NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
For immediate release |
9 September 2015 |
RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER
for
QUINTAIN ESTATES AND DEVELOPMENT PLC
by
BAILEY ACQUISITIONS LIMITED
Extension of Offer
On 29 July 2015, the boards of Quintain Estates and Development PLC (Quintain) and Bailey Acquisitions Limited (Bidco), an investment vehicle indirectly controlled by Lone Star, announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer to be made by Bidco for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Quintain (the Offer). The full terms and conditions and the procedures for acceptance of the Offer are set out in the offer document which was published and sent to Quintain Shareholders by Bidco on 11 August 2015 (the Offer Document).
Level of acceptances
As at 1.00 p.m. (London time) on 9 September 2015, being the First Closing Date of the Offer, Bidco had received valid acceptances (including acceptances pursuant to the undertakings set out below) of the Offer in respect of 280,663,474 Quintain Shares, representing approximately 53.31 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Quintain, which Bidco may count towards the satisfaction of the Acceptance Condition of the Offer.
Before the announcement of the Offer on 29 July 2015, Bidco had received irrevocable undertakings to accept (or procure acceptance of) the Offer from each of the Quintain Directors who hold Quintain Shares in respect of his or her own beneficial holdings totalling 1,690,927 Quintain Shares, representing approximately 0.3 per cent. of the ordinary share capital of Quintain in issue on 10 August 2015 (being the latest practicable Business Day prior to the date of the Offer Document). The irrevocable undertakings also extend to any Quintain Shares which are acquired by the relevant Quintain Director after the date of the Offer Document (including any Quintain Shares acquired or to be acquired under the Quintain Share Plans or pursuant to any exercise of the conversion rights related to the Quintain Unsecured Loan Notes). In addition, the irrevocable undertaking of Simon Carter extends to any Quintain Shares acquired by him under the terms of the Buy Out Agreement.
As at the First Closing Date, Bidco had received valid acceptances pursuant to these undertakings in respect of 1,693,988 Quintain Shares in issue, representing approximately 0.3 per cent. of Quintain's issued ordinary share capital, and such acceptances are included in the total number of valid acceptances referred to above.
The percentages of Quintain Shares referred to in this announcement are based upon a figure of 526,394,699 Quintain Shares in issue.
Extension of Offer
The Offer, which remains subject to the other terms and conditions set out in the Offer Document, will remain open for acceptances until 1.00 p.m. (London time) on 23 September 2015.
Actions to be taken
Quintain Shareholders who have not yet accepted the Offer are urged to do so as soon as possible:
· If you hold your Quintain Shares in certificated form (that is, not in CREST), you should complete and return the Form of Acceptance which accompanied the Offer Document.
· If you hold your Quintain Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in CREST), you should ensure that an Electronic Acceptance is made by you or on your behalf and that settlement occurs. If you hold your Quintain Shares as a CREST sponsored member, you should refer to your CREST sponsor as only your CREST sponsor will be able to send the necessary instruction to Euroclear.
The Offer Document and a specimen Form of Acceptance are available on Bidco's website at www.baileyacquisitionslimited.com and on Quintain's website at www.quintain.co.uk/investors/offer. Further copies of the Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance may be obtained by contacting the Receiving Agent, Computershare Investor Services PLC on 0370 707 1253 from within the UK or on +44 (0) 370 707 1253 if calling from outside the UK (lines are open from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday) or by submitting a request in writing to Computershare Corporate Actions Projects, Bristol, BS99 6AH.
Unless otherwise stated, terms used in this announcement have the same meanings as given to them in the Offer Document.
Enquiries
Morgan Stanley (Financial Adviser to Bidco) |
|
Nick White/Ian Hart/Gwen Billon |
+44 (0)20 7425 8000 |
|
|
Headland (Bidco's PR Adviser) |
|
Francesca Tuckett/Howard Lee |
+44 (0)20 7367 5222 |
|
|
Quintain Estates and Development PLC |
|
Maxwell James/Simon Carter |
+44 (0)20 3219 2200 |
|
|
J.P. Morgan Cazenove (Quintain's Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker) |
|
Bronson Albery/Paul Hewlett/Tara Morrison |
+44 (0)20 7742 4000 |
|
|
Lazard (Quintain's Financial Adviser) |
|
Patrick Long/Max von Hurter/Philippe Noël |
+44 (0)20 7187 2000 |
|
|
Barclays (Quintain's Corporate Broker) |
|
Brendan Jarvis/Tom Boardman/Derek Shakespeare |
+44 (0)20 7623 2323 |
|
|
Finsbury (Quintain's PR Adviser) |
|
Jenny Davey/James Thompson |
+44 (0)20 7251 3801 |
Further information
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (Morgan Stanley), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting as exclusive financial adviser to Bidco and no one else in connection with the Offer. In connection with such matters, Morgan Stanley, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents will not regard any other person as their client, nor will they be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to their clients or for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the contents of this announcement or any other matters referred to in this announcement.
J.P. Morgan Limited, which conducts its UK investment banking business as J.P. Morgan Cazenove, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Quintain and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Quintain for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the contents of this announcement or any other matters referred to in this announcement.
Lazard & Co., Limited (Lazard), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Quintain and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Quintain for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the contents of this announcement or any other matters referred to in this announcement.
Barclays Bank PLC (Barclays), acting through its Investment Bank, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, is acting exclusively for Quintain and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Quintain for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the contents of this announcement or any other matters referred to in this announcement.
This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the Offer or otherwise. The Offer is made solely by means of the Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance accompanying the Offer Document, which contains the full terms and conditions of the Offer, including details of how the Offer may be accepted. Any response to the Offer should be made only on the basis of information contained in the Offer Document. Quintain Shareholders are advised to read the formal documentation in relation to the Offer carefully.
This announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law, the rules of the London Stock Exchange and the Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.
Overseas jurisdictions
The distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom or the United States and the ability of Quintain Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom or the United States to participate in the Offer may be affected by the laws of relevant jurisdictions. Therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom or the United States or Quintain Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom or the United States will need to inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Further details in relation to overseas shareholders are contained in the Offer Document.
The Offer is not being, and will not be, made available, directly or indirectly, in or into or by the use of the mails of, or by any other means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction, and will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility from within any Restricted Jurisdiction.
Accordingly, copies of this announcement and all documents relating to the Offer are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed, transmitted or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving this announcement (including, without limitation, agents, nominees, custodians and trustees) must not distribute, send or mail it in, into or from such jurisdiction. Any person (including, without limitation, any agent, nominee, custodian or trustee) who has a contractual or legal obligation, or may otherwise intend, to forward this announcement and/or the Offer Document and/or any other related document to a jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom or the United States should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdiction and must not mail, send or otherwise forward or distribute them in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction.
Notice to US holders of Quintain Shares
The Offer is being made in the United States pursuant to Section 14(e) of, and Regulation 14E under, the US Exchange Act, and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the Code. Accordingly, the Offer will be subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments that are different from those applicable under US domestic tender offer procedures and law.
The Offer is being made for the securities of an English company with a listing on the London Stock Exchange. The Offer is subject to UK disclosure requirements, which are different from certain United States disclosure requirements. The financial information on Quintain included in the Offer Document has been prepared in accordance with IFRS and may therefore not be comparable to financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer by a US holder of Quintain Shares may be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Each Quintain Shareholder is urged to consult his independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of accepting the Offer. Furthermore, the payment and settlement procedure with respect to the Offer will comply with the relevant United Kingdom rules, which differ from the United States payment and settlement procedures, particularly with regard to the date of payment of consideration.
The Offer will be made (including in the United States) by Bidco and no one else. None of Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan Cazenove, Lazard or Barclays, nor any of their respective affiliates, will be making the Offer in (or outside) the United States.
It may be difficult for US holders of Quintain Shares to enforce their rights and any claim arising out of US federal securities laws, since Bidco is incorporated under the laws of Jersey and Quintain is incorporated under the laws of England and Wales and some or all of their officers and directors are residents of non-US jurisdictions. In addition, most of the assets of Bidco and Quintain are located outside the United States. US holders of Quintain Shares may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgment.
This announcement does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States or an offer to acquire securities in the United States. No offer to acquire securities or to exchange securities for other securities has been made, or will be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, the United States or any other country in which such offer may not be made other than: (i) in accordance with the tender offer requirements under the US Exchange Act, or the securities laws of such other country, as the case may be, or: (ii) pursuant to an available exemption from such requirements.
Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any US state securities commission has approved or disapproved the Offer, passed comment upon the fairness or merits of the Offer or passed comment upon the adequacy or completeness of this announcement or the Offer Document. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, in accordance with, and to the extent permitted by, the Code and normal UK market practice, Bidco or its nominees or brokers (acting as agents) or their respective affiliates may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares or other securities in Quintain, other than pursuant to the Offer, at any time prior to completion of the Offer. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any such purchases, or arrangements to purchase, will comply with all applicable UK rules, including the Code, the rules of the London Stock Exchange and Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act to the extent applicable. In addition, in accordance with, and to the extent permitted by, the Code and normal UK market practice, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan Limited and Barclays and their respective affiliates will continue to act as exempt principal traders in Quintain Shares on the London Stock Exchange and engage in certain other purchasing activities consistent with their respective normal and usual practice and applicable law. To the extent required by the applicable law (including the Code), any information about such purchases will be disclosed on a next day basis to the Panel and a Regulatory Information Service including the Regulatory News Service on the London Stock Exchange website, www.londonstockexchange.com. To the extent that such information is made public in the United Kingdom, this information will also be deemed to be publicly disclosed in the United States.
Notice to Australian holders of Quintain Shares
The Offer is being made for the securities of a English company with a listing on the London Stock Exchange and is regulated primarily by UK laws. Accordingly, the Offer is not made under or regulated by Chapter 6 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). The content of this announcement and the Offer Document is subject to UK disclosure requirements which are different from the disclosure requirements under Australian law. Neither the Australian Securities and Investments Commission nor the Australian Securities Exchange has: (i) approved or disapproved of the Offer; (ii) passed judgment over the merits or fairness of the Offer; or (iii) passed judgment upon the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosure in this announcement nor the Offer Document.
Publication on website
A copy of this announcement will be available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, for inspection on Bidco's website at www.baileyacquisitionslimited.com and on Quintain's website at www.quintain.co.uk/investors/offer by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the date of this announcement. For the avoidance of doubt the contents of those websites are not incorporated, and do not form part of, this announcement.