THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, THE REPUBIC OF IRELAND, SINGAPORE, HONG KONG OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE EU REGULATION 596/2014 ("MAR") AND ARTICLE 7 OF MAR AS INCORPORATED INTO UK DOMESTIC LAW PURSUANT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018) ("UK MAR"). IN ADDITION, MARKET SOUNDINGS (AS DEFINED IN UK MAR) WERE TAKEN IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN OF THE MATTERS CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, WITH THE RESULT THAT CERTAIN PERSONS BECAME AWARE OF SUCH INSIDE INFORMATION, AS PERMITTED BY UK MAR. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND SUCH PERSONS SHALL THEREFORE CEASE TO BE IN POSSESSION OF INSIDE INFORMATION.
Sosandar plc
("Sosandar" or the "Company")
Proposed Placing to raise a minimum of £4 million
Sosandar plc (AIM: SOS), one of the fastest growing fashion brands in the UK, creating quality, trend-led products for women of all ages, today announces a proposed placing (the "Placing") of not less than 18,181,818 new ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each ("Ordinary Shares") in the capital of the Company (the "Placing Shares").
The Placing will be conducted via an accelerated bookbuild (the "Bookbuilding Process") at a price of 22 pence per Ordinary Share (the "Issue Price") in order to raise minimum gross proceeds of approximately £4 million (before expenses).
In addition to the Placing, the Company intends to carry out a separate offer of up to 2,272,727 new Ordinary Shares at the Issue Price via the BookBuild Platform (the "Retail Shares") to raise further gross proceeds of up to approximately £0.5 million (the "Retail Offer", together with the Placing, the "Fundraise"), to provide existing retail shareholders in the United Kingdom with an opportunity to participate in Sosandar's fundraising plans. A separate announcemen t will be made shortly regarding the Retail Offer and its terms. The Placing is not conditional upon the Retail Offer. For the avoidance of doubt, the Retail Offer is not part of the Placing.
As announced in the Company's trading update released on 10 January 2023, the Company reported strong revenue growth across all sales channels, with a new record quarter for third party partners, resulting in another profitable quarter for the Group following being profitable in both H2 FY22 and H1 FY23. The Company then announced on 23 January 2023 a new third party agreement with J Sainsbury ("Sainsbury's"), whereby Sosandar will sell a curated collection of its products through Sainsbury's, initially online only with selected stores planned later in 2023. These partnerships, which include the Company's first in-store presence, allow Sosandar to become a true omni-channel retailer.
As such, the Company is seeking to raise additional funding to capitalise on the opportunities in its markets and accelerate its future growth.
Highlights
· Proposed Placing to raise minimum gross proceeds of approximately £4 million for the Company (approximately £3.7 million net of expenses) via the issue of not less than 18,181,818 new Ordinary Shares at the Issue Price of 22 pence per share
· The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Placing primarily to accelerate the execution of its omni-channel strategy through further investment in stock, enabling increased provision of Sosandar's product range in-store with third party partners including Sainsbury's from Autumn Winter 2023 onwards. The net proceeds of the Placing will also create further balance sheet headroom to fast track other growth initiatives as well as enable accelerated investment in the Company's proven customer acquisition model
· The Placing is to be conducted by way of the Bookbuilding Process by Singer Capital Markets Securities Limited ("Singer", the Company's broker and bookrunner) in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the appendix (the "Appendix") of this announcement (the "Announcement"), launching immediately following the release of this Announcement
· The Fundraise is being conducted pursuant to the Company's existing share authorities and is therefore not conditional upon the approval of the Company's shareholders
· The Fundraise is not underwritten
· The Appendix contains the detailed terms and conditions of the Placing
Expected Timetable for the Fundraise
Close of Placing and Results of Placing announced |
8 February 2023 |
Announcement of Retail Offer |
8 February 2023 |
Launch of Retail Offer via BookBuild platform |
9 February 2023 |
Admission of Placing Shares ("Placing Admission") |
13 February 2023 |
Close of Retail Offer via BookBuild platform |
4.30 p.m., 16 February 2023 |
Results of Retail Offer announced |
17 February 2023 |
Admission of Retail Shares ("Retail Admission") |
21 February 2023 |
Enquiries
Sosandar plc |
www.Sosandar.com |
Julie Lavington / Ali Hall, Joint CEOs |
c/o Alma PR |
Steve Dilks, CFO |
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Singer Capital Markets Peter Steel / Alaina Wong / Alex Emslie / Tom Salvesen
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+44 (0) 20 7496 3000
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Alma PR Limited (Financial PR) |
+44 (0) 20 3405 0205 |
Sam Modlin / Matthew Young |
Sosandar@almapr.co.uk |
About Sosandar PLC
Sosandar is one of the fastest growing women's fashion brands in the UK targeting style conscious women who have graduated from price-led alternatives. The Company offers this underserved audience fashion-forward, affordable, quality clothing to make them feel sexy, feminine, and chic. The business sells predominantly own-label exclusive product designed in-house.
Sosandar's product range is diverse, providing its customers with an array of choice for all occasions across all women's fashion categories. The company sells through Sosandar.com and has brand partnerships in place with Next, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, The Very Group, JD Williams and J Sainsbury.
Sosandar's strategy is to continue growing brand awareness and expand its customer database, whilst also further driving its high levels of customer retention. This is achieved through its exceptional products, seamless customer experience and impactful, lifestyle marketing activities all of which is underpinned by combining innovation with data analysis.
Sosandar was founded in 2016 and listed on AIM in 2017. More information is available at www.sosandar-ir.com
FURTHER INFORMATION
Background to and reasons for the Placing
Overview
The Company is one of the fastest growing women's fashion brands in the UK, targeting style conscious women who have graduated from price-led alternatives. With 20 million women aged 35 and over in the UK (of which 13 million represent Sosandar's core demographic), the Board believes that this is a large and underserved segment of the market and the Company's unique and diverse product range, with its chic and sexy aesthetic, has been purposefully positioned to take advantage of the market growth opportunity. Furthermore, the Board believes that the Company has an opportunity to grow internationally, with the long-term objective of becoming one of the world's largest womenswear brands.
Since Sosandar was founded in 2016, the Company has grown significantly, recording turnover of £29.5 million in FY22 and on track for further significant growth in FY23. The Company is now also profitable, with Q3 FY23 representing another profitable quarter for the Group following being profitable in both H2 FY22 and H1 FY23, as announced on 10 January 2023. Growth has been achieved through sales via the Company's own website www.sosandar.com and, increasingly, through the websites of the Company's third party partners: Next, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, The Very Group and JD Williams.
This growth in sales via third party partners followed the Company's equity fundraise completed in May 2021, raising gross proceeds of approximately £5.77 million which were invested primarily in increasing the stock available to be sold via third party partner websites. As reported in the Company's H1 FY23 results announced on 13 December 2022, the 72 per cent. growth in revenue to £21.0 million (H1 FY22: £12.2 million) was split roughly equally between own site and third party partner sales.
Omni-channel opportunity
On 23 January 2023, Sosandar announced its first third party partnership opportunity with an in-store presence, whereby the Company entered into a wholesale agreement to sell a curated collection of its products through Sainsbury's, initially online only with selected stores planned later this year.
The Board believes that the partnership with Sainsbury's is the first step in Sosandar's journey to become a true omni-channel retailer, further diversifying the Company's routes to market and increasing brand awareness across its target demographic, whilst driving profitable sales growth.
Rationale for the Placing and Use of Proceeds
The Board believes that there is a compelling opportunity to accelerate the roll-out of Sosandar's product range in-store with third party partners. As a new channel to market, the provision of Sosandar's product range in-store will result in heightening brand awareness, which the Board believes will ultimately help accelerate growth in the Company's market share. The Board also believes that becoming an omni-channel brand will provide the Company with an increased breadth of quality potential partners internationally.
As such, the Board believes that it is in the best interests of Shareholders to raise additional equity for the Company to fully capitalise on these opportunities and accelerate its future growth.
The Board intends to use the net proceeds of the Placing primarily to accelerate the execution of its omni-channel strategy through further investment in stock, enabling increased provision of Sosandar's product range in-store with third party partners including Sainsbury's from Autumn Winter 2023 onwards. The net proceeds of the Placing will also create further balance sheet headroom to fast track other growth initiatives as well as enable accelerated investment in the Company's proven customer acquisition model.
Current Trading and Outlook
On 10 January 2023, the Company announced a trading update for Q3 FY23, with selected extracts set out below as unamended (in italics):
· Revenue of £11.6m, up 30% year-on-year (Q3 FY22: £8.9m), a new record quarter
· Strong revenue growth across all sales channels, with a new record quarter for third party partners
· Fifth consecutive quarter of profitability for the Group
· Average order value of £106.37, up 11% from £95.69 in the prior year reflecting customers buying into higher priced items and categories such as outerwear, tailoring and occasion wear
· Improved gross margin at 56.8%, up from 55.8% in Q3 FY22 and a further improvement from 54.4% achieved in H1 FY23
· Net cash of £4.6m as at 31 December 2022 (£4.2m as at 30 September 2022)
The Board remains cognisant of the wider macro-economic challenges and regularly reviews market conditions to ensure that Sosandar is well prepared to adapt to customer trends and mitigate all headwinds. Sosandar's performance in FY23 so far has served to validate the strategy, agile business model, dedicated team and highly differentiated quality product that is in demand across all our channels. As a result, the Board confirms that the Company continues to trade in line with market expectations* for the current financial year.
* as at 10 January 2023, the Board believes that consensus market expectations for the year ending 31 March 2023 are revenues of £42.8m and PBT of £2.0m.
The positive momentum reported in the Q3 FY23 trading update has continued into the first few weeks of Q4 FY23, with trading continuing in line with the Board's expectations. The Board reiterates its confidence in the Company's prospects.
Details of the Placing
In connection with the Placing, the Company has today entered into a placing agreement (the "Placing Agreement") pursuant to which Singer (acting as agent for and on behalf of the Company in respect of the Placing) has agreed, in accordance with its terms, to use reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for the Placing Shares at the Issue Price. The Placing is not underwritten.
Participation in the Placing is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Appendix (which forms part of this Announcement).
Singer will today commence an accelerated bookbuilding process in respect of the Placing. The final number of Placing Shares to be placed at the Issue Price will be determined at the close of the Bookbuilding Process.
The book will open with immediate effect following this Announcement. The timing of the closing of the Bookbuilding Process and allocations thereunder are at the absolute discretion of Singer, having consulted with the Company. Details of the number of Placing Shares will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuilding Process.
The Placing Agreement contains certain customary warranties given by the Company concerning the accuracy of information given in this Announcement in respect of the Placing as well as other matters relating to the Company and its subsidiaries ("Group") and the Group's business. The Placing Agreement is terminable by Singer in certain customary circumstances up until Placing Admission, including, inter alia, should there be a breach of a warranty contained in the Placing Agreement or should a force majeure event take place or a material adverse change to the business of the Company or the Group occur. The Company has also agreed to indemnify Singer against all losses, costs, charges and expenses which Singer may suffer or incur as a result of, occasioned by or attributable to the carrying out of its duties under the Placing Agreement.
The Placing Shares, when issued, will be credited as fully paid up in cash and free from all encumbrances, and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares in issue, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid in respect of such Ordinary Shares after the date of issue.
The Placing is conditional upon, among other things, Placing Admission becoming effective and the Placing Agreement not being terminated in accordance with its terms. The Retail Offer is conditional upon, among other things, Retail Admission becoming effective and the Placing Agreement not being terminated in accordance with its terms.
The Appendix sets out further information relating to the Bookbuilding Process and the terms and conditions of the Placing.
Related Party Transaction
One of the Company's Substantial Shareholders (as defined in the AIM Rules for Companies ("AIM Rules")) has indicated itsintention to participate in the Placing. The Substantial Shareholder's proposed participation would constitute a related party transaction under Rule 13 of the AIM Rules. Further details of any participation will be set out in the Placing Results Announcement.
Details of the Retail Offer
In addition, the Company intends to use the BookBuild platform to conduct a Retail Offer on behalf of Sosandar, on the terms to be set out in a separate announcement to be made following the issue of this announcement.
Important Notices
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (TOGETHER, THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES AND ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHOSE ORDINARY ACTIVITIES INVOLVE THEM IN ACQUIRING, HOLDING, MANAGING AND DISPOSING OF INVESTMENTS (AS PRINCIPAL OR AGENT) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THEIR BUSINESS AND WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND ARE: (1) IF IN A MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA"), QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(e) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129, AS AMENDED (THE "PROSPECTUS REGULATION"); OR (2) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(e) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129, AS AMENDED, AS IT FORMS PART OF UK LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (THE "EUWA") (THE "UK PROSPECTUS REGULATION") WHO ARE ALSO: (A) PERSONS WHO FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) (INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER"); OR (B) PERSONS WHO FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(a) TO (d) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.) OF THE ORDER; OR (C) PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS"), IN EACH CASE WHO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLACING BY SINGER.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION IN IT MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN SOSANDAR PLC.
THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR TRANSFERRED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. THE PLACING SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD ONLY OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES IN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OR ELSEWHERE.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, SINGAPORE, HONG KONG OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. NO PUBLIC OFFERING IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES.
The distribution of this Announcement and/or the Placing and/or issue of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company, Singer or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees that would permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and Singer to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.
This Announcement or any part of it is for information purposes only and does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for, any securities in the United States (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia (the "United States" or the "US")), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in any such jurisdiction.
All offers of the Placing Shares in the EEA and the United Kingdom will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation and the UK Prospectus Regulation (respectively) from the requirement to produce a prospectus. In the United Kingdom, this Announcement is being directed solely at persons in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) ("FSMA") does not require the approval of the Announcement by an authorised person.
The Placing Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or other regulatory authority in the United States, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of this Announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States. The relevant clearances have not been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of any province or territory of Canada, no prospectus has been lodged with, or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained from the South Africa Reserve Bank or any other applicable body in the Republic of South Africa in relation to the Placing Shares and the Placing Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under or offered in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong or Japan. 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 Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong or Japan or any other jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.
Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual right or other legal obligations to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.
By participating in the Placing, each person who is invited to and who chooses to participate in the Placing (a "Placee") by making an oral and legally binding offer to acquire Placing Shares will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement (including the Appendix) in its entirety, to be participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on the terms and conditions contained herein and to be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in the Appendix.
Singer Capital Markets Securities Limited ("Singer"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting solely for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Fundraise and the transactions and arrangements described in this Announcement and will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this Announcement) as a client in relation to the Fundraise or the transactions and arrangements described in this Announcement. Singer is not responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Singer or for providing advice in connection with the contents of this Announcement, the Fundraise or the transactions and arrangements described in this Announcement.
Singer Capital Markets Advisory LLP ("SCM Advisory"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting as nominated adviser to the Company for the purposes of the AIM Rules and no-one else in connection with the Fundraise and the transactions and arrangements described in this Announcement and will not be responsible to any other person (whether or not a recipient of this Announcement) as a client in relation to the Fundraise or the transactions and arrangements described in this Announcement. SCM Advisory is not responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of SCM Advisory or for providing advice in connection with the contents of this Announcement, the Fundraise or the transactions and arrangements described in this Announcement. SCM Advisory's responsibilities as the Company's nominated adviser under the AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange and are not owed to the Company or to any Director or to any other person.
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 Singer or by any of its affiliates or agents as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefor is expressly disclaimed.
No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or estimate, and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of the Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of the Company.
The price of shares and any income expected from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested upon disposal of the shares. Past performance is no guide to future performance, and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than on AIM.
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.
This Announcement includes statements, estimates, opinions and projections with respect to anticipated future performance of the Company ("forward-looking statements") which reflect various assumptions concerning anticipated results taken from the Company's current business plan or from public sources which may or may not prove to be correct. These forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the terms "anticipates", "target", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "intends", "may", "plans", "projects", "should" or "will", or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. Such forward-looking statements reflect current expectations based on the current business plan and various other assumptions and involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. As a result, prospective investors should not rely on such forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. No representation or warranty is given as to the completeness or accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of such statements and, except as required by the FCA, 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.
UK Product Governance Requirements
Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the " UK Product Governance Rules "), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any 'manufacturer' (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance Rules) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that the Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of (a) retail clients, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of UK law by virtue of the EUWA, (b) investors who meet the criteria of professional clients as defined in Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of UK law by virtue of the EUWA and (c) eligible counterparties, each as defined in chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook (" COBS "); and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by Directive 2014/65/EU (the " UK Target Market Assessment "). Notwithstanding the UK 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 UK 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 UK Target Market Assessment, Singer will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties. For the avoidance of doubt, the UK Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of COBS; 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.
EU Product Governance Requirements
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 the Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail clients 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 " EU Target Market Assessment "). Notwithstanding the EU 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 EU 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 EU Target Market Assessment, Singer will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.
For the avoidance of doubt, the EU 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.
Basis on which information is presented
In this Announcement, references to "£", "pence" and "p" are to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom. All times referred to in this Announcement are, unless otherwise stated, references to London time.
APPENDIX - TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY REGARDING THE PLACING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (TOGETHER, THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHOSE ORDINARY ACTIVITIES INVOLVE THEM IN ACQUIRING, HOLDING, MANAGING AND DISPOSING OF INVESTMENTS (AS PRINCIPAL OR AGENT) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THEIR BUSINESS AND WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND ARE (1) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 AS IT FORMS PART OF UNITED KINGDOM DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (THE "UK PROSPECTUS REGULATION"); WHO (A) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER") (INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS) OR (B) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.) OF THE ORDER; AND (2) OTHERWISE, PERSONS TO WHOM IT IS OTHERWISE LAWFUL TO COMMUNICATE IT TO (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION IN IT MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN SOSANDAR PLC.
THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR TRANSFERRED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE PLACING SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD ONLY OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES IN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX) AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, SINGAPORE, HONG KONG OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. NO PUBLIC OFFERING IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES.
The distribution of this Announcement and/or the Placing and/or issue of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company, Singer or any of its Representatives that would permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and Singer to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.
This Announcement or any part of it is for information purposes only and does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for, any securities in Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in any such jurisdiction.
All offers of the Placing Shares in the United Kingdom will be made pursuant to an exemption from the requirement to produce a prospectus under the UK Prospectus Regulation. In the United Kingdom, this Announcement is being directed solely at persons in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the "FSMA") does not require the approval of the relevant communication by an authorised person.
Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual right or other legal obligations to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any such action.
This Announcement should be read in its entirety. In particular, you should read and understand the information provided in the "Important Notices" section of this Announcement.
By participating in the Bookbuilding Process and the Placing, each Placee will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, to be participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on the terms and conditions contained herein and to be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in this Appendix.
EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, REGULATORY, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF A SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE PLACING SHARES.
In particular, each such Placee represents, warrants, undertakes, agrees and acknowledges (amongst other things) to Singer and the Company that:
No prospectus
The Placing Shares are being offered to a limited number of specifically invited persons only and will not be offered in such a way as to require any prospectus or other offering document to be published. No prospectus or other offering document has been or will be submitted to be approved by the FCA in relation to the Placing or the Placing Shares and Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in this Announcement and any information publicly announced through a Regulatory Information Service (as defined in the AIM Rules for Companies (the "AIM Rules")) by or on behalf of the Company on or prior to the date of this Announcement (the "Publicly Available Information") and subject to any further terms set out in the contract note, electronic trade confirmation or other (oral or written) confirmation to be sent to individual Placees.
Each Placee, by participating in the Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms that it has neither received nor relied on any information (other than the Publicly Available Information), representation, warranty or statement made by or on behalf of Singer or the Company or any other person and none of Singer, the Company nor any other person acting on such person's behalf nor any of their respective Representatives has or shall have any liability for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing. No Placee should consider any information in this Announcement to be legal, tax or business advice. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation.
Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing Shares
Singer has today entered into a placing agreement (the "Placing Agreement") with the Company under which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Placing Agreement, Singer, as agent for and on behalf of the Company, has agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to procure Placees for the Placing Shares. The Placing is not being underwritten nor is any part of the Placing subject to clawback from the Retail Offer.
The Placing Shares will, when issued, be subject to the memorandum and articles of association of the Company be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the Existing Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid in respect of such Existing Ordinary Shares after the date of issue of the Placing Shares.
Applications for admission to trading of the Placing Shares
Applications will be made to the London Stock Exchange for admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM.
It is expected that admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM ("Placing Admission") will take place on or before 8.00 a.m. on or around 13 February 2023 and that dealings in the Placing Shares on AIM will commence at the same time.
The Bookbuilding Process
Singer will commence the Bookbuilding Process to determine demand for participation in the Placing by Placees immediately following the publication of this Announcement. 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.
Singer and the Company shall be entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method to the Bookbuilding Process as they may, in their sole discretion, determine.
Principal terms of the Bookbuilding Process and Placing
shall have any responsibility or liability (including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) to Placees or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise. In particular, neither Singer nor any of its affiliates shall have any responsibility or liability (including, to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of Singer's conduct of the Bookbuilding Process or the Placing or of such alternative method of effecting the Placing as Singer and the Company may agree.
Registration and Settlement
If Placees are allocated any Placing Shares in the Placing they will be sent a contract note, electronic trade confirmation or other (oral or written) confirmation which will confirm the number of Placing Shares allocated to them, the Issue Price and the aggregate amount owed by them to Singer.
Each Placee will be deemed to agree that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed as directed by Singer in accordance with either the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions which they have in place with Singer.
Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00BDGS8G04 ) following Placing Admission will take place within the CREST system, subject to certain exceptions. Settlement through CREST is expected to occur, in respect of the Placing Shares on 13 February 2023 ("Settlement Date") in accordance with the contract note, electronic trade confirmation or other (oral or written) confirmation. Settlement will be on a delivery versus payment basis. However, in the event of any difficulties or delays in the admission of the Placing Shares to CREST or the use of CREST in relation to the Placing, the Company and Singer may agree that the Placing Shares should be issued in certificated form. Singer reserves the right to require settlement for the Placing Shares, and to deliver the Placing Shares to Placees, by such other means as it deems necessary if delivery or settlement to Placees is not practicable within the CREST system or would not be consistent with regulatory requirements in the jurisdiction in which a Placee is located.
Interest is chargeable daily on payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance with the arrangements set out above, in respect of either CREST or certificated deliveries, at the rate of 3 percentage points above the prevailing base rate of Barclays Bank plc as determined by Singer.
Subject to the conditions set out above, payment in respect of the Placees' allocations is due as set out below. Each Placee should provide its settlement details in order to enable instructions to be successfully matched in CREST.
The relevant settlement details for the Placing Shares are as follows:
CREST Participant ID of Singer: |
NNQAN |
Expected trade time & date: |
08.00 a.m. on 9 February 2023 |
Settlement Date: |
13 February 2023 |
ISIN code for the Placing Shares: |
GB00BDGS8G04 |
Deadline for Placee to input instructions into CREST: |
3.00 p.m. on 10 February 2023 |
Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does not comply with these obligations, Singer may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on their behalf and retain from the proceeds, for Singer's own 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 Issue Price and for any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties) imposed in any jurisdiction which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares on its behalf. By communicating a bid for Placing Shares, such Placee confers on Singer all such authorities and powers necessary to carry out such sale and agrees to ratify and confirm all actions which Singer lawfully takes in pursuance of such sale.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees must ensure that, upon receipt, the conditional contract note, electronic trade confirmation or other (oral or written) 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 in the name of any person for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or that of a nominee for such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below, be so registered free from any liability to United Kingdom stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If there are any circumstances in which any United Kingdom stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes or duties (including any interest and penalties relating thereto) is payable in respect of the allocation, allotment, issue, sale, transfer 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 or agreement to transfer Placing Shares), the Company shall not be responsible for payment thereof. Placees will not be entitled to receive any fee or commission in connection with the Placing.
Conditions of the Placing
The Placing is conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms.
The obligations of Singer under the Placing Agreement in relation to the Placing Shares, are conditional upon, inter alia:
(all conditions to the obligations of Singer in relation to the Placing Shares included in the Placing Agreement being together, the "Conditions").
If any of the Conditions are not fulfilled or, where permitted, waived by Singer in accordance with the Placing Agreement within the stated time periods (or such later time and/or date as the Company and Singer may agree), or the Placing Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Placing will lapse and the Placee's rights and obligations shall cease and terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by or on behalf of the Placee (or any person on whose behalf the Placee is acting) in respect thereof.
By participating in the Bookbuilding Process, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations cease and terminate only in the circumstances described above and under "Termination of the Placing" below and will not be capable of rescission or termination by it.
Singer may, in its absolute discretion and upon such terms as it thinks fit, waive fulfilment of all or any of the Conditions in whole or in part, or extend the time provided for fulfilment of one or more Conditions, save that certain Conditions including the conditions relating to Placing Admission referred to above. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Appendix.
Singer may terminate the Placing Agreement in certain circumstances, details of which are set out below.
Neither Singer nor any of its Representatives nor the Company shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision any of them may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision any of them may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in respect of the Placing generally and by participating in the Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of Singer.
Termination of the Placing
Singer may, in its absolute discretion, by notice to the Company, terminate the Placing Agreement at any time up to Placing Admission if, inter alia:
If the Placing Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the rights and obligations of each Placee in respect of the Placing as described in this Announcement shall cease and terminate at such time and no claim can be made by any Placee in respect thereof.
By participating in the Bookbuilding Process, each Placee agrees with the Company and Singer that the exercise by the Company or Singer of any right of termination or any other right or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Company or Singer or for agreement between the Company and Singer (as the case may be) and that neither the Company nor Singer need make any reference to such Placee and that none of the Company, Singer nor any of their respective Representatives shall have any liability to such Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) whatsoever in connection with any such exercise. Each Placee further agrees that they will have no rights against Singer, the Company or any of their respective directors or employees under the Placing Agreement pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (as amended).
By participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations terminate only in the circumstances described above and under the "Conditions of the Placing" section above and will not be capable of rescission or termination by it after the issue by Singer of a contract note, electronic trade confirmation or other (oral or written) confirmation confirming each Placee's allocation and commitment in the Placing.
Representations, warranties and further terms
By submitting a bid in the Bookbuilding Process, each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) irrevocably confirms, represents, warrants, acknowledges and agrees (for itself and for any such prospective Placee) with the Company and Singer (in its capacity as bookrunner and placing agent of the Company in respect of the Placing) that (save where Singer expressly agrees in writing to the contrary):
and that Singer and the Company will not be responsible for any liability to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax resulting from a failure to observe this requirement. Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of such Placee agrees to acquire Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing and agrees to indemnify the Company and Singer in respect of the same on the basis that the Placing Shares will be allotted to a CREST stock account of Singer or transferred to a CREST stock account of Singer who will hold them as nominee on behalf of the Placee until settlement in accordance with its standing settlement instructions with it;
(together with the Money Laundering Regulations, the "Regulations") 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 and has obtained all governmental and other consents (if any) which may be required for the purpose of, or as a consequence of, such purchase, and it will provide promptly to Singer such evidence, if any, as to the identity or location or legal status of any person which it may request from it in connection with the Placing (for the purpose of complying with the Regulations or ascertaining the nationality of any person or the jurisdiction(s) to which any person is subject or otherwise) in the form and manner requested by Singer on the basis that any failure by it to do so may result in the number of Placing Shares that are to be acquired by it or at its direction pursuant to the Placing being reduced to such number, or to nil, as Singer may decide at its sole discretion;
By participating in the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) agrees to indemnify and hold the Company, Singer and each of their respective Representatives harmless from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any breach of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings given by the Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) in this Appendix or incurred by Singer, the Company or each of their respective Representatives arising from the performance of the Placee's obligations as set out in this Announcement, and further agrees that the provisions of this Appendix shall survive after the completion of the Placing.
The rights and remedies of Singer 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 or partial exercise of one will not prevent the exercise of others.
The agreement to allot and issue Placing Shares to Placees (or the persons for whom Placees are contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax in the United Kingdom relates only to their allotment and issue to Placees, or such persons as they nominate as their agents, direct by the Company. Such agreement assumes that the Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance service. If there are any such arrangements, or the settlement related to any other dealings in the Placing Shares, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax may be payable. In that event, the Placee agrees that it shall be responsible for such stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax and neither the Company nor Singer shall be responsible for such stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If this is the case, each Placee should seek its own advice and they should notify Singer 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 United Kingdom by them or any other person on the acquisition by them of any Placing Shares or the agreement by them to acquire any Placing Shares and each Placee, or the Placee's nominee, in respect of whom (or in respect of the person for whom it is participating in the Placing as an agent or nominee) the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares has given rise to such non-United Kingdom stamp, registration, documentary, transfer or similar taxes or duties undertakes to pay such taxes and duties, including any interest and penalties (if applicable), forthwith and to indemnify on an after-tax basis and to hold harmless the Company and Singer in the event that either the Company and/or Singer have incurred any such liability to such taxes or duties.
The representations, warranties, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in this Appendix are given to Singer for itself and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable.
Singer Capital Markets Securities Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom and is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the Bookbuilding Process and the Fundraising, and Singer will not be responsible to anyone (including any Placees) other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Bookbuilding Process or the Fundraising or any other matters referred to in this Announcement.
Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of the Placee acknowledges that Singer does not owe any fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings, acknowledgements, agreements or indemnities in the Placing Agreement.
Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of the Placee acknowledges and agrees that Singer may (at its absolute discretion) satisfy its obligations to procure Placees by itself agreeing to become a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing Shares or by nominating any connected or associated person to do so.
When a Placee or any person acting on behalf of the Placee is dealing with Singer, any money held in an account with Singer on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee will not be treated as client money within the meaning of the relevant rules and regulations of the FCA made under the FSMA. Each Placee acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections conferred by the client money rules; as a consequence this money will not be segregated from Singer's money in accordance with the client money rules and will be held by it under a banking relationship and not as trustee.
References to time in this Announcement are to London time, unless otherwise stated.
All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to amendment. Placees will be notified of any changes.
No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or estimate, and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of the Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of the Company.
The price of shares and any income expected from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested upon disposal of the shares. Past performance is no guide to future performance, and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this Announcement.