Results of Placing and Subscription

RNS Number : 3639Z

Alpha Fin Markets Consulting plc

21 May 2021

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.  PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION

21 May 2021

For immediate release

Alpha Financial Markets Consulting plc

Results of Placing and Subscription

Alpha Financial Markets Consulting plc (AIM: AFM)("Alpha FMC", the "Company" or, together with its subsidiary undertakings, the "Group"),  a leading global provider of specialist consultancy services to the Asset Management, Wealth Management and Insurance industries, is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Fundraise announced on 20 May 2021 (the "Proposed Placing and Subscription Announcement").

A total of 9,557,532 ordinary shares of 0.075 pence each (the "Ordinary Shares") in the capital of the Company (the "Placing Shares") have been successfully placed with existing and new institutional investors (the "Placing") by Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG ("Berenberg") and Investec (as defined below). In addition to the Placing, a director of Alpha FMC has subscribed for a total of 12,307 new Ordinary Shares (the "Subscription Shares", and together with the Placing Shares the "New Ordinary Shares"). The New Ordinary Shares have been issued at a price of 325 pence per share (the "Placing Price"), together raising gross proceeds of approximately £31 million for the Company. The Placing Price represents a nil discount to the closing middle market price of an Ordinary Share on 20 May 2021 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the Proposed Placing and Subscription Announcement). In aggregate, the New Ordinary Shares represent approximately 9.0 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company.

Application has been made for the New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. Admission and settlement is expected to take place at 8.00 a.m. on 25 May 2021.

The Fundraise is conditional, inter alia, upon Admission becoming effective and the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not being terminated in accordance with its terms prior to Admission.

The New Ordinary Shares, when issued, will be fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of issue. The issue and allotment of the New Ordinary Shares will be within the Company's existing authorities.

Total voting rights

Following Admission, the Company will have a total of 116,091,805 Ordinary Shares in issue, of which none are held in treasury and 4,413,628 are shares held in the Company's Employee Benefit Trust. Therefore, with effect from Admission, the Company will have total voting rights of 111,678,177.

This figure of 111,678,177 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company, under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority.

Director's participation in the Subscription

The following Director participated in the Subscription:

Name	Shareholding prior to the Fundraise	Number of Subscription Shares acquired	Resultant shareholding	Resultant shareholding on Admission (%)
Jill May	0	12,307	12,307	0.01%

For further information please contact:

Alpha Financial Markets Consulting plc	[phone]
Euan Fraser (Global Chief Executive Officer) John Paton (Chief Financial Officer)
Investec Bank plc - Nominated Adviser, Joint Bookrunner and Joint Corporate Broker	[phone]
Patrick Robb James Rudd Harry Hargreaves
Berenberg - Joint Bookrunner and Joint Corporate Broker	[phone]
Chris Bowman Toby Flaux Alix Mecklenburg-Solodkoff
Camarco - Financial PR	[phone]
Ed Gascoigne-Pees Candice Adam

The person responsible for arranging the release of this Announcement on behalf of the Company is John Paton, a director of the Company.

About Alpha FMC

Alpha FMC is  a leading global provider of specialist consultancy services to the Asset Management, Wealth Management and Insurance industries. With over 430 consultants across twelve offices spanning the UK, Europe, North America and Asia, Alpha FMC has the largest dedicated team in the industry. Alpha FMC has provided consultancy services to over 400 clients, including 85 per cent. of the 20 largest global asset managers by AUM and a range of other buy-side firms.

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

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT  AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") ARE 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: (1) IF IN THE A MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA"), QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(e) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 (THE "EU PROSPECTUS REGULATION"); (2) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(e) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 AS IT FORMS PART OF UNITED KINGDOM DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (THE "UK PROSPECTUS REGULATION"); WHO (A) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER") (INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS) OR (B) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(a) TO (d) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.) OF THE ORDER; AND (3) OTHERWISE, PERSONS TO WHOM IT IS OTHERWISE LAWFUL TO COMMUNICATE IT TO (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION IN IT 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 ALPHA FINANCIAL MARKETS CONSULTING PLC.

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 WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR TRANSFERRED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) (THE "UNITED STATES" OR THE "US") EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN 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.  THE PLACING SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD ONLY OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES IN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.  NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OR ELSEWHERE.

NO PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN PREPARED OR FILED WITH ANY SECURITIES COMMISSION OR OTHER SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN CANADA IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER OR SALE OF THE PLACING SHARES.  ANY OFFER AND SALE OF THE PLACING SHARES IN CANADA IS BEING MADE ON A PRIVATE PLACEMENT BASIS ONLY AND PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE COMPANY PREPARES AND FILES A PROSPECTUS UNDER APPLICABLE CANADIAN SECURITIES LAWS.  ANY RESALE OF THE PLACING SHARES IN CANADA MUST BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE CANADIAN SECURITIES LAWS, WHICH MAY VARY DEPENDING ON THE RELEVANT JURISDICTION AND WHICH MAY REQUIRE RESALES TO BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CANADIAN PROSPECTUS REQUIREMENTS, A STATUTORY EXEMPTION FROM THE PROSPECTUS REQUIREMENTS, IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE PROSPECTUS REQUIREMENTS OR OTHERWISE UNDER A DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION FROM THE PROSPECTUS REQUIREMENTS GRANTED BY THE APPLICABLE LOCAL CANADIAN SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY.  THESE RESALE RESTRICTIONS MAY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES APPLY TO RESALES OF THE PLACING SHARES OUTSIDE OF CANADA. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IN CANADA.  THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WOULD NORMALLY APPEAR IN A PROSPECTUS UNDER APPLICABLE CANADIAN SECURITIES LAWS. NO SECURITIES COMMISSION OR SIMILAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN CANADA HAS REVIEWED OR IN ANY WAY PASSED UPON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR THE MERITS OF THE PLACING SHARES.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS AN OFFENSE.  THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT, AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS TO BE CONSTRUED AS, A PROSPECTUS, AN OFFERING MEMORANDUM, AN ADVERTISEMENT, A SOLICITATION TO PURCHASE, A PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IN CANADA.

NO OFFER AND SALE OF PLACING SHARES IS OR WILL BE MADE IN CANADA, EXCEPT TO PERSONS WHO ARE: (A) AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1.1 OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 45-106 - PROSPECTUS EXEMPTIONS ("NI 45-106")_ OR SUBSECTION 73.3(1) OF THE SECURITIES ACT (ONTARIO) (THE "OSA"), AS APPLICABLE, AND ARE EITHER PURCHASING THE PLACING SHARES AS PRINCIPAL FOR THEIR OWN ACCOUNT, OR ARE DEEMED TO BE PURCHASING THE PLACING SHARES AS PRINCIPAL FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE CANADIAN SECURITIES LAWS AND NOT AS AGENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ANOTHER PERSON OR AS TRUSTEE, FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO RESALE OR REDISTRIBUTION; (B) NOT CREATED OR BEING USED SOLELY TO PURCHASE OR HOLD THE PLACING SHARES AS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR UNDER NI 45-106; (C) A "PERMITTED CLIENT" AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1.1 OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 31-103 - REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, EXEMPTIONS AND ONGOING REGISTRANT OBLIGATIONS ("NI 31-103") THAT IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL; AND (D) IS RESIDENT IN EITHER THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, ONTARIO OR QUEBEC AND ENTITLED UNDER APPLICABLE CANADIAN SECURITIES LAWS, INCLUDING THE SECURITIES LAWS APPLICABLE TO SUCH PROVINCE, TO PURCHASE THE PLACING SHARES WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A PROSPECTUS.

CANADIAN INVESTORS ARE ADVISED THAT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN PREPARED IN RELIANCE ON SECTION 3A.3 OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 33-105 UNDERWRITING CONFLICTS ("NI 33-105"). PURSUANT TO SECTION 3A.3 OF NI 33-105, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE COMPANY AND THE JOINT BOOKRUNNERS PROVIDE CANADIAN INVESTORS WITH CERTAIN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE PERTAINING TO "CONNECTED ISSUER" AND/OR "RELATED ISSUER" RELATIONSHIPS AS WOULD OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION 2.1(1) OF NI 33-105.

SECURITIES LEGISLATION IN CERTAIN PROVINCES OR TERRITORIES OF CANADA MAY PROVIDE A PURCHASER WITH REMEDIES FOR RESCISSION OR DAMAGES IF THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM (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.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION INTO THE UNITED STATES.  THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION.  NO PUBLIC OFFERING IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES.

The distribution of this Announcement and/or the Placing and/or issue of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law.  No action has been taken by the Company, the Joint Bookrunners or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers, consultants, partners or employees ("Representatives") 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 the Joint Bookrunners to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

This Announcement or any part of it is for information purposes only and does not constitute or form 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, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful.  No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in any such jurisdiction.

All offers of the Placing Shares in the United Kingdom or the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption from the requirement to produce a prospectus under the UK Prospectus Regulation or the EU Prospectus Regulation, as appropriate.  In the United Kingdom, this Announcement is being directed solely at persons in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) does not require the approval of the relevant communication by an authorised person.

The Placing Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or other regulatory authority in the United States, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of this Announcement.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.  The relevant clearances have not been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of any province or territory of Canada, no prospectus has been lodged with, or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained from the South Africa Reserve Bank or any other applicable body in the Republic of South Africa in relation to the Placing Shares; and the Placing Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under or offered in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan.  Accordingly, the Placing Shares may not (unless an exemption under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual right or other legal obligations to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any such action.

By participating in the Bookbuilding Process and the Placing, each person who is invited to and who chooses to participate in the Placing (a "Placee") by making an oral, electronic or written and legally binding offer to acquire Placing Shares will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, to be participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on the terms and conditions contained herein and to be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in the Appendix.  Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing and no public offering of Placing Shares is being or will be made.

This Announcement may contain, or may be deemed to contain, "forward-looking statements" with respect to certain of the Company's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition, performance, strategic initiatives, objectives and results.  Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as "aim", "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", "seek", "may", "could", "outlook" or other words of similar meaning.  By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances which are beyond the control of the Company, including amongst other things, United Kingdom domestic and global economic business conditions, market-related risks such as fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates, the policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, the effect of competition, inflation, deflation, the timing effect and other uncertainties of future acquisitions or combinations within relevant industries, the effect of tax and other legislation and other regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Company and its affiliates operate, the effect of volatility in the equity, capital and credit markets on the Company's profitability and ability to access capital and credit, a decline in the Company's credit ratings; the effect of operational risks; and the loss of key personnel.  As a result, the actual future financial condition, performance and results of the Company may differ materially from the plans, goals and expectations set forth in any forward-looking statements.  Any forward-looking statements made in this Announcement by or on behalf of the Company speak only as of the date they are made.  Except as required by applicable law or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publish any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement to reflect any changes in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Berenberg, which is authorised and regulated by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority and subject to limited regulation in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA"), is acting exclusively for the Company in connection with the Placing and will not be acting for any other person (including any Placees) and will not be responsible to any person other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Berenberg or for advising any other person in respect of the matters referred to in this Announcement.

Investec Bank plc ("Investec Bank") is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (the "PRA") and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA and the PRA.  Investec Europe Limited (trading as Investec Europe) ("Investec Europe"), acting as agent on behalf of Investec Bank in certain jurisdictions in the European Economic Area (together Investec Bank and Investec Europe hereinafter referred to as "Investec"), is regulated in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland.  Investec is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing, and Investec will not be responsible to anyone (including any Placees) other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Placing or any other matters referred to in this Announcement.

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 Representatives 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.

No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or estimate, and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of the Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of the Company.

The price of shares and any income expected from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested upon disposal of the shares.  Past performance is no guide to future performance, and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.

The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this Announcement.

Information to Distributors

UK product governance

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within of Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Production Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such securities are: (i) compatible with an end target market of investors who meet the criteria of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in paragraph 3 of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors (for the purposes of UK Product Governance Requirements) should note that: (a) the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; (b) the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and (c) an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom.  The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing.  Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, 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 Chapter 9A or 10A respectively of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

EEA product governance

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 in the European Economic Area (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that the Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of (a) retail investors, (b) investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and (c) eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing.  Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, 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 Placing Shares.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

 

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