THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES TO THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION THAT QUALIFIES OR MAY HAVE QUALIFIED AS INSIDE INFORMATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 7(1) OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW OF THE UNITED KINGDOM BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED (EUWA).
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS (INCLUDING PUERTO RICO, THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, GUAM, AMERICAN SAMOA, WAKE ISLAND AND THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) OR TO ANY U.S. PERSON OR IN OR INTO ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE, PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS DOCUMENT
ANNINGTON FUNDING PLC ANNOUNCES FINAL RESULTS OF ITS TENDER OFFER
5 February 2024. Annington Funding plc (the "Offeror") hereby announces the final results of its invitation to Noteholders of its outstanding £625,000,000 2.646 per cent. Notes due 12 July 2025 (ISIN: XS1645518496), issued by the Offeror and guaranteed by Annington Limited, Annington Property Limited and Annington Homes Limited (together, the "Guarantors" and each a "Guarantor") (the "Notes") to tender such Notes for purchase by the Offeror for cash (the "Offer"), as further provided in the tender offer memorandum dated 26 January 2024 (the "Tender Offer Memorandum").
The Offer was announced on 26 January 2024.
The Offer is subject to the conditions set out in the Tender Offer Memorandum prepared in connection with the Offer and is subject to the offer and distribution restrictions set out therein. Capitalised terms used in this announcement and not otherwise defined have the meanings given to them in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
The Expiration Deadline for the Offer was 4.00 p.m. (London time) on 2 February 2024.
As announced earlier today, as at the Expiration Deadline, £312,261,000 in aggregate principal amount of Notes had been validly tendered pursuant to the Offer.
Results of the Offer
Final pricing for the Offer in respect of the Notes took place at or around 11.00 a.m. (London time) today, 5 February 2024. The Offeror hereby announces it has decided to accept for purchase validly tendered Notes in an aggregate principal amount of £312,261,000, being the "Final Acceptance Amount".
Following the Expiration Deadline, the Offeror also hereby announces that it has decided to accept for purchase Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Offer as set out below and without any Scaling Factor.
Description of the Notes |
Aggregate principal amount of Notes accepted for purchase* |
Benchmark |
Benchmark Rate |
Purchase Spread |
Purchase Price |
Purchase Yield |
£625,000,000 2.646 per cent. Notes due 12 July 2025 |
£312,261,000 |
0.625 per cent. UK Treasury Gilt due June 2025 (ISIN: GB00BK5CVX03) |
4.498% |
+90bps |
96.262% |
5.398% |
In accordance with the provisions of the Tender Offer Memorandum, the Purchase Price in respect of the Notes has been calculated based on the Maturity Date.
The Purchase Price and Accrued Interest Payments will be paid to Noteholders whose Notes are accepted for purchase by the Offeror on the Settlement Date, which is expected to occur on 7 February 2024.
Following settlement of the Offer, £169,269,000 in principal amount of the Notes will remain outstanding.
Further Information
A complete description of the terms and conditions of the Offer is set out in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Barclays Bank PLC and Goldman Sachs International are acting as the Dealer Managers for the Offer. Kroll Issuer Services Limited is acting as Tender Agent.
Questions and requests for assistance in connection with the Offer may be directed to:
THE DEALER MANAGERS
Barclays Bank PLC |
Goldman Sachs International |
1 Churchill Place |
Plumtree Court |
London E14 5HP |
25 Shoe Lane |
United Kingdom |
London EC4A 4AU |
|
United Kingdom |
Telephone: + 44 20 3134 8515 |
Telephone: +44 20 7774 4836 |
Email: eu.lm@barclays.com |
|
Attention: Liability Management Group |
Attention: Liability Management Group |
THE TENDER AGENT
Kroll Issuer Services Limited
The Shard
32 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9SG
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 207 704 0880
Attention: Owen Morris
Email: annington@is.kroll.com
Tender Offer Website: https://deals.is.kroll.com/annington/
Each Noteholder is solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal of all matters as such Noteholder deems appropriate (including those relating to the Offer, the Notes, the Offeror and the Guarantors) and each Noteholder must make its own decision, based upon its own judgement and having obtained advice from such financial, accounting, legal and tax advisers as it may deem necessary, as to whether to tender any or all of its Notes for purchase pursuant to the Offer.
None of the Dealer Managers, the Tender Agent or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information concerning the Offer contained in this announcement or in the Tender Offer Memorandum. None of the Dealer Managers, the Tender Agent, the Offeror, the Guarantors or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates is acting for any Noteholder, or will be responsible to any Noteholder for providing any protections which would be afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Offer, and accordingly none of the Dealer Managers, the Tender Agent, the Guarantors or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any responsibility for any failure by the Offeror to disclose information with regard to the Offeror or the Notes which is material in the context of the Offer and which is not otherwise publicly available.
None of the Dealer Managers, the Tender Agent, the Offeror, the Guarantors or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates makes any representation or recommendation whatsoever regarding the Offer, or any recommendation as to whether Noteholders should tender Notes in the Offer.
Disclaimer
This announcement must be read in conjunction with the Tender Offer Memorandum. This announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum contain important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Offer. If any Noteholder is in any doubt as to the contents of this announcement or the Tender Offer Memorandum or the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own financial and legal advice, including in respect of any tax consequences, immediately from its stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial, tax or legal adviser.
MAR
This announcement is released by Annington Funding plc and contains information that qualified or may have qualified as inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA ("MAR"). For the purposes of MAR this announcement is made by Stephen Leung, Director, on behalf of Annington Funding plc.