Response to market speculation

Equals Group PLC

01 November 2023

 

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

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CODE. THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT AN OFFER WILL BE MADE, NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY OFFER MIGHT BE MADE.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU NO. 596/2014) AS IT FORMS PART OF UK DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                         01/11/2023

Equals Group plc

Response to market speculation

The Board of Equals Group plc ("Equals" or the "Company") (AIM: EQLS) notes the recent market speculation, and confirms that it is conducting a review of the Company's strategic options (the "Strategic Review"). As part of this process, the Company has contacted a limited number of potential counterparties including Fleetcor Europe Limited and Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC to assess whether such parties could put forward a proposal that would deliver greater value to Equals' shareholders than pursuing a standalone independent strategy. Any such proposal could include an offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of the Company.

The Board remains confident in the long-term prospects of the business and believes that the Company is well positioned to create significant value for shareholders as an independent company. Current trading remains in line with the Board's expectations.

There can be no certainty that any changes will result from the Strategic Review. There can be no certainty that any firm offer for the Company will be made, nor as to the terms on which any firm offer, if made, might be made. Shareholders are advised to take no action at this time.

A further announcement will be made when appropriate.

In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Takeover Code, by not later than 5.00 pm on 29 November 2023, each of Fleetcor Europe Limited and Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC must either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Equals under Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer for Equals, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Takeover Code applies. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Takeover Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Takeover Code.

As a consequence of this announcement, an 'offer period' has now commenced in respect of the Company in accordance with the Code, and the attention of shareholders is drawn to the disclosure requirements of Rule 8 of the Code, which are summarised below.

For more information, please contact:

Equals                                                                                                                  [phone]
Ian Strafford-Taylor / Richard Cooper

Canaccord Genuity (Financial Adviser to Equals)                                            [phone]

Sunil Duggal / Bill Gardiner

Lazard (Financial Adviser to Equals)                                                                [phone]

Nicholas Millar / Jason Welham

Canaccord Genuity (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker to Equals)                [phone]

Max Hartley / Harry Rees                                                                                   

Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker to Equals)                                                             [phone]

Paul Shackleton / John Welch                                                                           

Buchanan (Financial Communications for Equals)                                           [phone]

Henry Harrison-Topham / Stephanie Whitmore / Toto Berger                                

RULE 26.1 INFORMATION

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in restricted jurisdictions, be available at https://www.equalsplc.com/content/investors by no later than 12 noon on the first business day following the date of this announcement. For the avoidance of doubt, the content of the website referred to above is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to the laws and regulations of other jurisdictions should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements.

Canaccord Genuity, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") in the United Kingdom, is acting financial adviser exclusively for Equals and no-one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Equals for providing the protections afforded to clients of Canaccord Genuity nor for providing advice in relation to a potential acquisition of Equals or any other matters referred to herein. Neither Canaccord Genuity nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Canaccord Genuity in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein, to a potential acquisition of Equals or otherwise.

Lazard & Co., Limited ("Lazard"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting as financial adviser to Equals and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Equals for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lazard nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this announcement. Neither Lazard nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Lazard in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

The person responsible for arranging for the release of this announcement on behalf of Equals is Richard Cooper, Chief Financial Officer.

RULE 2.9 INFORMATION

In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, the Company confirms that, as at close of business on 31 October  2023, its issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) consisted of 185,731,589 ordinary shares of 1 pence each, with ISIN GB00BLS0XX25, which carry voting rights of one vote per share.

DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by not later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10^th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by not later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10^th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by not later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Takeover Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on [phone] if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

 

END