Publication of a Prospectus

Henderson European Focus Trust PLC

20 May 2024

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT ARE NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA), AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, IN ANY MEMBER STATE OF THE EEA OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SAME WOULD BE UNLAWFUL

This announcement is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to acquire, securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. Neither this announcement nor any part of it shall form the basis of or be relied on in connection with or act as an inducement to enter into any contract or commitment whatsoever.

20 May 2024

Henderson European Focus Trust plc

Publication of Prospectus and Circular

Further to the announcements made by Henderson European Focus Trust plc (the "Company" or "HEFT") on 14 March 2024 and 14 May 2024, the board of HEFT is pleased to announce that it has today published a circular (the "Circular") and a prospectus in connection with the proposed merger of interests with Henderson EuroTrust plc ("HNE") to form Henderson European Trust plc (the "Combined Trust") - an enlarged, flagship European investment trust to be managed by the European equities team at Janus Henderson Investors ("Janus Henderson" or the "Manager") (the "Proposals").

The Circular provides the Company's shareholders (the "Shareholders") with further details of the Proposals. A general meeting of the Company will take place on 11:00 a.m. 19 June 2024 (the "General Meeting") to seek approval from Shareholders for the implementation of the Proposals. HNE Shareholder approval will also be required to implement the Proposals.

The Prospectus has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prospectus and Circular will shortly be available for inspection at the National Storage Mechanism which is located at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and on the Company's website at www.hendersoneuropeanfocus.com.

Terms used and not defined in this announcement shall have the meanings given to them in the Circular.

Background

As announced on 14 March 2024, the Board has agreed heads of terms with the board of HNE in respect of a proposed combination of the assets of the Company with the assets of HNE. The Board subsequently announced updated and enhanced agreed terms of the proposed merger on 14 May 2024.

The combination, if approved by Shareholders and HNE Shareholders, will be effected by way of a scheme of reconstruction and members' voluntary winding-up of HNE under section 110 of the Insolvency Act (the "Scheme") and the associated transfer of substantially all of the cash and other assets of HNE to the Company in exchange for the issue of New Shares.

Under the Scheme, HNE Shareholders will be entitled to elect to receive cash in respect of part or all of their shareholding, subject to an aggregate limit of 15% of HNE's issued share capital (excluding any treasury shares). Any HNE Shares which are not validly elected under the Cash Option (including to the extent any elections for the Cash Option are scaled back as a result of the Cash Option being oversubscribed) will be issued New Shares in the Company.

In order to enable Shareholders to participate in a similar cash exit being offered to HNE Shareholders under the Scheme, the Board has arranged for Winterflood Securities Limited ("Winterflood") to conduct a tender offer for up to 15% of the Company's issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) (the "Tender Offer"). The Tender Offer is conditional, amongst other things, upon the Scheme becoming effective.

If the Scheme becomes effective, the Company will be renamed Henderson European Trust plc and will trade under the new ticker "HET". The Combined Trust will be co-managed by Tom O'Hara and Jamie Ross, currently co-lead and lead portfolio managers of the Company and HNE, respectively.

Subject to the approval of Shareholders, the Board is also proposing to change the Company's investment objective and policy to better reflect the strategic aims of the Combined Trust. The Change of Investment Objective and Policy is conditional on the Scheme becoming effective and, if approved, will take effect on the Scheme Effective Date. Further details of the proposed changes are set out in the Circular.

Benefits of the Proposals

The Directors believe that the Proposals will have the following benefits for Shareholders:

·      A compelling investment case: The Combined Trust will provide continuing Shareholders with a flagship Europe (ex UK) equities proposition, seeking to maximise total return from a portfolio of Janus Henderson's assessment of Europe's biggest and best companies, selected according to long-standing global trends and with an emphasis on substantial, well-managed businesses, with sustainable business models.

·      A "best ideas" approach: Both portfolio managers have their own distinct and proven expertise but share a fundamental investment philosophy. Working collaboratively from an enhanced knowledge base and, with the benefit of increased discussion throughout the stock picking process, it is expected that the Combined Trust will represent the very best ideas of both portfolio managers.

·      Demonstrable track record of strong performance: The Company's NAV total return over three, five and ten years to 30 April 2024 has been 30.6%, 74.8%, and 164.8% respectively. Tom O'Hara has co-managed the portfolio since 2020. HNE has been managed solely by Jamie Ross since 2019. Its NAV total return over three, five and ten years to 30 April 2024 has been 13.1%, 59.8% and 155.5% respectively.[1]

·      Continuity of manager and excellent European equities team: The Combined Trust will be supported by Janus Henderson's award-winning European equities team which encompasses 11 team members and conducts around 1,300 company meetings a year.

·      Continuity of exposure: The Company and HNE have over 50% of common holdings by value and the majority of the Combined Trust's Portfolio is expected to comprise assets currently held by at least one of the companies. This complementarity of holdings and style will reduce the extent of any Portfolio realignment required in connection with the Proposals.

·      Increased scale: As a result of the Proposals, the Combined Trust is anticipated to have net assets of circa £680 million (based on valuations as at 30 April 2024) and, assuming full take up of the cash exit opportunities, would become the second largest investment company in the AIC European sector. It is also expected to be eligible for inclusion in the FTSE 250 Index[2]. The enhanced scale of the Combined Trust should improve secondary market liquidity, as well as raise the profile and help marketability.

·      Reduced management fees for enlarged asset base: The Combined Trust will benefit from improved management fee terms, with management fees to be charged on the following basis:

o  0.600% per annum of the Net Asset Value up to but excluding £500 million;

o  0.475% per annum of the Net Asset Value equal to and in excess of £500 million and up to but excluding £1 billion; and

o  0.450% of the Net Asset Value equal to and in excess of £1 billion.

This compares with the current structure of both the Company and HNE of 0.65% per annum of the Net Asset Value up to £300 million and 0.55% per annum of the Net Asset Value in excess of £300 million.

·      Reduced OCR: The Proposals will reduce fixed costs proportionately and, along with the revised management fees, produce a competitive OCR estimated to be approximately 0.70%[3] compared to the Company's current OCR of 0.80% and HNE's of 0.79%.

·      Contribution from Janus Henderson to the costs of the Proposals: Janus Henderson has committed to making a contribution to the costs of the Proposals, with a view to ensuring the Proposals are cost-neutral for continuing shareholders in the Combined Trust.

·      Discount / premium management policy: The Combined Trust will introduce a 5-yearly conditional performance related tender offer and will also use Share buybacks and Share issuance where appropriate and subject to prevailing market conditions. In addition, the Board of the Combined Trust will consider, at its discretion, subject to normal market conditions and no earlier than after an initial three-year period, whether it would be in the long-term interest of Shareholders as a whole to be offered additional opportunities to realise some of their investment in the Combined Trust.

·      Gearing: The Combined Trust also expects to deploy strategically both the longer-term structural and short-term gearing currently in place in HEFT, with the benefit of inexpensive long-term gearing of €35 million over 25/30 years (weighted average cost of 1.57%) and short-term gearing in the form of an overdraft.

·      Experienced board: The Combined Trust's board will include directors of both the Company and HNE ensuring continuity and collective competence and experience.

·      Partial cash exit: The Proposals also allow all Shareholders the opportunity for a partial cash exit at a 2% discount to the Tender Offer FAV.

Overview of the Scheme and the Tender Offer

The Scheme

The Scheme will be effected by way of a scheme of reconstruction of HNE under section 110 of the Insolvency Act, resulting in the members' voluntary winding-up of HNE and the transfer of substantially all HNE's cash and other assets (the "Rollover Pool") to the Company in return for the issue of New Shares by the Company pursuant to the Issue. The New Shares will rank pari passu in all respects (including voting rights) with each other and the existing Shares (other than in respect of dividends or other distributions declared, made or paid on the existing Shares by reference to a record date prior to the Scheme Calculation Date).

The Scheme is conditional upon, amongst other things, approval of Resolution 1 to approve the Issue at the General Meeting and the approval of the HNE Resolutions by HNE Shareholders at the HNE General Meetings.

Under the Scheme:

(a)  HNE Shareholders will be entitled to elect to receive cash in respect of some or all of their HNE Shares (subject to an overall limit of 15% of the HNE Shares in issue at the Scheme Calculation Date, excluding treasury shares) (the "Cash Option"); and

(b)  eligible HNE Shareholders will by default receive New Shares (the "Rollover Option") to the extent that they do not make a valid election for the Cash Option in respect of some or all of their HNE Shares or to the extent that their elections for the Cash Option are scaled back in accordance with the Scheme.

The Cash Option will be priced at a 2% discount (the "Cash Option Discount") to a formula asset value. This formula asset value will represent the proportion of the HNE Residual Net Asset Value attributable to those HNE Shares in respect of which valid elections have been made for the Cash Option (following any required scaling back in accordance with the Scheme), such amount in aggregate being the "Cash Pool". The "HNE Cash FAV per Share" shall be equal to the value of the Cash Pool divided by the number of HNE Shares validly elected for the Cash Option (following any required scaling back in accordance with the Scheme). The value arising from the application of the Cash Option Discount will be allocated to the Rollover Pool. The value of the Rollover Pool shall be equal to the HNE Residual Net Asset Value less the value of the Cash Pool, plus HNE's portion of the Janus Henderson Contribution to ensure that the Proposals are cost-neutral for continuing shareholders in the Combined Trust (as described in the paragraph below). The "HNE Rollover FAV per Share" shall be equal to the value of the Rollover Pool divided by the number of HNE Shares elected for the Rollover Option.

The recommended Proposals have been structured with a view to avoiding any costs of change falling on continuing shareholders in the Combined Trust, and to reduce the overall ongoing charges ratio of the Combined Trust. This will be achieved through a contribution to costs from Janus Henderson to support the Scheme when the recommended Proposals become effective. In addition, the AIFM has agreed to reduce the management fees payable by the Combined Trust and to waive the termination fees that would otherwise be payable by HNE to the AIFM.

The Tender Offer

The Tender Offer will be priced at a 2% discount (the "Tender Offer Discount") to the Tender Offer FAV as at close of business on the Tender Offer Calculation Date. The Tender Offer FAV will be the Company's NAV, calculated in accordance with the Company's normal accounting policies, less the costs of the Proposals agreed to be borne by the Company, multiplied by the proportion of the Company's issued share capital tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer (excluding shares held in treasury) subject to the overall cap of 15% of the Company's issued share capital (excluding shares held in treasury). In addition, SDRT, stamp duty and any incidental fees and commissions specific to the Tender Offer will be borne by Shareholders tendering their Shares.

Expected timetable

General Meeting, Tender Offer and Interim Dividend

Publication of the Circular and Notice of General Meeting	20 May 2024
Record date for interim dividend	7 June 2024
Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy and CREST voting instructions for the General Meeting	11.00 a.m. on 17 June 2024
General Meeting	11.00 a.m. on 19 June 2024
Latest time and date for receipt of Tender Forms and receipt of TTE instructions	1.00 p.m. on 19 June 2024
Announcement of results of the General Meeting	19 June 2024
Tender Offer Record Date Tender Offer Calculation Date	6.00 p.m. on 19 June 2024 close of business on 19 June 2024
CREST accounts credited for revised uncertificated holdings of Ordinary Shares in respect of unsuccessful Tenders	25 June 2024
Announcement of results of the Tender Offer and Tender Price	25 June 2024
Payment of interim dividend	28 June 2024
Shares repurchased pursuant to the Tender Offer	4 July 2024
CREST accounts credited in respect of Tender Offer proceed for uncertificated Ordinary Shares	5 July 2024
Cheques despatched in respect of Tender Offer proceed for certificated Ordinary Shares and balancing shares certificates despatched	15 July 2024

Scheme

Publication of the Prospectus	20 May 2024
First HNE General Meeting	11.30 a.m. on 20 June 2024
Scheme Record Date	6.00 p.m. on 27 June 2024
Scheme Calculation Date	close of business on 27 June 2024
HNE Shares disabled in CREST (for settlement)	close of business on 27 June 2024
Reclassification of HNE Shares	8.00 a.m. on 3 July 2024
Suspension of listing of HNE Shares	7.30 a.m. on 4 July 2024
Second HNE General Meeting	9.30 a.m. on 4 July 2024
Scheme Effective Date	4 July 2024
Announcement of results of elections under the Scheme, the HNE Rollover FAV per Share, the HNE Cash FAV per Share and the HEFT FAV per Share	4 July 2024
CREST accounts credited with, and dealings commence in, New Shares	8.00 a.m. on 5 July 2024
Certificates despatched by post in respect of New Shares in certificated form	18 July 2024
Cancellation of listing of HNE Reclassified Shares	as soon as practicable after the Scheme Effective Date

Note: All references to time are to UK time. Each of the times and dates in the above expected timetable (other than in relation to the general meetings) may be extended or brought forward. If any of the above times and/or dates change, the revised time(s) and/or date(s) will be notified to Shareholders by an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.

For further information please contact:

Henderson European Focus Trust plc Vicky Hastings Chair of the Board	Contact via Company Secretary 020 7818 2220
Janus Henderson Investors, Manager Dan Howe Head of Investment Trusts	020 7818 4458
Oliver Packard Head of Investment Trust Sales	0207 818 2690
Harriet Hall PR Director, Investment Trusts	020 7818 2919
Winterflood Securities Limited, Corporate Broker Neil Morgan	020 3100 0000

Notes

Legal Entity Identifier:

HEFT: 213800GS89AL1DK3IN50

Disclaimers

The information in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy or completeness. The material contained in this announcement is given as at the date of its publication (unless otherwise marked) and is subject to updating, revision and amendment. In particular, any proposals referred to herein are subject to revision and amendment.

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. Any securities that may be issued in connection with the matters referred to herein 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 or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and in compliance with the securities laws of any state, county or any other jurisdiction of the United States. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States.

Furthermore, any securities that may be issued in connection with the matters referred to herein may not be offered or sold indirectly or indirectly in, into or within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. Persons except under circumstances that would not result in the Company being in violation of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Outside the United States, the securities may be sold to persons who are not U.S. Persons pursuant to Regulation S.

Moreover, any securities that may be issued in connection with the matters referred to herein have not been, nor will they be, registered under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa, or any member state of the EEA (other than any member state of the EEA where the shares are lawfully marketed).

The value of shares and the income from them is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise due to stock market and currency movements.  When you sell your investment you may get back less than you originally invested. Figures refer to past performance and past performance should not be considered a reliable indicator of future results. Returns may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.

This announcement may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "might", "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's financial position, strategy, plans, proposed acquisitions and objectives, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and, accordingly, the Company's actual future financial results and operational performance may differ materially from the results and performance expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement and cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. Subject to their respective legal and regulatory obligations, each of HEFT and Janus Henderson expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required to do so by law or any appropriate regulatory authority, including FSMA, the Listing Rules, the Prospectus Regulation Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, the Prospectus Regulation and MAR.

None of HEFT or Janus Henderson, or any of their respective affiliates, accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for, or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to this announcement, including the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to them, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of the announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Each of HEFT and Janus Henderson, and their respective affiliates, accordingly disclaim all and any liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise which they might otherwise have in respect of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

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[1] Source: Morningstar Direct

[2] Index eligibility subject to subsequent market movement and FTSE eligibility review

[3] This figure is an estimate, which is subject to change. The actual OCR will depend on subsequent movements in costs and net assets.

 

END