Offer Declared Unconditional

Francisco Partners II L.P.

16 October 2023

 

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION

THE OFFER IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS, INCLUDING SECTION 14(E) AND REGULATION 14E UNDER THE US EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (THE "US EXCHANGE ACT"). BIDCO AND ITS AFFILIATES AND AGENTS MAY PURCHASE BLANCCO SHARES OUTSIDE THE OFFER, OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES, IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS, INCLUDING THE US EXCHANGE ACT.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

16 OCTOBER 2023

RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER

for

BLANCCO TECHNOLOGY GROUP PLC ("Blancco")

by

WHITE BIDCO LIMITED ("Bidco")

an entity indirectly owned by the Francisco Partners Funds

OFFER DECLARED UNCONDITIONAL

·      The Francisco Partners Funds as nominees for Bidco have acquired 7,081,099 Blanco Shares representing approximately 9.35 per cent. of Blancco's existing issued share capital.  The contracted settlement date for the acquired shares is 17 October 2023

·      In aggregate Bidco and its nominees have received valid acceptances of the Offer in respect of a total of 49,753,265 Blancco Shares, and have acquired 7,081,099 Blancco Shares which have not yet settled, representing in aggregate approximately 75.06 per cent. of Blancco's existing issued share capital

·      Bidco is waiving down the Acceptance Condition from not less than 75 per cent. to not less than 65.71 per cent. of Blancco Shares and the Offer has now become unconditional

·      Bidco intends to procure that Blancco make an application to the London Stock Exchange for the cancellation of the admission to trading of Blancco Shares on AIM.  The cancellation of trading in Blancco Shares on AIM will significantly reduce the liquidity and marketability of any Blancco Share

·      Blancco Shareholders who have not yet accepted the Offer are urged to do so as soon as possible

1.  Introduction

On 2 August 2023, the boards of Bidco and Blancco announced the terms of a recommended all cash offer (the "Offer") to be made by Bidco for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Blancco (other than any Blancco Shares already held by Bidco) at a price of 223 pence for each Blancco Share, to be implemented by way of a takeover offer within the meaning of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act.  The full terms of, and conditions to, the Offer and the procedures for acceptance are set out in the offer document, which was posted to Blancco Shareholders on 8 August 2023 (the "Offer Document").

On 6 October 2023, the board of Bidco announced that in accordance with Rule 31.3(b) of the Takeover Code, "Day 60" of the Offer timetable (the latest day by which an offer must become or be declared unconditional as to acceptances) has been extended with the consent of the Panel and the board of Blancco until 1:00 p.m. (London time) on 18 October 2023. The Offer has also been extended accordingly and remains subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Offer Document (the "Extension Announcement").

On 10 October 2023, the board of Bidco announced that it considers the financial terms of the Offer to be full and fair and that the recommended offer of 223 pence per Blancco share is therefore final and will not be increased.  Bidco reserved the right to revise the financial terms of the Offer in the event: (i) a third party, other than Bidco announces a firm intention to make an offer for Blancco on more favourable terms than Bidco's Offer; or (ii) the Panel otherwise provides its consent. Under Rule 35.1 of the Takeover Code, if the Offer lapses, except with the consent of the Panel, Bidco will not be able to make an offer for Blancco for at least 12 months.

On 12 October 2023, the board of Bidco notified that, in accordance with paragraph 1 of Part A of Appendix I in the Offer Document, it was waiving down the percentage required to satisfy the Acceptance Condition from Blancco Shares carrying not less than 90 per cent. of the voting rights then normally exercisable at a general meeting of Blancco, to Blancco Shares carrying not less than 75 per cent. of the voting rights then normally exercisable at a general meeting of Blancco (the "Amended Acceptance Condition").

2.   Dealing disclosure

On 13 October 2023, the Francisco Partners Funds acquired the following interests in Blancco Shares.

Class of relevant security	Number of securities	Price per unit	Date dealing undertaken	Contracted settlement date
2p Ordinary	3,476,564	223.00p	13-Oct-2023	17-Oct-2023
2p Ordinary	360,000	223.00p	13-Oct-2023	17-Oct-2023
2p Ordinary	1,310,269	223.00p	13-Oct-2023	17-Oct-2023
2p Ordinary	92,000	223.00p	13-Oct-2023	17-Oct-2023
2p Ordinary	1,092,266	223.00p	13-Oct-2023	17-Oct-2023
2p Ordinary	750,000	223.00p	13-Oct-2023	17-Oct-2023

Accordingly as at the date of this announcement, Bidco and its nominees are expected to hold a total of 7,081,099 Blancco Shares, representing approximately 9.35 per cent. of Blancco's existing issued share capital, when the acquisition of the 7,081,099 Blancco Shares are settled. As they have not yet settled, they are excluded from the acceptance level update in section 3 below. The contracted settlement date for the acquired shares is 17 October 2023.

3.   Acceptance level update

As at 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 13 October 2023 (being the last Business Day prior to the date of this announcement), valid acceptances of the Offer ("Valid Acceptances") had been received in respect of a total of 49,753,265 Blancco Shares, representing approximately 65.71 per cent. of Blancco's existing issued share capital.

So far as Bidco is aware, included within the above are Valid Acceptances in respect of 26,386,176 Blancco Shares (representing approximately 34.85 per cent. of Blancco's existing issued share capital) which were the subject of irrevocable undertakings in favour of Bidco to accept the Offer, as procured by Soros Fund Management, Inclusive Capital Partners L.P. and Blancco Directors. 

In addition, so far as Bidco is aware, included within the above are Valid Acceptances in respect of 8,875,000 Blancco Shares (representing approximately 11.72 per cent. of Blancco's existing issued share capital) which were the subject of a non-binding letter of intent as procured by Canaccord Genuity Asset Management Ltd.

Accordingly, as at 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 13 October 2023, Bidco has received valid acceptances of the Offer in respect of 49,753,265 Blancco Shares (representing 65.71 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Blancco) which Bidco may count towards the satisfaction of the Amended Acceptance Condition.

In addition, as set out above, following the acquisition of 7,081,099 Blancco Shares, Bidco and its nominees are expected to hold a total of 7,081,099 Blancco Shares, representing approximately 9.35 per cent. of Blancco's existing issued share capital when they have settled.

In aggregate Bidco and its nominees have received valid acceptances of the Offer in respect of a total of 49,753,265 Blancco Shares, and have acquired 7,081,099 Blancco Shares which have not yet settled, representing in aggregate approximately 75.06 per cent. of Blancco's existing issued share capital.  The contracted settlement date for the acquired shares is 17 October 2023.

The percentages of Blancco Shares referred to in this announcement are based on figures of 75,709,857 Blancco Shares in issue, in accordance with information publicly available to Bidco as at the date of this announcement.

4.   Waving down the Acceptance Condition and Offer Unconditional

Bidco is pleased to announce that, in accordance with paragraph 1 of Part A of Appendix I in the Offer Document, it is waiving down the percentage of Blancco Shares required to satisfy the Amended Acceptance Condition from Blancco Shares carrying not less than 75 per cent. of the voting rights then normally exercisable at a general meeting of Blancco, to Blancco Shares carrying not less than 65.71 per cent. of the voting rights then normally exercisable at a general meeting of Blancco (the "New Amended Acceptance Condition").

As Bidco has received valid acceptances of the Offer in respect of a total of 49,753,265  Blancco Shares, representing approximately 65.71 per cent. of Blancco's existing issued share capital, Bidco is pleased to confirm that the New Amended Acceptance Condition has been satisfied.

Furthermore, Bidco confirms that all other conditions as set out in paragraph 3 of Part A of Appendix I in the Offer Document have now been satisfied or, where applicable, waived.

Accordingly, the Offer has now become unconditional.

5.   Offer remains open

The Offer will remain open for acceptance until further notice. At least 14 days' notice will be given by an announcement before the Offer is closed.

Blancco Shareholders who have not yet accepted the Offer are urged to do so as soon as possible in accordance with the following procedures:

·      if you hold your Blancco Shares, or any of them, in certificated form (that is, not in CREST), you must complete and return a Form of Acceptance in relation to such certificated Blancco Shares as soon as possible; and

·      if you hold your Blancco Shares, or any of them, in uncertificated form (that is, in CREST), you must ensure that an Electronic Acceptance is made by you or on your behalf, and that settlement of that Electronic Acceptance occurs, in relation to such uncertificated Blancco Shares, as soon as possible.

Full details on how to accept the Offer are set out in paragraph 15 of Part 1 of the Offer Document.

The Offer Document is available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Blancco's website at: https://www.blancco.com/investors/investor-center/information-for-blancco-shareholders/ while the Offer remains open for acceptance. Hard copies of the Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance may be obtained by contacting the Receiving Agent, Computershare Investor Services plc, on telephone number on 0370 889 4099 (or on [phone] if calling from outside the UK) or by writing to Computershare Investor Services plc, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 AH, United Kingdom stating the name and address to which the hard copy version(s) should be sent. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the UK will be charged at the applicable international rate. Different charges may apply to calls from mobile telephones. The helpline is open between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays in England and Wales). Please note that Computershare Investor Services plc cannot provide advice on the merits of the Offer nor give any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes. Additional Forms of Acceptance are available from the Receiving Agent upon request.

6.   Interests in securities

So far as Bidco is aware, none of the above-mentioned Valid Acceptances have been received from persons acting in concert with Bidco.

Save as disclosed in this announcement, as at the close of business on 13 October 2023 (being the last Business Day prior to the date of this announcement), neither Bidco nor any Bidco Director nor so far as the Bidco Directors are aware any other person acting, or deemed to be acting, in concert with Bidco:

a)   had an interest in, or right to subscribe for, relevant securities of Blancco;

b)   had any short position in (whether conditional or absolute and whether in the money or otherwise), including any short position under a derivative, any agreement to sell or any delivery obligation or right to require another person to purchase or take delivery of, relevant securities of Blancco;

c)   had procured an irrevocable commitment or letter of intent to accept the Offer in respect of relevant securities of Blancco; or

d)   had borrowed or lent any Blancco Shares.

Furthermore, neither Bidco nor any Bidco Director nor so far as the Bidco Directors are aware any other person acting, or deemed to be acting, in concert with Bidco is party to any arrangement in relation to relevant securities of Blancco. For these purposes, an "arrangement" includes any indemnity or option arrangement, any agreement or any understanding, formal or informal, of whatever nature, relating to Blancco Shares which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing in such securities.

7.   Proposed Cancellation

As described in paragraph 11 of Part 1 of the Offer Document, and pursuant to rule 41 of the AIM Rules for Companies, it was intended that, after the Offer became or was declared unconditional and if Bidco had, by virtue of its shareholdings (and the shareholdings of its wholly-owned subsidiaries) and acceptances of the Offer, acquired or agreed to acquire issued share capital carrying 75 per cent. or more of the voting rights of Blancco, Bidco would procure that Blancco made an application to the London Stock Exchange for the cancellation of the admission to trading of Blancco Shares on AIM.

As Bidco and its nominees have received valid acceptances of the Offer in respect of a total of 49,753,265 Blancco Shares, and have acquired 7,081,099 Blancco Shares which have not yet settled, representing in aggregate approximately 75.06 per cent. of Blancco's existing issued share capital, Bidco reconfirms its intention to procure that Blancco make an application to the London Stock Exchange for the cancellation of the admission to trading of Blancco Shares on AIM. In accordance with the Offer Document and the AIM Rules for Companies, a notice period of no less than 20 Business Days shall apply in respect of the cancellation of listing. Blancco will make a further announcement in respect of the expected cancellation date as soon as possible.

The cancellation of trading in Blancco Shares on AIM will significantly reduce the liquidity and marketability of any Blancco Shares in respect of which the Offer has not been accepted at that time. Any remaining Blancco Shareholders will become minority shareholders in a majority controlled private limited company and may therefore be unable to sell their Blancco Shares. There can be no certainty that Blancco will pay any further dividends or other distributions or that such minority Blancco Shareholders will again be offered an opportunity to sell their Blancco Shares on terms which are equivalent to or no less advantageous than those under the Offer.

As soon as possible after the cancellation of the admission to trading of Blancco Shares on AIM, it is intended that Blancco will be re-registered as a private limited company.

If Bidco receives acceptances under the Offer in respect of, and/or otherwise acquires, 90 per cent. or more of the Blancco Shares to which the Offer relates, Bidco intends to exercise its rights pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act 2006 to acquire compulsorily any Blancco Shares not acquired or agreed to be acquired by or on behalf of Bidco pursuant to the Offer or otherwise on the same terms as the Offer.

8.   General

This announcement should be read in conjunction with the full text of the Offer Document. Capitalised terms and expressions used but not defined in this announcement have the same meanings as given to them in the Offer Document.

Enquiries:

Powerscourt (PR adviser to Francisco Partners) Elly Williamson Ollie Simmonds		Tel: [phone]
Canaccord Genuity (financial adviser to Francisco Partners and Bidco) Simon Bridges Katherine Hobbs		Tel: [phone]

Ropes & Gray International LLP is acting as legal adviser to Francisco Partners and Bidco.

Further information

Canaccord Genuity, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting as financial adviser to Francisco Partners and Bidco and no one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Francisco Partners and Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of Canaccord Genuity, or for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to herein. Neither Canaccord Genuity nor any of its group undertakings or 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 Canaccord Genuity in connection with this announcement or any matter referred to herein or otherwise.

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to, and does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, or the solicitation of an offer or invitation to purchase or otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise. The Offer is made solely by the Offer Document, which (together with the Form of Acceptance in relation to Blancco Shares held in certificated form) contains the full terms and conditions of the Offer, including details of how the Offer may be accepted.

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent document.

Overseas Shareholders

This announcement has been prepared in accordance with English law, the Takeover Code, the Market Abuse Regulation and the AIM Rules and information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside of England and Wales.

The Offer is subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the Panel and the Takeover Code.

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in, and the availability of the Offer to persons who are not resident in and citizens of the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or of which they are citizens. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdictions. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Offer disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.

Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Offer may not be made directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of mails or any means of instrumentality (including but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Offer may not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities. Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Offer are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported acceptance of the Offer.

Further information for Overseas Shareholders is set out in paragraph 7 of Part C of Appendix I of the Offer Document. Any person (including, without limitation, any agent, custodian, nominee or trustee) who would, or otherwise intends to, or who may have a contractual or legal obligation to forward this announcement, the Offer Document together with the accompanying Form of Acceptance, to any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom should read that paragraph.

Notice to US holders of Blancco Shares

The Offer relates to the shares of an English company and is being made by means of a contractual takeover offer under the Takeover Code and under the laws of England and Wales. The Offer is being made in the United States pursuant to all applicable laws and regulations, including, to the extent applicable, Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the US Exchange Act and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the Takeover Code. Accordingly, the Offer is subject to the disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments that are different from those applicable under US domestic tender offer procedures and law. The Offer is being made in the United States by Bidco and no one else.

In accordance with, and to the extent permitted by, the Takeover Code and normal UK market practice, Canaccord Genuity and its respective affiliates may continue to act as exempt principal traders or exempt market makers in Blancco Shares on the London Stock Exchange and will engage in certain other purchasing activities consistent with their respective normal and usual practice and applicable law, as permitted by Rule 14e-5(b)(9) under the US Exchange Act.

In accordance with, and to the extent permitted by, the Takeover Code and normal UK market practice, Bidco, its affiliates, their advisors and nominees or brokers (acting as agents) may make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, Blancco Shares outside the Offer, such as in open market purchases or privately negotiated purchases, during the Offer Period and the period in which the Offer remains open for acceptance. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be made, they would be made outside the US and would comply with applicable law, including United Kingdom laws and the US Exchange Act. Any such purchases by Bidco or its affiliates will not be made at prices higher than the price of the Offer provided in this announcement unless the price of the Offer is increased accordingly. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase shall be disclosed as required under United Kingdom laws and will be available to all investors (including US investors) via the Regulatory Information Service and shall be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com. To the extent that such information is required to be publicly disclosed in the United Kingdom in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, this information will, as applicable, also be publicly disclosed in the United States.

It may be difficult for US holders of Blancco Shares to enforce their rights and any claim arising out of the US securities laws in connection with the Offer, since Bidco and Blancco are located in a non- US jurisdiction, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of a non-US jurisdiction. US holders of Blancco Shares may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of the US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgement.

The financial statements and financial information included in or incorporated by reference into this announcement have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom and thus may not be comparable to financial statements and information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the US ("US GAAP"). US GAAP differs in certain significant respects from accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom. None of the financial information in this announcement has been audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States or the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

Neither the Offer nor this announcement have been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other US regulatory authority, nor have such authorities approved or disapproved or passed judgement upon the fairness or the merits of the Offer or determined if the information contained in this announcement is adequate, accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States. The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer by a US holder as consideration for the transfer of its Blancco Shares pursuant to the Offer will likely be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Each US holder of Blancco Shares is urged to consult their independent legal, tax and financial advisers regarding the tax consequences of the Offer applicable to them, including under for US federal income tax purposes and applicable US state and local, as well as overseas and other, tax laws.

Publication on website and hard copies

This announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code will be available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on a dedicated microsite established for the purpose of the Acquisition at https://www.whitebidco.com/ and Blancco's website at https://www.blancco.com/investors/investor-center/information-for-blancco-shareholders/ promptly and in any event by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the publication of this announcement. The content of the websites referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.

Requesting hard copy documents

In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, Blancco Shareholders and persons with information rights may request a hard copy of this announcement by contacting Blancco's registrars, Computershare, Corporate Actions Projects, Bristol, BS99 6AH, United Kingdom during business hours between 8.30 a.m. - 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales, on 0370 889 4099 (or [phone] from abroad). For persons who receive a copy of this announcement in electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this announcement will not be sent unless so requested. Such persons may also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent to you in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy form.

Electronic Communications

Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain other information provided by Blancco Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Blancco may be provided to Bidco during the offer period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover Code.

General

If you are in doubt about the contents of this announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) if you are a resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.

Rounding

Certain figures included in this announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables or forms may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables or forms may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.

 

END