Proposed Placing of Ordinary Shares
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPENDICES AND THE INFORMATION IN THEM, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
Electrocomponents plc
10 December 2020
PROPOSED PLACING OF ORDINARY SHARES TO RAISE GROSS PROCEEDS OF £180 MILLION
Electrocomponents plc (Electrocomponents or the Company) today announces its intention to conduct a placing of new ordinary shares (the Placing Shares) of 10 pence each in the Company (the Placing).
In addition to the Placing, there will be an offer made by the Company on the PrimaryBid platform of new ordinary shares (the Retail Shares) at the Placing Price (the Retail Offer), to provide retail investors with an opportunity to participate in the equity fundraise. A separate announcement will be made regarding the Retail Offer and its terms. The Retail Offer is conditional on the Placing, but the Placing is not conditional on the Retail Offer.
It is intended that the Placing and Retail Offer (together, the Fundraise) will result in the Company raising gross proceeds of £180 million. The total number of Placing Shares and Retail Shares are expected to represent approximately 5% of the Company's existing issued share capital.
The Placing is being conducted through an accelerated bookbuild which will be launched immediately following release of this announcement. UBS AG London Branch (UBS) and Numis Securities Limited (Numis and together with UBS the Joint Bookrunners and each a Joint Bookrunner) are acting as Joint Bookrunners in respect of the Placing.
Reasons for the Fundraise
The Company has reached an agreement to acquire Synovos (the Synovos acquisition), a leading player in integrated supply solutions in the Americas, for a total consideration of $145 million (c.£110 million), on a debt-free, cash-free basis. Electrocomponents also announces the acquisition of Needlers (the Needlers acquisition), a leading UK provider in the safety, hygiene and PPE category, for a total consideration of £40 million on a debt-free, cash-free basis. The Synovos and Needlers acquisitions have been announced separately this morning (the Acquisition Announcement).
The Directors believe the acquisitions are both strategically and financially compelling. Further details on the acquisitions can be found in the Acquisition Announcement. This Announcement should be read in conjunction with the Acquisition Announcement.
The acquisitions consideration will be funded by the proceeds of the Placing, representing c.5% of Electrocomponents' issued share capital. Electrocomponents is targeting pro-forma net debt to adjusted EBITDA of below 1x for the year ending 31 March 2021. This will preserve the Group's financial strength and flexibility to invest in working capital to drive organic growth and execute on a growing pipeline of attractive bolt-ons.
The Appendix to this Announcement sets out further information relating to the Bookbuild and the terms and conditions of the Placing.
Structure of Fundraise and shareholder consultation
Electrocomponents acknowledges that it is seeking to issue new ordinary shares amounting to approximately 5% of its existing issued ordinary share capital on a non-pre-emptive basis. Members of the Board have consulted with the Company's major institutional shareholders ahead of the release of this Announcement. These shareholders are supportive of the proposed structure, which has been chosen to minimise costs, time to completion and use of management time, as well as being most appropriate to deliver financing for the Acquisitions.
The Board has also considered the effect of the Fundraise on its retail shareholders and therefore proposes to make available the Retail Offer to provide retail shareholders with the opportunity to take part in the Fundraise.
Details of the Placing
UBS and Numis will commence the Bookbuild immediately following the release of this Announcement.
The Placing is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Appendix to this Announcement. It is intended that the Retail Shares will be subscribed for on the basis of the terms and conditions of the Retail Offer, rather than pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Placing contained in the Appendix to this Announcement.
The Joint Bookrunners will commence the Bookbuild immediately following the release of this Announcement in respect of the Placing. The price at which the Placing Shares are to be placed (the Placing Price) will be determined at the close of the Bookbuild.
The book will open with immediate effect following this Announcement. The timing of the closing of the book, pricing and allocations are at the absolute discretion of the Joint Bookrunners and the Company. Details of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares and Retail Shares will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuild. The Retail Shares will be issued at the same price as the Placing Price.
The Placing Shares and Retail Shares, when issued, will be fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with each other and with the existing ordinary shares of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of issue.
Applications will be made (i) to the Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA) for admission of the Placing Shares and Retail Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List; and (ii) to London Stock Exchange plc for admission of the Placing Shares to trading on its main market for listed securities (together, Admission).
Settlement for the Placing Shares and Retail Shares and Admission are expected to take place on or before 8.00 a.m. on 14 December 2020. The Placing is conditional upon, among other things, Admission becoming effective. The Placing is also conditional upon the placing agreement between the Company and the Joint Bookrunners (the Placing Agreement) not being terminated in accordance with its terms. Appendix 1 to this Announcement sets out further information relating to the terms and conditions of the Placing.
The person responsible for releasing this announcement is Ian Haslegrave - Company Secretary & General Counsel .
Electrocomponents plc LEI: 549300KVXDURRKVWR37
For further information contact:
Electrocomponents +44 (0)20 7239 8400
Lindsley Ruth, Chief Executive Officer
David Egan, Chief Financial Officer
Lucy Sharma, VP Investor Relations
Tulchan Communications LLP +44 (0)20 7353 4200
Martin Robinson
Olivia Peters
Toby Zeal
UBS (Corporate Broker, Sponsor and Joint Bookrunner) +44 (0)20 7567 8000
John Woolland
David Roberts
Meera Sheth
Numis Securities (Corporate Broker and Joint Bookrunner) +44 (0)20 7260 1000
Mark Lander
Julian Cater
George Price
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This announcement including its Appendix (together, the Announcement) and the information contained in it is not for publication, release or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or any other jurisdiction in which publication, release or distribution would be unlawful. This Announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or issue, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, acquire or subscribe for shares in the capital of Electrocomponents (the Company) in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or any other state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorised or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of such jurisdictions. The Placing Shares and the Retail Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered, sold or transferred, directly or indirectly, in or into 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 Retail Shares and, subject to certain limited exceptions, the Placing Shares are being offered and sold outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.
No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in the United States, United Kingdom or elsewhere. All offers of the Placing Shares and the Retail Shares will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended from time to time, and includes any relevant implementing measure in any member state (the Prospectus Regulation) from the requirement to produce a prospectus. This Announcement is being distributed to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (FSMA) does not apply.
No prospectus will be made available in connection with the matters contained in this Announcement and no such prospectus is required (in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation) to be published. This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein are for information purposes only and are directed only at persons who are: (a) persons in Member States of the European Economic Area who are qualified investors (within the meaning of article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (Qualified Investors); and (b) in the United Kingdom, Qualified Investors who are persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of investment professionals in article 19(5) 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 terms and conditions set out herein 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 and the terms and conditions set out herein relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.
This Announcement has been issued by, and is the sole responsibility of, the Company. 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 Numis Securities Limited (Numis), UBS AG London Branch (UBS) and together with Numis, the Joint Bookrunners and each a Joint Bookrunner), or by any of their 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.
Each Joint Bookrunner is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA). Each Joint Bookrunner is acting solely for the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the Placing and/or any other matter referred to in this Announcement. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on the Joint Bookrunners by FSMA or by the regulatory regime established under it, neither Numis, UBS nor any of their affiliates accepts any responsibility whatsoever for the contents of the information contained in this Announcement or for any other statement made or purported to be made by or on behalf of any Joint Bookrunner or any of their affiliates in connection with the Company, the Placing Shares or the Placing. Numis, UBS and each of their affiliates accordingly disclaim all and any responsibility and liability whatsoever, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) in respect of any statements or other information contained in this Announcement and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by any Joint Bookrunner or any of their affiliates as to the accuracy, completeness or sufficiency of the information contained in this Announcement. The Joint Bookrunners are not acting for the Company with respect to the Retail Offer and will have no responsibilities, duties or liabilities, whether direct or indirect, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise in connection with the Retail Offer or to any person in connection with the Retail Offer.
The distribution of this Announcement and the offering of the Placing Shares and the Retail Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company and/or the Joint Bookrunners or any of their respective affiliates that would, or which is intended to, permit an offering of the Placing Shares or the Retail Shares in any jurisdiction or result in the possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to Placing Shares or the Retail 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, such restrictions.
This Announcement contains (or may contain) certain forward-looking statements with respect to certain of the Company's current expectations and projections about future events. These statements, which sometimes use words such as aim, anticipate, believe, intend, plan, estimate, expect and words of similar meaning, reflect the Directors' beliefs and expectations and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which could cause actual results and performance to differ materially from any expected future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking statement. Statements contained in this Announcement regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. The information contained in this Announcement is subject to change without notice and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not assume any responsibility or obligation to update publicly or review any of the forward-looking statements contained in it and nor do they intend to. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Announcement. No statement in this Announcement is or is intended to be a profit forecast or profit estimate or to imply that the earnings of the Company for the current or future financial years will necessarily match or exceed the historical or published earnings of the Company. As a result of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the recipient should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results or otherwise.
This Announcement does not identify or suggest, or purport to identify or suggest, the risks (direct or indirect) that may be associated with an investment in the Placing Shares or the Retail Shares. Any investment decision to buy Placing Shares in the Placing or Retail Shares in the Retail Offer must be made solely on the basis of publicly available information, which has not been independently verified by the Joint Bookrunners.
The information in this Announcement may not be forwarded or distributed to any other person and may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever. Any forwarding, distribution, reproduction or disclosure of this information in whole or in part is unauthorised. Failure to comply with this directive may result in a violation of the Securities Act or the applicable laws of other jurisdictions.
This Announcement does not constitute an invitation to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities in any jurisdiction. This Announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning any investor's option with respect to the Placing or the Retail Offer. Each investor or prospective investor should conduct his, her or its own investigation, analysis and evaluation of the business and data described in this Announcement and publicly available information. The price and value of securities can go down as well as up. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing and the Retail Shares to be issued pursuant to the Retail Offer 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.
Information to Distributors
Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended (MiFID II); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any manufacturer (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such securities are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the Target Market Assessment). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Joint Bookrunners will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares.
Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THE FOREGOING, NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IS BEING MADE BY ANY PERSON ANYWHERE AND THE COMPANY HAS NOT AUTHORISED OR CONSENTED TO ANY SUCH OFFERING IN RELATION TO THE PLACING SHARES.
APPENDIX
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE PLACING
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SAME WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE PLACING FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) (TOGETHER, THE ANNOUNCEMENT) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS SELECTED BY NUMIS SECURITIES LIMITED (NUMIS) AND UBS AG LONDON BRANCH (UBS, TOGETHER WITH NUMIS, THE JOINT BOOKRUNNERS AND EACH A JOINT BOOKRUNNER) (EACH ACTING AS AGENT FOR THE COMPANY AND AS JOINT BOOKRUNNER) AND WHO ARE: (A) PERSONS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS (WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(E) OF THE REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 (THE PROSPECTUS REGULATION) (QUALIFIED INVESTORS); (B) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS WHO ARE PERSONS WHO (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS IN ARTICLE 19(5) 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; AND (C) IN THE UNITED STATES, A LIMITED NUMBER OF QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS (EACH A QIB) (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT)) (ALL SUCH PERSONS IN (A), (B) AND (C) TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS RELEVANT PERSONS).
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN 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 (INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY OR ACQUIRE SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES OR ELSEWHERE. THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR TRANSFERRED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO 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 THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED KINGDOM OR ELSEWHERE. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC OFFER OF THE PLACING SHARES IN THE UNITED STATES. IN ADDITION, THE RETAIL SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD BY THE COMPANY ONLY OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS AS DEFINED IN, AND PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISORS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF AN INVESTMENT IN PLACING SHARES.
Persons who are invited to and who choose to participate in the Placing (and any person acting on such person's behalf), by making an oral or written offer to acquire Placing Shares (as defined below), will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement, including this Appendix, the announcement made on the date of this Announcement containing the terms and conditions of the Company's acquisition of Synovos and Needlers (the Acquisition Announcement) in their entirety and to be making such offer on the terms and conditions, and to be providing the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, and undertakings contained in this Appendix.
This Announcement (including the Appendix) is for information only and does not constitute an offer or invitation to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities or investment advice in any jurisdiction, including without limitation, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. Past performance is not a good guide to future performance. Persons needing advice should consult an independent financial advisor. This Announcement and the information contained herein is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, to persons in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or in any jurisdiction in which such publication or distribution is unlawful.
In particular, the Placing Shares referred to in this Announcement have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States.
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 unlawful.
The relevant clearances have not been, and 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; and the Placing Shares have not been, and nor will they be, registered or otherwise qualified for offer and sale under the securities laws of any state, province or territory of Australia, Canada, Japan or 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 South Africa.
Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of this Appendix or the Announcement of which it forms part should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.
In this Appendix, unless the context otherwise requires, Placee means a Relevant Person (including individuals, funds or others) on whose behalf a commitment to acquire Placing Shares has been given.
Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing Shares
The Joint Bookrunners have entered into a placing agreement dated 10 December 2020 (the Placing Agreement) with the Company under which the Joint Bookrunners have, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out therein, undertaken as agent for and on behalf of the Company, to use all reasonable endeavours to procure Placees for such number of new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company of nominal value 10 pence each (the Placing Shares) to raise gross proceeds of £180 million, at a price determined following completion of an accelerated bookbuild process (the Placing).
In accordance with the terms of the Placing Agreement, the Joint Bookrunners have agreed, subject to agreement with the Company as to the number and price of the Placing Shares to be placed with Placees, to underwrite the settlement risk in the event that any Placees fail to take up their allocation of the Placing Shares.
The Placing Shares will, when issued, be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares of the Company (Ordinary Shares), including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid on or in respect of such Ordinary Shares by reference to a record date falling after their issue. The Placing Shares will be issued free of any pre-emption rights, encumbrances, liens or other security interests.
Application for listing and admission to trading
Application will be made to the Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA) for admission of the Placing Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List of the FCA (the Official List) and to London Stock Exchange plc (the London Stock Exchange) for admission to trading of the Placing Shares on its main market for listed securities (together, Admission). It is expected that Admission will become effective at or around 8:00 a.m. on 14 December 2020 and that dealings in the Placing Shares will commence at that time.
Bookbuild
The Joint Bookrunners will today commence the bookbuilding process in respect of the Placing (the Bookbuild) to determine demand for participation in the Placing by Placees. This Appendix gives details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Placing. No commissions will be paid to Placees or by Placees in respect of any Placing Shares.
The Joint Bookrunners and the Company shall be entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method to the Bookbuild as they may, in their sole discretion, determine.
Participation in, and principal terms of, the Placing
1. The Joint Bookrunners are arranging the Placing as joint bookrunners and agents of the Company.
2. Participation in the Placing will only be available to persons who may lawfully be, and are, invited to participate by the Joint Bookrunners. The Joint Bookrunners and their affiliates are entitled to enter bids in the Bookbuild as principals.
3. The Bookbuild, if successful, will establish a single price in respect of the Placing Shares payable to the Joint Bookrunners by all Placees whose bids are successful (the Placing Price). The Placing Price and the aggregate proceeds to be raised through the Placing will be agreed between the Joint Bookrunners and the Company following completion of the Bookbuild and any discount to the market price of the Ordinary Shares will be determined in accordance with the listing rules produced by the FCA under Part VI of FSMA. The Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares to be issued will be announced on a Regulatory Information Service (as defined in the FCA's handbook of rules and guidance) following the completion of the Bookbuild (the Pricing Announcement).
4. To bid in the Bookbuild, prospective Placees should communicate their bid orally by telephone or in writing to their usual sales contact at Numis or UBS. Each bid should state the number of Placing Shares which the prospective Placee wishes to acquire at either the Placing Price which is ultimately established by the Company and the Joint Bookrunners, or at prices up to a price limit specified in its bid. Bids may be scaled down by the Joint Bookrunners on the basis referred to in paragraph 8 below. The Joint Bookrunners reserve the right not to accept bids or to accept bids in part rather than in whole. The acceptance of the bids shall be at the Joint Bookrunners' absolute discretion, subject to agreement with the Company.
5. The Bookbuild is expected to close no later than 5:00 p.m. (London time) on 10 December 2020 but may be closed earlier or later at the discretion of the Joint Bookrunners. The Joint Bookrunners may, in agreement with the Company, accept bids that are received after the Bookbuild has closed. The Company reserves the right (upon the agreement of the Joint Bookrunners) to reduce the number of shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing, in its absolute discretion.
6. Each Placee's allocation will be confirmed to it orally or in writing by the Joint Bookrunners, as agents of the Company, following the close of the Bookbuild, and a contract note or electronic confirmation will be dispatched as soon as possible thereafter. The Joint Bookrunner's oral confirmation to such Placee will constitute an irrevocable legally binding commitment upon that person (who will at that point become a Placee) in favour of such Joint Bookrunner and the Company, under which it agrees to acquire the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Placing Price on the terms and conditions set out in this Appendix and in accordance with the Company's articles of association.
7. The Company will make a further announcement following the close of the Bookbuild detailing the number of Placing Shares to be issued and the price at which the Placing Shares have been placed, referred to in paragraph 3 above as the Pricing Announcement.
8. Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5 above, the Joint Bookrunners may, subject to agreement with the Company, choose to accept bids, either in whole or in part, on the basis of allocations determined at their absolute discretion and may scale down any bids for this purpose on such basis as it may determine. The Joint Bookrunners may also, notwithstanding paragraphs 4 and 5 above, subject to the prior consent of the Company (i) allocate Placing Shares after the time of any initial allocation to any person submitting a bid after that time, and (ii) allocate Placing Shares after the Bookbuild has closed to any person submitting a bid after that time. The acceptance of offers shall be at the absolute discretion of the Joint Bookrunners, subject to agreement with the Company.
9. A bid in the Bookbuild will be made on the terms and subject to the conditions in this Announcement (including this Appendix) and will be legally binding on the Placee on behalf of which it is made and except with the Joint Bookrunners' consent will not be capable of variation or revocation after the time at which it is submitted. Each Placee will also have an immediate, separate, irrevocable and binding obligation, owed to the Joint Bookrunners, to pay them (or as they may direct) in cleared funds an amount equal to the product of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares such Placee has agreed to acquire and the Company has agreed to allot and issue to such Placee.
10. Except as required by law or regulation, no press release or other announcement will be made by the Joint Bookrunners or the Company using the name of any Placee (or its agent), in its capacity as Placee (or agent), other than with such Placee's prior written consent.
11. Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's allocation pursuant to the Placing is 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.
12. All obligations under the Bookbuild and Placing will be subject to fulfilment or (where applicable) waiver 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 Agreement.
13. By participating in the Bookbuild, 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.
14. To the fullest extent permissible by law, none of the Joint Bookrunners, nor the Company nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees shall have any responsibility or liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise). In particular, neither the Joint Bookrunners, nor the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees shall have any responsibility or liability (including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of the Joint Bookrunners' conduct of the Bookbuild or of such alternative method of effecting the Placing as the Joint Bookrunners and the Company may agree.
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 Joint Bookrunners' obligations under the Placing Agreement are conditional on, inter alia:
(a) agreement being reached between the Company and the Joint Bookrunners on the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares, and the publication by the Company of a Pricing Announcement prior to 8:00 a.m. (London time) on 11 December 2020 (or such later time and/or date as the Company and the Joint Bookrunners may agree in writing);
(b) the warranties contained in the Placing Agreement being true, accurate and not misleading on (i) the date of the Placing Agreement (ii) the time of release of the Pricing Announcement; and (iii) the day on which the transactions to be effected by the Placing Agreement will be settled, and the Joint Bookrunners receiving a certificate from the Company confirming such is the case (in each case, save to the extent that the Joint Bookrunners consider, acting in good faith, that the relevant matter is not material in the context of the Placing);
(c) the Company having complied with all of its obligations under the Placing Agreement to the extent the same fall to be performed or satisfied prior to Admission;
(d) the Company allotting, subject to Admission, the Placing Shares in accordance with the Placing Agreement; and
(e) Admission taking place by 8:00 a.m. (London time) on 14 December 2020 (or such later date as the Company and the Joint Bookrunners may otherwise agree).
If (i) any of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement in relation to the Placing Shares is not fulfilled or, where permitted, waived in accordance with the Placing Agreement by the Joint Bookrunners, by the time or date specified in the Placing Agreement (or such later time and/or date as the Company and the Joint Bookrunners may agree), or (ii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below, the Placing will not proceed and each Placee's rights and obligations hereunder in relation to the Placing Shares shall cease and terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by the Placee in respect thereof.
The Joint Bookrunners may, at their discretion and upon such terms as they think fit, extend the time for the satisfaction of any condition or waive compliance by the Company with the whole or any part of any of the Company's obligations in relation to the conditions in the Placing Agreement, save that certain conditions in the Placing Agreement (including the condition relating to Admission taking place) may not be waived. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Announcement.
None of the Joint Bookrunners, the Company nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall have any liability (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision it may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and / or the date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision they 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 the Joint Bookrunners.
By participating in the Bookbuild, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations hereunder terminate only in the circumstances described above and under Termination of the Placing Agreement below, and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee.
Termination of the Placing Agreement
The Joint Bookrunners may, at any time before Admission, terminate the Placing Agreement by giving notice to the Company if any of the warranties contained in the Placing Agreement is untrue, inaccurate or misleading (or would be untrue, inaccurate or misleading if repeated at (i) the time of release of the Pricing Announcement or (ii) the day on which the transactions to be effected by the Placing Agreement will be settled) by reference to the facts then subsisting in any respect which, in the opinion of the Joint Bookrunners (acting in good faith) is material in the context of the Placing or Admission.
The Joint Bookrunners may, at any time before Admission and following consultation with the Company (where reasonably practicable in the circumstances), terminate the Placing Agreement in relation to its obligations in respect of the Placing Shares by giving notice to the Company if, amongst other things:
(a) the Company is in breach of any of its obligations under the Placing Agreement which is material in the context of the Placing or Admission; or
(b) the application of the Company for Admission is withdrawn or refused by the FCA or the LSE; or
(c) in the opinion of the Joint Bookrunners (acting in good faith) there has been since entering into the Placing Agreement, a material adverse change in or affecting, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting, the condition (financial, operational or otherwise) or earnings, management, business affairs, business prospects or financial prospects of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or subsidiary undertakings from time to time (taken as a whole); or
(d) there has been (i) any adverse change in the financial markets in the United States, the United Kingdom, any member of the European Union or any adverse change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions, (ii) an incident of terrorism, outbreak or escalation of hostilities, war, declaration of martial law or any other calamity or crisis, (iii) a suspension or material limitation in trading of the Ordinary Shares or securities generally on the London Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ system, or (iv) any adverse change in currency exchange rates or exchange controls or a disruption of settlement systems or a material disruption in commercial banking, the effect of which (either singly or taken together with any other event referred to in this paragraph (d)) is such as to make it, in the opinion of the Joint Bookrunners (acting in good faith), impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the Placing or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placing Shares.
Upon such termination, the parties to the Placing Agreement shall be released and discharged (except for any liability arising before or in relation to such termination) from their respective obligations under or pursuant to the Placing Agreement subject to certain exceptions.
By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by the Joint Bookrunners of any right of termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Joint Bookrunners and that it need not make any reference to Placees in this regard and that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Joint Bookrunners shall have no responsibility or liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise or failure so to exercise.
Lock-up
The Company has agreed with the Joint Bookrunners that, during the period commencing on the date of the Placing Agreement and ending 90 days after Admission, the Company will not, and will ensure that none of its subsidiaries or affiliates will, without the prior written consent of the Joint Bookrunners: (i) save for the issue of the Placing Shares or the Retail Shares or any issuance of ordinary shares pursuant to any employee share scheme that exists at the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, issue, offer, pledge, sell, contract to issue or sell, issue or sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to issue or sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any ordinary shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for ordinary shares; or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Ordinary Shares, whether any such swap, transaction, agreement or other event described in (i) or (ii) is to be settled by delivery of ordinary shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The term Retail Shares shall refer to the new ordinary shares offered by the Company at the Placing Price to certain retail investors of an aggregate value of up to €8,000,000, in which members of the public in the United Kingdom may participate through the online platform operated by PrimaryBid Limited.
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 a prospectus in the UK or elsewhere in the European Economic Area. No offering document, prospectus or admission document has been or will be published or submitted to be approved by the FCA in relation to the Placing and Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of their own assessment of the Company, the Placing Shares and the Placing based on the Company's publicly available information taken together with the information contained in this Announcement (including this Appendix), the Acquisition Announcement and the Exchange Information (as defined below) and subject to the further terms set forth in the contract note to be provided to individual prospective Placees. Each Placee, by accepting a participation in the Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement (including this Appendix), the Company's publicly available information and the Exchange Information is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms that it has neither received nor relied on any other information, representation, warranty, or statement made by or on behalf of the Company (other than publicly available information and the Exchange Information), the Joint Bookrunners or any other person and none of the Joint Bookrunners or the Company or any other person will have any responsibility or liability for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement which the Placees may have obtained or received (regardless of whether or not such information, representation, warranty or statement was given or made by or on behalf of any such persons). 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. Each Placee should not consider any information in this Announcement to be legal, tax or business advice. Each Placee should consult its own attorney, tax advisor and business advisor for legal, tax and business advice regarding an investment in the Placing Shares. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation.
Registration and Settlement
Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares following Admission will take place on a delivery versus payment basis within the CREST system, subject to certain exceptions. 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 the Joint Bookrunners may agree that the Placing Shares should be issued in certificated form. The Company and the Joint Bookrunners reserve the right to require settlement for and delivery of the Placing Shares to Placees by such other means that they deem necessary if delivery or settlement is not practicable within the CREST system within the timetable set out in this Announcement or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in the Placee's jurisdiction.
Following close of the Bookbuild, each Placee allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a contract note or electronic confirmation in accordance with the standing arrangements in place with the Joint Bookrunners stating the number of Placing Shares to be allocated to it at the Placing Price, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee to the Joint Bookrunners and settlement instructions. Each Placee agrees that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed in accordance with either the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions that it has in place with the Joint Bookrunners. Payment in full for any Placing Shares so allocated at the Placing Price must be made by no later than the date of Admission (expected to be 14 December 2020). Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares following Admission will take place within the CREST system.
It is expected that settlement will be on 14 December 2020 on a T+2 basis in accordance with the instructions set out in the contract note or electronic confirmation.
Interest is chargeable daily on payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance with the arrangements set out above at the rate of two percentage points above LIBOR as determined by the Joint Bookrunners.
Each Placee agrees that, if it does not comply with these obligations, the Joint Bookrunners may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for the Joint Bookrunners' account and benefit, 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 aggregate amount owed by it and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other stamp, securities, transfer, registration, execution, documentary or other similar impost, duty or tax (together with any interest or penalties) which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf. By communicating a bid for Placing Shares, each Placee confers on the Joint Bookrunners all such authorities and powers necessary to carry out any such sale and agrees to ratify and confirm all actions which the Joint Bookrunners lawfully take in pursuance of such sale.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the contract note or electronic 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 agent, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below, be so registered free from any liability to UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If there are any other circumstances in which any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (including any interest and penalties relating thereto) is payable in respect of the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of the Placing Shares (or for the avoidance of doubt if any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax is payable in connection with any subsequent transfer of or agreement to transfer Placing Shares), neither the Joint Bookrunners nor the Company shall be responsible for the payment thereof. Placees (or any nominee or other agent acting on behalf of a Placee) will not be entitled to receive any fee or commission in connection with the Placing.
Representations, Warranties and Further Terms
By participating in the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) irrevocably acknowledges, confirms, undertakes, represents, warrants and agrees (as the case may be) with the Joint Bookrunners and the Company, in each case as a fundamental term of their application for Placing Shares as set out below:
1. that it has read and understood this Announcement, including this Appendix and the Acquisition Announcement in their entirety and that its participation in the Bookbuild and the Placing and its acquisition of Placing Shares is subject to and based upon all the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings and other information contained herein and in the Acquisition Announcement, and it undertakes not to redistribute, forward, transfer, duplicate or otherwise transmit this Announcement;
2. that no offering document, prospectus or admission document has been or will be prepared in connection with the Placing and that no such document is required under the Prospectus Regulation, and represents and warrants that it has not received and will not receive a prospectus, admission document or other offering document in connection therewith;
3. that the Ordinary Shares are listed on the Official List and admitted to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, and that the Company is therefore required to publish certain business and financial information in accordance with the rules and practices of the FCA (collectively, the Exchange Information), 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 similar statements for preceding financial years, and that it has reviewed such Exchange Information and 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. that none of the Joint Bookrunners or the Company or any of their respective affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of them has provided, and will not provide it, with any material or information regarding the Placing Shares, the Placing or the Company other than this Announcement; nor has it requested any of the Joint Bookrunners, the Company, any of their respective affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of them to provide it with any such material or information;
5. that the contents of this Announcement and the Acquisition Announcement are exclusively the responsibility of the Company and that none of the Joint Bookrunners, their affiliates, agents, directors, officers, employees or any person acting on the Joint Bookrunners' behalf, has or shall have any responsibility or liability for any information, representation or statement contained in this Announcement or the Acquisition Announcement or any information previously or subsequently published by or on behalf of the Company and will not be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any information, representation or statement contained in this Announcement or the Acquisition Announcement or any information previously published by or on behalf of the Company or otherwise. Each Placee further represents, warrants and agrees that it has made its own assessment of the Company, the Placing Shares and the terms of the Placing based on this Announcement (including this Appendix), the Acquisition Announcement, the Company's publicly available information and the Exchange Information, such information being all that it deems necessary to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares, and that it has neither received nor relied on any other information given or representations, warranties or statements made by any of the Joint Bookrunners or the Company and none of the Joint Bookrunners or the Company will be liable for any Placee's decision to accept an invitation to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement, provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made by that person. Each Placee further acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in deciding to participate in the Placing;
6. with respect to any Placing Shares offered to or purchased by it in the United States or for and on behalf of persons in the United States, it understands and agrees: (1) that it is a qualified institutional buyer (QIB) within the meaning of Rule 144A (Rule 144A) under the U.S Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act); (2) that the Placing Shares are being offered and sold to it in reliance on an exemption from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act, in transactions not involving a public offering of securities in the United States and the Placing Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or with any State or other jurisdiction of the United States; (3) that the Placing Shares may not be reoffered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred by it except (a) outside the United States in an offshore transaction pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act (Regulation S), (b) in the United States to a person whom the seller reasonably believes is a QIB to whom notice is given that the offer, sale or transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, (c) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (if available), (d) to the Company, (e) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (f) pursuant to another available exemption, if any, from registration under the Securities Act, in each case in compliance with all applicable laws; (4) that the Placing Shares are restricted securities as defined in Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act; (5) to notify any transferee to whom it subsequently reoffers, resells, pledges or otherwise transfers the Placing Shares of the foregoing restrictions on transfer; (6) for so long as the Placing Shares are restricted securities (within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act), it will segregate such Placing Shares from any other shares that it holds that are not restricted securities, shall not deposit such shares in any unrestricted depositary facility established or maintained by a depositary bank and will only transfer such Placing Shares in accordance with this paragraph; (7) if it is acquiring the Placing Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, each such account is a QIB, it has sole investment discretion with respect to each such account and it has full power and authority to make the acknowledgements, representations, warranties and agreements herein on behalf of each such account; (8) it is acquiring such Placing Shares for its own account (or the account of a QIB as to which it has sole investment discretion) for investment purposes and (subject to the disposition of its property being at all times within its control) not with a view to any distribution of the Placing Shares; (9) that no representation has been made as to the availability of the exemption provided by Rule 144 or any other exemption under the Securities Act for the reoffer, resale, pledge or transfer of the Placing Shares; and (10) it will be required to execute and deliver to the Joint Bookrunners and the Company a US investor representation letter regarding, inter alia, the matters set forth above;
7. that it has neither received nor relied on any confidential price sensitive information concerning the Company in accepting this invitation to participate in the Placing and it is not purchasing Placing Shares on the basis of such information;
8. that none of the Joint Bookrunners, their affiliates, agents, directors, officers, employees or any person acting on its behalf has or shall have any responsibility or liability for any publicly available or filed information (including, without limitation, the Exchange Information) or any information, representation, warranty or statement relating to the Company contained therein or otherwise, provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made by that person;
9. that it is not, and at the time the Placing Shares are acquired, neither it nor the beneficial owner of the Placing Shares will be, a resident of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa;
10. that it has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Placing Shares, will not look to the Joint Bookrunners for all or part of any such loss it may suffer, is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Placing Shares, is able to sustain a complete loss of the investment in the Placing Shares and has no need for liquidity with respect to its investment in the Placing Shares;
11. it and/or each person on whose behalf it is participating:
(a) is entitled to acquire Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing under the laws and regulations of all relevant jurisdictions;
(b) has fully observed such laws and regulations;
(c) 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
(d) 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 the laws and regulations of all relevant jurisdictions or otherwise and has complied with all necessary formalities to enable it to enter into the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform its obligations in relation thereto;
12. that it is acting as principal only in respect of the Placing or, if it is acting for any other person: (i) it is duly authorised to do so and has full power to make, and does make, the acknowledgments, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each such person; and (ii) it is and will remain liable to the Joint Bookrunners and the Company for the performance of all its obligations in respect of the Placing (regardless of the fact that it is acting for another person);
13. that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered or otherwise qualified, for offer and sale nor will a prospectus be published in respect of any of the Placing Shares under the securities laws or legislation of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, or South Africa or any other jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is or may be unlawful and, subject to certain exceptions, may not be offered, sold, or delivered or transferred, directly or indirectly, within those jurisdictions;
14. that (i) neither it, nor any person to whom Placing Shares are allotted or issued on its behalf (as its nominee or agent) is, or is acting as nominee or agent for, and that the Placing Shares will not be allotted or issued to, a person whose business either is or includes issuing depositary receipts or the provision of clearance services and therefore that the allotment and issue to the Placee or any person to whom Placing Shares are allotted or issued on its behalf (as its nominee or agent), will not give rise to a liability under any of sections 67, 70, 93 and 96 of the Finance Act 1986 (depositary and clearance services) and (ii) the Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to issue or transfer Placing Shares into a clearance system;
15. that it has complied with its obligations under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU No 596/2014) and any delegating acts, implementing acts, technical standards and guidelines thereunder (MAR), the Criminal Justice Act 1993, and in connection with money laundering and terrorist financing under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (as amended), the Terrorism Act 2000, the Terrorism Act 2006, the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 (the Regulations) and the Money Laundering Sourcebook of the FCA, the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 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;
16. that it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the United Kingdom, 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 a requirement to publish a prospectus in the United Kingdom within the meaning of section 85(1) of the FSMA;
17. if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the Prospectus Regulation, that the Placing Shares purchased 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 a Member State of the European Economic Area or to which the Prospectus Regulation otherwise applies other than Qualified Investors, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the Joint Bookrunners has been given to the offer or resale;
18. that it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the European Economic Area prior to 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 in and which will not result in an offer to the public in any member state of the European Economic Area within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation;
19. that it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and 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 the Placing Shares in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not require approval of the communication by an authorised person;
20. that it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Placing Shares in, from or otherwise involving, the United Kingdom;
21. if it is in a Member State of the European Economic Area, unless otherwise specifically agreed with the Joint Bookrunners in writing, that it is a Qualified Investor within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation;
22. if it is in the UK, that (A) it is a person (i) who has professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the Order), or (ii) falling within Article 49(2)(A) to (D) (High Net Worth Companies, Unincorporated Associations, etc.) of the Order; and (B) it is a Qualified Investor as defined in section 86(7) of the FSMA or (C) to whom this Announcement may otherwise be lawfully communicated;
23. that (i) it and any person acting on its behalf has capacity and authority and is otherwise entitled to acquire and purchase the Placing Shares under the laws of all relevant jurisdictions which apply to it, (ii) it has paid any issue, transfer or other taxes due in connection with its participation in any territory, (iii) it has not taken any action which will or may result in the Company, the Joint Bookrunners, any of their affiliates, agents, directors, officers, employees or any person acting on their behalf being in breach of the legal and/or regulatory requirements of any territory in connection with the Placing, (iv) that the acquisition of the Placing Shares by it or any person acting on its behalf will be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdiction of its residence, the residence of the Company, or otherwise, and (v) it has all necessary capacity and has obtained all necessary consents and authorities to enable it to commit to this participation in the Placing and to perform its obligations in relation thereto (including, without limitation, in the case of any person on whose behalf it is acting, all necessary consents and authorities to agree to the terms set out or referred to in this Announcement) and will honour such obligations;
24. that it (and any person acting on its behalf) will make payment for the Placing Shares allocated to it in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in this Announcement on the due time and date set out herein, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with other acquirers or sold as the Joint Bookrunners may in their sole discretion determine and without liability to such Placee, provided always that, such Placee 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;
25. that its allocation (if any) of Placing Shares will represent a maximum number of Placing Shares which it will be entitled, and required, to acquire, and that the Company may call upon it to acquire a lower number of Placing Shares (if any), but in no event in aggregate more than the aforementioned maximum;
26. that none of the Joint Bookrunners, their affiliates, agents, directors, officers, employees or any person acting on the Joint Bookrunners' behalf is making any recommendations to it, advising it regarding the suitability or merits of any transactions it may enter into in connection with the Placing and that participation in the Placing is on the basis that it is not and will not be a client of any Joint Bookrunner that the Joint Bookrunners do not have any duties or responsibilities to it for providing the protections afforded to its clients or customers or for providing advice in relation to the Placing 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;
27. that the person whom it specifies for registration as holder of the Placing Shares will be (i) itself or (ii) its nominee, as the case may be. The Joint Bookrunners and the Company will not be responsible for any liability to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (including any interest and penalties relating thereto) resulting from a failure to observe this requirement. Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of such Placee agrees to participate in the Placing and it agrees to indemnify the Company and the Joint Bookrunners in respect of the same on the basis that the Placing Shares will be allotted to the CREST stock account of one of the Joint Bookrunners who will hold them as nominee on behalf of such Placee until settlement in accordance with its standing settlement instructions;
28. that the Joint Bookrunners reserve the right (acting together and subject to agreement with the Company) to waive or alter any of the provisions set out in this Announcement (including the Appendix). Any such alteration or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Announcement;
29. that it will indemnify on an after tax basis and hold the Company, the Joint Bookrunners 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, directly or indirectly, or in connection with any breach of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements, confirmations and undertakings in this Appendix and further agrees that the provisions of this Appendix shall survive after completion of the Placing;
30. that it irrevocably appoints any director of any Joint Bookrunners as its agent for the purposes 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 agreed to be taken up by it under the Placing;
31. in making any decision to acquire the Placing Shares, that (i) it has knowledge and experience in financial, business and international investment matters as is required to evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Placing Shares, (ii) 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 Placing, (iii) it has relied on its own examination, due diligence and analysis of the Company and its affiliates taken as a whole, and the terms of the Placing, including the markets in which the Company and its affiliates operates, and the terms of the Placing, including the merits and risks involved, (iv) it has had sufficient time to consider and conduct its own investigation with respect to the offer and purchase of the Placing Shares, including the legal, regulatory, tax, business, currency and other economic and financial considerations relevant to such investment, and (v) will not look to the Company, the Joint Bookrunners, any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers, employees or any person acting on their behalf for all or part of any such loss or losses it or they may suffer;
32. that it may not rely on any investigation that the Joint Bookrunners or any person acting on their behalf may or may not have conducted with respect to the Company and its affiliates or the Placing and the Joint Bookrunners have not made any representation or warranty to it, express or implied, with respect to the merits of the Placing, the acquisition of the Placing Shares, or as to the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company and its affiliates, or as to any other matter relating thereto, and nothing herein shall be construed as a recommendation to it to acquire the Placing Shares. It acknowledges and agrees that no information has been prepared by, or is the responsibility of, the Joint Bookrunners for the purposes of this Placing;
33. that it will not hold the Joint Bookrunners or any of their affiliates, agents, directors, officers, employees or any person acting on its behalf responsible or liable for any misstatements in or omission from any publicly available information relating to the Company or its affiliates or Exchange Information made available (whether in written or oral form) relating to the Company or its affiliates and that none of the Joint Bookrunners or any person acting on their behalf, makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of such information or accepts any responsibility for any of such information;
34. that no action has been or will be taken by any of the Company, the Joint Bookrunners or any person acting on behalf of the Company or the Joint Bookrunners that would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in any country or jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is required;
35. that its commitment to acquire Placing Shares on the terms set out herein and in the contract note will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may in the future be made to the terms 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 conduct of the Placing;
36. that the Company, the Joint Bookrunners and each of their respective affiliates and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings which are given to the Company and the Joint Bookrunners on its own behalf and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable and it irrevocably authorises the Joint Bookrunners and the Company to produce this Announcement, pursuant to, in connection with, or as may be required by any applicable law or regulation, administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters set forth herein; and
37. that these terms and conditions and any agreements entered into by it pursuant to these terms and conditions, and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with these terms and conditions or such agreements, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and it submits (on behalf of itself and on behalf of any person on whose behalf it is acting) to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts as regards 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 the Joint Bookrunners 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.
The foregoing acknowledgements, agreements, undertakings, representations, warranties and confirmations are given for the benefit of each of the Company and the Joint Bookrunners (for their own benefit and, where relevant, the benefit of their respective affiliates and any person acting on their behalf) and are irrevocable.
The agreement to allot and issue Placing Shares to Placees (or the persons acting on behalf of Placees as nominee or agent) free of UK stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax relates only to their allotment and issue to Placees, or such persons as they nominate as their agents, direct from the Company. Such agreement is subject to the representations, warranties and further terms above and assumes that the Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to issue or transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance service. None of the Company or the Joint Bookrunners will be responsible for any UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (including any interest and penalties relating thereto) arising in relation to the Placing Shares in any other circumstances. Any Placee to whom (or on behalf of whom) Placing Shares are allocated, allotted, issued or delivered in breach of any of the representations, warranties or further terms above undertakes to pay any UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (including any interest and penalties relating thereto) arising in connection with such allocation, allotment, issue or delivery forthwith and to indemnify on an after-tax basis and to hold harmless the Company and the Joint Bookrunners in the event that any of the Company and/or the Joint Bookrunners has incurred any such liability to UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If this is the case, each Placee should seek its own advice and notify the Joint Bookrunners 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 UK by them or any other person on the allotment to them of any Placing Shares or the agreement by them to acquire any Placing Shares.
Each Placee, and any person acting on behalf of the Placee, acknowledges that the Joint Bookrunners and the Company do not owe any fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the Placing Agreement.
Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of the Placee acknowledges and agrees that the Joint Bookrunners or any of their affiliates (acting as an investor for its own account) may, in its absolute discretion, take up Placing Shares and in that capacity may retain, purchase or sell for their own account such Placing Shares and any securities of the Company or related investments and may offer or sell such securities or other investments otherwise than in connection with the Placing. Accordingly, references in this Announcement to shares being issued, offered or placed should be read as including any issue, offering or placement of such shares in the Company to the Joint Bookrunners and any affiliate acting in such capacity. In addition, the Joint Bookrunners may enter into financing arrangements and swaps with investors in connection with which the Joint Bookrunners may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of such securities of the Company, including the Placing Shares. Neither the Joint Bookrunners nor any affiliate intends to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so.
When a Placee or person acting on behalf of the Placee is dealing with a Joint Bookrunner, any money held in an account with such Joint Bookrunner 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 rules and regulations of the FCA made under the FSMA. The 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 such Joint Bookrunner's money in accordance with the client money rules and will be used by such Joint Bookrunner in the course of its own business and the Placee will rank only as a general creditor of such Joint Bookrunner.
Past performance is no guide to future performance and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
The rights and remedies of the Joint Bookrunners and the Company under these Terms and Conditions are in addition to any rights and remedies which would otherwise be available to each of them and the exercise or partial exercise of one will not prevent the exercise of others.
If a Placee is a discretionary fund manager, he may be asked to disclose, in writing or orally to the Joint Bookrunners the jurisdiction in which the funds are managed or owned.
All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to amendment. A Joint Bookrunner shall notify the Placees and any person acting on behalf of the Placees of any changes.
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