Proposed Secondary Placing

RNS Number : 6518E

Animalcare Group PLC

08 July 2021

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING 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, CANADA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.  

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, SUBSCRIBE FOR OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE ANY NEW ORDINARY SHARES OF ANIMALCARE GROUP PLC IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO. 596/2014 ("MAR"). UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN 

ANIMALCARE GROUP PLC

(the "Group" or the "Company")

Proposed Accelerated Bookbuild in Animalcare Group plc to sell up to 13.8 million shares

Proposed PDMR dealing

8 July 2021.   Animalcare Group plc (AIM: ANCR), the international animal health business, announces that it has been notified by Ecuphar Invest NV ("Seller") of its intention to sell up to 13,857,213 ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (the "Placing" and the "Placing Shares") at a price of 285 pence per Placing Share ("Placing Price"). The Placing Price represents a c. 20 per cent. discount to the closing price of 356 pence per share on 7 July 2021. Any remainder of the Company's ordinary shares held by the Seller following the Placing will be subject to a lock-up which ends 180 days after completion of the Placing (subject to waiver by the Joint Bookrunners and to certain customary exceptions).

Panmure Gordon (UK) Ltd ("Panmure Gordon") and Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited ("Stifel) (together the "Bookrunners") are acting as joint bookrunners to the Placing.

The Placing Shares are being offered by way of an accelerated bookbuild (the "Placing"), which will be launched immediately following this announcement.  

T he final number of Placing Shares to be placed will be agreed by Panmure Gordon, Stifel and the Seller at the close of the bookbuild process.  The timing of the closing of the Bookbuild and the distribution of allocations are at the discretion of the Bookrunners and a further announcement confirming these details is expected to be made in due course. The Bookrunners reserve the right to close the Bookbuild without further notice. The Placing is subject to demand, price and market conditions. There can be no certainty that the Placing will complete. Animalcare Group will not receive any of the proceeds of the Placing.

The Seller has entered into an agreement with Panmure Gordon and Stifel in relation to the Placing.  

Proposed PDMR Dealings

The Seller is a company founded and controlled by Chris Cardon, a non-Executive Director of the Company.

A number of Directors of the Company and their associated parties (including Alychlo NV, an entity controlled by Marc Coucke, a non-executive director of the Company) have indicated their intention to purchase Placing Shares at the Placing Price. Further details will be announced following close of the bookbuild process.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.

For further information, please contact:

Animalcare Group plc
Chris Brewster, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary	[phone]   [e-mail]
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker)	[phone]
Ben Maddison Fred Walsh Nick Adams
Panmure Gordon (Joint Broker)	[phone]
Corporate Finance: Freddy Crossley/Emma Earl Corporate Broking: Rupert Dearden

Important Notice

MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANY OFFER OF SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES ARE ONLY ADDRESSED TO AND 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 ANY MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA"), QUALIFIED INVESTORS ("QUALIFIED INVESTORS") AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2 (E) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129; OR (2) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS (FOR THE PURPOSES OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 AS IT IS IN FORCE IN THE UK BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, WHO (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS WHO FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (AS AMENDED) (THE "ORDER"); OR (II) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) OF THE ORDER OR (III) ARE PERSONS TO WHOM AN OFFER OF THE PLACING SHARES MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE MADE (ALL SUCH PERSONS REFERRED TO IN (1) AND (2) TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS"). THE INFORMATION REGARDING THE PLACING SET OUT IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS.

This announcement and the information contained herein is for information purposes only and does not constitute or form part of any offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire or dispose of securities in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa or Japan or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful.

The Placing Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or under the  securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and absent registration, 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 the Securities Act and the securities laws of any relevant state or other jurisdiction of the United States. There will be no public offering of the Placing Shares in the United States or elsewhere. Subject to certain exemptions, the Placing Shares are being offered and sold outside of the United States in "offshore transactions" within the meaning of, and in reliance on, the safe harbour from the registration requirements under the Securities Act provided by Regulation S promulgated thereunder. 

The Placing Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or other regulatory authority in the United States, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of this announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

No prospectus or offering document has been or will be prepared in connection with the Placing. Any investment decision to buy securities in the Placing must be made solely on the basis of publicly available information. Such information is not the responsibility of and has not been independently verified by the Seller, Panmure Gordon or Stifel or any of their respective affiliates.

Neither this announcement nor any copy of it may be taken, transmitted or distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into or from the United States (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia), Canada, Australia, South Africa or Japan. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession this document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

The distribution of this announcement and the offering or sale of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Seller, Panmure Gordon or Stifel or any of their respective affiliates that would, or which is intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in any jurisdiction or possession or distribution of this announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to the Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required by the Seller, Panmure Gordon and Stifel to inform themselves about and to observe any applicable restrictions.

No reliance may be placed, for any purposes whatsoever, on the information contained in the announcement or on its completeness and this announcement should not be considered a recommendation by Panmure or Stifel in relation to any purchase of, or subscription for securities of Animalcare.

Panmure Gordon, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom is acting only for Charles Stanley & Co Ltd (which is the nominee holder of the shares) and no-one else in connection with the Placing.  It will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the Placing and will not be responsible to anyone other than Charles Stanley & Co Ltd for providing the protections offered to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the Placing or any matters referred to in this announcement.

Stifel, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom is acting only for the Seller and no-one else in connection with the Placing.  It will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the Placing and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Seller for providing the protections offered to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the Placing or any matters referred to in this announcement.

Panmure Gordon or Stifel and their affiliates acting as an investor for their own account may participate in the Placing on a proprietary basis and in that capacity may retain, purchase or sell for their own account such Placing Shares. In addition they may enter into financing arrangements and swaps with investors in connection with which they may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of Placing Shares. Neither Panmure Gordon nor Stifel intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so. 

Neither Panmure Gordon nor Stifel nor any of their directors, unlimited partners, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any information relating to Animalcare or its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

Neither the Seller nor any of its directors, managers, partners, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any information relating to Animalcare or its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

 Solely for the purposes of: (a) in the UK, Paragraph 3.2.7R regarding the responsibilities of UK Manufacturers under the Product Governance requirements contained within Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK Product Governance Requirements"); and (b) in the EEA, (i) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (ii) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive EU 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (iii) local implementing measures (together, the "EU Product Governance Requirements" and the UK Product Governance Requirements and the EU Product Governance Requirements are together, the "Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the 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 Product Governance Requirements; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by the Product Governance Requirements(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 to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, Panmure Gordon or Stifel will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients or 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 the Product Governance Requirements; 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.

This document includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "intends", "expects", "will", or "may", or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks relating to future events and assumptions relating to the Company's business, in particular from changes in political conditions, economic conditions, evolving business strategy, or the retail industry. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this document will be realised. As a result, no undue reliance should be placed on these forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results or otherwise.

 

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