Result of Initial Issue and Total Voting Rights

RNS Number : 4899D

Sequoia Economic Infra Inc Fd Ld

10 October 2018

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING TO U.S. PERSONS, AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED UNDER REGULATION S OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE "SECURITIES ACT"), CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

10 October 2018

Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Limited (the "Company" or "SEQI")

Result of Initial Issue and Total Voting Rights

On 19 September 2018, the Board of SEQI (the "Board"), the specialist investor in economic infrastructure debt, announced it was seeking to raise £200 million through a partially pre-emptive issue of new Ordinary Shares by way of an Open Offer, Placing and Offer for Subscription (the "Initial Issue").

The Board is pleased to announce that the Initial Issue has been very significantly oversubscribed and investor demand for the Initial Issue has exceeded the maximum issue size.

In determining the number of new Ordinary Shares to be issued, the Board has taken into account the strength of the Investment Adviser's near term investment pipeline, current available cash resources and the Company's stated dividend target.  

The Board, after consideration and consultation with the Investment Adviser and Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited ("Stifel"), the bookrunner, has determined to re-allocate 50,000,000 Ordinary Shares available under the Share Issuance Programme to the Initial Issue. Accordingly, 238,679,245 new Ordinary Shares will be issued at the Initial Issue Price of 106.0 pence. The gross proceeds of the Initial Issue will be £253.0 million.

A total of 238,679,245 new Ordinary Shares will be issued (subject to Admission as defined below) of which 113,061,369 new Ordinary Shares will be issued pursuant to the Open Offer (including the Excess Application Facility) and 125,617,876 new Ordinary Shares will be issued pursuant to the Placing and the Offer for Subscription. Application has been made for the new Ordinary Shares to be admitted to the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's premium segment of the Main Market ("Admission"). It is expected that Admission will become effective and dealings in the new Ordinary Shares will commence on 12 October 2018. Once issued, the new Ordinary Shares will rank pari passu with the existing Ordinary Shares.

Following Admission, the Company will have 1,060,489,512 Ordinary Shares in issue. Therefore, the total number of voting rights of the Company will be 1,060,489,512 and this figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest, or a change to their interest in, the Company.

Due to the very significant demand, a scaling back exercise has been undertaken with respect to applications received pursuant to the Placing, Open Offer (with respect to the Excess Facility) and Offer for Subscription.

Unless otherwise defined, the terms used in this announcement shall have the same meaning as set out in the prospectus of the Company dated 19 September 2018.

Robert Jennings, Chairman of SEQI commented:

"2018 has been a significant year for SEQI as we reached our three year track record and following this equity issue we will be able to increase the value of our invested assets to over £1.2 billion. We are very appreciative of the support shown by both existing and new shareholders over the past three years, which is a strong endorsement of our strategy.

The investment opportunity in the economic infrastructure debt market remains compelling and we are confident of being able to generate attractive returns to shareholders as the Company further grows in size."

LEI: 2138006OW12FQHJ6PX91

For further information please contact: 

Sequoia Investment Management Company Steve Cook Dolf Kohnhorst Randall Sandstrom Greg Taylor	[phone]
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited Neil Winward Mark Bloomfield Gaudi Le Roux	[phone]
Praxis Fund Services Limited (Company Secretary) Matthew Falla	[phone]

About the Company

The Company seeks to provide investors with regular, sustained, long-term distributions and capital appreciation from a diversified portfolio of senior and subordinated economic infrastructure debt investments. The Company is advised by Sequoia Investment Management Company Limited

 IMPORTANT NOTICES

This announcement contains Inside Information as defined under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014.

This announcement is an advertisement and does not constitute a prospectus relating to the Company and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or an invitation to purchase investments of any description, or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe for, any securities in the Company in any jurisdiction nor shall it, or any part of it, or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with or act as any inducements to enter into, any contract therefor. Copies of the Prospectus are available from http://www.seqifund.com.

This announcement does not constitute and may not constitute and may not be construed as a recommendation regarding the issue or the provision of investment advice by any party. No information set out in this announcement is intended to form the basis of any contract of sale, investment decision or any decision to purchase securities. Potential investors should consult a professional advisor as to the suitability of an investment in the securities for the person concerned.

The value of Ordinary Shares and the income from them is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise due to stock market and currency movements. When you sell your investment you may get back less than you originally invested. Figures refer to past performance and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Returns may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations. Capital is at risk and investors need to understand the risks of investing. Please refer to the Prospectus for further information, in particular the "Risk Factors" section.

Neither this announcement nor the information contained herein is for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, the Republic of South Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Japan or any other jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations of such jurisdiction. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the relevant securities laws of any such excluded territory.

This announcement does not contain, constitute or form part of an offer for sale of, resale of, transfer of or delivery of or the solicitation of an offer to purchase directly or indirectly, securities in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of a  U.S. Person (as defined in Regulation S of the Securities Act). The securities referred to herein have not been, and will not, be registered under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws of, or with any securities regulatory authority of, any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. Person absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.  The Company has not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and neither International Fund Management (the "Investment Manager") nor Sequoia Investment Management Company (the "Investment Adviser") will be registered as an investment adviser under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.  Consequently, investors will not be entitled to the benefits and protections of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended or the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.  The shares of the Company will be offered and sold only to non-U.S. Persons outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.  There will be no offer of the Company's securities in the United States.  The distribution of this announcement may also be restricted by law in other jurisdictions.

The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in the United States, the Republic of South Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand or the Republic of South Africa. There will be no offer of the ordinary shares in the United States, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, Japan, Australia or New Zealand.

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements which are based on the Company's expectations, intentions and projections regarding its future performance, anticipated events or trends and other matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements, which may use words such as "aim", "anticipate", "believe", "could", "intend", "estimate", "expect", and words of similar meaning, include all matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause the actual results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and dividend policy and the development of the industries, which the Company's businesses operate to differ materially from the impression created by forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and uncertain risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ material from those express or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given those risks and uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of such statements and, except as required by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, the London Stock Exchange or applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited ("Stifel"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the potential equity issue. Stifel will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the potential issue 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 potential issue, the contents of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein.

Neither Stifel nor any of its directors, officers, employees, advisers, affiliates or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for/or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company or its subsidiary, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of the announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

The Company is incorporated in Guernsey and has been registered as a registered closed-ended collective investment scheme under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987, as amended. It is suitable only for professional or experienced investors, or those who have taken appropriate professional advice.

Regulatory requirements which may be deemed necessary for the protection of retail or inexperienced investors, do not apply to listed funds. By investing in the Company you will be deemed to be acknowledging that you are a professional or experienced investor, or have taken appropriate professional advice, and accept the reduced requirements accordingly.

You are wholly responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the Company are acceptable to you. Investment in listed funds may involve special risks that could lead to a loss of all or a substantial portion of such investment. Unless you fully understand and accept the nature of the Company and the potential risks inherent in it you should not invest in the Company.

Further information in relation to the regulatory treatment of listed funds domiciled in Guernsey may be found on the website of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission at http://www.gfsc.gg/The-Commission/Pages/Home.aspx.

Information for 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 Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Ordinary Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such securities are: (i) compatible with an end target market of investors who meet the criteria of retail and 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 Ordinary Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Ordinary Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in Ordinary 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 Transaction. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, Stifel 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 New Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Issue and/or any Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own Target Market Assessment in respect of the New Ordinary Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

Marketing disclosures pursuant to AIFMD (as defined below) 

The Company is an externally managed alternative investment fund and has appointed International Fund Management Limited (the "AIFM"), as its alternative investment fund manager 

Pursuant to Article 23 of AIFMD and the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 (No. 1173/2013) and the Investment Funds Sourcebook of the FCA (the "UK AIFMD Rules"), the AIFM is required to make available to persons in the European Union who are invited to and who choose to participate in the Initial Issue, by making an oral or written offer to subscribe for New Ordinary Shares, including any individuals, funds or others on whose behalf a commitment to subscribe for New Ordinary Shares is given (the "Subscribers") certain information (the "Article 23 Disclosures"). For the purposes of the Initial Issue, the AIFM has made the Article 23 Disclosures available to Subscribers in the 'Investor - Shareholder Information' section of the Company's website at: http://www.seqifund.com.

PRIIPS (as defined below) 

In accordance with the Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 November 2014 on key information documents for packaged retail and insurance-based investment products ("PRIIPs") and its implementing and delegated acts (the "PRIIPs Regulation"), the AIFM has prepared a key information document (the "KID") in respect of the Ordinary Shares. The KID is made available by the AIFM to "retail investors" prior to them making an investment decision in respect of the Ordinary Shares at http://www.seqifund.com.

If you are distributing Ordinary Shares, it is your responsibility to ensure that the KID is provided to any clients that are "retail clients". 

The Company is the only manufacturer of the Ordinary Shares for the purposes of the PRIIPs Regulation and neither Stifel nor the AIFM are manufacturers for these purposes. Neither Stifel nor the AIFM makes any representations, express or implied, or accepts any responsibility whatsoever for the contents of the KID prepared by the Company nor accepts any responsibility to update the contents of the KID in accordance with the PRIIPs Regulation, to undertake any review processes in relation thereto or to provide the KID to future distributors of Ordinary Shares.  Both Stifel and the AIFM and their respective affiliates accordingly disclaim all and any liability whether arising in tort or contract or otherwise which it or they might have in respect of the key information documents prepared by the Company. Investors should note that the procedure for calculating the risks, costs and potential returns in the KID are prescribed by laws. The figures in the KID may not reflect actual returns for the Company and anticipated performance returns cannot be guaranteed. 

 

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