Completion of Acquisition

RNS Number : 6918N

Gresham House PLC

01 October 2021

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT 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, NEW ZEALAND OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

1 October 2021

Gresham House plc

("Gresham House", the "Company" or the "Group")

Completion of acquisition of VCT business of Mobeus Equity Partners

Gresham House (AIM: GHE), the specialist alternative asset manager, announces the completion of the acquisition of the Venture Capital Trust ("VCT") business of Mobeus Equity Partners LLP ("Mobeus"), announced on 10 September 2021 (the "Acquisition").

Mobeus is a UK-based investment firm managing assets across two distinct client groups, one of which is the VCT business being acquired by Gresham House. The four VCTs whose contracts are being acquired are: Mobeus Income & Growth VCT plc, Mobeus Income & Growth 2 VCT plc, Mobeus Income & Growth 4 VCT plc and The Income & Growth VCT plc (together, the "Mobeus VCTs"), with a combined AUM of £369 million[1].

The Acquisition creates a leading player in the VCT segment with a combined c.£850 million of AUM, and the combined platform will help target enhanced returns for Mobeus and Gresham House's VCT investors and further accelerate growth of the Group's VCT AUM.

Mobeus VCTs' strong brand and long term investment performance provide a close fit with Gresham House's reputation for governance, fund performance and investment culture, and the high-quality and experienced Mobeus team is culturally aligned with the Gresham House team, bringing complementary skills.

The Acquisition also gives the Mobeus VCTs access to Gresham House central resources, existing investment resources and network to support their long-term investment ambitions, whilst the acquisition structure provides a framework to both incentivise and retain key Mobeus VCT team members.

The Acquisition, together with organic growth since the half year, increases Group AUM to c.£5.4 billion[2]. The Group has identified a number of potential synergies in the Mobeus VCT business, and the Acquisition is expected to support the Group's stated objective of achieving a 40% operating margin as part of the GH25 Group plan.

Trading in the Vendor Placing Shares and Consideration Shares on AIM will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 1 October 2021.

The Company will have a total of 38,000,819 Ordinary Shares in issue from 1 October 2021. Thereafter, this figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company, under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority.

Capitalised words and phrases defined in the Acquisition and proposed placing announcement on 10 September 2021 have the same meanings in this announcement, save where otherwise defined.

For more information contact:
Gresham House plc Tony Dalwood, Chief Executive Officer Kevin Acton, Chief Financial Officer	[phone]
Blackdown Partners - Financial Adviser to Gresham House plc Peter Tracey Tom Fyson	[phone]
Canaccord Genuity Limited - Nominated Adviser, Joint Global Co-Ordinator, Joint Bookrunner and Joint Broker Bobbie Hilliam Georgina McCooke	[phone]
Jefferies International Limited - Joint Global Co-Ordinator, Joint Bookrunner  and Joint Broker Paul Nicholls Max Jones Lee Morton	[phone]
Houston - PR advisors Alexander Clelland Kay Larsen	[e-mail] [phone]

About Gresham House:

Gresham House is a specialist alternative asset management group, dedicated to sustainable investments across a range of strategies, with expertise across forestry, housing, infrastructure, renewable energy and battery storage, public and private equity.

Our origins stretch back to 1857, while our focus is on the future and the long term. Quoted on the London Stock Exchange (GHE:LN) we actively manage c.£4.7 billion  of assets (as at 30 June 2021) on behalf of institutions, family offices, charities and endowments, private individuals and their advisers. We act responsibly within a culture of empowerment that encourages individual flair and entrepreneurial thinking.

As a signatory to the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), our vision is to always make a positive social or environmental impact, while delivering on our commitments to shareholders, employees and investors.

www.greshamhouse.com  

IMPORTANT NOTICES

No action has been taken by the Company, the Banks or any of its or their respective Affiliates, or any of its or their respective 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 the Banks to inform themselves about, and to observe, such restrictions.

No prospectus will be made available in connection with the matters contained in this announcement and no such prospectus is required  (in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation") and the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal Act) 2018 ("UK Prospectus Regulation"))   .  Persons needing advice should consult a qualified independent legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser for legal, financial, business or tax advice.

Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing. In member states of the European Economic Area ("EEA"), this announcement is directed only at and may only be communicated to persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation ("qualified investors"). In the United Kingdom, this Announcement is directed only at qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation who are also (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) order 2005 (the "order"); (ii) high net worth bodies corporate, unincorporated associations and partnerships and trustees of high value trusts as described in Article 49(2) of the order; or (iii) persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (together, "relevant persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which the Announcement relates is only available to and will only be engaged with in the member states of the EEA by qualified investors and in the United Kingdom by relevant persons. This announcement must not be acted on or relied on by persons in member states of the EEA who are not qualified investors or by persons in the United Kingdom who are not relevant persons.

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 or any part of it 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, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa 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.

Canaccord Genuity Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies") is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Each of Canaccord and Jefferies is acting exclusively for the Company, the Sellers and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company and the Sellers for providing the protections afforded to the respective clients of Canaccord and Jefferies or for providing advice in relation to the matters described in this announcement. The responsibilities of Canaccord, as nominated adviser, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange plc and are not owed to the Company or to any Director or any other person and accordingly no duty of care is accepted in relation to them. Neither Canaccord nor Jefferies is acting for the Company or any other person with respect to the PrimaryBid Offer.

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 Canaccord, Jefferies or by any of its or their respective Affiliates or any of its or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or advisers 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.

This announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning any investor's options with respect to the Placing. 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. The contents of this announcement are not to be construed as legal, business, financial or tax advice. Each investor or prospective investor should consult his, her or its own legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser for legal, financial, business or tax advice.

Any indication in this announcement of the price at which ordinary shares have been bought or sold in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the Company, as appropriate, for the current or future years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the Company.

In connection with the Placing, each of the Banks and any of their respective Affiliates may take up a portion of the shares of the Company in the Placing as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase or sell for its own account such shares and other securities of the Company or related investments and may offer or sell such shares, securities or other investments otherwise than in connection with the Placing. Accordingly, references in this announcement to Placing Shares being issued, offered or placed should be read as including any issue, offering or placement of such shares in the Company to the Banks or any of their respective Affiliates acting in such capacity. In addition, either of the Banks or any of their respective Affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for difference) with investors in connection with which such Banks or any of their respective Affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of such securities of the Company, including the Placing Shares. Neither of the Banks, or any of their respective Affiliates, intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so.

The Placing Shares to be issued or sold 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 (or any other website) nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into or forms part of this announcement.

This announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with applicable law and regulation in the United Kingdom and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

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 such Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of: (a) investors who meet the criteria of professional clients as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018; (b) eligible counterparties, as defined in the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook ("COBS"); and (c) retail clients who do not meet the definition of professional client under (b) or eligible counterparty per (c); 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, the Banks 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 9A and COBS 10A, respectively; 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 UK 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 such Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Banks 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.

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[1] As at 31 March 2021

[2] Pro-forma based on 30 June 2021 AUM of £4,722m, plus £352 million raised post period end and £369 million AUM of Mobeus VCTs

 

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