Proposed Placing

RNS Number : 3830I

Oxford Instruments PLC

14 June 2011

 



14 June 2011

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 STATE OR JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL

OXFORD INSTRUMENTS PLC

("Oxford Instruments" or the "Company")

OXFORD INSTRUMENTS ANNOUNCES A PROPOSED PLACING OF NEW ORDINARY SHARES

Oxford Instruments today announces its intention to conduct a non-pre-emptive placing of up to 5,013,121 new ordinary shares in the Company (the "Placing Shares") representing up to 9.99 per cent. of the Company's existing issued ordinary share capital (the "Placing"). The Placing is being conducted through an accelerated bookbuilding process to be carried out by J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd., which conducts its UK investment banking activities as J.P. Morgan Cazenove ("J.P. Morgan Cazenove").

The Company has also announced today that it has acquired Omicron Nanotechnology GmbH (together with its subsidiaries, "Omicron") (the "Omicron Acquisition") for a cash consideration of €32.4 million (around £28.1 million), on a cash free debt free basis, to include land and buildings valued at €5.0 million (around £4.3 million). Omicron is a German based company, with subsidiaries in the UK, USA, Japan and France that designs and produces advanced microscopes and chemical analysis instruments for nanotechnology research.

The Company has also announced today that it has acquired Omniprobe, Inc ("Omniprobe") (the "Omniprobe Acquisition") for an initial cash consideration of US$19.2 and a deferred payment of US$0.8 million payable in two years time (in total around £12.1 million), on a cash free debt free basis. Omniprobe is a US based company which designs and produces tools giving customers nano-scale laboratory capabilities within microscopes.

The Company has also published, in a separate announcement, Preliminary Results for the year to 31 March 2011 (the "Preliminary Results Announcement").

The Placing

The Placing is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Appendix. J.P. Morgan Cazenove will today commence a bookbuilding process in respect of the Placing (the "Bookbuild"). The price per ordinary share at which the Placing Shares are to be placed (the "Placing Price") will be decided at the close of the Bookbuild.  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  J.P. Morgan Cazenove and Oxford Instruments. Details of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuild.

The Placing Shares, when issued, will be fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares of the Company including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of issue, including the proposed final dividend of 6.48 pence per share for the year to 31 March 2011 as set out in the Preliminary Results Announcement. If all the Placing Shares are placed, it would represent an increase of approximately 9.99 per cent. of the current issued ordinary share capital of the Company, and the Placing Shares would represent approximately 9.08 per cent. of the enlarged issued ordinary share capital of the Company.

Applications will be made for the Placing Shares to be admitted to the premium listing segment of the Official List of the UK Listing Authority (the "Official List") and to be admitted to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange (together, "Admission"). It is expected that Admission will take place at 8.00 a.m. on 17 June 2011. The Placing is conditional, among other things, upon Admission becoming effective.  The Placing is also conditional upon the placing agreement between the Company and J.P. Morgan Cazenove (the "Placing Agreement") not being terminated. The Appendix to this Announcement  (which forms part of this Announcement) sets out further information relating to the Bookbuild and the terms and conditions of the Placing.

Background to the Placing - Use of Proceeds and financial effects

Net proceeds of the Placing are proposed to be used as follows:

-     Part funding of the Omicron and Omniprobe acquisitions announced today for an aggregate consideration of around £40.2m; and

-     Preserving Oxford Instruments' balance sheet flexibility to fund further bolt-on acquisitions as part of its "14 Cubed" plan.

The Omicron Acquisition and the Omniprobe Acquisition, together with the proposed Placing are expected to be enhancing to adjusted earnings per shares in the current year.*

*Nothing in this statement should be construed as a profit forecast or be interpreted to mean that the future earnings per share, profits, margins or cash flows of Oxford Instruments will necessarily be greater than the historic published figures.

Enquiries

Oxford Instruments Plc                                                                   [phone]

Jonathan Flint - Chief Executive

Kevin Boyd - Group Finance Director

J.P. Morgan Cazenove                                                                    [phone]

Robert Constant

Shona Graham

This announcement including its Appendix (together, the "Announcement") and the information contained herein 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 state or 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 would be unlawful. 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 United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered, sold or transferred, directly or indirectly, within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and the 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 shares referred to in this Announcement is being made in the United States, United Kingdom or elsewhere.

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 J.P. Morgan Cazenove 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.

J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd., which conducts its UK investment banking activities as J.P. Morgan Cazenove and which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority (the "FSA"), is acting for the Company in connection with the Placing and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. nor for providing advice in relation to the Placing or any other matter referred to 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 or J.P. Morgan Cazenove that would permit an offering of such shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and J.P. Morgan Cazenove 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 that 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 herein. 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.

The price of shares and the income from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested on disposal of the shares. Past performance is no guide to future performance and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.

The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the 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.

APPENDIX: TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND 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 STATE OR JURISDICTION IN WHICH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION 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 AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT IN THIS APPENDIX ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT: (A) PERSONS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN SECTION 86(7) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000, AS AMENDED, ("QUALIFIED INVESTORS") BEING PERSONS FALLING WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(1)(E) OF THE EU PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE (WHICH MEANS DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC AS AMENDED AND INCLUDES ANY RELEVANT IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE MEASURE IN ANY MEMBER STATE) (THE "PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE"); AND; (B) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS WHO ARE PERSONS WHO (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(1) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (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 IN (A) AND (B) TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS"). THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT IN THIS APPENDIX MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT IN THIS APPENDIX RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR AS PART OF A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES. NO MONEY, SECURITIES OR OTHER CONSIDERATION FROM ANY PERSON INSIDE THE UNITED STATES IS BEING SOLICITED AND, IF SENT IN RESPONSE TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF AN INVESTMENT IN PLACING SHARES.

Persons who are invited to and who choose to participate in the Placing, by making an oral or written offer to subscribe for Placing Shares (the "Placees"), will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its 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. In particular each such Placee represents, warrants and acknowledges that:

1.         it is a Relevant Person (as defined above) and undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the purposes of its business;

2.         in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, (i) the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in any Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive other than Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent of J.P. Morgan Cazenove has been given to the offer or resale; or (ii) where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any member state of the European Economic Area other than Qualified Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the Prospectus Directive as having been made to such persons; and

3.         (a) it is not in the United States and (ii) it is not acting for the account or benefit of a person in the United States; (b) it is a dealer or other professional fiduciary organised, incorporated or (if an individual) resident in the United States acting on a discretionary basis for a non-US person (other than an estate or trust) in reliance on Regulation S; or (c) it is otherwise acquiring the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction" meeting the requirements of Regulation S under the Securities Act.

The Company and J.P. Morgan Cazenove will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.

This Announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, acquire or subscribe for, Placing Shares in the United States, Australia, Canada Japan or South Africa or any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is or may be unlawful. This Announcement and the information contained herein 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 Australia or in any jurisdiction in which publication, release 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 have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered, sold or transferred within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and the 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.

The Placing Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or other regulatory authority in the United States, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of this Announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

The relevant clearances have not been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of any province or territory of Canada; no prospectus has been lodged with or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; and the Placing Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under or offered in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of 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 or any other state or jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any action. In this Appendix, unless the context otherwise requires, "Placee" means a person (including individuals, funds or others) on whose behalf a commitment to subscribe for Placing Shares has been given.

Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing Shares

J.P. Morgan Cazenove has entered into the Placing Agreement with the Company under which J.P. Morgan Cazenove has, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out therein, undertaken to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for the Placing Shares.

The Placing Price (as defined below) will be determined following completion of the Bookbuild (as defined below) as set out in this Announcement and the Placing Agreement. The Placing Shares have been duly authorised and, on Admission, will be validly issued and credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing issued ordinary shares in the capital of the Company ("Ordinary Shares"), including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid on or in respect of the Ordinary Shares after the date of issue of the Placing Shares.

The allotment and issue of the Placing Shares will be made by the Company to Placees procured by J.P. Morgan Cazenove (acting as agent of the Company) in consideration for the transfer to the Company of certain shares in a Jersey incorporated subsidiary of the Company ("NewCo") held by J.P. Morgan Cazenove.

The Company, subject to certain customary exceptions (including the granting or exercising of options pursuant to the terms of existing and forthcoming employee benefit plans of the Company), has agreed not to allot, issue or grant any rights in respect of any of its Ordinary Shares in the period from the date of this Announcement until 120 days after Admission without J.P. Morgan Cazenove's prior consent.

Applications for listing and admission to trading

Applications will be made to the FSA for admission of the Placing Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List and to London Stock Exchange plc for admission to trading of the Placing Shares on its main market for listed securities. It is expected that Admission will become effective on or around 17 June 2011 and that dealings in the Placing Shares will commence at that time.

Bookbuild

J.P. Morgan Cazenove will today commence the bookbuilding process in respect to 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.

J.P. Morgan Cazenove 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.         J.P. Morgan Cazenove is arranging the Placing as sole 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 J.P. Morgan Cazenove. J.P. Morgan Cazenove and its affiliates are entitled to enter bids in the Bookbuild as principal.

3.         The Bookbuild will establish a single price per Placing Share payable to J.P. Morgan Cazenove by all Placees whose bids are successful (the "Placing Price"). The Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares to be issued will be agreed between J.P. Morgan Cazenove 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 of the FSA.

4.         To bid in the Bookbuild, prospective Placees should communicate their bid by telephone to their usual sales contact at J.P. Morgan Cazenove. Each bid should state the number of Placing Shares which the prospective Placee wishes to subscribe for at either the Placing Price which is ultimately established by the Company and J.P. Morgan Cazenove or at prices up to a price limit specified in its bid. Bids may be scaled down by J.P. Morgan Cazenove on the basis referred to in paragraph 8 below.

5.         The Bookbuild is expected to close no later than 4.30 p.m. (BST) on 14 June 2011 but may be closed earlier or later at the discretion of J.P. Morgan Cazenove. J.P. Morgan Cazenove may, in agreement with the Company, accept bids that are received after the Bookbuild has closed. The Company reserves the right to reduce or seek to increase the amount to be raised pursuant to the Placing, in its absolute discretion.

6.         Each prospective Placee's allocation will be confirmed to Placees orally by J.P. Morgan Cazenove as agent of the Company, following the close of the Bookbuild and a trade confirmation will be dispatched as soon as possible thereafter. J.P. Morgan Cazenove's oral confirmation to such Placee will constitute an irrevocable legally binding commitment upon such person (who will at that point become a Placee) in favour of J.P. Morgan Cazenove and the Company, under which it agrees to subscribe for 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 on a Regulatory Information Service following the close of the Bookbuild detailing the number of Placing Shares to be issued and the Placing Price.

8.         Subject to paragraphs 3 and 5 above, J.P. Morgan Cazenove may choose to accept bids, either in whole or in part, on the basis of allocations determined at their discretion as part of the Bookbuild process and may scale down any bids for this purpose on such basis as it may determine. J.P. Morgan Cazenove may also, notwithstanding paragraphs 3 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.

9.         A bid in the Bookbuild will be made on the terms and subject to the conditions in this Appendix and will be legally binding on the Placee on behalf of which it is made and except with J.P. Morgan Cazenove's 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 J.P. Morgan Cazenove, 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 for which such Placee has agreed to subscribe.

10.       Except as required by law or regulation, no press release or other announcement will be made by J.P. Morgan Cazenove 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 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 "Right to terminate under 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, neither J.P. Morgan Cazenove nor any of its affiliates shall have any liability to Placees (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise). In particular, neither J.P. Morgan Cazenove nor any of its affiliates shall have any liability (including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of J.P. Morgan Cazenove's conduct of the Bookbuild or of such alternative method of effecting the Placing as J.P. Morgan Cazenove and the Company may agree.

Conditions of the Placing

J.P. Morgan Cazenove's obligations under the Placing Agreement in respect of the Placing Shares are conditional on, inter alia:

(A)       there having occurred no breach of the warranties contained in the Placing Agreement prior to Admission (by reference to the facts and circumstances from time to time existing);

(B)       there being no breach by the relevant parties of either sale and purchase agreement entered into by the Company in respect of the Omicron Acquisition and the Omniprobe Acquisition (which is not, where applicable, waived by the Company in accordance with the terms of the applicable agreement) of any of the terms thereof prior to Admission which, in the good faith opinion of J.P. Morgan Cazenove, is material in the context of the Placing (as described in the Acquisitions Announcement (as defined below)), all events and conditions contemplated by such agreements as having occurred or been satisfied prior to Admission having so occurred or been satisfied, and no right to terminate either such agreement having arisen prior to Admission;

(C)       the Company allotting, subject only to Admission, the Placing Shares in accordance with the Placing Agreement; and

(D)       Admission taking place not later than 8.00 a.m. on 17 June 2011 or such later date as the Company and J.P. Morgan Cazenove may otherwise agree but not being later than close of business on 24 June 2011.

Save as described in sub-paragraph (B) directly above, the Placing Agreement, and therefore the Placing, are not conditional on the Omicron Acquisition and/or the Omniprobe Acquisition.

If (i) any of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement in relation to the Placing Shares are not fulfilled or waived by J.P. Morgan Cazenove by the respective time or date where specified (or such later time or date as the Company and J.P. Morgan Cazenove may agree), (ii) any of such conditions becomes incapable of being fulfilled or (iii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below, the Placing in relation to the Placing Shares will lapse and the 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.

J.P. Morgan Cazenove may, at its discretion and upon such terms as it thinks fit, 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 (including as 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 J.P. Morgan Cazenove, the Company or any other person shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision it may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision 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 J.P. Morgan Cazenove.

Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement

J.P. Morgan Cazenove is entitled, at any time before Admission, to terminate the Placing Agreement in relation to its obligations in respect of the Placing Shares by giving notice to the Company in certain circumstances, including inter alia (i) a breach of the warranties given to J.P. Morgan Cazenove in the Placing Agreement, (ii) the failure of the Company to comply with obligations under the Placing Agreement or, (iii) the occurrence of a force majeure event which in the opinion of J.P. Morgan Cazenove, is likely to prejudice the success of the Placing.

Upon such notice being given, 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 customary exceptions.

By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by J.P. Morgan Cazenove of any right of termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of J.P. Morgan Cazenove and that it need not make any reference to Placees and that it shall have no liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise.

No Prospectus

No offering document or prospectus has been or will be submitted to be approved by the FSA in relation to the Placing and Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in this Announcement (including this Appendix), the announcement released today by the Company containing details of the Omicron Acquisition and the Omniprobe Acquisition (the "Acquisitions Announcement") and the Exchange Information (as defined below). By participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees that the contents of this Announcement, the Acquisitions Announcement and the Exchange Information are 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 or J.P. Morgan Cazenove or any other person and neither J.P. Morgan Cazenove nor the Company nor any other person will be liable 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. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in participating in the Placing. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraud.

Registration and Settlement

Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN: GB0006650450) following Admission will take place within the system administered by Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited ("CREST"). Subject to certain exceptions, J.P. Morgan Cazenove reserves the right to require settlement for, and delivery of, the Placing Shares to Placees by such other means that it deems necessary if delivery or settlement is not possible or practicable within the CREST system within the timetable set out in this Announcement or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in any Placee's jurisdiction.

Following close of the Bookbuild, each Placee allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a trade confirmation in accordance with the standing arrangements in place with J.P. Morgan Cazenove, stating the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Placing Price, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee to J.P. Morgan Cazenove 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 J.P. Morgan Cazenove.

It is expected that settlement will occur on 17 June 2011 on a T+3 basis in accordance with the instructions set out in the trade 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 J.P. Morgan Cazenove.

Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does not comply with these obligations, J.P. Morgan Cazenove may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for J.P. Morgan Cazenove's 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 (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 J.P. Morgan Cazenove all such authorities and powers necessary to carry out any such sale and agrees to ratify and confirm all actions which J.P. Morgan Cazenove 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 trade confirmation is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that organisation.

Insofar as Placing Shares are registered in a Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the name of any person for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or that of a nominee for such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below, be so registered free from any liability to UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. Placees 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):

1.         represents and warrants that it has read this Announcement, including the Appendix, in its entirety and that its acquisition of Placing Shares is subject to and based upon all the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings and other information contained herein and undertakes not to redistribute or duplicate this Announcement;

2.         acknowledges that no offering document or prospectus has been prepared in connection with the Placing and represents and warrants that it has not received and will not receive a prospectus or other offering document in connection therewith;

3.         acknowledges that the Ordinary Shares are listed on the premium segment of the Official List of the FSA, and the Company is therefore required to publish certain business and financial information in accordance with the rules and practices of the FSA (collectively "Exchange Information"), which includes a description of the nature of the Company's business and the Company's most recent balance sheet and profit and loss account and that it is able to obtain or access such information without undue difficulty, and is able to obtain access to such information or comparable information concerning any other publicly traded company, without undue difficulty.  For the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of the terms and conditions set out in this Appendix, "Exchange Information" shall include the announcement of the Company's preliminary results for the financial period ended 31 March 2011 released separately today;

4.         acknowledges that neither J.P. Morgan Cazenove nor the Company nor any of their affiliates nor any person acting on behalf of any of them has provided, and will not provide it, with any material regarding the Placing Shares or the Company other than this Announcement and the Acquisitions Announcement; nor has it requested any of J.P. Morgan Cazenove, the Company, any of their affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of them to provide it with any such information;

5.         acknowledges that the content of this Announcement and the Acquisitions Announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and that neither J.P. Morgan Cazenove, its affiliates nor any person acting on its or their behalf has or shall have any liability for any information, representation or statement contained in this Announcement or the Acquisitions Announcement or any information previously or concurrently published by or on behalf of the Company (including the Exchange Information) and will not be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any information, representation or statement contained in this Announcement, the Acquisitions Announcement or otherwise. Each Placee further represents, warrants and agrees that the only information on which it is entitled to rely and on which such Placee has relied in committing itself to acquire the Placing Shares is contained in this Announcement, the Acquisitions Announcement and any Exchange Information, such information being all that it deems necessary to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares and that it has neither received nor relied on any other information given or representations, warranties or statements made by any of J.P. Morgan Cazenove or the Company and neither J.P. Morgan Cazenove nor the Company will be liable for any Placee's decision to accept an invitation to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of any person for fraud. Each Placee further acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in deciding to participate in the Placing;

6.         represents and warrants that it has neither received nor relied on any confidential price sensitive information concerning the Company in accepting this invitation to participate in the Placing;

7.         acknowledges that neither J.P. Morgan Cazenove nor any person acting on behalf of it nor any of its affiliates has or shall have any liability for any publicly available or filed information or any representation relating to the Company, provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of any person for fraud;

8.         represents and warrants that:

(a)        (i) it is not in the United States and (ii) it is not acting for the account or benefit of a person in the United States; or

(b)        it is a dealer or other professional fiduciary organised, incorporated or (if an individual) resident in the United States acting on a discretionary basis for a non-US person (other than an estate or trust) in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act; or

(c)        it is otherwise acquiring the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction" meeting the requirements of Regulation S under the Securities Act;

9.         acknowledges that it is acquiring the Placing Shares for its own account or for one or more accounts as to each of which it exercises sole investment discretion for investment purposes and not with a view to any distribution or for resale in connection with, the distribution thereof in whole or in part, in the United States and that it has full power to make the acknowledgements, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each such account;

10.       acknowledges that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or with any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, nor approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other United States regulatory authority, and agrees not to reoffer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Placing Shares except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act;

11.       represents and warrants that it will not reoffer, sell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Placing Shares except in an offshore transaction in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act;

12.       unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing with J.P. Morgan Cazenove, represents and warrants that neither it nor the beneficial owner of such Placing Shares will be a resident of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa;

13.       acknowledges that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the securities legislation of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa and, subject to certain exceptions, may not be offered, sold, taken up, renounced or delivered or transferred, directly or indirectly, within those jurisdictions;

14.       represents and warrants that the issue to it, or the person specified by it for registration as holder, of Placing Shares will not give rise to a liability under any of sections 67, 70, 93 or 96 of the Finance Act 1986 (depositary receipts and clearance services) and that the Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to transfer Placing Shares into a clearance system;

15.       represents and warrants that it has complied with its obligations in connection with money laundering and terrorist financing under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2000 (as amended), the Terrorism Act 2006 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 (the "Regulations") and, if making payment on behalf of a third party, that satisfactory evidence has been obtained and recorded by it to verify the identity of the third party as required by the Regulations;

16.       if a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, represents and warrants that the Placing Shares purchased by it in the Placing will not be acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in a Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive other than Qualified Investors, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of J.P. Morgan Cazenove has been given to the offer or resale;

17.       represents and warrants that it has not offered or sold and, prior to the expiry of a period of six months from Admission, will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the United Kingdom, except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of section 85(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA");

18.       represents and warrants that it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the European Economic Area prior to Admission except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted in and which will not result in an offer to the public in any member state of the European Economic Area within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (including any relevant implementing measure in any member state);

19.       represents and warrants that it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) relating to the Placing Shares in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not require approval of the communication by an authorised person;

20.       represents and warrants that it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Placing Shares in, from or otherwise involving, the United Kingdom;

21.       if in a Member State of the European Economic Area, unless otherwise specifically agreed with J.P. Morgan Cazenove in writing, represents and warrants that it is a Qualified Investor within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) the Prospectus Directive;

22.       if in the UK, represents and warrants that it is a person (i) who has professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); (ii) falling within Article 49(2)(A) to (D) ("High Net Worth Companies, Unincorporated Associations, etc") of the Order; or (iii) to whom this Announcement may otherwise be lawfully communicated;

23.       represents and warrants that it and any person acting on its behalf is entitled to acquire the Placing Shares under the laws of all relevant jurisdictions and that it has all necessary capacity and has obtained all necessary consents and authorities to enable it to commit to this participation in the Placing and to perform its obligations in relation thereto (including, without limitation, in the case of any person on whose behalf it is acting, all necessary consents and authorities to agree to the terms set out or referred to in this Announcement) and will honour such obligations;

24.       undertakes that it (and any person acting on its behalf) will make payment for the Placing Shares allocated to it in accordance with this Announcement on the due time and date set out herein, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with other subscribers or sold as J.P. Morgan Cazenove may in its sole discretion determine and without any liability of J.P. Morgan Cazenove to such Placee;

25.       acknowledges that none of J.P. Morgan Cazenove, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on behalf of any of them, is making any recommendations to it, advising it regarding the suitability of any transactions it may enter into with any Placee in connection with the Placing and that participation in the Placing is on the basis that it is not and will not be treated for these purposes as a client of J.P. Morgan Cazenove and that J.P. Morgan Cazenove has no duties or responsibilities to it for providing the protections afforded to its clients or customers or for providing advice in relation to the Placing nor in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities contained in the Placing Agreement nor for the exercise or performance of any of its rights and obligations thereunder including any rights to waive or vary any conditions or exercise any termination right;

26.       undertakes that the person whom it specifies for registration as holder of the Placing Shares will be (i) itself or (ii) its nominee, as the case may be. Neither J.P. Morgan Cazenove nor the Company will be responsible for any liability to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax resulting from a failure to observe this requirement. Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of such Placee agrees to participate in the Placing and it agrees to indemnify the Company and J.P. Morgan Cazenove in respect of the same on the basis that the Placing Shares will be allotted to the CREST stock account of J.P. Morgan Cazenove who will hold them as nominee on behalf of such Placee until settlement in accordance with its standing settlement instructions;

27.       acknowledges that these terms and conditions and any agreements entered into by it pursuant to these terms and conditions and any non-contractual obligations arising therefrom shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and it submits (on behalf of itself and on behalf of any person on whose behalf it is acting) to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts as regards any claim, dispute or matter arising out of any such contract or non-contractual obligations, except that enforcement proceedings in respect of the obligation to make payment for the Placing Shares (together with any interest chargeable thereon) may be taken by the Company or J.P. Morgan Cazenove in any jurisdiction in which the relevant Placee is incorporated or in which any of its securities have a quotation on a recognised stock exchange;

28.       agrees that the Company, J.P. Morgan Cazenove and their respective affiliates and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgements and undertakings which are given to the Company and to J.P. Morgan Cazenove on its own behalf and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable;

29.       agrees to indemnify on an after tax basis and hold the Company, J.P. Morgan Cazenove and their respective affiliates harmless from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any breach of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings in this Appendix and further agrees that the provisions of this Appendix shall survive after completion of the Placing;

30.       acknowledges that no action has been or will be taken by any of the Company, J.P. Morgan Cazenove or any person acting on behalf of the Company or J.P. Morgan Cazenove that would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in any country or jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is required;

31.       acknowledges that it has knowledge and experience in financial, business and international investment matters as is required to evaluate the merits and risks of subscribing for the Placing Shares. It further acknowledges that it is experienced in investing in securities of this nature and is aware that it may be required to bear, and is able to bear, the economic risk of, and is able to sustain a complete loss in connection with the Placing. It has relied upon its own examination and due diligence of the Company and its associates taken as a whole, and the terms of the Placing, including the merits and risks involved; and

32.       acknowledges that its commitment to subscribe for Placing Shares on the terms set out herein and in the trade confirmation will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may in future be made to the terms of the Placing and that Placees will have no right to be consulted or require that their consent be obtained with respect to the Company's conduct of the Placing.

The representations, warranties, acknowledgments and undertakings contained in this Appendix are given to the Company and to J.P. Morgan Cazenove and are irrevocable. The agreement to settle a Placee's subscription (and/or the subscription of a person for whom such Placee is contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax depends on the settlement relating only to a subscription by it and/or such person direct from the Company for the Placing Shares in question. Such agreement assumes, and is based on a warranty from each Placee, that the Placing Shares are not being subscribed for in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance service. If there are any such arrangements, or the settlement relates to any other subsequent dealing in the Placing Shares, UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax may be payable, for which neither the Company nor J.P. Morgan Cazenove will be responsible, and the Placee to whom (or on behalf of whom, or in respect of the person for whom it is participating in the Placing as an agent or nominee) the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares has given rise to such UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax undertakes to pay such UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax forthwith and to indemnify on an after-tax basis and to hold harmless the Company and J.P. Morgan Cazenove in the event that any of the Company and/or J.P. Morgan Cazenove 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 J.P. Morgan Cazenove accordingly.

In addition, Placees should note that they will be liable for any 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 subscription by them of any Placing Shares or the agreement by them to subscribe for any Placing Shares.

Each Placee, and any person acting on behalf of the Placee, acknowledges that J.P. Morgan Cazenove 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 J.P. Morgan Cazenove or any of its affiliates may, at its absolute discretion, agree to become a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing Shares.

When a Placee or person acting on behalf of the Placee is dealing with J.P. Morgan Cazenove, any money held in an account with J.P. Morgan Cazenove 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 FSA 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 J.P. Morgan Cazenove's money in accordance with the client money rules and will be used by J.P. Morgan Cazenove in the course of its own business and the Placee will rank only as a general creditor of J.P. Morgan Cazenove.

All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to amendment.

 

END

 

 

IOELIFFERTISLIL