NOT FOR
RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN
WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO
WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF
SUCH JURISDICTION.
THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM
INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CITY CODE ON
TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY
THAT ANY FIRM OFFER WILL BE MADE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15 November 2024
Extension of PUSU deadline
for Kondor AI plc and Ora Technology plc
On 23 August 2024, Kondor AI plc
(Kondor) and Ora Technology
plc (Ora) jointly announced
that they had entered into non-binding heads of terms for Kondor to
acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Ora, in
consideration for the issue of new shares in Kondor based on 0.9988
Kondor shares for each share in Ora. Both Kondor and Ora are
incorporated in England and Wales and listed on the Aquis Stock
Exchange Growth Market (AQSE: KNDR / AQSE: ORA
respectively). An extension was announced
on 20 September 2024 and on 18 October 2024.
Further to the announcements of 20
September 2024 and 18 October 2024, and in accordance with Rule
2.6(a) of the Code, by not later than 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 15
November 2024, Kondor was required to either announce a firm
intention to make an offer, subject to conditions or pre-conditions
if relevant, for Ora in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or
announce that Kondor does not intend to make an offer for Ora, in
which case the announcement would be treated as a statement to
which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies (Deadline).
Discussions between Kondor and Ora
remain ongoing. Therefore, in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of
the Code, Ora has requested, and the Panel on Takeover and Mergers
(the Takeover Panel) has
consented to, an extension to the date by which Kondor is required
to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Ora in
accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that Kondor does
not intend to make an offer for Ora, in which case the announcement
will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code
applies.
Kondor and Ora today jointly
announce that the Takeover Panel has consented to an extension to
the Deadline until 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 13 December 2024. The
Deadline may be further extended with the consent of the Panel, at
Ora's request, in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the
Code.
Although discussions between Kondor
and Ora are at an advanced stage, this announcement does not amount
to a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the Code,
and there can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made.
Further announcements will be made as appropriate.
This announcement has been made with
the consent of both Kondor and Ora.
The individuals responsible for
releasing this announcement are Jonathan Bixby (Kondor) and Michael
Edwards (Ora).
Enquiries:
Kondor AI PLC
|
Jonathan Bixby, Executive
Chairman
|
Via First Sentinel
|
First Sentinel Corporate Finance Limited Rule 3 Adviser to
Kondor and Corporate Adviser
|
Brian Stockbridge
Gabrielle Cordeiro
|
+44 (0) 7858 888007
|
Ora
Technology PLC
|
Michael Edwards, Executive
Chairman
|
Via Alfred Henry
|
Alfred Henry Corporate Finance Ltd Rule 3 Adviser to
Ora
|
Nick Michaels
|
+44 (0) 20 8064 4056
|
Clear Capital Markets Limited
(Corporate Broker)
|
Bob Roberts
|
+44 (0) 20 3869 6080
|
R&CPMK
(Media Contact - Kondor)
|
kondorai@rcpmk.com
|
|
| |
First Sentinel Corporate Finance
Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by
the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Kondor
and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than
Kondor for providing the protections afforded to clients of First
Sentinel Corporate Finance Limited or for giving advice in relation
to such matters.
Alfred Henry Corporate Finance Ltd,
which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the
Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Ora and no
one else in connection with the matters set out in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Ora
for providing the protections afforded to clients of Alfred Henry
Corporate Finance Ltd or for giving advice in relation to such
matters.
Kondor LEI Number:
984500EF5CD7E658D446
Ora LEI Number:
894500PYLZIX23W4NG69
Important information
This announcement is not intended
to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation
or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire,
subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities whether
pursuant to this announcement or otherwise.
The release, distribution or
publication of this announcement in jurisdictions outside the
United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into
whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves
about, and observe, such restrictions. Any failure to comply with
the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law
of any such jurisdictions.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any
person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant
securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange
offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of
which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be,
solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following
the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the
announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first
identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of
the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to
subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree
company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening
Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be
made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business
day following the commencement of the offer period and, if
appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th
business day following the announcement in which any securities
exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in
the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities
exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening
Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing
Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any
person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of
relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities
exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals
in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any
securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain
details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and
short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant
securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any
securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these
details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing
Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by
no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following
the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together
pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or
informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities
of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will
be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule
8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must
also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing
Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any
offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see
Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror
companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position
Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in
the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk,
including details of the number of relevant securities in issue,
when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first
identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit
on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you
are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing
Disclosure.
Website publication
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the
Code, a copy of this announcement will be available at Kondor's
website, https://www.kondor.ai,
and Ora's website, https://plc.oracarbon.com,
by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the business day
immediately following the date of this announcement. The content of
the websites referred to in this announcement is not incorporated
into and does not form part of this announcement.