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 OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
7 November 2019
Bovis Homes Group PLC
Proposed Placing of Ordinary Shares
Bovis Homes Group PLC ("Bovis Homes" or the "Company") today announces a non pre-emptive placing of up to 13,472,591 new ordinary shares in the Company (the "Placing Shares") representing up to approximately 9.99 per cent. of the Company's existing issued ordinary share capital to both existing and new institutional investors in the Company (the "Placing").
The Placing is being conducted through an accelerated bookbuild process that will be launched immediately following this placing announcement (the "Announcement") in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the Appendix.
Numis Securities Limited ("Numis") has been appointed as sole bookrunner in respect of the Placing.
Use of Proceeds of the Placing
As announced separately today, Bovis Homes has agreed to acquire Galliford Try plc's ("Galliford Try") housebuilding businesses comprising Linden Homes and the Partnerships and Regeneration Business (the "Target Businesses") for consideration of £1.075 billion[1] (the "Acquisition").
The consideration is comprised of a combination of shares (the "Consideration Shares") and cash resulting in Galliford Try shareholders receiving a stake of 29.3 per cent. in the Enlarged Group upon Completion (after implementation of the Placing and the Bonus Issue described below).
· Total consideration of £1.075 billion comprising:
o the issue to Galliford Try shareholders of 63,739,385 Consideration Shares valued at £675 million based on Bovis Homes' closing share price on 9 September 2019[2]
o cash of £300 million to be financed by:
§ 9.99% Accelerated Bookbuild (gross proceeds of up to £157m[3]);
§ £100m New Term Loan; and
§ utilisation of the Company's balance sheet resources;
o the novation from Galliford Try to Bovis Homes of Galliford Try's £100 million 4.03% senior unsecured notes due February 2027.
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 nominal value 50 pence each in the capital of the Company, including the right to receive all future dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid by reference to a record date falling after their issue, including the Bonus Issue and Second Interim Dividend as described in the Acquisition Announcement (as defined below).
The placing is not conditional upon completion of the Acquisition - if the Acquisition does not complete Bovis Homes will consider how best to return the Placing proceeds to its Shareholders.
Details of the Placing
Numis will today commence a bookbuilding process in respect of the Placing (the "Bookbuilding Process"). The exact number of Placing Shares to be placed and the price per ordinary share at which the Placing Shares are to be placed (the "Placing Price") will be determined by the Company and Numis at the close of the Bookbuilding Process. The book will open with immediate effect following this Announcement. The timing of the closing of the book, pricing and allocations are at the discretion of the Company and Numis. Details of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuilding Process. The number of Placing Shares shall not exceed 9.99 per cent. Of the current issued share capital of the Company.
Application will be made for the Placing Shares to be admitted to the premium listing segment of the Official List (the "Official List") of the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") and to be admitted to trading on the main market for listed securities of London Stock Exchange plc (the "London Stock Exchange") (together, "Admission"). Settlement for Placing Shares and Admission is expected to take place on or before 8.00 a.m. on 11 November 2019.
The Placing is conditional, inter alia, upon Admission becoming effective and the placing agreement between the Company and Numis (the "Placing Agreement") not being terminated in accordance with its terms. Further details of the Placing Agreement can be found in the terms and conditions of the Placing contained in the Appendix to this Announcement (which forms part of the Announcement).
By choosing to participate in the Placing and by making an oral and legally binding offer to acquire Placing Shares, investors will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement (including the Appendix) and the Acquisition Announcement (as defined in the Appendix) in their entirety and to be making such offer on the terms and subject to the conditions in such announcements, and to be providing the representations, warranties and acknowledgements contained in the Appendix.
Your attention is drawn to the detailed terms and conditions of the Placing set out in the Appendix to this Announcement.
The person responsible for making this announcement on behalf of Bovis Homes is Earl Sibley, Group Finance Director.
For further information please contact:
Bovis Homes Group PLC Earl Sibley, Group Finance Director Susie Bell, Head of Investor Relations
|
01732 280272
|
Numis Securities Limited (Joint Financial Adviser, Sole Bookrunner and Sole Broker to Bovis Homes) Heraclis Economides Richard Thomas |
020 7260 1000 |
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 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 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 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 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, or by any of its affiliates or agents as to or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
Numis is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA"). Numis 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 Numis by FSMA or by the regulatory regime established under it, neither Numis nor any of its 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 Numis or any of its affiliates in connection with the Company, the Placing Shares or the Placing. Numis and each of its 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 Numis or any of its affiliates as to the accuracy, completeness or sufficiency of the information contained in this Announcement.
The distribution of this Announcement and the offering of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company and/or Numis or any of their respective affiliates that would, or which is intended to, permit an offering of the Placing 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 in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and Numis 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. Any investment decision to buy Placing Shares in the Placing must be made solely on the basis of publicly available information, which has not been independently verified by Numis.
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. 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 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, Numis 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 (ACTING AS AGENT FOR THE COMPANY AND AS 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
EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISORS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF AN ACQUISITION OF 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 certain businesses of Galliford Try (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. No public offer of securities of the Company is being made in the United Kingdom, United States or elsewhere.
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 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
Numis has entered into a placing agreement dated 7 November 2019 (the "Placing Agreement") with the Company under which Numis has, 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 the Placing Shares up to 13,472,591 new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company of nominal value 50 pence each (the "Placing Shares") at a price determined following completion of an accelerated bookbuild process (the "Placing").
In accordance with the terms of the Placing Agreement and a subscription and transfer agreement between the Company, Numis and a Jersey incorporated subsidiary of the Company ("Jerseyco"), Numis has 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 issue of the Placing Shares is to be effected by way of a cashbox placing.
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 allotment and issue of the Placing Shares will be made by the Company to Placees in consideration for the transfer to the Company of certain shares in Jerseyco. 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 11 November 2019 and that dealings in the Placing Shares will commence at that time.
Bookbuild
Numis 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.
Numis 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. Numis is arranging the Placing as bookrunner and agent of the Company.
2. Participation in the Placing will only be available to persons who may lawfully be, and are, invited to participate by Numis. Numis and its affiliates are entitled to enter bids in the Bookbuild as principal.
3. The Bookbuild, if successful, will establish a single price in respect of the Placing Shares payable to Numis 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 Numis 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. The Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares to be issued will be announced on a Regulatory Information Service 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. 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 Numis, or at prices up to a price limit specified in its bid. Bids may be scaled down by Numis on the basis referred to in paragraph 8 below. Numis reserves the right not to accept bids or to accept bids in part rather than in whole. The acceptance of the bids shall be at Numis' 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 7 November 2019 but may be closed earlier or later at the discretion of Numis. Numis 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 Numis) 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 Numis, as agent of the Company, following the close of the Placing, and a contract note or electronic confirmation will be dispatched as soon as possible thereafter. Numis' 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 Numis 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, Numis may, subject to agreement with the Company, choose to accept bids, either in whole or in part, on the basis of allocations determined at its absolute discretion and may scale down any bids for this purpose on such basis as it may determine. Numis 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 Numis, 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 Numis' 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 Numis, to pay it (or as it 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 Numis 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 Numis or any of its 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, none of Numis or any of its 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 Numis' conduct of the Bookbuild or of such alternative method of effecting the Placing as Numis 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. Numis' obligations under the Placing Agreement are conditional on, inter alia:
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 Numis, by the time or date specified in the Placing Agreement (or such later time and/or date as the Company and Numis 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.
Numis may, at its discretion and upon such terms as it thinks 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 Numis, 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 Numis.
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
Numis may, at any time before Admission, terminate the Placing Agreement by giving notice to the Company if, in the opinion of Numis, any of the warranties contained in the Placing Agreement is untrue, inaccurate or misleading or would, if repeated at any time up to and including Admission, be untrue, inaccurate or misleading by reference to the facts then subsisting in any respect which is material in the context of the Placing or Admission.
Numis may, at any time before Admission, 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:
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 Numis of any right of termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of Numis and that it need not make any reference to Placees in this regard and that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, Numis 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 Numis that, other than (a) in connection with the completion of the Acquisition, (b) the Bonus Issue described in the Prospectus, or (c) the grant of a right to subscribe for any Ordinary Shares, or issue of any Ordinary Shares, pursuant to the exercise of options or vesting of awards under the share option scheme or incentive plans in existence on the date of Admission and which are described in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates will (i) 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, in each case without the prior written consent of Numis for a period beginning on the date of the Placing Agreement and ending on the date which is ninety (90) calendar days after Admission.
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), Numis or any other person and none of Numis 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 Numis may agree that the Placing Shares should be issued in certificated form. The Company and Numis 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 Numis stating the number of Placing Shares to be allocated to it at the Placing Price, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee to Numis 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 Numis. 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 11 November 2019). Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares following Admission will take place within the CREST system.
It is expected that settlement will be on 11 November 2019 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 Numis.
Each Placee agrees that, if it does not comply with these obligations, Numis may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for Numis' 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 Numis all such authorities and powers necessary to carry out any such sale and agrees to ratify and confirm all actions which Numis lawfully takes 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 Numis 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 in each case as a fundamental term of their application for Placing Shares as set out below:
The foregoing acknowledgements, agreements, undertakings, representations, warranties and confirmations are given for the benefit of each of the Company and Numis (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 Numis 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 Numis in the event that any of the Company and/or Numis 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 Numis 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 Numis does 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 Numis or any of its 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 its 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 Numis and any affiliate acting in such capacity. In addition, Numis may enter into financing arrangements and swaps with investors in connection with which Numis may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of such securities of the Company, including the Placing Shares. Neither Numis 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 Numis, any money held in an account with Numis 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 Numis' money in accordance with the client money rules and will be used by Numis in the course of its own business and the Placee will rank only as a general creditor of Numis.
Past performance is no guide to future performance and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
The rights and remedies of Numis 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 Numis the jurisdiction in which the funds are managed or owned.
All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to amendment. Numis shall notify the Placees and any person acting on behalf of the Placees of any changes.
[1] Calculated using the Company's closing share price of £10.59 as at 9 September 2019. Total consideration is subject to a customary completion mechanism linked to Linden Homes' and Partnerships & Regeneration' assets position.
[2] The valuation of the Consideration Shares based on the closing share price on 6 November 2019 is £741 million.
[3] Based on the closing share price on 6 November 2019 of £11.63.