where the holders of B Shares are entitled to
vote at a general meeting of the Company upon any such resolution being
proposed at such general meeting, on a show of hands every holder of B Shares
who (being an individual) is present in person or ,being a corporation, is
present by representative will have one vote and on a poll every B Shareholder
present in person or, being a corporation, is present by, representative or by
proxy will have one vote for every 200 B Shares held by such holder.
(d) Redemption and Conversion Rights
The B Shares are redeemable for cash in accordance with the Redemption Offer or
Future Redemption Offer or can be converted into Ordinary Shares in accordance
with the Conversion Offer or Future Conversion Offer as set out below in
paragraphs 5 and 6 respectively.
(e) Transfers
The B Shares will be transferable by instrument of transfer in usual or common
form. The B Shares already issued and not redeemed or converted are
transferable in CREST if held in uncertificated form.
f. Class rights
The Company will be entitled from time to time to effect a reduction of its
capital other than the capital paid up on the B Shares and subject to the
provisions of the Companies Act) and to create, a lot and issue further shares,
whether ranking pari passu with, in priority to or deferred to the B Shares,
and such reduction of capital or creation, allotment or issue of any such
further shares (whether or not ranking in any respect in priority to the B
Shares and whether or not the same confer on the holders voting rights more
favourable than those conferred by the B Shares) shall be deemed not to involve
a variation of the rights attaching to the B Shares for any purpose.
3. Form in which B Shares will be issued and Shareholders to whom they will be
issued
(a) Holders of B Share Entitlements in Certificated form
All Shareholders holding Ordinary Shares on the Record Date will have their
names entered into the Company's B Share register on January 2, 2007, to
reflect their holding of the January 2007 B Shares. B Share Entitlements will
be issued in registered form to Certificated Shareholders. B Shares issued in
certificated form may be dematerialised and held through CREST.
Certificated Shareholders who have made an Evergreen Election to redeem or
convert B Shares will receive cash or Ordinary Shares (in accordance with their
election) as set out below in paragraphs 5 and 6 respectively and also
paragraph 9. Such shareholders will not receive B Share certificates.
Certificated Shareholders who wish to change or cancel their election should
contact the Registrar on 0870 703 0162 (or +44 870 703 0162 if calling from
outside the UK) between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. on a Business Day prior to the
Prescribed Time to request a form to effect such change or cancellation.
Unless they complete and return the Redemption/Conversion Mandate by the
Prescribed Time, those Certificated Shareholders who have not previously made
an Evergreen Election will be sent a B Share certificate on or within five
Business Days of January 3, 2007.
(b) Holders of B Share Entitlements in uncertificated form (i.e. in CREST)
Holders of B Share Entitlements in uncertificated form will be given a separate
option to redeem or convert those shares via a CREST notification. This CREST
notification will only apply to the January 2007 B Shares and not to the
B Shares in CREST on the Record Date (CREST Currently Held B Shares). Any
Shareholder who has CREST Currently Held B Shares will therefore have to send a
separate Unmatched Stock Event message if they wish to redeem or convert both
the January 2007 B Shares and any CREST Currently Held B Shares.
B Share Entitlements in uncertificated form should be redeemed or converted by
following the procedure set out below.
(i) The prescribed form of redemption or conversion is an Unmatched Stock Event
Instruction (USE instruction) which, on its settlement, will have the effect of
crediting a stock account of the Registrar, under the participant ID and member
account ID specified below, with the number of B Share Entitlements to be
redeemed or converted.
(ii) The USE instruction must be properly authenticated in accordance with
CRESTCo Limited's specifications and must contain, in addition to the other
information that is required for settlement in CREST, the following details:
1. the number of B Share Entitlements to be redeemed or converted;
2. the participant ID of the holder of the B Share Entitlements;
3. the member account ID of the holder of the B Share Entitlements from which
the B Share Entitlements are to be debited;
4. the participant ID of the Registrar, i.e. 3RA53;
5. the member account ID of the Registrar, i.e. to redeem = "REDEEM", and to
convert = "CONVERT";
6. the corporate action number (which will be allocated by CRESTCo Limited and
can be found by viewing the relevant corporate action details);
7. the corporate ISIN, i.e. GB00B1FW2X46;
8. the intended settlement date which must be on or before 3.00 p.m. on
December 1, 2006;
9. input with a standard USE delivery instruction of priority 80; and
10. contact name and telephone number in the shared note field.
In order for an uncertificated redemption or conversion to be valid, the USE
instruction must comply with the requirements as to authentication and contents
set out above.
CREST members and (where applicable) their CREST sponsors should note that the
latest time at which a USE instruction may settle is 3.00 p.m. GMT (the CREST
deadline for settlement).
Redemption proceeds or Ordinary Shares are expected to be credited to CREST
accounts on or within five Business Days of January 3, 2007.
(c) Holders of CREST Currently Held B Shares
Holders of CREST Currently Held B Shares will be given a separate option to
redeem or convert those shares via a CREST notification. This CREST
notification will only apply to the CREST Currently Held B Shares and not to
the January 2007 B Shares. Any Shareholder who has January 2007 B Shares will
therefore have to send a separate Unmatched Stock Event message if they wish to
redeem or convert both the January 2007 B Shares and any CREST Currently Held
B Shares.
CREST Currently Held B Shares should be redeemed or converted by following the
procedure set out below.
(i) The prescribed form of redemption or conversion is an Unmatched Stock Event
Instruction (USE instruction) which, on its settlement, will have the effect of
crediting a stock account of the Registrar, under the participant ID and member
account ID specified below, with the number of B Share Entitlements to be
redeemed or converted.
(ii) The USE instruction must be properly authenticated in accordance with
CRESTCo Limited's specifications and must contain, in addition to the other
information that is required for settlement in CREST, the following details:
1. the number of B Share Entitlements to be redeemed or converted;
2. the participant ID of the holder of the B Share Entitlements;
3. the member account ID of the holder of the B Share Entitlements from which
the B Share Entitlements are to be debited;
4. the participant ID of the Registrar, i.e. 3RA53;
5. the member account ID of the Registrar, i.e. to redeem = "REDEEM", and to
convert = "CONVERT";
6. the corporate action number (which will be allocated by CRESTCo Limited and
can be found by viewing the relevant corporate action details);
7. the corporate ISIN, i.e. GB0034223551;
8. the intended settlement date which must be on or before 3p.m. on December
1, 2006;
9. input with a standard USE delivery instruction of priority 80; and
10. contact name and telephone number in the shared note field.
In order for an uncertificated redemption or conversion to be valid, the USE
instruction must comply with the requirements as to authentication and contents
set out above.
CREST members and (where applicable) their CREST sponsors should note that the
latest time at which a USE instruction may settle is 3.00 p.m. GMT (the CREST
deadline for settlement).
Redemption proceeds or Ordinary Shares are expected to be credited to CREST
accounts on or within five Business Days of January 3, 2007.
4. Holders of Existing B Shares
Certificated Shareholders who currently hold B Shares should note that their
election in the Redemption/Conversion Mandate applies to this issue of B Shares
and to any future issues of B Shares but not to their existing holding of
B Shares allotted before the Redemption/Conversion Mandate was in place.
5. Redemption Offer
The Company offers to redeem for cash all B Shares currently in issue and all
the January 2007 B Shares, in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph
5 and paragraph 9 below.
(a) Circumstances under which B Shares can be redeemed
During the Election Period or a Future Election Period, and in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the Redemption Offer or the relevant Future
Redemption Offer (as the case may be), holders of B Shares may elect to
exercise their Redemption Right. The Company expects to set Future Election
Periods twice a year and may at any other time, by notifying Members in any way
it deems appropriate, allow B Shareholders to elect to have their B Shares
redeemed at their 0.1 pence nominal value (subject to rounding in the manner
the Company deems appropriate) and on the terms and conditions announced by the
Company at those times (or to have their B Shares converted into Ordinary
Shares at the Conversion Share Value determined by the Company in accordance
with paragraph 6 below).
In addition, the Company may, at its discretion, redeem all unredeemed B Shares
remaining in issue in the following circumstances:
(i) at any time, if the aggregate number of B Shares in issue is less than 10%
of the aggregate number issued; or
(ii) at the Company's option, at any time, in the following circumstances:
(aa) a proposed capital restructuring of the Company by way of a creation and/
or issue of new or existing securities (other than B Shares); or
(bb) a new holding company being inserted above the Company; or
(cc) an acquisition of the Company; or
(dd) a demerger from the Group.
All B Shares which are redeemed will be cancelled and will not be reissued.
(b) Manner in which Members may redeem their B Shares
Certificated Shareholders who have made an Evergreen Election to redeem their B
Shares will have their January 2007 B Shares redeemed automatically and will
have cash sent to them in accordance with paragraph 9 below unless they change
or cancel their election in accordance with paragraph 3 above.
All other Certificated Shareholders (including those who have made an Evergreen
Election but change it in accordance with paragraph 3 above) may elect during
the Election Period to redeem the January 2007 B Shares and any B Shares that
may be issued in the future, for cash by completing the Redemption/Conversion
Mandate in the prescribed manner and ensuring that it is received by the
Registrar by the Prescribed Time (mandates received after this time will not be
processed except, in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the
Company).
CREST participants who wish to redeem will be required to send in an electronic
message through the CREST system for both the B Share Entitlements and CREST
Currently Held B Shares (as described above) during every Election Period and
will not be able to record an Evergreen Election.
Certificated Shareholders of B Shares may also elect to redeem for cash the
B Shares currently held by them in certificated form by completing the election
mandates printed on the reverse side of their existing B Share certificates and
ensuring that they are received by the Registrar by the Prescribed Time
(mandates received after this time will not be processed except, in exceptional
circumstances, at the discretion of the Company).
The Company reserves the right at its sole discretion to reject any Redemption/
Conversion Mandates or other election mandates if redemption pursuant to them
would be illegal.
6. Conversion offer
The Company offers to convert into Ordinary Shares all B Shares currently in
issue and all the January 2007 B Shares, in accordance with provisions of this
paragraph 6 and paragraph 9 below.
(a) Manner in which Members may convert their B Shares
Certificated Shareholders who have made an Evergreen Election to convert their
B Shares will have their January 2007 B Shares converted automatically into
Ordinary Shares and have certificates in respect of these Ordinary Shares sent
to them in accordance with paragraph 9 below, unless they change or cancel
their election prior to the Prescribed Time and in accordance with paragraph 3
above.
All other Certificated Shareholders (including those who have made an Evergreen
Election but change it in accordance with paragraph 3 above) may elect during
the Election Period to convert their January 2007 B Shares and any B Shares
that may be issued in the future, into Ordinary Shares by completing the
Redemption/Conversion Mandate and ensuring it is received by the Registrar by
the Prescribed Time (mandates received after this time will not be processed
except, in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the Company).
CREST Participants who wish to convert will be required to send in an
electronic message through the CREST system for both the B Share Entitlements
and CREST Currently Held B Shares (as described above) during every election
period and wil not be able to record an Evergreen Election.
Certificated Holders of B Shares may also elect to convert into Ordinary Shares
the B Shares currently held by them in certificated form by completing the
election mandate printed on the reverse side of their existing B Share
certificate and ensuring that they are received by the Registrar by the
Prescribed Time (mandates received after this time will not be processed
except, in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the Company).
The Company reserves the right at its sole discretion to reject any Redemption/
Conversion Mandates or other election mandates if conversion pursuant to them
would be illegal.
(b) Manner in which the conversion will be performed and calculated
During the Election Period or a Future Election Period, and in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the Conversion Offer or the relevant Future
Conversion Offer (as the case may be), holders of B Shares may elect to
exercise their Conversion Right.
Article 6A(e) of the Company's articles of association provides that holders of
B Shares exercising their Conversion Right, subject to the terms and conditions
of the Conversion Offer or any Future Conversion Offer (as the case may be),
will be entitled to the number of Ordinary Shares as are calculated by
reference to the following formula:
NO = (NB ÷ 10) ÷ CSV
where:
NO is the number of Ordinary Shares a holder of B Shares is entitled to on
conversion, on the basis that fractions are rounded down to the nearest whole
number;
NB is the number of B Shares which the holder of B Shares has elected to
convert; and
CSV is the Conversion Share Value in pence.
The Conversion Share Value in respect of this Election Period will be 477
pence.
The Company will, at its discretion, perform or procure the performance of the
conversions in any manner permitted in Article 6A(e) of the Company's articles
of association.
No Member shall be entitled to a fraction of an Ordinary Share on conversion of
B Shares; as a result all fractional entitlements (namely, the balance of the
B Shares held by any Shareholder which were insufficient to convert into
Ordinary Shares) shall be consolidated with those B Shares of other Members
which also constitute fractional entitlements, and the shares so resulting
shall be converted into Ordinary Shares as set out in Article 6A(e) of the
Company's articles of association. The Ordinary Shares resulting from the
consolidation of such fractional entitlements will then be sold and the net
proceeds of the sale will be held on account for the Members (the Proceeds) by
the Registrar in proportion to each Member's respective entitlements without
accruing any interest. Unless Members request the return of their proportion of
the Proceeds, they will be rolled over to be used (when sufficient and at such
time as the Board deems appropriate) to obtain Ordinary Shares for such Members
in the future. Should the Proceeds (net of expenses) due to any Member be £5.00
or less, the Company shall be entitled to retain such sums.
7. Number of B Shares that may be redeemed or converted and Evergreen Elections
The Redemption/Conversion Mandate allows an Evergreen Election to be made by
Members holding their Ordinary Shares and/or B Shares in certificated form
either to redeem for cash or convert into Ordinary Shares the January 2007
B Shares and all B Shares that may be issued by the Company in the future. In
addition, when sufficient funds (arising from the sale of fractional
entitlements) are available in a Shareholder's account and the Shareholder has
made an election to convert B Shares, those funds will also be converted into
Ordinary Shares.
Certificated Members who wish to redeem and/or convert only some of the
B Shares currently held by them and/or some of the January 2007 B Shares to be
issued to them, or who wish to redeem or convert either part of the B Shares
currently held by them and/or all or part of the January 2007 B Shares to be
issued to them only (not future issues of B Shares) should contact the
Registrar by calling 0870 703 0162 (or +44 870 703 0162 if calling from outside
of the UK) between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. on any Business Day before the
Prescribed Time to obtain the necessary form which is to be completed and
received by the Registrar by the Prescribed Time.
8. Retention of B Shares, future redemption and conversion opportunities, and
future B Share issues
Holders of B Shares who wish to retain their current holding of B Shares and
the January 2007 B Shares should take no action. Members who have previously
completed an Evergreen Election in relation to B Shares but who now wish to
retain their January 2007 B Shares should cancel their election pursuant to
paragraph 3 (above) prior to the Prescribed Time.
As long as there is a tax benefit in doing so, the Company expects to offer
B Shares rather than dividends on an ongoing basis. Future Election Periods are
expected to be set to allow redemptions and conversions in the months of
January and July on a yearly basis. Members will on such occasions be able to
redeem or convert any retained B Shares.
9. Dealings and dispatch of documents and method of redemption payments
Shareholders who have not previously made an Evergreen Election and who do not
complete a Redemption/Conversion Mandate prior to the Prescribed Time or
submitted a valid election through CREST, will, as a condition of issue of the
January 2007 B Shares, be sent a B Share certificate on or within five Business
Days of January 3, 2007, or will have their CREST accounts credited with
B Shares on or within five Business Days of January 3, 2007. CREST Holders that
have made a valid election in respect of their B Share Entitlements will have
their B Shares issued directly into their CREST accounts.
Shareholders who have elected to redeem their B Shares in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Redemption Offer will be sent redemption payment
cheques or have their CREST accounts credited with the redemption payment on or
within five business days of January 3, 2007 depending on whether they hold
their Ordinary Shares in CREST on the Record Date.
Shareholders who do not hold their Ordinary Shares in CREST and who have
previously instructed the Company to pay dividends to them directly into
designated accounts will if these instructions are still valid (Standing
Instructions) redemption payments made to them in accordance with their
Standing Instructions. Shareholders who have not established Standing
Instructions and who wish to receive their redemption payment in an account or
in a specified manner should contact the Registrar by calling 0870 703 0162 (or
+44 870 703 0162 if calling from outside of the UK) between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30
p.m. on any Business Day at least five Business Days prior to the Prescribed
Time to request a Standing Instructions form or alternatively should visit the
Investors section on the Group's website www.rolls-royce.com to obtain the
form. This form must be completed and received by the Registrar no later than
five Business Days before the Prescribed Time in order to be effective for this
issue of B Shares.
As a condition of issue, Shareholders who have elected to convert their
B Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Conversion Offer
will have sent to them share certificates in respect of their Ordinary Shares
on or within five Business Days of January 3, 2007, or will have their CREST
accounts credited with the Ordinary Shares on or within five Business Days of
January 3, 2007 depending on whether they hold their Ordinary Shares in
certificated or uncertificated form on the Record Date. The number of Ordinary
Shares sent or credited to the Shareholder will be based upon the number of
January 2007 B Shares to be issued to them together with the number of B Shares
currently held by such Shareholder which the Shareholder elects to convert in
accordance with paragraph 4 above.
All certificates, cheques and other documents in relation to the B Shares will
be dispatched to and from Members at their own risk and any B Share and/or
Ordinary Share certificates sent by the Company to Members will be dispatched
at the Members' own risk. In the case of joint Members, all documents will be
posted to the registered address of the first named Member (as applicable) on
the Company's register of members.
Temporary documents of title will not be issued and the documents of title
issued are not renounceable.
Pending dispatch of definitive share certificates or crediting of CREST
accounts, transfers of B Shares which have not been redeemed or converted will
be certified against the B Shareholder register held by the Registrar.
10. General
All questions as to validity, form and eligibility in relation to the
Redemption/Conversion Mandate, the mandate on the reverse of B Share
certificates and CREST USE instructions, will be determined by the Company
(which may delegate this power in whole or part to the Registrar) and such
determination shall be final and binding.
No authority conferred by or agreed to by execution of the Redemption/
Conversion Mandate, the mandate on the reverse of B Share certificates and
CREST USE instructions, shall be affected by, and all such authority shall
survive, the death or incapacity of the Member executing such form. All
obligations of such Members shall be binding upon the heirs, personal
representatives, successors and assignees of such Members.
B Shares will be in registered form and may be settled through CREST if in
uncertificated form. Future redemptions and conversions of B Shares may take
place via CREST.
11. Non-United Kingdom resident Shareholders
Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are citizens,
residents or nationals of other countries should consult their professional
advisers to ascertain whether the effect of the Redemption and Conversion Offer
or subsequent disposal of B Shares by them will be subject to any restrictions
or require compliance with any formalities imposed by the laws or regulations
of, or any body or authority located in, the jurisdiction in which they are
resident or to which they are subject. In particular, it is the responsibility
of any Shareholder not resident in the United Kingdom or a citizen, resident or
national of another country wishing to redeem B Shares or otherwise dispose of
any shares in the Company to satisfy himself or herself fully as to observance
of any government, exchange control or other consents which may be required or
the compliance with other necessary formalities needing to be observed and the
payment of any issue, transfer or other taxes or duties in such jurisdiction.
The distribution of this document in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by
law. Persons into whose possession this document comes should inform themselves
about and observe any such restrictions. Neither this document nor any other
document issued or to be issued by or on behalf of the Company in connection
with the redemption or conversion of B Shares constitutes an invitation or
offer to redeem or convert B Shares in any jurisdiction in which such
invitations or offers are unlawful.
In the event that the Board is advised that the allotment and/or issue of
B Shares would or might infringe the laws of any jurisdiction outside the
United Kingdom, or would or might require the Company to obtain governmental or
other consent, or effect any registration, filing or other formality with
which, in the opinion of the Company, it would be unable to comply or which it
regards as unduly onerous, the Company will have the right to issue the
B Shares to which such Shareholders are entitled, to a nominee on behalf of
such Shareholders which nominee shall be entitled to sell or redeem such
B Shares for cash with the net proceeds of such sale or redemption (as the case
may be) being remitted to such Shareholders. Any remittance of the net proceeds
of sale or redemption shall be at the risk of the relevant Shareholder.
In particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the
B Shares, and the Ordinary Shares into which they may be converted, have not
been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 (as
amended) or the state securities laws of any state of the United States and
such shares may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to
an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration
requirements of such laws.
This document is not a Securities Sales Prospectus within the meaning of the
German Securities Sales Prospectus Act of September 9, 1998 as amended and has
not been filed or approved by the German Federal Financial Services Supervisory
Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) or any other
competent German authority under the relevant laws.
Prices and values of, and income from, shares may go down as well as up. It
should be noted that past performance is not a guide for future performance.
Persons needing advice should consult an independent professional adviser.
12. Shareholder Authority
The allotment of the January 2007 B Shares will be effected pursuant to the
authority that was given by Resolution 9 at the Annual General Meeting.
13. Future Payments to Shareholders
The Company expects that any future payments to Shareholders will be made
either through the issue of further B Shares or in the form of dividends. The
Company will revert to paying dividends when it considers that it is
appropriate to do so.
14. PEPs and ISAs
The B Shares will be qualifying investments for the purposes of the relevant
PEP and ISA regulations and any Ordinary Shares issued on conversion will be
qualifying investments.
15. ADR Holders
On behalf of the ADR holders, the Bank of New York, as depositary, has advised
the Company that, in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement, it
will effectively sell the B Shares to be issued to it back to the Company, by
electing to redeem all these B Shares. The Bank of New York will distribute the
proceeds of the redemption to the ADR holders.
16. US Registration
The B Shares, and the Ordinary Shares into which they may be converted, have
not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 (as
amended) or the state securities law of any state of the United States and such
shares may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an
exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration
requirements of such laws.
PART 2: TAXATION
United Kingdom Taxation
The following paragraphs, which are intended as a guide only, are based on
current UK legislation and published Inland Revenue practice at the date of
this document and are therefore subject to change. They only summarise certain
limited aspects of the UK taxation treatment of the proposed issue of B Shares.
They relate only to the position of Shareholders who are resident or ordinarily
resident in the UK for tax purposes, who will hold their B Shares as an
investment and are the absolute beneficial owners of the B Shares. This section
is not intended to be, and should not be construed to be, legal or taxation
advice to any particular Shareholder. If you are in any doubt as to your
taxation position, you are recommended to seek your own taxation advice
immediately from an independent professional adviser.
The issue of B Shares
1. The allotment and issue of B Shares will not itself create any charge to UK
income tax or UK taxation of chargeable gains.
2. For the purposes of UK taxation of chargeable gains, the allotment and issue
of B Shares by the Company will be treated as a reorganisation of its share
capital. Accordingly:
(a) a Shareholder receiving an entitlement to B Shares will not be treated as
making a disposal of all or part of that Shareholder's existing holding of
Ordinary Shares by reason thereof;
(b) the B Shares will be treated as the same asset as, and as having been
acquired at the same time as, the Shareholder's existing holding of Ordinary
Shares. Accordingly the new combined holding of B Shares and Ordinary Shares
(together the New Holding) will have the same aggregate base cost as the
existing holding of shares in the Company immediately before this issue; and
(c) on a subsequent disposal (including a redemption) of the whole or part of
the New Holding, the Shareholder's base cost in respect of the New Holding will
be apportioned between the Ordinary Shares and the B Shares by reference to
their respective market values on the first day after issue on which prices are
quoted or published for both classes of shares, as derived from the Official
List.
Redemption of B Shares
3. The payment by the Company of the nominal value of the B Shares on their
redemption will not constitute an income distribution for UK tax purposes.
Accordingly:
(a) no part of the proceeds received by a Shareholder pursuant to the
redemption will be an income receipt in that Shareholder's hands for UK tax
purposes. Those proceeds will not carry any entitlement to a tax credit and, in
the hands of a corporate Shareholder, will not constitute franked investment
income; and
(b) a Shareholder who disposes of the whole or part of that Shareholder's
holding of B Shares pursuant to the Redemption Offer may, depending on that
Shareholder's circumstances, be charged to capital gains tax or, in the case of
a company, corporation tax on the amount of any chargeable gain realised. In
computing such gain, the base cost of the B Shares is calculated in the manner
described at paragraph (2)(c) above.
4. Where the Shareholder is an individual:
(a) no tax will be payable on any gain realised on the redemption if the amount
of the chargeable gain, when aggregated with any other chargeable gains
realised by the Shareholder in the year of assessment in question, does not
exceed the annual allowance of tax-free gains; and
(b) if a Shareholder acquired his existing Ordinary Shares on June 23, 2003 as
a result of the Company being introduced as the new holding company of the
Group in place of the previous holding company Rolls-Royce plc, and that
Shareholder had acquired the Ordinary Shares in Rolls-Royce plc (which were
cancelled and replaced with his existing Ordinary Shares) prior to April 1,
1998, indexation allowance will be available in respect of part of the base
cost in the existing Ordinary Shares (apportioned to the B Shares in the manner
described in paragraph (2)(c) above) until the end of April 1998 (save to the
extent that this creates or increases a capital loss). No indexation allowance
will be available where an individual Shareholder acquired his Rolls-Royce plc
shares after March 31, 1998 or acquired his existing Ordinary Shares after
June 23, 2003. In either of these cases taper relief may apply so that the
effective rate of capital gains tax on any gain on a redemption of B Shares by
an individual will be reduced the longer existing Ordinary Shares (and any
prior holding of shares in Rolls-Royce plc) and then the B Shares are held, up
to a maximum of ten years.
5. Set out below are two examples of the capital gains tax computation on a
redemption of B Shares by an individual. However, the actual calculation would
depend on the tax position of each Shareholder and Shareholders should consult
their professional advisers. The examples are for illustrative purposes only
and the prices used are not intended to relate to the actual price of the
Ordinary Shares.
In the examples, it is assumed that fifty B Shares (issued in respect of one
Ordinary Share) are held. It is also assumed that the market quotation of the
Ordinary Shares immediately after the bonus issue of B Shares is 350 pence each
and that the market quotation of the B Shares at the same time is 0.1 pence
each.
Example 1
If the historic cost for capital gains tax purposes of the Ordinary Shares was
275 pence each, then ignoring indexation and taper relief:
Pence
Proceeds from redemption of fifty B Shares = (50 x 0.1) 5.00
Cost of fifty B Shares = 275 x ((50 x 0.1)/(350 + (50 x 0.1)) 3.87
Unindexed gain before any indexation allowance or taper relief 1.13
Example 2
If the historic cost for capital gains tax purposes of the Ordinary
Shares was 450 pence each, then:
Pence
Proceeds from redemption of fifty B Shares = (50 x 0.1) 5.00
Cost of fifty B Shares = 450 x ((50 x 0.1)/(350 + (50 x 0.1)) 6.34
Allowable loss (1.34)
Conversion of B Shares
6. A Shareholder who elects to convert his B Shares into Ordinary Shares
pursuant to the Conversion Option will not be treated as making a disposal of
his B Shares. Instead ``roll-over'' treatment should apply, which means the
Ordinary Shares will be treated for the purposes of taxation on chargeable
gains as the same asset as the B Shares and as having been acquired at the same
time as the B Shares were treated as acquired.
7. If a Shareholder becomes entitled to receive a further Ordinary Share
pursuant to the Company's proposed method of dealing with fractional
entitlements to Ordinary Shares arising on conversion (i.e. the Shareholder has
sufficient cash held by the Registrar to entitle him to an Ordinary Share),
such additional share is likely, in practice, to be treated as receiving the
``rollover'' treatment discussed above, rather than being treated as a separate
cash subscription for an Ordinary Share.
8. No charge to income tax should arise in relation to the conversion of
B Shares pursuant to the Conversion Option. If, in relation to a Shareholder's
entitlement in respect of fractions, the Registrar pay to him the cash held on
his behalf (rather than issuing him with an Ordinary Share once he has a
sufficient cash entitlement - as discussed above), in practice the amount of
that cash is likely to be treated not as the proceeds of a part disposal but as
reducing the base cost of the Shareholder's Ordinary Shares by an amount equal
to the cash received.
9. A Shareholder who subsequently disposes of Ordinary Shares may, depending on
that Shareholder's circumstances, be charged to capital gains tax or (in the
case of a company) corporation tax on the amount of any chargeable gain
realised.
Stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax
10. No stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax should arise on the issue,
redemption or conversion of B Shares.
Dividends
11. The United Kingdom tax treatment of dividends paid on the B Shares will be
the same as the tax treatment of dividends paid on the Ordinary Shares.
Accordingly under current tax law, the Company will not be required to withhold
tax at source from dividend payments it makes on the B Shares and will
therefore not assume responsibility for the withholding of tax at source.
(a) Individuals
An individual shareholder who is resident in the UK for tax purposes and who
receives a dividend from the Company on a B Share will be entitled to a tax
credit which may be set off against his total income tax liability on the
dividend. Such an individual shareholder's liability to income tax is
calculated on the aggregate of the dividend and the tax credit (the gross
dividend) which will be regarded as the top slice of the individual's income.
The tax credit will be equal to 10% of the gross dividend (i.e. the tax credit
will be one-ninth of the amount of the dividend).
Shareholders who are not liable to income tax in respect of the gross dividend
will not be entitled to reclaim any part of the tax credit.
A UK resident shareholder who is liable to income tax at the lower or basic
rate will be subject to income tax on the dividend at the rate of 10% of the
gross dividend so that the tax credit will satisfy in full such shareholder's
liability to income tax on the dividend. A UK resident individual shareholder
liable to income tax at the higher rate will be subject to income tax on the
gross dividend at 32.5%. After taking into account the tax credit, such a
shareholder will have to account for additional tax equal to 22.5% of the gross
dividend (an effective tax rate of 25% of the net cash dividend received).
(b) Companies
A corporate shareholder resident in the UK for tax purposes will not normally
be subject to corporation tax on any dividend received from the Company on a
B Share. Such corporate shareholders will not be able to claim repayment of the
tax credit attaching to any dividend.
(c) Pension funds and charities
UK pension funds and charities will not be entitled to reclaim the tax credit
attaching to any dividend paid by the Company on a B Share.
Section 703 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (ICTA)
12. There is an anti-avoidance provision, section 703 ICTA, which the Inland
Revenue may apply where they have reason to believe that a person obtains a tax
advantage in consequence of certain transactions in securities. Were the Inland
Revenue to seek to apply section 703 ICTA to the B Share proposals, one
possible effect would be to tax the redemption proceeds as income. However, in
the opinion of the Company and its taxation advisers, the B Share proposals are
such that section 703 ICTA should not apply to Shareholders.
United States Taxation
THESE STATEMENTS ABOUT U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS ARE MADE TO SUPPORT
MARKETING OF THE B SHARES. NO TAXPAYER CAN RELY ON THEM TO AVOID U.S. FEDERAL
TAX PENALTIES. EACH TAXPAYER SHOULD SEEK ADVICE FROM AN INDEPENDENT TAX ADVISOR
ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER ITS OWN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO
THE B SHARES.
The following paragraphs contain a summary based on present law of the material
US federal income tax consequences relevant to the receipt and ownership of
B Shares and, following a conversion, Ordinary Shares. The discussion addresses
only beneficial owners that are US persons (within the meaning of section 701
(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code) that will hold B Shares and Ordinary
Shares as capital assets and use the US dollar as their functional currency
(``US Holders''). The discussion does not consider the circumstances of holders
subject to special rules. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers
regarding their specific circumstances.
Taxation on receipt, redemption or conversion of B Shares
1. The receipt of the B Shares by a US Holder will be taxable as a dividend in
an amount equal to the fair market value of the B Shares received whether or
not the B Shares are immediately redeemed or converted. The dividend generally
will be included in the gross income of a US Holder as ordinary income from
foreign sources and generally will constitute ``qualified dividend income'' to
eligible non-corporate US Holders subject to tax at the favourable rates
generally applicable to long-term capital gains. A US Holder's tax basis in
B Shares will equal the US dollar amount included as a dividend.
A US Holder who elects for immediate redemption of B Shares will have no
additional US tax consequences.
2 A US Holder who receives B Shares and elects for the Company to redeem them
at a later date may be treated as receiving a further dividend in an amount
equal to the redemption proceeds (converted into US dollars at the spot rate on
the date of receipt) unless the redemption results in a meaningful reduction of
such holders proportionate interest in the Company. If redemption proceeds are
included in gross income as a dividend, a US Holder's tax basis in the redeemed
B Shares would be added to such shareholder's remaining B Shares and/or
Ordinary Shares. If a redemption of B Shares results in sale treatment, the US
Holder would be subject to the same rules as are described in ``Sale or other
disposition of B Shares and Ordinary Shares'' below. It is not possible to say
which treatment will apply as this depends, amongst other things, on the
elections to redeem or convert B Shares made by other Shareholders. US Holders
are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the specific tax
consequences of tendering issued and outstanding B Shares for redemption.
3. Conversion of B Shares into Ordinary Shares, either at the time of issue or
at a later date, should have no consequences for a US Holder. The tax basis of
Ordinary Shares received on conversion of B Shares will equal the US Holder's
adjusted tax basis in the converted B Shares (less any basis in respect of
B Shares attributable to a fraction of an Ordinary Share). A US Holder's
holding period in the Ordinary Shares will include the holding period of the
converted B Shares.
Dividends paid on B Shares
4. Cash dividends paid in respect of outstanding B Shares generally will be
included in the gross income of a US Holder (converted into US dollars at the
spot rate on the date of receipt) as ordinary income from foreign sources and
will constitute ``qualified dividend income'' to non-corporate US Holders.
Sale or other disposition of B Shares and Ordinary Shares
5. A US Holder generally will recognise capital gain or loss arising from US
sources on the sale or other disposition of B Shares or Ordinary Shares equal
to the difference between the US dollar value of the amount realised from such
sale or other disposition (generally converted at the spot rate on the date of
receipt) and the US Holder's adjusted tax basis (determined in US dollars) for
such B Shares or Ordinary Shares. The deductibility of capital losses is
subject to limitations.
Foreign exchange gain or loss
6. Dividends and proceeds of redemption or sale that are paid in pounds
sterling generally will be taken into account for tax in a US dollar amount
based on the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt whether or not the
payment is converted into US dollars at that time. A US Holder's tax basis in
pounds sterling will equal such US dollar amount. Any gain or loss realised on
a subsequent conversion of the pounds sterling for a different amount will be
US source ordinary income or loss.
Backup withholding and information reporting
7. Backup withholding and information reporting may apply to dividends paid in
respect of B Shares and Ordinary Shares (including the initial distribution of
B Shares) or the proceeds received on the sale or exchange of B Shares or
Ordinary Shares by non-corporate US Holders.
Other overseas Shareholders
This summary only considers UK and US taxation. Any other overseas Shareholders
should seek tax advice in their jurisdiction of residency.
PART 3: DEFINITIONS
The following terms apply throughout this document unless the context otherwise
requires.
Admission means admission of the B Shares to the Official List
becoming effective in accordance with the Listing Rules
of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the
London Stock Exchange;
ADR means American Depositary Receipt;
AGM orAnnual General means the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on
Meeting May 3, 2006;
B preferential means the non-cumulative preferential dividend to be
dividend paid to holders of the B Shares as more fully set out
in paragraph 2 of Part 1 of this document;
B Shareholder means a holder of B Shares;
B Shares means the non-cumulative redeemable convertible
preference shares of 0.1 pence each in the capital of
the Company issued from time to time on the terms and
conditions set out in this document;
B Share Entitlements means the entitlements of those Shareholders holding
Ordinary Shares on the Record Date to be issued B
Shares pursuant to the terms and conditions set out in
this document;
Board orDirectors means the directors of the Company as at the date of
this document and from time to time;
Business Day means a day upon which pounds sterling deposits may be
dealt in on the London interbank market and commercial
banks are generally open in London;
Calculation Period means each six-monthly period ending on the last day in
June and December each year by reference to which the B
preferential dividend is calculated;
Certificated Members means Members holding Ordinary shares and/or B Shares
in certificated form;
Certificated means Shareholders holding Ordinary Shares in
Shareholders certificated form;
Companies Act means the Companies Act 1985 (as amended);
Company means Rolls-Royce Group plc;
Conversion Offer means the offer made by the Company in paragraph 6 of
Part 1 of this document to convert any or all of the
B Shares in issue and the January 2007 B Shares into
Ordinary Shares on the terms and conditions set out in
this document;
Conversion Right means the right of holders of B Shares to convert their
B Shares into Ordinary Shares when the Company makes
the Conversion Offer or a Future Conversion Offer, as
more fully set out in paragraph 6 of Part 1 of this
document;
Conversion Share means the arithmetical mean (rounded down to the
Value nearest whole number) of the middle market quotations
expressed in pence as derived from the daily Official
List for one Ordinary Share for the period of any five
consecutive dealing days chosen by the Company to end
before the commencement of the Election Period or any
Future Election Period (as applicable);
CREST means the relevant system (as defined in the
Uncertificated Securities Regulation 1995) in respect
of which CRESTCo Limited is the operator;
CREST Currently Held means B Shares that are held in CREST on the Record
B Shares Date;
Election Period means the period during which all holders of B Shares
may elect for any of the B Shares (including the
January 2007 B Shares) issued to them to be redeemed
for cash or converted into Ordinary Shares in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Redemption and Conversion Offer commencing on October
13, 2006, and ending at the Prescribed Time;
Evergreen Election means an election made by Shareholders to either redeem
or convert all B Shares issued to them from time to
time, until such time as the Shareholder cancels that
election in the prescribed manner;
Future Conversion means any offer (other than the Conversion Offer) made
Offer by the Company after the expiry of the Conversion
Offer, to convert B Shares into Ordinary Shares;
Future Election means any period or periods after the Election Period
Period or Periods when the Company gives holders of B Shares an
opportunity to redeem and/or convert B Shares;
Future Redemption means any offer (other than the Redemption Offer) made
Offer by the Company after the expiry of the Redemption
Offer, to redeem B Shares for cash;
Group means the Company and its subsidiary undertakings (as
defined in the Companies Act) from time to time;
January 2007 B Shares means the B Shares to be issued on January 2, 2007 to
Shareholders holding Ordinary Shares on the Record
Date;
LIBOR means London inter-bank offered rate for six month
deposits in pounds sterling per annum which appears on
the display designated as page 3750 on the Telerate
Monitor (or such other page or service as may replace
it for the purpose of displaying LIBOR of leading banks
for pounds sterling deposits) at or about 11.00 a.m.
(London time) on the relevant date;
London Stock Exchange means London Stock Exchange plc;
Members means Shareholders and B Shareholders;
Official List means the Official List of the UK Listing Authority;
Ordinary Shares means ordinary shares of 20 pence each in the share
capital of the Company;
Prescribed Time means 5.00 p.m. on December 1, 2006;
Proceeds means the net proceeds of the sale of the Ordinary
Shares resulting from the consolidation of fractional
entitlements only on the conversion of B Shares;
Record Date means 6.00 p.m. October 13, 2006, being the record date
for the proposed bonus issue of B Shares to take place
in January 2007;
Redemption/Conversion means the form that allows Members to elect to either
Mandate redeem all their B Shares or convert all their B Shares
(other than their existing holding) during the Election
Period subject to the conditions referred to therein;
Redemption and means the Redemption Offer and the Conversion Offer;
Conversion Offer
Redemption Offer means the offer made by the Company in paragraph 5 of
Part 1 of this document to redeem any or all of
B Shares currently in issue and the January 2007
B Shares for cash on the terms and conditions set out
in this document;
Redemption Right means the right of B Shareholders to redeem their
B Shares for cash when the Company makes the Redemption
Offer or a Future Redemption Offer, more fully set out
in paragraph 5 of Part 1 of this document;
Registrar means Computershare Investor Services PLC, or such
other agent as the Company may appoint from time to
time;
Shareholder means a holder of Ordinary Shares;
UK orUnited Kingdom means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland; and
US or United States means the United States of America and its territories
and possessions, any state of the United States of
America and the District of Columbia.