Result of Open Offer

RNS Number : 0789D

Gulf Marine Services PLC

25 June 2021

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

25 June 2021

Gulf Marine Services plc

("GMS" or the "Company")

Result of Open offer

On 9 June 2021 the Company announced a Placing and Open Offer (the "Capital Raising") raising gross proceeds of approximately £20.0 million through the issue of 665,926,795 New Ordinary Shares at an Issue Price of 3 pence per New Ordinary Share.

Seafox International Limited ("Seafox"), Mazrui Investments LLC ("Mazrui") and a third existing institutional investor in the Company (together with Seafox and Mazrui, the "Committed Shareholders"), who hold, in aggregate, 44.33 per cent. of the existing Ordinary Shares currently in issue, irrevocably undertook to take up their respective entitlements under the Open Offer in full in respect of, in aggregate, 295,220,633 New Ordinary Shares (the "Committed Shares"). The remaining 370,706,162 New Ordinary Shares were placed with Conditional Placees, subject to clawback to satisfy valid applications by Qualifying Shareholders (save for the Committed Shareholders) under the Open Offer.

The Open Offer closed for acceptances at 11 a.m. on 24 June 2021. The Company has received valid acceptances from Qualifying Shareholders (including the Committed Shareholders) under their basic Open Offer Entitlements in respect of 368,911,281 Open Offer Shares, representing approximately 55.4 per cent. of the Open Offer Shares. In addition, the Company has received applications from Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility in respect of 19,657,807 Open Offer Shares, representing approximately 3.0 per cent. of the Open Offer Shares. Accordingly, Qualifying Shareholders who have validly applied for Open Offer Shares will receive their full Open Offer Entitlement. Applications under the Excess Application Facility will be satisfied in full and in accordance with the terms set out in the Prospectus.

Excluding the aggregate Open Offer Shares taken up by the Committed Shareholders, the Company has therefore received valid acceptances (including under the Excess Application Facility) from Qualifying Shareholders in respect of 93,348,455 Open Offer Shares, representing approximately 25.2 per cent. of the Open Offer Shares (excluding the Committed Shares). Accordingly, Conditional Placees will receive 74.8 per cent. of their respective initial allocation.

Application has been made to the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") for the New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to the premium listing segment of the Official List and to the London Stock Exchange for the New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on its Main Market for listed securities. It is expected that Admission will become effective, and that dealings in the New Ordinary Shares will commence, at 8.00 a.m. on 28 June 2021 (or such later date as the Company and the Sponsor may agree, being not later than 8.00 a.m. on 29 June 2021).

The Placing and Open Offer remain conditional, inter alia, upon:

· the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting being passed;

· the Placing Agreement having become unconditional in all respects, save for the condition relating to Admission, and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms before Admission occurs; and

· Admission having become effective by not later than 8.00 a.m. on 28 June 2021 (or such later date as the Company and the Sponsor may agree, being not later than 8.00 a.m. on 29 June 2021).

The Company will announce the results of the General Meeting as soon as practicable after the meeting concludes.  The New Ordinary Shares when issued will rank, from Admission, pari passu in all respects with the Existing Shares and will have the right to receive all dividends and distributions declared in respect of Shares after Admission.

The total issued share capital of the Company following Admission will be 1,016,414,582 Ordinary Shares and the total number of voting rights of the Company will be 1,016,414,582 and this figure may be used by Shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

Defined terms in this announcement bear the same meanings as in the announcements made by the Company on 9 June 2021.

Enquiries:

Gulf Marine Services plc	[phone]
Mansour Al Alami (Executive Chairman)
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited - Sponsor and Joint Bookrunner	[phone]
Dominic Morley John Prior Nicholas Harland Ailsa MacMaster Hugh Rich
ENBD Capital - Regional Joint Bookrunner	[phone]
Prasad Chari
Celicourt Communications - public relations adviser	[phone]
Mark Antelme Philip Dennis

The Company's Legal Entity Identifier is 213800IGS2QE89SAJF77.

www.gmsplc.com

MAR

The information contained within this announcement is considered by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information will be considered to be in the public domain.

The person responsible for arranging for the release of this announcement on behalf of GMS is Tony Hunter, Company Secretary.

Disclaimer

The content of the Gulf Marine Services PLC website should not be considered to form a part of or be incorporated into this announcement.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (TOGETHER, THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHOSE ORDINARY ACTIVITIES INVOLVE THEM IN ACQUIRING, HOLDING, MANAGING AND DISPOSING OF INVESTMENTS (AS PRINCIPAL OR AGENT) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THEIR BUSINESS AND WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND ARE: (1) IF IN A MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA"), QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(e) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 (THE "EU PROSPECTUS REGULATION"); (2) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(e) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 AS IT FORMS PART OF THE UNITED KINGDOM DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (THE "UK PROSPECTUS REGULATION"); WHO (A) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER") (INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS) OR (B) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(a) TO (d) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.) OF THE ORDER; AND (3) OTHERWISE, PERSONS TO WHOM IT IS OTHERWISE LAWFUL TO COMMUNICATE IT TO (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 THE COMPANY.

THE NEW ORDINARY SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 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 (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) (THE "UNITED STATES" OR THE "US") 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. THE NEW ORDINARY SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD ONLY OUTSIDE OF 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 NEW ORDINARY SHARES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OR ELSEWHERE.

UAE EXEMPT OFFER NOTICE

This announcement has not been reviewed or approved by any regulatory authority, including the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (the "UAE"), Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority or any regulatory authority in any free zones established and operating in the territory of the UAE.

The announcement does not constitute, and is not intended to constitute, a public offer of securities in the UAE or any free zones established and operating in the territory of the UAE and accordingly should not be construed as such. Any securities in any offering referred to in this announcement are only being offered to a limited number of qualified investors in the UAE who are willing and able to conduct an independent investigation of the risks involved in an investment in such securities. This announcement is for the use of the named addressee only and should not be given or shown to any other person (other than employees, agents or consultants in connection with the addressee's consideration thereof).

ADGM EXEMPT OFFER NOTICE

This announcement is for distribution only to persons who (a) are outside the Abu Dhabi Global Market, or (b) are Authorised Persons or Recognised Bodies (as such terms are defined in the ADGM Financial Services and Markets Regulations 2015 (" FSMR" )), or (c) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 18 of the FSMR) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons" for the purposes of this paragraph). This announcement is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. 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 relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Market Rules of the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority (" FSRA" ). This announcement is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Market Rules of the ADGM. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The FSRA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any prospectus or other documents in connection with this Offering. The FSRA has not approved this announcement or any other associated documents nor taken steps to verify the information set out in this announcement, and has no responsibility for it nor any offering memorandum. The securities to which this announcement relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this announcement you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

DIFC EXEMPT OFFER NOTICE

This announcement is for distribution only to persons who (a) are outside the Dubai International Financial Centre, or (b) are persons who meet the Professional Client criteria set out in Rule 2.3.4 of the DFSA Conduct of Business Module (all such persons together being referred to as " relevant persons" for the purposes of this paragraph). This announcement is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. 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 is intended to provide information about investments and investment services which are not subject to any form of regulation or approval by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (" DFSA "). This announcement relates to an Exempt Offer of securities in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the DIFC Financial Services Authority (" DFSA" ). This announcement is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any prospectus or other documents in connection with this CAPITAL RAISING. Accordingly, the DFSA has not approved this announcement or any other associated documents nor taken steps to verify the information set out in this announcement, and has no responsibility for it nor any offering memorandum. The securities to which this announcement relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this announcement you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

NOTICE TO INVESTORS IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

This announcement may not be distributed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ("Saudi Arabia" or the "KSA"), except to such persons as are permitted under the Rules on the Offer of Securities and Continuing Obligations (the "Saudi Regulations") issued by the Board of the Capital Market Authority (the "Capital Market Authority") pursuant to resolution number 3-123-2017, dated 27 December 2017, based on the Capital Market Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/30 dated 2/6/1424H (as amended by Resolution of the Board of the Capital Market Authority number 1-104-2019 dated 30 September 2019G (the "2019 Saudi Regulations"), and Resolution of the Board of the Capital Market Authority number 1-7-2021 dated 14 January 2021G (the "2021 Saudi Regulations"), noting that certain provisions of the 2021 Saudi Regulations only come into force on 1 January 2022G).

The Capital Market Authority does not make any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of this announcement, and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss arising from, or incurred in reliance upon, any part of this announcement. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered hereby should conduct their own due diligence on the accuracy of the information relating to the securities. If a prospective purchaser does not understand the contents of this announcement, he or she should consult an authorised financial adviser.

The New Ordinary Shares and the Open Offer Entitlements must not be advertised, offered or sold and no memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar document has or will be distributed, directly or indirectly, to any person in Saudi Arabia other than to Sophisticated Investors within the meaning of Article 9 of the 2019 Saudi Regulations.

The Capital Raising in Saudi Arabia shall not, therefore, constitute a "public offer" pursuant to the Saudi Regulations. Prospective investors are informed that Article 15 of the 2019 Saudi Regulations (and Article 14 of the 2021 Saudi Regulations) places restrictions on secondary market activity with respect to the Shares. Any resale or other transfer, or attempted resale or other transfer, made other than in compliance with the Saudi Regulations shall not be recognised.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN 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, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. NO PUBLIC OFFERING IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES.

The distribution of this Announcement and/or the Capital Raising and/or the issue of the New Ordinary Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company, the Joint Bookrunners or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers, consultants, partners or employees ("Representatives") that would permit an offer of the New Ordinary Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such New Ordinary Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and the Joint Bookrunners 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, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No public offering of the New Ordinary Shares is being made in any such jurisdiction.

The New Ordinary 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 Capital Raising 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 or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained from the South Africa Reserve Bank or any other applicable body in the Republic of South Africa in relation to the New Ordinary Shares; and the New Ordinary Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under or offered in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan. Accordingly, the New Ordinary 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 the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan 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 such action.

By participating in the Bookbuilding Process and the Placing, each person who is invited to and who chooses to participate in the Placing (a "Placee") by making an oral, electronic or written and legally binding offer to acquire Placing Shares will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, to be participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on the terms and conditions contained herein and to be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in Appendix III of the Launch Annoucement. Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing and no public offering of the Placing Shares is being or will be made.

This Announcement may contain, or may be deemed to contain, "forward-looking statements" with respect to certain of the Company's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition, performance, strategic initiatives, objectives and results. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as "aim", "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", "seek", "may", "could", "outlook" or other words of similar meaning. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances which are beyond the control of the Company, including amongst other things, United Kingdom domestic and global economic business conditions, market-related risks such as fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates, the policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, the effect of competition, inflation, deflation, the timing effect and other uncertainties of future acquisitions or combinations within relevant industries, the effect of tax and other legislation and other regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Company and its affiliates operate, the effect of volatility in the equity, capital and credit markets on the Company's profitability and ability to access capital and credit, a decline in the Company's credit ratings; the effect of operational risks; and the loss of key personnel. As a result, the actual future financial condition, performance and results of the Company may differ materially from the plans, goals and expectations set forth in any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made in this Announcement by or on behalf of the Company speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publish any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement to reflect any changes in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Panmure Gordon is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom and is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the Capital Raising, and Panmure Gordon will not be responsible to anyone (including any Placees) other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Capital Raising or any other matters referred to in this Announcement.

No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by the Joint Bookrunners or by any of their Representatives as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefor is expressly disclaimed.

No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or estimate, 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.

This Announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning any investor's options with respect to the Capital Raising. 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 New Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to the Capital Raising will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange.

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.

 

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