Issue of Equity

ASOS PLC

25 May 2023

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014 WHICH FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC UK LAW PURSUANT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 ("UK MAR").

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF ANY OFFER OR INVITATION TO SELL OR ISSUE, OR ANY SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR, ANY SECURITIES OF ASOS PLC.

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN OR INTO, OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN, THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN OR ANY JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE, PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AMOUNTS TO A FINANCIAL PROMOTION FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 21 OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 ("FSMA") AND HAS BEEN APPROVED BY PRIMARYBID LIMITED WHICH IS AUTHORISED AND REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY (FRN 779021).

For immediate release

25 May 2023

ASOS plc
("ASOS" or the "Company")
Retail Offer via PrimaryBid

ASOS, the global online fashion platform, today announces a conditional retail offer of new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (the "Retail Offer Shares") via PrimaryBid (the "Retail Offer") at an issue price of 418.1 pence per Retail Offer Share (the "Issue Price"), representing the closing price of the shares on 25 May 2023.

As separately announced today, the Company is also conducting a fully underwritten non-pre-emptive placing of new ordinary shares (the "Placing Shares") at the Issue Price through an accelerated bookbuilding process (the "Placing"). The price at which the Placing Shares are to be placed is equal to the Issue Price for the Retail Offer.

Reason for the Retail Offer

The Company values its retail investor base and is therefore pleased to provide retail investors with the opportunity to participate in the Retail Offer alongside other investors in line with the Pre-emption Group guidelines. After consideration of the various options available to it, the Company believes that the separate Retail Offer, which will give retail investors the opportunity to participate in the Company's equity fundraising alongside the Placing, is in the best interests of shareholders, as well as wider stakeholders of the Company.

The Company will use the proceeds raised to support the changes to its operating model designed to return the business to sustainable profitability and cash generation in H2 FY23 and beyond (the "Driving Change agenda") as set out alongside its FY22 results, as part of the refinancing of its existing debt. The proceeds are not intended to be used for any acquisition or specified capital investment.

Details of the Retail Offer

Existing shareholders and new investors can access the Retail Offer through PrimaryBid's website and on PrimaryBid's app. Investors may also be able to take part through PrimaryBid's extensive partner network of investment platforms, retail brokers and wealth managers, subject to their participation. Applications for Retail Offer Shares through these partners can be made from tax efficient savings vehicles such as ISAs or SIPPs, as well as GIAs. The PrimaryBid app is available on the UK Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The Retail Offer will open to investors resident and physically located in the United Kingdom following the release of this Announcement. The Retail Offer is expected to close at 3.00 p.m. (London time) on 26 May 2023 and may close early if it is oversubscribed.

There is a minimum subscription amount of £250 per investor under the terms of the Retail Offer.

The Company reserves the right to scale back any order at its discretion. The Company and PrimaryBid reserve the right to reject any application for subscription under the Retail Offer without giving any reason for such rejection.

Investors who apply for Retail Offer Shares through PrimaryBid's website or PrimaryBid's app will not be charged any fee or commission by PrimaryBid. It is important to note that, once an application for Retail Offer Shares has been made and accepted via PrimaryBid, that application is irrevocable and cannot be withdrawn.

It is a term of the Retail Offer that the total value of the Retail Offer Shares available for subscription does not exceed £5 million equivalent. Accordingly, the Company is not required to publish (and has not published) a prospectus in connection with the Retail Offer as it falls within the exemption set out in sections 86(1)(e) and 86(4) of FSMA. The Retail Offer is only being made in the United Kingdom and is not being made into any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so.

Investors wishing to apply for Retail Offer Shares through their investment platform, retail broker or wealth manager using their ISA, SIPP or GIA should contact them for details of the process and any relevant fees or charges.

The Retail Offer Shares will, when issued, be free of all liens, charges and encumbrances, and rank pari passu in all respects with the Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing and the Company's existing ordinary shares of 3.5 pence each.

Application will be made for the Retail Offer Shares to be admitted to the premium listing segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and to trading on the Main Market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange plc (together, "Admission").

Settlement for the Retail Offer Shares and Admission is expected to take place at or around 8.00 a.m. (London time) on 31 May 2023. The Retail Offer is conditional, among other things, upon Admission becoming effective and the placing agreement entered into by the Company in connection with the Placing not being terminated in accordance with its terms.

For further information on PrimaryBid or the Retail Offer visit www.PrimaryBid.com or email PrimaryBid at [e-mail]. The terms and conditions on which the Retail Offer is made, including the procedure for application and payment for Retail Offer Shares, are available to all persons who register with PrimaryBid.

Brokers wishing to offer their customers access to the Retail Offer and future PrimaryBid transactions, should contact [e-mail].

Enquiries

ASOS plc Jose Antonio Ramos Calamonte, Chief Executive Officer Sean Glithero, Interim Chief Financial Officer Michelle Wilson, Senior Director of Strategy & Corporate Development Holly Cassell, Head of Investor Relations Website: www.asosplc.com/investors		020 7756 1000
PrimaryBid Limited Nick Smith James Deal		[e-mail]

Important notices

The Retail Offer is offered under the exemptions from the need for a prospectus allowed under the FCA's Prospectus Regulation Rules. As such, there is no need for publication of a prospectus pursuant to the Prospectus Regulation Rules, or for approval of the same by the Financial Conduct Authority (as competent authority under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of retained EU law as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018).

The Retail Offer is not being made into the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, Japan or any other jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so.

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 into the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from registration. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States.

This Announcement and the information contained herein, is restricted and is not for publication, release or distribution, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which such publication, release or distribution would be unlawful. Further, this Announcement is for information purposes only and is not an offer of securities in any jurisdiction.

This Announcement contains (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 may occur in the future, are beyond the Company's control and 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, 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.

Investors should make their own investigations into the merits of an investment in the Company. Nothing in this Announcement amounts to a recommendation to invest in the Company or amounts to investment, taxation or legal advice.

It should be noted that a subscription for Retail Offer Shares and investment in the Company carries a number of risks. Investors should consider the risk factors set out on www.PrimaryBid.com and the PrimaryBid app before making a decision to subscribe for new Ordinary Shares. Investors should take independent advice from a person experienced in advising on investment in securities such as the Retail Offer Shares if they are in any doubt. 

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [e-mail] or visit www.rns.com.

 

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