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, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
10 January 2018
Mobile Tornado Group plc
Placing of up to 27,000,000 new Ordinary Shares at 5.00 pence per share to raise approximately £1,350,000
Mobile Tornado Group plc (AIM:MBT) ("Mobile Tornado", the "Company" and, together with its subsidiary undertakings, the "Group") today announces a Placing of up to 27,000,000 new ordinary shares of 2 pence each ("Ordinary Shares"), representing approximately 9.95 per cent. of the existing issued ordinary share capital of the Company (the "Placing Shares") at a price of 5.00 pence per Placing Share (the "Placing Price") to raise approximately £1.35 million (before expenses) (the "Placing").
Background to and reasons for the Placing
Mobile Tornado plc is a mobile technology business offering an enterprise-grade Instant Communications platform. It sells its workforce management applications such as Push to Talk ("PTT") to Tier 1 Mobile Network Operators ("MNO") and large multinational corporate clients through a range of market sales channels.
Having had a sustained period of investment in its technology offering it now has, what the Directors believe to be, a market leading set of products and services validated by the securing of recent deals with leading major mobile network operators, such as Hot Mobile in Israel.
The penetration of 4G has been the catalyst for the Company's recent success. PTT is already an established global market but with the advent of 4G there is no longer the need for expensive bespoke private radio networks previously deployed by users of these services (e.g. emergency services, hospitals, security, transportation and other blue collar enterprises). The market for enterprise instant communication services is in the process of transitioning from analogue to 4G driven by the requirement for more efficient and cheaper communication.
The Company is well positioned to service this transitioning market of tens of millions of users as one of the few independent global players with an enterprise grade platform. As a measure of the quality of its client base Mobile Tornado now deploys its instant communications and workforce management technology under license into some of the largest MNOs globally and across the majority of continents. The client list includes American Movil (South America), France Telecom/Orange (Europe), Telus (North America), Hot Mobile (Middle East), Vodacom and MTN (Africa).
Since the appointment of Avi Tooba as CEO in May 2016, the former Head of R&D at Motorola for Mission Critical Communications, the engineering team has been significantly strengthened, and the credibility of the Company in the global market has been significantly enhanced. He and his team have now deployed a technically robust 2/3/4G compliant product suite alongside a new server solution, Despatch Console and Software Development Kit. The Directors believe the Company now has a compelling product offering in the marketplace, and that alongside the existing contracts and established pipeline, there is a clear route to profitability.
There has been increased interest in the PTT market in recent months with the acquisition of the Company's major competitor Kodiak Networks, by Motorola Solutions for $205m in 2017. In order to capitalise on the increased interest in the PTT market, the Directors intend to raise additional funds for the business through a Placing to a number of existing shareholders and sophisticated private investors. The Board of Directors have also shown their commitment to the future by subscribing for 4,000,000 Placing Shares, representing approximately 14.81 per cent of the issue. The net proceeds of the Placing will be used to fund the Company's existing investment plan, particularly to continue the development of the business in its key markets of South America, Africa and the Middle East, as well as to fund the general working capital requirements of the Company through to anticipated cashflow breakeven.
Details of the proposed Placing
The Placing Shares represent approximately 9.95 per cent. of the existing issued ordinary share capital of the Company.
Investec Bank plc ("Investec") is acting as nominated adviser, sole broker and sole bookrunner in connection with the Placing.
The Placing is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the appendix (the "Appendix") to this announcement (which forms part of this announcement, such announcement and the Appendix together being the "Announcement").
The Placing 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.
Application has been made for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on the AIM market ("AIM") of London Stock Exchange plc (the "London Stock Exchange") ("Admission").
The Placing is conditional, amongst other things, upon Admission becoming effective and the placing agreement between, amongst others, the Company and Investec (the "Placing Agreement") not being terminated in accordance with its terms.
Settlement for the Placing Shares and Admission is expected to take place at 8.00 a.m. on 12 January 2018. On Admission, the Company will have up to 298,353,189 Ordinary Shares in issue.
The Appendix to this announcement sets out further information relating to the Placing and the terms and conditions of the Placing.
Directors' intended participation in the Placing and related party transactions
As part of the Placing, the following shareholders, all of whom are related parties for the purposes of the AIM Rules for Companies (the "AIM Rules") because they are either directors of the Company ("Directors") or substantial shareholders, have indicated that they intend to participate in the Placing at the Placing Price as follows:
Related Party |
Number of existing Ordinary Shares held |
Shareholding (%) |
Number of Placing Shares |
Number of Ordinary Shares held on Admission |
Shareholding on Admission* (%) |
Jeremy Fenn |
11,434,752 |
4.21% |
1,000,000 |
12,434,752 |
4.17% |
Avi Tooba |
3,000,000 |
1.11% |
1,000,000 |
4,000,000 |
1.34% |
Peter Wilkinson |
34,146,141 |
12.58% |
2,000,000 |
36,146,141 |
12.12% |
*assumes total issued share capital of 298,353,189 Ordinary Shares post Admission
The above proposed participations will be related party transactions under Rule 13 of the AIM Rules. In the absence of any Independent Directors in connection with the Placing, the Company's nominated adviser, Investec Bank plc, consider that the terms of the related party transactions are fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned.
Capital Reorganisation
In the placing announced on 28 April 2017, the Directors referenced their intention to capitalise up to £1.20 million of indebtedness owed by the Company to InTechnology plc ("InTechnology"). Subsequently, at the Company's last annual general meeting on 6 June 2017, shareholders approved the issue of shares in connection with the satisfaction of indebtedness owed by the Company to InTechnology up to an aggregate nominal amount of £1.20 million.
The Directors' intention is now to proceed with the capital reorganisation as previously announced and also to take the opportunity to reduce the Company's indebtedness to InTechnology by a further £1.34 million. It is therefore proposed that InTechnology capitalises up to £2.54 million of indebtedness owed to it by the Company into ordinary shares in the Company's share capital at the Placing Price (the "Capital Reorganisation"). The Directors believe that it is in the best interests of the Company to take this opportunity to strengthen its balance sheet.
The Capital Reorganisation is conditional on shareholder approval and will be put to shareholders at the Company's annual general meeting in early June 2018.
The Capital Reorganisation is a related party transaction under Rule 13 of the AIM Rules.
Jeremy Fenn and Avi Tooba, being Independent Directors in relation to the Related Party Transaction, consider, having consulted with Investec, that the terms of the Related Party Transaction in relation to the Capital Reorganisation are fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned.
Enquiries:
Mobile Tornado Group plc +44 (0) 7734 475 888
Jeremy Fenn, Executive Chairman
Avi Tooba, Chief Executive Officer
Investec Bank plc - Nominated adviser and Broker +44 (0) 20 7597 5970
Andrew Pinder / Carlton Nelson / Sebastian Lawrence
Walbrook PR Ltd - PR adviser +44 (0) 20 7933 8780
Paul McManus / Helen Cresswell
This Announcement should be read in its entirety. In particular, you should read and understand the information provided in the "Important Notices" section of this Announcement.
IMPORTANT NOTICES
This Announcement may contain and the Company may make verbal statements containing "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 respective 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.
Investec is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (the "PRA") and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom and is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing, and Investec 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 Placing 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 Investec or by any of its affiliates or agents 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 therefore is expressly disclaimed.
APPENDIX - 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, 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, IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, INVESTORS WHO ARE PERSONS WHO (I) ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY; (II) 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"); (III) CERTIFIED SOPHISTICATED INVESTORS, BEING PERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 50 (CERTIFIED SOPHISTICATED INVESTORS) OF THE ORDER; OR (IV) ARE PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE BE LAWFULLY COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").
CERTIFIED SOPHISTICATED INVESTORS SHOULD NOTE THAT (I) THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY AN AUTHORISED PERSON AND SUCH APPROVAL IS, BUT FOR THE EXEMPTIONS REFERRED TO ABOVE, REQUIRED BY SECTION 21 OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000, AS AMENDED; (II) RELIANCE ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENGAGING IN ANY INVESTMENT ACTIVITY MAY EXPOSE THE INDIVIDUAL TO A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF LOSING ALL OF THE PROPERTY INVESTED OR OF INCURRING ADDITIONAL LIABILITY; AND (III) ANY PERSON WHO IS IN ANY DOUBT ABOUT THE INVESTMENT TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT APPLIES SHOULD CONSULT AN AUTHORISED PERSON SPECIALISING IN ADVISING ON SUCH INVESTMENTS.
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 MOBILE TORNADO GROUP PLC.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE PLACING 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 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 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 OWN 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, Investec 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 Investec to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.
This Announcement or any part of it 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), Canada, Australia, the Republic of South Africa, Japan 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 Prospectus Directive 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 the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the "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 Placing 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 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 offered in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of Australia, Canada, Japan 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 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 the "Important Notices" section of this Announcement.
By participating in the Placing, each person who is invited to and who chooses to participate in the Placing (a "Placee") by making an oral 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 the Appendix.
Each such Placee represents, warrants, undertakes, agrees and acknowledges (amongst other things) that:
No prospectus
The Placing Shares are being offered to a limited number of specifically invited persons only and will not be offered in such a way as to require any prospectus or other offering document to be published. No prospectus or other offering document has been or will be submitted to be approved by the FCA in relation to the Placing or the Placing Shares and Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in this Announcement and any information publicly announced through a Regulatory Information Service (as defined in the AIM Rules for Companies (the "AIM Rules")) by or on behalf of the Company on or prior to the date of this Announcement (the "Publicly Available Information") and subject to any further terms set forth in the contract note 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 Investec or the Company or any other person and none of Investec, the Company nor any other person acting on such person's behalf nor any of their 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 Placee 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
Investec has today entered into a placing agreement (the "Placing Agreement") with the Company under which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Placing Agreement, Investec, 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 Placing Price.
The Placing Shares will, when issued, be subject to the articles of association of the Company and credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing issued ordinary shares of 2 pence each ("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. As part of the Placing, the Company has agreed that it will not for a period of 90 days after (but including) Admission, enter into any or procure or permit the Company or any group company to enter into any commitment or agreement which could materially or adversely affect the Placing, or is material in the context of the business or affairs of the Group taken as a whole, without the prior written consent of Investec.
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 at 8.00 a.m. on 12 January 2018 and that dealings in the Placing Shares on AIM will commence at the same time.
Principal terms of the Placing
Registration and Settlement
If Placees are allocated any Placing Shares in the Placing they will be sent a contract note or electronic confirmation which will confirm the number of Placing Shares allocated to them, the Placing Price and the aggregate amount owed by them to Investec.
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 Investec in accordance with either the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions which they have in place with Investec.
Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00B01RQV23) following Admission will take place within the CREST system, subject to certain exceptions. Settlement through CREST will be on a T+2 basis unless otherwise notified by Investec and is expected to occur at 8.00 a.m. on 12 January 2018 (the "Settlement Date") in accordance with the contract notes. 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 and Investec may agree that the Placing Shares should be issued in certificated form. Investec reserves the right to require settlement for 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 Investec.
Each Placee is deemed to agree that if it does not comply with these obligations, Investec may sell any or all of their Placing Shares on their behalf and retain from the proceeds, for Investec's own account and benefit (as agent to the Company), an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. 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.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees must ensure that, upon receipt, the conditional contract note 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 Investec under the Placing Agreement are, and the Placing is, conditional upon, inter alia:
(all conditions to the obligations of Investec 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 Investec may agree), or the Placing Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Placing 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 Placing" below and will not be capable of rescission or termination by it.
Investec may, in its absolute discretion and upon such terms as it thinks fit, waive fulfilment of all or any of the conditions in the Placing Agreement in whole or in part, or extend the time provided for fulfilment of one or more conditions, save that the condition relating to Admission referred to in paragraph (c) above may not be waived. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Announcement.
Investec may terminate the Placing Agreement in certain circumstances, details of which are set out below.
None of Investec, the Company or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees nor the Company 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 Investec.
Termination of the Placing
Investec may terminate the Placing Agreement at any time before Admission if, inter alia:
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 Investec that the exercise by the Company or Investec 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 Investec or for agreement between the Company and Investec (as the case may be) and that neither the Company nor Investec need make any reference to such Placee and that none of the Company, Investec 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 Placing" section above and will not be capable of rescission or termination by it after the issue by Investec of a contract note 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) represents, warrants, acknowledges and agrees (for itself and for any such prospective Placee) that (save where Investec expressly agrees in writing to the contrary):
22. and in each case in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions;
"THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR UNDER THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OR WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (B) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY IN THE FOREGOING, THE SHARES MAY NOT BE DEPOSITED INTO ANY UNRESTRICTED DEPOSITARY RECEIPT FACILITY IN RESPECT OF SHARES ESTABLISHED OR MAINTAINED BY A DEPOSITARY BANK. EACH HOLDER, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THESE SHARES, REPRESENTS THAT IT UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.";
The representations, warranties, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in this Appendix are given to Investec for itself and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable.
Investec is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA in the United Kingdom and is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing, and Investec 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 Placing or any other matters referred to in this Announcement.
Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of the Placee acknowledges that Investec does 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 Investec may (at its absolute discretion) satisfy its 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 Investec, any money held in an account with Investec 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 Investec's money 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. Placees will be notified of any changes.
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.
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 pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than 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.