Earn Outs

Anite Group PLC 21 January 2003 For immediate release 21 January 2003 ANITE GROUP PLC Anite completes three further earnout renegotiations 95% of earnouts now agreed Anite Group plc ('Anite' or 'the Group'), the worldwide IT solutions and services company, today announces significant further progress in its earnout renegotiations. Highlights are: • 95% of the Group's total potential earnout liabilities successfully renegotiated • result of remaining significant renegotiations announced today (Parsec, ITS and Anite.net). In addition, the Group is now addressing its remaining, minor, earnout liabilities which are unlikely to achieve their full earnout • earnout obligations for Calculus, Carus, Didgicom, MSPS, Parsec, Rox, ITS and Anite.net therefore all successfully renegotiated in full • as a result of the renegotiations, over the three year period ended 30 April 2005 the actual number of shares in issue is expected to increase by around 15% to 353.4m when compared to the number in issue at the year ended 30 April 2002 (306.8m) • the average number of shares in issue is therefore expected to be significantly below that anticipated at the time of the announcement of the Group's preliminary results on 9 July 2002 (380m) and that forecast in the Annual General Meeting trading statement on 4 September 2002 (369m) • the primary achievement from the negotiations has been to provide a full buy out of the Group's earnout obligations at a discount, or to replace share issues with loan notes, thus reducing dilution of earnings per share whilst taking advantage of the Group's forecast strong cash generation or to fix the price at which shares are to be issued, thereby creating further certainty for shareholders John Hawkins, Chief Executive of Anite, stated: 'I am delighted that we have been able to reach a further milestone in respect of the remaining significant potential earnout liabilities thus providing greater certainty for our shareholders. 'We have significantly reduced the forecast dilution of earnings as a result of the process and can now direct all of our attention on managing the Group's assets and good housekeeping.' For further information, please contact: www.anite.com Anite Group plc 0118 945 0129 John Hawkins, Chief Executive Neil Bass, Group Financial Controller Weber Shandwick Square Mile 020 7067 0700 Reg Hoare/ Sara Musgrave Introduction Anite indicated at the time of its half year trading statement issued on 20 November and at the time of its interim results announcement on 11 December 2002 that, following successful renegotiations of the earnout obligations for Calculus, Carus, Didgicom, MSPS, Parsec (partially), and Rox, representing 78% of the Group's total potential earnout liabilities, negotiations to crystallise the remaining smaller uncapped earnouts were underway and were close to completion. It has been the Group's policy that, where possible, the aim of the negotiations was to replace share issues with loan notes thus reducing dilution of earnings per share whilst taking advantage of the Group's forecast strong cash generation or to fix the share price at which the shares are to be issued, thereby providing greater certainty for shareholders. The Group is therefore pleased to announce today that it has now successfully renegotiated 95% of its total potential earnout liabilities as a result of entering into agreements with the sellers of the three principal remaining acquisitions, Parsec, ITS, and Anite.net. Parsec Systems Limited ('Parsec') The Group has entered into agreements with the sellers (the 'Parsec Sellers') of Parsec, an e-business solutions and consultancy business that Anite acquired in September 2001, in respect of the remaining element of its earnout commitments to the Parsec Sellers, having announced in July 2002 that the Group had crystallised the 2002 element. Under the terms of the Parsec sale and purchase agreement (the 'Parsec SPA'), the maximum earnout of £20 million payable on the achievement by Parsec of various profit targets through to April 2004 was due to be satisfied (i) as to 50% by the issue and allotment by Anite of Anite ordinary shares to the Parsec Sellers at an issue price calculated by reference to the average of the middle market price in the period leading up to their allotment; and (ii) as to 50% by the issue of loan notes. £10 million has already been paid to the Parsec Sellers pursuant to the earnout provisions of the Parsec SPA. Under the new agreements, the primary provisions are as follows: (i) earnout payments to the Parsec Sellers will be satisfied as to 100% in guaranteed loan notes (ii) the maximum aggregate amount payable to the Parsec Sellers in the period 1 May 2002 through to April 2004 is reduced from £10 million to £7.5 million. (iii) the profit targets required to be met to achieve the earnout payments are altered, with an overall reduction of 8% Ideal Technology Services Limited ('ITS') Under the original terms of the sale and purchase agreement entered into in connection with the acquisition of ITS (the 'ITS SPA'), a maximum earnout of £4.75 million was payable to the sellers of ITS (the 'ITS Sellers') in relation to the periods to 30 April 2005, the quantum of the earnout being dependent on the performance of ITS during such periods. In addition, it was provided that all earnout payments would be satisfied as to 60% of each payment by the issue of Anite ordinary shares at an issue price calculated by reference to the average of the middle market price in the period leading up to their allotment and as to 40% by the issue of guaranteed loan notes. Under the terms of the variation agreement entered into between Anite and the ITS Sellers, all earnout payments that fall due will be paid as to 100% by the issue of guaranteed loan notes. The quantum and timing of any payments remain as provided for under the original terms of the ITS SPA. Anite.net Anite announced the acquisition of Anite.net on 1 May 2002. Under the terms of the original sale and purchase agreement (the 'Anite.net SPA'), Anite agreed to pay an initial consideration of £420,000, with a maximum earnout of £4.05 million payable in relation to the periods to 30 April 2005. Earnout payments under the original terms of the Anite.net SPA were payable as to 65% by the issue of Anite ordinary shares at an issue price calculated by reference to the average of the middle market price in the period leading up to their allotment and as to 35% by the issue of guaranteed loan notes. Anite and the sellers of Anite.net (the 'Anite.net Sellers') have now agreed to crystallise the potential earnouts on the following terms: - Anite will pay to the Anite.net Sellers c. £2.94 million (i.e. 72.5% of the maximum aggregate amount payable under the provisions of the earnouts) (the 'Settlement Payment') - the Settlement Payment will be paid as to 80% in bank guaranteed loan notes (with the guarantee becoming effective as from 1 May 2003) and as to 20% in Anite ordinary shares, such shares to be deemed to be valued at 50 pence per share Following payment of the Settlement Payment, Anite will have no further potential earnout obligations in relation to the acquisition of Anite.net. - Ends - This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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