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, NEW ZEALAND 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 WAS DEEMED BY THE COMPANY TO CONTAIN INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATIONS (EU) NO. 596/2014 AS THEY FORM PART OF UK DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018. WITH THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THIS INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
12 August 2021
Creo Medical Group plc
("Creo" or the "Company")
Proposed Placing to raise a minimum of £30 million
Launch of Accelerated Book Build
Proposed Open Offer to raise up to approximately £5 million
Creo Medical Group plc (AIM: CREO), a medical device company focused on the emerging field of surgical endoscopy is pleased to announce a proposed Placing by way of an accelerated bookbuild to raise a minimum of £30 million (before expenses) via a conditional placing of new Ordinary Shares at the issue price of 182.5p per share to new and existing institutional investors, to support further growth of the Group and development of its business. The accelerated book build process is expected to close on 13 August 2021, following which the final quantum of the Placing proceeds will be announced.
Furthermore, the Company is proposing to raise up to approximately £5 million by way of an Open Offer which will be available to all Qualifying Shareholders on the Record Date.
Transaction Highlights
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Conditional Placing to raise a minimum of £30 million at the Issue Price |
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Open Offer to raise gross proceeds of up to an additional £5 million at the Issue price |
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The Placing is to be conducted by way of an accelerated bookbuild process which will commence immediately following this Announcement and will be subject to the terms and conditions set out in Appendix I to and as otherwise provided in this Announcement. |
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The Issue Price of 182.5 pence represents a discount of approximately 3.8 per cent. to the trailing 30 day volume weighted average price of 189.7p |
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Minimum of 16,438,357 Placing Shares to be issued in connection with the Placing and up to 2,775,896 Open Offer Shares to be issued in connection with the Open Offer |
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The net proceeds from the Fundraising are intended to be used by Creo and its Group to: |
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accelerate the commercial rollout of its products in the US, EMEA and APAC; |
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explore potential strategic acquisition opportunities; |
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develop its CROMA Kamaptive Energy platform technology to allow license potential to be exploited, specifically in relation to robotics potential; |
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continue to develop the Company's IP portfolio in areas such as electroporation, plasma sterilisation and other energy modalities within the CROMA platform; |
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undertake clinical trials for Chinese and Japanese markets; |
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continue R&D to develop new devices; and |
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mitigate funding risk for the foreseeable future. |
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Completion of the Fundraising is conditional, inter alia, upon Shareholder approval at the General Meeting to be held on or around 6 September 2021. |
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Cenkos reserves the right, by agreement with the Company, to increase the size of the Placing to accommodate additional demand. |
A circular, containing further details of the Fundraising and notice of the General Meeting to be held at 10.00 a.m. on 6 September 2021 to, inter alia, approve the Resolutions required to implement the Fundraising, is expected to be published and despatched to Shareholders on 16 August 2021 (the "Circular"). Following its publication, the Circular will be available on the Company's website at https://www.creomedical.com/investors . Defined terms used in this announcement are set out at the end of the announcement.
Craig Gulliford, Chief Executive Officer of Creo, said: "These additional funds will be used to accelerate the commercial roll-out of our suite of patented electrosurgical devices powered by our CROMA Kamaptive Energy Platform technology, but also provide us with the means to develop this portfolio to allow full integration with some of the leading robotic surgery technologies. This also means that we are well funded to continue to explore further strategic acquisition opportunities, continue our research & development progress for new devices and allow us to the undertake the clinical trials necessary to target markets in China and Japan."
If you would like to participate in the accelerated bookbuild, please contact your usual contact on the Growth Companies Sales Team or call the Cenkos dealing desk on +44 (0)20 7397 1946.
For further information, please visit www.creomedical.com or contact:
Creo Medical Group plc |
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Richard Rees (CFO) |
+44 (0)1291 606 005 |
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Cenkos Securities plc |
+44 (0)20 7397 8900 |
Camilla Hume/Stephen Keys (NOMAD) |
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Michael Johnson / Russell Kerr (Sales) |
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Walbrook PR Ltd |
Tel: +44 (0)20 7933 8780 or creo@walbrookpr.com |
Paul McManus / Sam Allen |
Mob: +44 (0)7980 541 893 / +44 (0)7502 558 258 |
Details of the Fundraising
Cenkos Securities plc ("Cenkos") is acting as sole broker, bookrunner and nominated adviser to the Company in connection with the Fundraising and Admission. The Placing is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Appendix to this Announcement or as otherwise agreed with Placees.
Cenkos will today commence the Bookbuilding Process in respect of the Placing. The final number of Placing Shares to be placed at the Issue Price will be determined at the close of the Bookbuilding Process.
The book will open with immediate effect following this Announcement. The timing of the closing of the Bookbuilding Process and allocations thereunder are at the absolute discretion of Cenkos, having consulted with the Company. Details of the number of Placing Shares will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuilding Process. The Placing is not being underwritten.
In addition, in order to provide Shareholders who do not take part in the Placing with an opportunity to participate in the proposed issue of new Ordinary Shares, the Company is providing all Qualifying Shareholders with the opportunity to subscribe for Open Offer Shares at the Issue Price. Qualifying Shareholders subscribing for their full entitlement under the Open Offer may also request additional Open Offer Shares through the Excess Application Facility. The Open Offer is not being underwritten.
The Circular, containing further details of the Fundraising and convening the General Meeting in order to pass the Resolutions, is expected to be despatched to Shareholders on or around 16 August 2021 and the Circular, once published, will be available on the Company's website at www.creomedical.com/investors.
The Fundraising and the issue of the New Ordinary Shares are conditional upon, among other things, the Resolutions being duly passed by Shareholders at the General Meeting. The Directors recognise the vast improvement to the UK's COVID-19 situation, however in light of the Company's ongoing desire to protect the health and safety of our shareholders and employees, the Directors recommend shareholders to not attend the General Meeting in person but vote via proxy.
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.
Admission, Settlement and CREST
Application will be made for the New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM and a further announcement will be made in due course.
Subject to the passing of the Resolutions, settlement for the New Ordinary Shares and Admission are expected to take place at 8.00 a.m. on or around 7 September 2021 (or such later time and/or date as Cenkos may agree with the Company not being later than 8.00 a.m. on 16 September 2021). In addition to the passing of the Resolutions, the Fundraising is conditional upon, among other things, Admission becoming effective and the Placing Agreement not being terminated in accordance with its terms.
The Appendix sets out further information relating to the Bookbuilding Process and the terms and conditions of the Placing. Persons who have chosen to participate in the Placing, by making an oral, electronic or written offer to acquire Placing Shares, will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety (including the Appendix) and to be making such offer on the terms and subject to the conditions herein, and to be providing the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in the Appendix.
This Announcement should be read in its entirety.
Expected Timetable for the Fundraising
Announcement of the Fundraising |
2021 12 August
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Record Date for entitlement under the Open Offer |
12 August
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Announcement of the results of the Placing |
13 August
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Publication of the Circular, Proxy Form and, to Qualifying Non-Crest Shareholders, the Application Form |
16 August
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Ex-entitlement date of the Open Offer |
16 August
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Open Offer Entitlements and Excess Open Offer Entitlements credited to stock accounts in CREST of Qualifying CREST Shareholders |
17 August
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Latest recommended time and date for requested withdrawal of Basic Open Offer Entitlements from CREST |
4.30 p.m. on 27 August
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Latest time and date for depositing Open Offer Entitlements in CREST |
3.00 p.m. on 31 August
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Latest time and date for splitting of Application Forms under the Open Offer |
3.00 p.m. on 1 September
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Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy and CREST voting instructions |
10.00 a.m. on 2 September
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Latest time and date for receipt of Application Forms and payment in full under the Open Offer and settlement of relevant CREST instructions (as appropriate) |
11.00 a.m. on 3 September
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General Meeting |
10.00 a.m. on 6 September
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Results of the General Meeting and the Open Offer announced |
6 September
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Admission of the New Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM and commencement of dealings |
8.00 a.m. on 7 September
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Where applicable, expected date for CREST accounts to be credited in respect of New Ordinary Shares in uncertificated form |
7 September
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Where applicable, expected date for despatch of definitive share certificates for New Ordinary Shares in certificated form |
21 September |
Notes:
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Each of the above times and/or dates is subject to change at the absolute discretion of the Company and Cenkos. If any of the above times and/or dates should change, the revised times and/or dates will be announced through a Regulatory Information Service. |
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All of the above times refer to London time unless otherwise stated. |
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All events listed in the above timetable following the General Meeting are conditional on the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting. |
Each of the times and dates above refer to London time and are subject to change. Any such change will be notified to Shareholders by an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service. All events listed in the above timetable following the General Meeting are conditional on the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Directors believe that, despite the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was a transformational year for the Group, the highlights of which were:
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The acquisitions of Albyn Medical and Boucart Medical, providing a direct sales presence in key European markets to facilitate the roll-out of the Group's CE marked advanced energy devices and immediate revenue derived from the sale of own, own label and third party GI and Urology products; |
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The appointment of David Woods as Chief Commercial Officer, strengthening the Group's executive leadership and bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the business; |
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The recruitment of a direct sales team in the US and APAC providing greater access to these important markets; |
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A tenfold increase in the Group's commercial, marketing and distribution resource; |
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An increase in the Group's headcount from 91 employees in 2019 to 217 at the end of 2020; |
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The signing of commercialisation agreements with the UK Department of Health and Social Care providing preferential pricing to NHS hospitals for a limited period; |
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The clearing of five additional advanced energy devices through the CE mark process and the gaining of US FDA 510(k) clearances for three devices; and |
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The launch of the Kamaptive brand and resulting creation of multiple partnership opportunities with significant commercial and industrial partners to license and develop Creo technology under the "powered by Kamaptive" brand.
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The Company is pursuing the Fundraising to continue building on the success of 2020 and the milestones that it has achieved since IPO and to move into the next stage of its development. The Directors believe that, with the technology it has developed along with its pipeline medical devices and the commercial infrastructure that is now in place, the Company continues to be well placed to capitalise on the rise of endoscopic surgery, enabling the performance of clinical procedures to be carried out via an endoscopic procedure minimally and non-invasively and which, many expect, will replace more traditional open and laparoscopic surgical procedures.
The Company has developed a suite of patented electrosurgical devices, each of which is powered by CROMA Advanced Energy platform, powered by Kamaptive, which enables bipolar radiofrequency energy and high frequency focused microwave energy to be delivered to its devices via a single accessory port. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Fundraising to:
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accelerate the commercial roll-out of its products in the US, EMEA and APAC; |
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explore potential strategic acquisition opportunities; |
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Continue to develop its pipeline of commercial licencing and partnering opportunities via its CROMA Advanced Energy platform under the "powered by Kamaptive" Brand to allow licence potential to be exploited, specifically in relation to robotics; |
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continue to develop the Company's IP portfolio in areas such as electroporation, plasma sterilisation and other energy modalities within CROMA to fuel organic growth and expanding the Kamaptive program; |
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undertake clinical trials for Chinese and Japanese markets; and |
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mitigate funding risk for the foreseeable future. |
Summary of Creo Medical
The Group is a medical device company focused on the development and commercialisation of minimally invasive electrosurgical devices, bringing advanced energy to endoscopy.
The Company's vision is to improve patient outcomes through the development and commercialisation of a suite of electrosurgical devices that are enabled by CROMA, powered by Kamaptive. The Group has developed the CROMA powered by Kamaptive full-spectrum adaptive technology to optimise surgical capability and patient outcomes. Kamaptive is a seamless, intuitive integration of multi-modal energy sources, optimised to dynamically adapt to patient tissue during procedures such as resection, dissection, coagulation and ablation of tissue. Kamaptive technology provides clinicians with increased flexibility, precision and controlled surgical solutions. CROMA currently delivers bipolar RF energy for precise localised cutting and focused high frequency MW energy for controlled coagulation and ablation via a single accessory port. This technology, combined with the Group's range of patented electrosurgical devices, is designed to provide clinicians with flexible, accurate and controlled clinical solutions. The Group's three initial areas of focus are (1) in the GI, (2) soft tissue ablation (including but not limited to, the liver, pancreas, kidney) and (3) lung interventions for the resection and/or ablation of pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions. The Directors believe the Company's technology can impact the landscape of surgery and endoscopy by providing a safer, less-invasive and more cost-efficient option for procedures. To date the Company's devices have been used in over 750 procedures.
The Group has four technology families - Speedboat, MicroBlate, SlypSeal and SpydrBlade.
Core Products Utilising CROMA
CROMA delivers bipolar RF and focused high frequency MW advanced energy through a single accessory port to enable a suite of multi and single modality, matched single devices which are optimised around the core tissue effects of dissection, resection, haemostasis and ablation. These core tissue effects, are optimised around a wide range of evolving device families:
Speedboat device technology - is, the Directors believe, a unique device technology with the only known bipolar surgical dissection blade in any form of surgery. Additionally, Speedboat integrates MW technology allowing for precise control of bleeding during surgery. These features can also be uniquely integrated with irrigation and injection capability. As with all the CREO device families, the Speedboat device technology has applications in many different areas of clinical therapy and surgery.
Speedboat Inject (targeting Gastrointestinal lesions (including Bowel and Upper GI cancer) & Swallowing Disorders)
The first device launched by the Group along with CROMA with EU and US clearance, has been used in numerous clinical cases worldwide, is supported by excellent clinical publications, and with strong health economic data already established. Speedboat Inject is a flexible device aimed at the endoscopist enabling them to lift tissue with viscous fluid injection via a retractable needle, cut tissue precisely using bipolar RF energy delivered along the edge of the instrument for localised energy transfer, reducing the risks associated with monopolar tissue resection, and deliver high frequency controlled and focused coagulation, all within a single instrument. Data from the UK's leading clinical user of Speedboat demonstrates that its use can save NHS hospitals nearly £10,400 per procedure versus a traditional surgical outcome for patients. The Speedboat Inject device was CE marked for lower GI tract use and gained FDA clearance for upper and lower GI tract use in 2017 and was commercially launched in October 2019. The Board is targeting National Institute for Health & Care Excellence accreditation submission for the Speedboat Inject in 2021.
Speedboat Slim (targeting Gastrointestinal lesions (including Bowel and Upper GI cancer) & Swallowing Disorders)
The second device in the Speedboat family of devices, with a "slim" profile, is Speedboat Slim which enables endoscopists to access more indications in patients where narrower and more flexible devices are required over Speedboat Inject. The Speedboat Slim device was CE marked in June 2020.
MicroBlate device technology - brings very high frequency 5.8GHz microwave energy into clinical practice for the first time. Operating at such a high frequency offers unrivalled levels of control and feedback via CROMA allowing physicians to precisely ablate diseased tissue in multiple tissue types and many different clinical access methods.
MicroBlate Fine (targeting Lung, Pancreas, Kidney, Liver & GI lesions)
Brings fine needle microwave ablation into clinical practice for the first time and is believed to be the smallest diameter MW ablation needle antenna in the world. With a diameter of less than 1mm, the MicroBlate Fine device can be used in a variety of ablation procedures such as open, laparoscopic and flexible endoscopic procedures. Designed to be the same form and dimensions as a standard biopsy needle, MicroBlate Fine is designed for the ablation of a wide range of tissue types (such as pancreas, liver, kidney, lung and muscle). Due to the small diameter of the device, it can be used to ablate tumours in highly perfused organs without the risk of bleeding prior to energy delivery due to the sub-mm insertion tract. The MicroBlate Fine device received 510(k) clearance from the US Food & Drug Administration in November 2020 and was CE (for use in the UK and EU) marked in June 2020.
MicroBlate Flex (targeting lung lesions)
A new soft tissue ablation device, designed with the aim of being able to ablate nodules and tumours in several tissue types including lung (in particular in the airways), using the highest frequency MW energy used for tumour ablation. This device also has potential to be used to treat a number of other conditions, where a small diameter flexible device enables access into otherwise inaccessible regions of the body. The device could be particularly useful to treat a range of ENT indications, including nasopharyngeal cancer and nasal polyps. Due to its small size and flexibility, MicroBlate Flex has the potential to reach deep into the lung where, once in position, the device can be inserted through a catheter and into the tumour. The MicroBlate Flex device received 510(k) clearance from the US Food & Drug Administration in January 2021 and was CE marked in June 2020.
SpydrBlade device technology optimises the power of CROMA, where advanced bipolar RF energy is used to cut tissue and precisely controlled MW energy is used for the coagulation and sealing of tissue during surgery. The SpydrBlade jaw structure utilises the unique blade technology of the Group's Speedboat technology which allows the surgeon to cut tissue as the jaws close, with the jaws of the device open as well as while the jaws are closed as a blade. No other laparoscopic surgical device is known to have these fundamental resection features. The Directors believe that the patented combination with microwave energy for the sealing and coagulation of tissue adds up to a game-changing device technology platform.
SpydrBlade Flex (targeting Gastrointestinal lesions (including Bowel and Upper GI cancer) & Swallowing Disorders)
This is the first SpydrBlade device in the family and is described as "the holy grail of interventional endoscopy" by Rob Hawes MD, a world-renowned pioneer in the field of therapeutic endoscopy at the Florida Hospital in Orlando. Designed to operate in flexible endoscopes commonly used around the world, SpydrBlade Flex puts advanced laparoscopic capability into the hands of the endoscopist for the first time. Building on the Speedboat blade technology, SpydrBlade Flex enables the clinician to grasp, cut and coagulate highly perfused tissue (such as in the colon, stomach, liver or spleen). The ability to alternate between cutting and coagulating using RF and MW energy across the 'jaws' of SpydrBlade Flex gives the clinician significantly more control providing a gliding cut using a fixed bipolar RF field as well as a conventional bipolar RF cutting between two jaws at opposite polarities. It offers great utility to bloodlessly resect/dissect and coagulate in a wide range of organs within the human body by sequentially applying the microwave field followed by the RF field to coagulate and then cut. The SpydrBlade Flex device was CE marked in June 2020.
SlypSeal device technology is believed to be the only "non-stick" electrosurgical haemostasis device technology in the market. This key feature overcomes the perennial challenge in surgery and transforms the surgeons' ability to precisely manage bleeding with the unique ability to reapply with the "non-stick" feature addressing the risk of "re-bleeds". This combined with the precision and control of MW coagulation, opens up many different device structures in the future.
SlypSeal Flex (targeting Gastrointestinal Bleeding)
The first device in this family of devices targeting GI bleeds which is one of the most common clinical indications in the GI tract. SlypSeal Flex will target the treatment of upper and lower GI bleeds, such as stomach ulcers or bleeding polyps. SlypSeal™ Flex received FDA clearance in March 2020 and was CE marked in June 2020.
The Group 's products are distributed via direct and indirect sales channels. The Group has a direct presence in 8 countries across Europe, the US and Hong Kong and access to a further 19 countries through 11 signed distribution agreements and 8 more agreements which are currently under negotiation and predominantly in the EMEA and APAC regions.
As of 31 May 2021, the Group has 112 patent families, which currently comprise in total 296 granted patents and 815 pending applications. The Group's patent estate is growing at a steady rate covering existing products, future enhancements to CROMA and future product ideas.
Strategy
The Directors believe that they have the opportunity to develop the business in multiple ways through a three-tiered build, buy and partner strategy.
Build
The "Build" aspect first tier of the Company's strategy is to organically build the team across global markets to commercialise and develop its existing and continually developing technology. This strategy includes bringing CROMA to market through the suite of electrosurgical devices, described above. Unlike traditional open surgery and more advanced keyhole/laparoscopic surgeries that require incisions to be made in the patient to gain access to diseased tissue, endoscopic devices gain access via natural orifices. As no incisions are made through the skin, the risks associated with infection are significantly reduced, as are the procedure and recovery times. Furthermore, patients can undergo certain procedures without general anaesthetic and under mild or no sedation and can, therefore, usually be treated as day patients in endoscopy suites or outpatient clinics. In turn, this reduces the length of stay in hospital, the risk of infection, and the cost of procedure by transferring therapy from the operating theatre to the endoscopy suite.
Market overview, activities and opportunity
Speedboat and Speedboat submucosal dissection procedure . There are c.28 million colonoscopy procedures performed annually in the US and Europe which result in c.5.5 million procedures to remove lesions. Up to 15 per cent. (approximately 800,000) of these procedures are complex lesions which would, the Directors believe, benefit from the use of the Company's Speedboat device and a Speedboat submucosal dissection procedure. Furthermore, the Directors believe that the numbers of addressable procedures will increase as the screening age of patients is lowered as well as a follow on from physicians utilising the devices discovering additional procedures that can leverage the benefits of the devices.
As announced in May 2021, the Group's Speedboat submucosal dissection procedure is estimated to lead to cost savings in NHS Hospitals of over £10,000 per procedure versus a traditional surgical outcome for patients and represents an approximate saving of 50 per cent. compared to a surgical intervention. As a result, the Board expects cumulative NHS savings achieved from the Speedboat devices to be in excess of £2.5 million by the end of 2021. Based on "The 2020 National Bowel Cancer Audit", the Board also believes that potential NHS savings could amount to c. £180 million per annum.
To date the Company has held 35 training programmes, 19 of which were conducted during the global pandemic with 93 clinicians and has trained over 150 clinicians today. The Company has a further 16 courses scheduled during 2021 to train additional clinicians.
MicroBlate Fine . Pancreatic and liver cancers account for over 1.4 million cancers globally per annum. These types of cancers have a high mortality rate (liver at 80 per cent. and pancreas at 90 per cent. at five years) and most are inoperable due to the late diagnosis (less than 20 per cent. of pancreatic cancers are operable). The Group's MicroBlate Fine device, with endoscopic ultrasound, enables a less invasive, endoscopic alternative to treat hepatobiliary tumours and to treat patients where surgery is not an option and has an estimated cost per procedure of c.£3,000 to £4,000.
The Group has established a key opinion leader user community in the US, EMEA and APAC. The first in-man clinical use of the MicroBlate Fine device to successfully ablate pancreatic tumour tissue under endoscopic ultrasound guidance was completed in December 2020 with further cases expected to follow during Q3 and Q4 2021 in EMEA, Asia and the US. Other activities ongoing are an international, multi-centre trial introducing the first minimally invasive treatment option for liver cancer, a single site study on the use of MicroBlate Fine to treat gastric varices and a single site study for nerve ablation for pain management.
The Board is targeting over 500,000 potential procedures where the MicroBlate Fine device could be used to target inoperable cancers and small tumours. Subject to further studies the Board also believes that as physicians utilise the MicroBlate Fine they will suggest additional procedures that could potentially leverage the benefits of the device.
MicroBlate Flex. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally with over 2.2 million new cases each year. Only 34 per cent. of lung cancers are diagnosed at early stages due to poor screening techniques resulting in high mortality. Surgery or percutaneous approaches have been the primary therapeutic treatments for early-stage cancer although these are invasive with a high risk of complications. Whilst significant investments have been made recently in diagnostic imaging/pathology for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema and others, there is no flexible endoscopic therapy currently available. MicroBlate Flex enables a less invasive, endoscopic alternative to treat pre-cancerous nodules as a first-line option, as well as treatment of patients not eligible for surgery.
The efficacy of the MicroBlate Flex has been validated for all areas of the lung in a cadaver lab. The first in man procedure utilising the device is schedule to be performed by Dr NG Sze Hang Calvin, a professor in thoracic surgery at the Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong in Q3 2021 with further cases in UK, EMEA and US planned for later in the year. Furthermore, a global multi-centre study is planned to demonstrate efficacy for ablation of liver tumours and pulmonary nodules that are not suitable for surgery, and the Group is investigating compatibility testing with a potential robotics partner.
The Board estimates that each year there are over 754,000 cases that would have the potential for non-surgical treatment of early stage (1 or 2) disease with earlier screening increasing detection rates and thereby increasing the number of potential procedures and that via the MicroBlate Flex device it may be possible to manage advanced disease by addressing recurring or localised small lesions.
The Board believes that there is a significant and growing market opportunity for the Group's suite of products. To date the Group has trained 150 clinicians with more than 30 hospitals evaluating purchasing the product post training. There are more than 50 CROMA boxes currently in situ and the Board is targeting having over 2000 customers with 500 Power Users (a user who performs at least two procedures per week) within 3-5 years with the potential to create a £40-50 million business.
The Board also believes that there is the scope to create future instruments for use with CROMA which can be evolved to deliver existing and new energy frequencies and modalities including electroporation, for a range of laparoscopic, robotic, surgery and other open-source devices.
Buy
The "Buy" aspect to the Company's strategy is to acquire target companies with existing and mature sales, distribution and/or manufacturing operations to complement and add infrastructure and capability in our direct sales markets. The Directors believe that an opportunity available to the Group is the ability to enhance the Group's existing technology, accelerate its route to market and/or expand the Company's geographic reach, empower new surgical disciplines (e.g. urology or gynaecology) or access method (e.g. laparoscopy and robotic surgery) when it is commercially more efficient do to so.
The Group made two acquisitions in 2020; Albyn Medical and Boucart Medical. The Board believes that these acquisitions were transformational for the Group providing the Group with direct access to key European markets as well as bringing a wide range of complementary GI products and to broaden the Company's portfolio into urology. The sales teams at both companies have integrated well and the businesses are performing above management's original expectations. The Board is looking to replicate the success of these two acquisitions and, accordingly, continues to identify, and has been presented with, a number of potential acquisition opportunities which, the Board believes, could give the Company the opportunity to further utilise the potential in CROMA and accelerate its ability to place products in the market. When assessing opportunities, the Board aims to accelerate access to market either with adjacent technologies or infrastructure whilst seeking synergistic benefits to the Group as a whole.
Partner
The third aspect of the Company's strategy is to partner. Partnering may include the license of the Group's advanced energy technology, Kamaptive, to third parties to embed in their own solutions, and apply to new markets.
The Directors believe that there is significant potential to work closely with third parties where certain mutual benefits can be identified. The Company has developed relationships with a number of significant industrial and commercial partners to commercialise the Group's technology.
The Board sees a sizeable opportunity for the Group in licensing its advanced energy, Kamaptive, to third parties for use in:
· Laparoscopic and endoscopic Robotic applications - platform for delivery of advanced energy and device technology into a number of surgical applications
· Handheld laparoscopic applications - a capsule advanced energy platform for delivery of advanced energy and device technology to support a number of surgical applications
· Non-thermal plasma - platform for wound care and scope decontamination
· Electroporation - platform for non-thermal tissue effects including irreversible tissue "ablation" and cellular level sensitisation.
In addition to the Kamaptive licensing partners mentioned above, discussions with potential industrial partners have recently developed with specific discussion relating to a potential commercial partnership agreement alongside a potential equity investment in Creo.
Concluding any and all such agreements with potential partners is a key focus for management. Whilst the timing of any due diligence processes required to establish such relationships is outside the Company's control, the Board remains confident that pursuing such relationships not only creates long term shareholder value but also aligns with the Company's objectives to improve lives.
CURRENT TRADING AND PROSPECTS
The Company gave a trading update on 19 May 2021 (RNS No: 0640Z) and subsequently announced its annual results for the 12 months ended 31 December 2020 on 4 June 2021 (RNS No: 8011A). Since 19 May 2021, the Company has performed above management's expectations and has generated revenue in excess of £12 million in the 6 months to 30 June 2021 with the Company's cash balance as at 30 June 2021 being in excess of £30 million. The Executive team continues to execute against the Company's original plan at IPO and deliver against the operational milestones set out at the time and, accordingly, the Board looks to the Company's future with increasing confidence.
THE PLACING AGREEMENT
Pursuant to the terms of the Placing Agreement, the Broker, as agent for the Company, has conditionally agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for the Placing Shares. The Broker has conditionally placed the Placing Shares with certain institutional and other investors at the Issue Price. Neither the Placing nor the Open Offer has been underwritten by the Broker. The Placing Agreement is conditional upon, inter alia, the Resolutions being duly passed at the General Meeting and Admission becoming effective on or before 8.00 a.m. on 7 September 2021 (or such later time and/or date as Cenkos may agree, but in any event by no later than 8.00 a.m. on 21 September 2021).
The Placing Agreement contains customary warranties from the Company in favour of the Broker in relation to, inter alia, the accuracy of the information in the Circular and other matters relating to the Group and its business. In addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify the Broker in relation to certain defined liabilities that it may incur in respect of the Fundraising.
The Broker has the right to terminate the Placing Agreement in certain circumstances prior to the Admission, in particular, in the event that any of the warranties in the Placing Agreement were untrue or inaccurate, or were misleading when given or in the event of a material adverse change affecting the business, financial trading position or prospects of the Company or the Group as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business and whether or not foreseeable at the date of the Placing Agreement.
The Placing Agreement also provides for the Company to pay all costs, charges and expenses of, or incidental to, the Fundraising and the Admission including all legal and other professional fees and expenses.
The Placing Shares have not been made available to the public and have not been offered or sold in any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so.
The Open Offer
The Company considers it important that Shareholders have an opportunity (where it is practicable for them to do so) to participate in the Fundraising and accordingly the Company is making the Open Offer to Qualifying Shareholders. The Company is proposing to raise up to approximately £5.07 million (before fees and expenses) through the issue of up to 1,642,877 Open Offer Shares at the Issue Price. Any Open Offer Shares not subscribed for by Qualifying Shareholders will be available to Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility. The Open Offer is not being underwritten.
Qualifying Shareholders may apply for Open Offer Shares under the Open Offer at the Issue Price on the following basis:
1 Open Offer Share for every 58 Existing Ordinary Shares held by
the Shareholder on the Record Date
Entitlements of Qualifying Shareholders will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Open Offer Shares. Fractional entitlements which would otherwise arise will not be issued to Qualifying Shareholders but will be aggregated and made available under the Excess Application Facility. The Excess Application Facility enables Qualifying Shareholders to apply for Excess Shares in excess of their Open Offer Entitlement.
Further details of the Open Offer and the application process relating to the Open Offer will be set out in the Circular.
Recommendation
The Directors consider the Fundraising to be in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole and accordingly recommend unanimously Shareholders to vote in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting and the Directors confirm that they intend to vote in favour of the Resolutions in respect of their beneficial holdings amounting, in aggregate, to 5,156,303 Existing Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 3.2 per cent. of the existing issued Ordinary Share capital of the Company.
This Announcement should be read in its entirety. In particular, you should read and understand the information provided in the Appendix below.
The Appendix to this Announcement (which forms part of this Announcement) sets out the terms and conditions of the Placing. Persons who have chosen to participate in the Placing, by making an oral or written offer to acquire Placing Shares, will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety (including the Appendix) and to be making such offer on the terms and subject to the conditions herein, and to be providing the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in the Appendix.
APPENDIX I - TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY REGARDING THE PLACING.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN (TOGETHER THE "ANNOUNCEMENT") 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, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, NOR IS IT INTENDED THAT IT WILL BE SO APPROVED.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS DIRECTED ONLY AT: (A) PERSONS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA") WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(e) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME (THE "PROSPECTUS REGULATION") ("QUALIFIED INVESTORS"); AND (B) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, PERSONS WHO ARE "QUALIFIED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION 2017/1129/EU AS IT FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 AND WHO ALSO: (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) (INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER"); (II) ARE PERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.) OF THE ORDER; OR (III) ARE PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE BE LAWFULLY COMMUNICATED (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 CREO MEDICAL GROUP PLC.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE PLACING SHARES (AS DEFINED BELOW) HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT 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 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. SUBJECT TO CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS AND AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY, THE PLACING SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD ONLY OUTSIDE 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, THE UNITED KINGDOM OR ELSEWHERE. NO MONEY, SECURITIES OR OTHER CONSIDERATION FROM ANY PERSON INSIDE THE UNITED STATES IS BEING SOLICITED AND, IF SENT IN RESPONSE TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF AN INVESTMENT IN PLACING SHARES. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, ANY PART OF IT OR ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT MAY BE RESTRICTED BY LAW IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS, AND ANY PERSON INTO WHOSE POSSESSION THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, ANY PART OF IT OR ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT COMES SHOULD INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT, AND OBSERVE, SUCH RESTRICTIONS.
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, Cenkos Securities plc ("Cenkos") or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees 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 Cenkos 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 (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa 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 will be made pursuant to an exemption under the UK Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus. In the United Kingdom, this Announcement is being directed solely at persons in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply.
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 Fundraising 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, the Financial Markets Authority of New Zealand or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained for 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 offering in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the Republic of South Africa. 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 Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the Republic of South Africa 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 action.
This Announcement should be read in its entirety. In particular, you should read and understand the information provided in this "Important Information" section of this Announcement.
The Company proposes to raise capital by way of the Placing and Open Offer.
By participating in the Placing, each Placee will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, to be participating, making an offer and acquiring the Placing Shares on the terms and conditions contained herein and to be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in this Appendix.
In particular, each such Placee represents, warrants, undertakes, agrees and acknowledges (amongst other things) that:
1 |
it is a Relevant Person and undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the purposes of its business; |
2 |
in the case of a Relevant Person in a Relevant State who acquires any Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing: |
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2.1 it is a Qualified Investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation; |
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2.2 in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the Prospectus Regulation: |
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2.2.1 the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in a Relevant State other than Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent of Cenkos has been given to the offer or resale; or |
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2.2.2 where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in a Relevant State other than Qualified Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the Prospectus Regulation as having been made to such persons; |
3 |
in the case of a Relevant Person in the United Kingdom who acquires any Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing: |
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3.1 it is a Qualified Investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation; |
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3.2 in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation: |
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3.2.1 the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in the United Kingdom other than Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent of Cenkos has been given to the offer or resale; or |
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3.2.2 where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in the United Kingdom other than Qualified Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the UK Prospectus Regulation as having been made to such persons; |
4 |
it is acquiring the Placing Shares for its own account or is acquiring the Placing Shares for an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and has the authority to make and does make the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements, undertakings and agreements contained in this Announcement; |
5 |
it understands (or if acting for the account of another person, such person has confirmed that such person understands) the resale and transfer restrictions set out in this Appendix; and |
6 |
except as otherwise permitted by the Company and subject to any available exemptions from applicable securities laws, it (and any account referred to in paragraph 3 above) is outside the United States acquiring the Placing Shares in offshore transactions as defined in and in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. |
No prospectus
No prospectus or other offering document has been or will be submitted to be approved by the FCA in relation to the Fundraising or the Placing Shares and Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in this Announcement and any Publicly Available Information and subject to any further terms set forth in the form of confirmation to be sent to individual Placees.
Each Placee, by participating in the Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms that it has neither received nor relied on any information (other than the Publicly Available Information), representation, warranty or statement made by or on behalf of the Company, Cenkos or any other person and none of the Company, Cenkos or any other person acting on such person's behalf nor any of their respective affiliates has or shall have any liability for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing. No Placees should consider any information in this Announcement to be legal, tax or business advice, Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation.
Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing Shares
Cenkos has today entered into the Placing Agreement with the Company under which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Placing Agreement, Cenkos, as agent for and on behalf of the Company, has agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to procure placees for the Placing Shares at the Issue Price of 182.5 pence per Placing Share.
The Placing Shares will, when issued, be subject to the Articles and credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the Existing Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid in respect of such ordinary shares after the date of issue of the Placing Shares.
Application for admission to trading
Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for Admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM.
It is expected that Admission will take place no later than 8.00 a.m. on 7 September 2021 and that dealings in the Placing Shares on AIM will commence at the same time.
Principal terms of the Placing
1 |
Cenkos is acting as placing agent and broker to the Fundraising, as agent for and on behalf of the Company. Cenkos is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA and is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to the customers of Cenkos or for providing advice in relation to the matters described in this Announcement. |
2 |
Participation in the Placing will only be available to persons who may lawfully be, and are invited by Cenkos to participate. Cenkos and any of its respective affiliates are entitled to participate in the Placing as principal. |
3 |
The price per Placing Share is 182.5 pence and is payable to Cenkos as agent of the Company by all Placees |
4 |
Each Placee's allocation is determined by Cenkos in its discretion following consultation with the Company and has been or will be confirmed orally by Cenkos, as applicable, and a form of confirmation will be dispatched as soon as possible thereafter. That oral confirmation will give rise to an irrevocable, legally binding commitment by that person (who at that point becomes a Placee), in favour of Cenkos and the Company, under which it agrees to acquire the number of Placing Shares allocated to the Placee at the Issue Price and otherwise on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Appendix and in accordance with the Articles. Except with the prior written consent of the Cenkos, such commitment will not be capable of variation or revocation at the time at which it is submitted. |
5 |
Each Placee's allocation and commitment will be evidenced by a form of confirmation issued to such Placee by Cenkos. The terms of this Appendix will be deemed incorporated in that form of confirmation. |
6 |
Each Placee will have an immediate, separate, irrevocable and binding obligation, owed to Cenkos as agent for the Company, to pay to them (or as they may direct) in cleared funds an amount equal to the product of the Issue Price and the number of Placing Shares such Placee has agreed to acquire and the Company has agreed to allot and issue to that Placee. |
7 |
Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's allocation(s) pursuant to the Placing is/are confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares to be acquired pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made at the same time, on the basis explained below under "Registration and Settlement". |
8 |
All obligations of Cenkos under the Placing will be subject to fulfilment of the conditions referred to below under "Conditions of the Placing" and to the Placing not being terminated on the basis referred to below under "Termination of the Placing". |
9 |
By participating in the Placing, each Placee will agree that its rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described below and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee. |
10 |
To the fullest extent permissible by law and applicable FCA rules, none of (a) Cenkos, (b) any of its affiliates, agents, directors, officers, consultants, (c) to the extent not contained within (a) or (b), any person connected with Cenkos as defined in the FSMA ((b) and (c) being together "affiliates" and individually an "affiliate" of Cenkos), (d) any person acting on behalf of Cenkos, shall have any liability (including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) to Placees or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise. In particular, neither of the Cenkos nor any of their respective affiliates shall have any liability (including, to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of their conduct of the Fundraising or of such alternative method of effecting the Fundraising as Cenkos and the Company may agree. |
Registration and Settlement
If Placees are allocated any Placing Shares in the Placing they will be sent a form of confirmation or electronic confirmation by Cenkos (or either one of them), as soon as it is able which will confirm the number of Placing Shares allocated to them, the Issue Price and the aggregate amount owed by them to Cenkos.
Each Placee will be deemed to agree that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed as directed by Cenkos in accordance with either the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions which they have in place with Cenkos.
Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00BZ1BLL44) following Admission will take place within the CREST system, subject to certain exceptions. Settlement through CREST is expected to take place on 7 September 2021 unless otherwise notified by the Cenkos and Admission is expected to occur no later than 8.00 a.m. on 7 September 2021 unless otherwise notified by Cenkos. Admission and settlement may occur at an earlier date, which if achievable, will be set out in the Circular. Settlement will be on a delivery versus payment basis. However, in the event of any difficulties or delays in the admission of the Placing Shares to CREST or the use of CREST in relation to the Placing, the Company, Cenkos may agree that the Placing Shares should be issued in certificated form. Cenkos reserves the right to require settlement of the Placing Shares, and to deliver the Placing Shares to Placees, by such other means as they deem necessary if delivery or settlement to Placees is not practicable within the CREST system or would not be consistent with regulatory requirements in a Placee's jurisdiction.
Interest is chargeable daily on payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance with the arrangements set out above, in respect of either CREST or certificated deliveries, at the rate of 2 percentage points above prevailing LIBOR as determined by Cenkos.
Each Placee agrees that if it does not comply with these obligations, Cenkos may sell, charge by way of security (to any funder of Cenkos) or otherwise deal with any or all of their Placing Shares on their behalf and retain from the proceeds, for either the Broker's own accounts and benefit, an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due and any costs and expenses properly incurred by Cenkos as a result of the Placee's failure to comply with its obligations. The relevant Placee will, however, remain liable for any shortfall below the amount owed by it and for any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties) which may arise upon the sale of their Placing Shares on their behalf. Legal and/or beneficial title in and to any Placing Shares shall not pass to the relevant Placee until such time as it has fully complied with its obligations hereunder.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees must ensure that, upon receipt, the conditional form of confirmation is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that organisation. Insofar as Placing Shares are registered in a Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the name of any person for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or that of a nominee for such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below, be so registered free from any liability to United Kingdom stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. Placees will not be entitled to receive any fee or commission in connection with the Placing.
Conditions of the Placing
The Placing is conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms.
The obligations of Cenkos under the Placing Agreement are, and the Placing is, conditional upon, inter alia:
( a) |
Admission taking place not later than 8.00 a.m. on 7 September 2021 or such later date as is agreed in writing between the Company and Cenkos, but in any event not later than the Long Stop Date; |
( b) |
the Company complying with its obligations under the Placing Agreement to the extent that the same fall to be performed prior to Admission; |
( c) |
there not occurring, in the opinion of Cenkos (acting in good faith), a Material Adverse Change whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business and whether or not foreseeable at the date of the Placing Agreement; |
( d) |
the general meeting to be held by the Company having taken place, no adjournment of the general meeting having occurred without the prior written consent of Cenkos and the relevant resolutions having been passed at the general meeting without amendment; |
( e) |
application having been made to Euroclear for admission of the Open Offer Entitlements to CREST as participating securities (as defined in the CREST Regulations) and the new ordinary shares to CREST as Participating Securities and no notification having been received from Euroclear on or before Admission becoming effective that such admission or the continued admission of the new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company as Participating Securities has been or is to be refused or revoked; |
( f) |
satisfaction or, where appropriate, the waiver of certain other conditions set out in the Placing Agreement, |
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(all conditions to the obligations of the Cenkos included in the Placing Agreement being together, the "conditions"). |
If any of the conditions set out in the Placing Agreement are not fulfilled or, where permitted, waived in accordance with the Placing Agreement within the stated time periods (or such later time and/or date as the Company and the Cenkos may agree), or the Placing Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Fundraising will lapse and the Placee's rights and obligations shall cease and terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by or on behalf of the Placee (or any person on whose behalf the Placee is acting) in respect thereof.
By participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations cease and terminate only in the circumstances described above and under "Termination of the Fundraising" below and will not be capable of rescission or termination by it.
Certain conditions may be waived in whole or in part by Cenkos, in their absolute discretion, by notice in writing to the Company and Cenkos may also agree in writing with the Company to extend the time for satisfaction of any condition. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Announcement.
Cenkos may terminate the Placing Agreement in certain circumstances, details of which are set out below.
Neither Cenkos, the Company nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision any of them may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision any of them may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in respect of the Placing generally and by participating in the Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of Cenkos.
Termination of the Fundraising
Cenkos may terminate the Placing Agreement, in accordance with its terms, at any time prior to Admission if, inter alia:
1 |
any of the warranties in the Placing Agreement were untrue or inaccurate, or were misleading when given; or |
2 |
the Company fails to comply with its obligations under the Placing Agreement where such failure is material in the context of the Fundraising or Admission; or |
3 |
any statement of material fact contained in the Placing Documents has become or been discovered to be untrue, inaccurate or misleading in any respect or there has been a material omission from the Placing Documents; or |
4 |
a matter, fact, circumstance or event has arisen such that in the opinion of Cenkos (acting in good faith) a supplementary circular and/or supplementary press announcement is required to be published; or |
5 |
in the opinion of Cenkos (acting in good faith) (i) there has occurred a force majeure event which would or would be likely to prejudice materially the Company or the Fundraising or render the creation of a market in the ordinary share capital of the Company temporarily or permanently impracticable or (ii) any Material Adverse Change has occurred. |
If the Placing Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the rights and obligations of each Placee in respect of the Placing as described in this Announcement shall cease and terminate at such time and no claim can be made by any Placee in respect thereof.
By participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees with the Company and Cenkos that the exercise by the Company or the Cenkos of any right of termination or any other right or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Company or Cenkos and that none of the Company nor Cenkos need make any reference to such Placee and that none of the Company, Cenkos nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees shall have any liability to such Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) whatsoever in connection with any such exercise.
By participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations terminate only in the circumstances described above and under the "Conditions of the Fundraising" section above and will not be capable of rescission or termination by it after the issue by the Cenkos of a form of confirmation confirming each Placee's allocation and commitment in the Placing.
Representations, warranties and further terms
By participating in the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) irrevocably represents, warrants, acknowledges, undertakes and agrees (for itself and for any such prospective Placee) that in each case as a fundamental term of such Placee's application for Placing Shares (save where Cenkos expressly agree in writing to the contrary):
1 |
it has read and understood this Announcement in its entirety and that its acquisition of the Placing Shares is subject to and based upon all the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings and other information contained herein and that it has not relied on, and will not rely on, any information given or any representations, warranties or statements made at any time by any person in connection with Admission, the Fundraising, the Company, the Placing Shares or otherwise, other than the information contained in this Announcement and the Publicly Available Information; |
2 |
it has not received a prospectus or other offering document in connection with the Fundraising and acknowledges that no prospectus or other offering document: (a) is required under the Prospectus Regulation; and (b) has been or will be prepared in connection with the Fundraising; |
3 |
the ordinary shares in the capital of the Company are admitted to trading on AIM, and that the Company is therefore required to publish certain business and financial information in accordance with the AIM Rules, which includes a description of the nature of the Company's business and the Company's most recent balance sheet and profit and loss account and that it is able to obtain or access such information without undue difficulty, and is able to obtain access to such information or comparable information concerning any other publicly traded company, without undue difficulty; |
4 |
it has made its own assessment of the Placing Shares and has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing and none of Cenkos, the Company nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees or any person acting on behalf of any of them has provided, and will not provide, it with any material regarding the Placing Shares or the Company or any other person other than the information in this Announcement, or the Publicly Available Information; nor has it requested any of Cenkos, the Company, any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees or any person acting on behalf of any of them to provide it with any such information; |
5 |
neither Cenkos nor any person acting on behalf of them or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees has or shall have any liability for any Publicly Available Information, or any representation relating to the Company, provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made by that person; |
6 |
(a) the only information on which it is entitled to rely on and on which it has relied in committing to subscribe for the Placing Shares is contained in the Publicly Available Information, such information being all that it deems necessary to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares and it has made its own assessment of the Company, the Placing Shares and the terms of the Placing based on Publicly Available Information; |
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(b) none of the Company, Cenkos nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees has made any representation or warranty to it, express or implied, with respect to the Company, the Placing or the Placing Shares or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Publicly Available Information; |
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(c) it has conducted its own investigation of the Company, the Placing and the Placing Shares, satisfied itself that the information is still current and relied on that investigation for the purposes of its decision to participate in the Placing; and |
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(d) has not relied on any investigation that Cenkos or any person acting on their behalf may have conducted with respect to the Company, the Placing or the Placing Shares; |
7 |
the content of this Announcement and the Publicly Available Information has been prepared by and is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and that neither of Cenkos nor any persons acting on behalf of them are responsible for or has or shall have any liability for any information, representation, warranty or statement relating to the Company contained in this Announcement or the Publicly Available Information nor will they be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any information, representation, warranty or statement contained in this Announcement, the Publicly Available Information or otherwise. Nothing in this Appendix shall exclude any liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation; |
8 |
the Placing Shares have not been registered or otherwise qualified, and will not be registered or otherwise qualified, for offer and sale nor will a prospectus be cleared or approved in respect of any of the Placing Shares under the securities laws of the United States, or any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the Republic of South Africa and, subject to certain exceptions, may not be offered, sold, taken up, renounced or delivered or transferred, directly or indirectly, within the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa or in any country or jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is required; |
9 |
it and/or each person on whose behalf it is participating: |
|
9.1 is entitled to acquire Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing under the laws and regulations of all relevant jurisdictions; |
|
9.2 has fully observed such laws and regulations; |
|
9.3 has capacity and authority and is entitled to enter into and perform its obligations as an acquirer of Placing Shares and will honour such obligations; and |
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9.4 has obtained all necessary consents and authorities (including, without limitation, in the case of a person acting on behalf of a Placee, all necessary consents and authorities to agree to the terms set out or referred to in this Appendix) under those laws or otherwise and complied with all necessary formalities to enable it to enter into the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform its obligations in relation thereto and, in particular, if it is a pension fund or investment company it is aware of and acknowledges that it is required to comply with all applicable laws and regulations with respect to its subscription for Placing Shares; |
10 |
it is not, and any person who it is acting on behalf of is not, and at the time the Placing Shares are subscribed will not be, a resident of, or with an address in, or subject to the laws of, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the Republic of South Africa and it acknowledges and agrees that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered or otherwise qualified under the securities legislation of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the Republic of South Africa and may not be offered, sold, or acquired, directly or indirectly, within those jurisdictions; |
11 |
the Placing Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered, sold or resold in or into or from the United States except pursuant to an effective registration under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in accordance with applicable state securities laws; and no representation is being made as to the availability of any exemption under the Securities Act for the reoffer, resale, pledge or transfer of the Placing Shares; |
12 |
it and the beneficial owner of the Placing Shares is, and at the time the Placing Shares are acquired will be, outside the United States and acquiring the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction" as defined in, and in accordance with, Regulation S under the Securities Act; |
13 |
it (and any account for which it is purchasing) is not acquiring the Placing Shares with a view to any offer, sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act; |
14 |
it will not distribute, forward, transfer or otherwise transmit this Announcement or any part of it, or any other presentational or other materials concerning the Fundraising in or into or from the United States (including electronic copies thereof) to any person, and it has not distributed, forwarded, transferred or otherwise transmitted any such materials to any person; |
15 |
neither Cenkos, nor its respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees nor any person acting on behalf of any of them is making any recommendations to it, advising it regarding the suitability of any transactions it may enter into in connection with the Fundraising and that participation in the Fundraising is on the basis that it is not and will not be a client of Cenkos and Cenkos have no duties or responsibilities to it for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Fundraising nor in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities contained in the Placing Agreement nor for the exercise or performance of any of its rights and obligations thereunder including any rights to waive or vary any conditions or exercise any termination right; |
16 |
it has the funds available to pay for the Placing Shares for which it has agreed to subscribe and acknowledges and agrees that it will make payment to Cenkos for the Placing Shares allocated to it in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Announcement on the due times and dates set out in this Announcement, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with others on such terms as Cenkos may, in its absolute discretion determine without liability to the Placee and it will remain liable for any shortfall below the net proceeds of such sale and the placing proceeds of such Placing Shares and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties due pursuant to the terms set out or referred to in this Announcement) which may arise upon the sale of such Placee's Placing Shares on its behalf; |
17 |
no action has been or will be taken by any of the Company, Cenkos or any person acting on their behalf that would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in the United States or in any country or jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is required; |
18 |
the person who it specifies for registration as holder of the Placing Shares will be: (a) the Placee; or (b) a nominee of the Placee, as the case may be. None of the Company or Cenkos will be responsible for any liability to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax resulting from a failure to observe this requirement. Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of such Placee agrees to acquire Placing Shares pursuant to the Fundraising and agrees to pay the Company and Cenkos in respect of the same (including any interest or penalties) on the basis that the Placing Shares will be allotted to a CREST stock account of Cenkos or transferred to a CREST stock account of Cenkos who will hold them as nominee on behalf of the Placee until settlement in accordance with its standing settlement instructions with it; |
19 |
it is acting as principal only in respect of the Placing or, if it is acting for any other person, (a) it is duly authorised to do so and has full power to make the acknowledgments, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each such person and (b) it is and will remain liable to the Company and Cenkos for the performance of all its obligations as a Placee in respect of the Placing (regardless of the fact that it is acting for another person); |
20 |
the allocation, allotment, issue and delivery to it, or the person specified by it for registration as holder, of Placing Shares will not give rise to a stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax liability under (or at a rate determined under) any of sections 67, 70, 93 or 96 of the Finance Act 1986 (depository receipts and clearance services) and that it is not participating in the Placing as nominee or agent for any person or persons to whom the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares would give rise to such a liability; |
21 |
it will not make an offer to the public of the Placing Shares and it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the United Kingdom or in the EEA prior to the expiry of a period of six months from Admission except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of section 85(1) of the FSMA or within the meaning of the UK Prospectus Regulation, or an offer to the public in any member state of the EEA within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation; |
22 |
if it is within the United Kingdom, it and any person acting on its behalf (if within the United Kingdom) is a person of a kind described in: (a) Article 19(5) (Investment Professionals) and/or 49(2) (High net worth companies etc.) of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended, and/or an authorised person as defined in section 31 of FSMA; and (b) section 86(7) of FSMA ("Qualified Investor"), being a person falling within Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation. If it is within a member state of the EEA, it is a Qualified Investor as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. For such purposes, it undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage and (if applicable) dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the purposes of its business only; |
23 |
it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and it will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) relating to Placing Shares in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not require approval of the communication by an authorised person and it acknowledges that this Announcement is not being issued by Cenkos as an authorised person under Section 21 of FSMA and therefore is not subject to the same controls applicable to a financial promotion made by an authorised person; |
24 |
it has complied and it will comply with all applicable laws with respect to anything done by it or on its behalf in relation to the Placing Shares (including all relevant provisions of the FSMA in respect of anything done in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom); |
25 |
if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation or the Prospectus Regulation, the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing will not be acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in the UK or in a Relevant State other than Qualified Investors, or in circumstances in which the express prior written consent of Cenkos has been given to the offer or resale; |
26 |
it has neither received nor relied on any confidential price sensitive information about the Company in accepting this invitation to participate in the Placing; |
27 |
neither of Cenkos nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees or any person acting on behalf of any of them has or shall have any liability for any information, representation or statement contained in this Announcement or for any information previously published by or on behalf of the Company or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available or filed information or any representation, warranty or undertaking relating to the Company, and will not be liable for its decision to participate in the Placing based on any information, representation, warranty or statement contained in this Announcement or elsewhere, provided that nothing in this paragraph shall exclude any liability of any person for fraud; |
28 |
none of the Company or Cenkos, nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees or any person acting on behalf of the Company, Cenkos or their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees is making any recommendations to it, advising it regarding the suitability of any transactions it may enter into in connection with the Fundraising nor providing advice in relation to the Fundraising nor in respect of any representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements, undertakings, or indemnities contained in the Placing Agreement nor the exercise or performance of Cenkos' rights and obligations thereunder including any rights to waive or vary any conditions or exercise any termination right; |
29 |
acknowledges and accepts that Cenkos may, in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory provisions, engage in transactions in relation to the Placing Shares and/or related instruments for their own account for the purpose of hedging their underwriting exposure or otherwise and, except as required by applicable law or regulation, Cenkos will not make any public disclosure in relation to such transactions; |
30 |
Cenkos and each of its affiliates, each acting as an investor for its or their own account(s), may bid or subscribe for and/or purchase Placing Shares and, in that capacity, may retain, purchase, offer to sell or otherwise deal for its or their own account(s) in the Placing Shares, any other securities of the Company or other related investments in connection with the Placing or otherwise. Accordingly, references in this Announcement to the Placing Shares being offered, subscribed, acquired or otherwise dealt with should be read as including any offer to, or subscription, acquisition or dealing by Cenkos and/or any of its respective affiliates, acting as an investor for its or their own account(s). None of the Company or Cenkos intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transaction otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so; |
31 |
it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the EEA prior to the expiry of a period of six months from Admission except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purpose of their business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result in an offer to the public in any member state of the EEA within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation; |
32 |
it has complied with its obligations in connection with money laundering and terrorist financing under the Regulations and, if making payment on behalf of a third party, that satisfactory evidence has been obtained and recorded by it to verify the identity of the third party as required by the Regulations; |
33 |
it is aware of the obligations regarding insider dealing in the Criminal Justice Act 1993, FSMA, the EU Market Abuse Regulation No. 596 of 2014 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and confirms that it has and will continue to comply with those obligations; |
34 |
in order to ensure compliance with the Regulations, Cenkos (each for itself and as agent on behalf of the Company) or the Company's registrars may, in their absolute discretion, require verification of its identity. Pending the provision to Cenkos or the Company's registrars, as applicable, of evidence of identity, definitive certificates in respect of the Placing Shares may be retained at Cenkos' absolute discretion or, where appropriate, delivery of the Placing Shares to it in uncertificated form may be delayed at Cenkos' or the Company's registrars', as the case may be, absolute discretion. If within a reasonable time after a request for verification of identity Cenkos' (each for itself and as agent on behalf of the Company) or the Company's registrars have not received evidence satisfactory to them, Cenkos and/or the Company may, at its absolute discretion, terminate its commitment in respect of the Placing, in which event the monies payable on acceptance of allotment will, if already paid, be returned without interest to the account of the drawee's bank from which they were originally debited; |
35 |
acknowledges that its commitment to acquire Placing Shares on the terms set out in this Announcement and in the form of confirmation will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may in future be made to the terms and conditions of the Placing and that Placees will have no right to be consulted or require that their consent be obtained with respect to the Company's or Cenkos' conduct of the Placing; |
36 |
it has knowledge and experience in financial, business and international investment matters as is required to evaluate the merits and risks of subscribing for the Placing Shares. It further acknowledges that it is experienced in investing in securities of this nature and is aware that it may be required to bear, and is able to bear, the economic risk of, and is able to sustain, a complete loss in connection with the Fundraising. It has relied upon its own examination and due diligence of the Company and its affiliates taken as a whole, and the terms of the Fundraising, including the merits and risks involved; |
37 |
it irrevocably appoints any duly authorised officer of Cenkos as its agent for the purpose of executing and delivering to the Company and/or its registrars any documents on its behalf necessary to enable it to be registered as the holder of any of the Placing Shares for which it agrees to subscribe or purchase upon the terms of this Announcement; |
38 |
the Company, Cenkos and others (including each of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees) will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements, which are given to Cenkos, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable; |
39 |
if it is acquiring the Placing Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, it has full power and authority to make, and does make, the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings on behalf of each such accounts; |
40 |
time is of the essence as regards its obligations under this Appendix; |
41 |
any document that is to be sent to it in connection with the Fundraising will be sent at its risk and may be sent to it at any address provided by it to Cenkos; |
42 |
the Placing Shares will be issued subject to the terms and conditions of this Appendix; and |
43 |
these terms and conditions in this Appendix and all documents into which this Appendix is incorporated by reference or otherwise validly forms a part and/or any agreements entered into pursuant to these terms and conditions and all agreements to acquire shares pursuant to the Placing will be governed by and construed in accordance with English law and it submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts in relation to any claim, dispute or matter arising out of any such contract, except that enforcement proceedings in respect of the obligation to make payment for the Placing Shares (together with any interest chargeable thereon) may be taken by the Company or Cenkos in any jurisdiction in which the relevant Placee is incorporated or in which any of its securities have a quotation on a recognised stock exchange. |
By participating in the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) agrees to indemnify and hold the Company, Cenkos and each of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers and employees harmless from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any breach of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings given by the Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) in this Appendix or incurred by the Company, Cenkos or each of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees arising from the performance of the Placee's obligations as set out in this Announcement, and further agrees that the provisions of this Appendix shall survive after the completion of the Placing.
The agreement to allot and issue Placing Shares to Placees (or the persons for whom Placees are contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax in the United Kingdom relates only to their allotment and issue to Placees, or such persons as they nominate as their agents, direct by the Company. Such agreement assumes that the Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance service. If there are any such arrangements, or the settlement related to any other dealings in the Placing Shares, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax may be payable. In that event, the Placee agrees that it shall be responsible for such stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax and none of the Company or Cenkos shall be responsible for such stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If this is the case, each Placee should seek its own advice and they should notify Cenkos accordingly. In addition, Placees should note that they will be liable for any capital duty, stamp duty and all other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or other duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or penalties relating thereto) payable outside the United Kingdom by them or any other person on the acquisition by them of any Placing Shares or the agreement by them to acquire any Placing Shares and each Placee, or the Placee's nominee, in respect of whom (or in respect of the person for whom it is participating in the Placing as an agent or nominee) the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares has given rise to such non-United Kingdom stamp, registration, documentary, transfer or similar taxes or duties undertakes to pay such taxes and duties, including any interest and penalties (if applicable), forthwith and to indemnify on an after-tax basis and to hold harmless the Company and Cenkos in the event that any of the Company and/or Cenkos has incurred any such liability to such taxes or duties.
The representations, warranties, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in this Appendix are given to Cenkos for themselves and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable.
Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of the Placee acknowledges that Cenkos do not owe any fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings, acknowledgements, agreements or indemnities in the Placing Agreement.
Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of the Placee acknowledges and agrees that Cenkos may (at their absolute discretion) satisfy their obligations to procure Placees by itself agreeing to become a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing Shares or by nominating any connected or associated person to do so.
When a Placee or any person acting on behalf of the Placee is dealing with Cenkos, any money held in an account with Cenkos on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee will not be treated as client money within the meaning of the relevant rules and regulations of the FCA made under FSMA. Each Placee acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections conferred by the client money rules; as a consequence this money will not be segregated from Cenkos' money (as applicable) in accordance with the client money rules and will be held by it under a banking relationship and not as trustee.
References to time in this Announcement are to London time, unless otherwise stated.
All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to amendment.
No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast, 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 or sold pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than AIM.
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.
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions apply throughout this Announcement unless the context otherwise requires:
"Admission" |
admission of the New Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM becoming effective in accordance with Rule 6 of the AIM Rules |
"AIM" |
the AIM Market operated by the London Stock Exchange |
"AIM Rules" |
the AIM Rules for Companies published by the London Stock Exchange from time to time |
"Albyn" or "Albyn Medical" |
Albyn Medical S.L., a company incorporated and existing in accordance with the laws of Spain, with its registered office in Cordovilla (Navarra), at Poligono Industrial Cordovilla, Calle D, 1, and holder of Spanish tax identification number (NIF) B-62.943.063 |
"APAC" |
the Asia-Pacific |
"Application Form" |
the application form accompanying the Circular to be used by Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders in connection with the Open Offer |
|
|
"Articles" |
the articles of association of the Company |
"Boucart Medical" |
Boucart Medical SRL, a company incorporated under Belgian law, having its registered offices at 1070 Anderlecht, rue des Vétérinaires 42 and registered with the Banque Carrefour des Entreprises ("Kruispuntbank van Ondernemingen") under number 0443.933.069 (RLE Brussels) |
"Cenkos" or "Broker" |
Cenkos Securities plc, as the Company's nominated adviser and/or broker |
"certificated form" or "in certificated form" |
an Ordinary Share recorded on a company's share register as being held in certificated form (namely, not in CREST) |
"Circular" |
the circular, containing further details of the Fundraising and notice of the General Meeting to, inter alia, approve the Resolutions required to implement the Fundraising, which is expected to be published and despatched to Shareholders on or around 16 August 2021 |
|
|
"COVID-19" |
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) |
"CREST" |
the relevant system (as defined in the CREST Regulations) in respect of which Euroclear is the operator (as defined in those regulations) |
"CREST Regulations" |
the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001 No. 3755) (as amended) |
"CROMA" |
the CROMA Advanced Energy Platform |
"Directors" or "Board" |
the directors of the Company, or any duly authorised committee thereof |
"EMEA" |
Europe, Middle East and Africa |
"ENT" |
ear, nose and throat |
"EU" |
the European Union |
"Euroclear" |
Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited, the operator of CREST |
"Excess Application Facility" |
the arrangement pursuant to which Qualifying Shareholders may apply for additional Open Offer Shares in excess of their Open Offer Entitlement in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Open Offer |
"Excess Open Offer Entitlements" |
an entitlement for each Qualifying Shareholder to apply to subscribe for Open Offer Shares in addition to his Open Offer Entitlement pursuant to the Excess Application Facility which is conditional on him taking up his Open Offer Entitlement in full and which may be subject to scaling back in accordance with the provisions of the Circular |
"Excess Shares" |
Open Offer Shares applied for by Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility |
"Ex-entitlement Date" |
the date on which the Existing Ordinary Shares are marked "ex" for entitlement under the Open Offer, being 16 August 2021 |
"Existing Ordinary Shares" |
the 161,002,002 Ordinary Shares in issue at the date of this announcement, all of which are admitted to trading on AIM |
"FCA" |
the UK Financial Conduct Authority |
"FDA" |
The United States Food and Drug Administration |
"Form of Proxy" |
the form of proxy for use in connection with the General Meeting which will accompany the Circular |
"FSMA" |
the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) |
"Fundraising" |
the Placing and the Open Offer |
"General Meeting" |
the general meeting of the Company to be held at the offices of Osborne Clarke LLP, 2 Temple Back East, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6EG at 10.00 a.m. on 6 September 2021, notice of which will be set out at the end of the Circular |
"GHz" |
Gigahertz |
"GI" |
gastrointestinal tract |
"Group" |
the Company, its subsidiaries and its subsidiary undertakings |
"IP" |
intellectual property |
"IPO" |
the admission of the Company's Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM, effective on 9 December 2016 |
"Issue Price" |
182.5 pence per New Ordinary Share |
"London Stock Exchange" |
London Stock Exchange plc |
"Long Stop Date" |
8.00 a.m. on 22 September 2021 |
"Material Adverse Change" |
a material adverse change in, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the condition (financial, operational, legal or otherwise), or in the earnings, management business, affairs, solvency or prospects, or results of operations of the Company |
"Money Laundering Regulations" |
The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (as amended) |
"MW" |
microwave |
"New Ordinary Shares" |
the Placing Shares and the Open Offer Shares |
"Notice of General Meeting" |
the notice convening the General Meeting which will be set out at the end of the Circular |
"OBL" |
Own Brand Labeller |
"OEM" |
Original Equipment Manufacturer |
"Open Offer" |
the conditional invitation by the Company to Qualifying Shareholders to apply to subscribe for the Open Offer Shares at the Issue Price on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Circular and, in the case of Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders, in the Application Form |
"Open Offer Entitlement" |
the individual entitlements of Qualifying Shareholders to subscribe for Open Offer Shares allocated to Qualifying Shareholders pursuant to the Open Offer |
"Open Offer Shares" |
the up to 2,775,896 new Ordinary Shares to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Open Offer |
"Ordinary Shares" |
ordinary shares of £0.001 each in the capital of the Company |
"Overseas Shareholders" |
Shareholders with a registered address outside the United Kingdom |
"Placees" |
subscribers for the Placing Shares |
"Placing" |
the conditional placing of the Placing Shares by the Broker, as agents on behalf of the Company, pursuant to the Placing Agreement, further details of which will be set out in the Circular |
"Placing Agreement" |
the conditional placing and open offer agreement dated 12 August 2021 and made between the Broker and the Company in relation to the Fundraising, further details of which will be set out in the Circular |
"Placing Shares" |
minimum of 16,438,357 new Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing |
"Publicly Available Information " |
information publicly announced through a Regulatory Information Service (as defined in the AIM Rules) by or on behalf of the Company on or prior to the date of this Announcement |
"Qualifying CREST Shareholders" |
Qualifying Shareholders holding Existing Ordinary Shares in uncertificated form |
"Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders |
Qualifying Shareholders holding Existing Ordinary Shares in certificated form |
"Qualifying Shareholders" |
holders of Existing Ordinary Shares on the register of members of the Company at the Record Date but excluding any Overseas Shareholder who has a registered address in any Restricted Jurisdiction |
"Record Date" |
12 August 2021 |
"Registrars and Receiving Agent" |
Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA |
"Regulatory Information Service" |
a service approved by the FCA for the distribution to the public of regulatory announcements and included within the list maintained on the FCA's website |
"Regulations" |
the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (as amended), the Terrorism Act 2000 (as amended), the Terrorism Act 2006 (as amended) and the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (as amended) |
"Relevant State" |
member state of the EEA |
"Resolutions" |
the resolutions to be set out in the Notice of General Meeting |
"RF" |
radiofrequency |
"Restricted Jurisdiction" |
has the meaning set out in the Circular |
"Shareholders" |
holders of Ordinary Shares |
"UK" |
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
"UKCA" |
UK Conformity Assessed |
"UK Prospectus Regulation " |
the UK version of the Prospectus Regulation, which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended from time to time, and includes any relevant implementing measure in any member state |
"US" or "United States" |
the United States of America, each State thereof, its territories and possessions (including the District of Columbia) and all other areas subject to its jurisdiction |
"uncertificated" or "in uncertificated form" |
an Ordinary Share recorded on a company's share register as being held in uncertificated form in CREST and title to which, by virtue of the CREST Regulations, may be transferred by means of CREST |
"£", "pounds sterling", "pence" or "p" |
are references to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom |