Statement regarding proposal

abrdn Property Income Trust Ltd

20 February 2024

 

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD BE UNLAWFUL

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FALLING UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CODE. THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY FIRM OFFER WILL BE MADE

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

20 February 2024

abrdn Property Income Trust Limited

Statement regarding proposal from Urban Logistics REIT plc

The Board of abrdn Property Income Trust Limited (“API”) notes the announcement by Urban Logistics REIT plc (“Urban Logistics”) and confirms that on 16 February 2024 it received an indicative proposal from Urban Logistics regarding a possible all-share offer for API on the terms set out in the Urban Logistics announcement (the “Proposal”).

The Proposal follows a period of preliminary due diligence by Urban Logistics pursuant to Rule 21.3 of the Code, following the announcement of the recommended all-share merger of API and Custodian Property Income REIT plc on 19 January 2024.

In accordance with Section 4(c) of Appendix 7 of the Code, the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers will announce the deadline by which Urban Logistics must clarify its intentions in relation to API. There can be no certainty that a firm offer by Urban Logistics will be made.

A further announcement will be made by the Board of API in due course. In the meantime, API shareholders are advised to take no action in relation to the possible offer from Urban Logistics.

This announcement has been made without the consent of Urban Logistics.

Enquiries:

Lazard (Financial Adviser to API) Patrick Long Jolyon Coates	[phone]
Winterflood (Corporate Broker to API) Neil Langford	[phone]

Important notices

This is an announcement under Rule 2.4 of the UK Takeover Code (the "Code") and does not constitute an announcement of a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the Code. This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to this announcement or otherwise. There can be no certainty that an offer will be made nor as to the terms on which any offer might be made.

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe such restrictions. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction.

Lazard & Co., Limited ("Lazard"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to API and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than API for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lazard nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this Announcement. Neither Lazard nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Lazard in connection with this Announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Winterflood Securities Limited ("Winterflood"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for API and no-one else in connection with the matters set out in this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than API for providing the protections afforded to customers of Winterflood or for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this Announcement. Neither Winterflood nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Winterflood in connection with this Announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Publication on a website

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this Announcement will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on and API's website at www.abrdnpit.co.uk by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the first business day following the date of this Announcement.

For the avoidance of doubt, neither the contents of these websites nor the contents of any websites accessible from any hyperlinks is incorporated into or forms part of this Announcement.

Rule 2.9 of the Takeover Code

For the purposes of Rule 2.9 of the Takeover Code, API confirms that, as at the close of business on 19 February 2024 (being the last business day before the date of this Announcement), it had in issue 381,218,977 ordinary shares of one penny each (excluding any shares held as treasury shares) which carry voting rights of one vote per share and are admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange with ISIN GB0033875286.

Disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified.

An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10^th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10^th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8 of the Code. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) of the Code applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3 of the Code.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4 of the Code).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on [phone] if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

 

END