TIDMAMGO
RNS Number : 9344A
Amigo Holdings PLC
27 January 2020
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD
CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH
JURISDICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27 January 2020
Amigo Holdings PLC
("Amigo" or the "Company")
Strategic Review and Statement from Richmond Group Ltd
Strategic Review and Potential Controlling Shareholder Sale
Amigo has been informed by Richmond Group Ltd ("RGL"), the
Company's controlling shareholder, that it is a willing seller of
its 60.66% holding in Amigo and, as a result, the Company has today
launched a strategic review and formal sale process with a view to
maximising value for its shareholders which may result in a sale of
the Company or a sale of some or all of the Company's business.
The Board has appointed RBC Capital Markets as its financial
adviser for the purposes of the strategic review and the formal
sale process.
Background to Strategic Review
The strategic review will consider various aspects of the
Company's strategy, ownership and operating model, including the
potential sale of the Company as a whole, the sale of parts of the
group, reorganisation of entities within the Company's group, the
sale of the UK business, the sale of certain books of business
including a potential de-listing of the Company's shares. The
strategic review will include a formal sale process of the Company,
further details of which can be found below.
Current Trading
The Company confirms that it remains within guidance for loan
book growth and impairments for the period of nine months ended
31st December 2019.
As noted in our 2019 half year accounts Amigo continues to face
a challenging operating environment. While Amigo remains confident
in the robustness of its approach to lending decisions, we are
concerned that there may be increased pressure on our business and
a continual evolution in the approach of the Financial Ombudsman
Service. We continually look to enhance our processes and are
monitoring developments with a view to assessing the long-term
impact on the Company.
Future lending volumes could be impacted by the strategic review
of the business model.
Formal Sale Process
Discussions relating to the sale of the Company as a whole will
be conducted under the framework of a "formal sale process" in
accordance with the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the
"Code"). The Company has appointed RBC Capital Markets as its
financial adviser for the formal sale process.
The Company is not in receipt of any approaches at the time of
this announcement. Shareholders are advised that there can be no
certainty that any offers will be made (whether for the Company as
a whole or any part thereof), any sales concluded, nor as to the
terms of any offer or sale.
Implications of the Formal Sale Process under the Code
Parties with a potential interest in making an offer should
contact RBC Capital Markets (contact details as set out below) no
later than 5 p.m. on 17 February 2020.
Any interested party will be required to enter into a
non-disclosure agreement with the Company on terms satisfactory to
the Board and on the same terms, in all material respects, as the
other interested parties, before being permitted to participate in
the process. The Board reserves the right to alter any aspect of
the process or to terminate it at any time and will make further
announcements as appropriate. The Board reserves the right to
reject any approach or terminate discussions with any interested
party or participant at any time.
Contacts:
Company
Amigo Holdings PLC investors@amigo.me
Kate Patrick Head of Investor Relations
Roger Bennett Company Secretary
Investor Relations
Hawthorn Advisors amigo@hawthornadvisors.com
Lorna Cobbett Tel: +44 (0)20 3745 4960
Lead Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker to Amigo
RBC Capital Markets Tel: +44 (0)20 7653 4000
Oliver Hearsey
Marcus Jackson (Corporate Broking)
Alexander Thomas
Paul Lim
Additional Information
Rule 2.9 Disclosure
In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, as at the date of this
announcement, the Company has 475,333,760 ordinary shares of 0.25
pence each in issue and admitted to trading on the London Stock
Exchange. The ordinary shares are held in certificated form. The
International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) of the
ordinary shares is GB00BFFK8T45.
Further announcements will be made as and when appropriate and
in accordance with the Code where applicable.
Rules 2.4(a), 2.4(b) and 2.6(a) of the Takeover Code
The Takeover Panel has granted a dispensation from the
requirements of Rules 2.4(a), 2.4(b) and 2.6(a) of the Code such
that any interested party participating in the formal sale process
will not be required to be publicly identified as a result of this
announcement (subject to note 3 to Rule 2.2 of the Code) and will
not be subject to the 28 day deadline referred to in Rule 2.6(a),
for so long as it is participating in the formal sale process.
Interested parties should note Rule 21.2 of the Code, which will
prohibit any form of inducement fee or other offer-related
arrangement, and that the Company, although it may do so in the
future, has not at this stage requested any dispensation from this
prohibition under Note 2 of Rule 21.2.
This announcement is not an announcement of a firm intention to
make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the Code and there can be no
certainty that an offer will be made, nor as to the terms on which
any offer will be made.
Following this announcement, the Company is now considered to be
in an "offer period" as defined in the Code, and the dealing
disclosure requirements summarised below will apply.
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes
of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014.
A copy of this announcement is also available on Amigo's website
at: https://www.amigoplc.com/.
The person responsible for this announcement is Roger Bennett,
Company Secretary.
About Amigo Loans
Amigo Holdings PLC ("Amigo" or the "Company") is listed on the
main market of the London Stock Exchange (ticker: AMGO). Amigo is a
leading provider of guarantor loans in the UK and offers access to
mid-cost credit to those who are unable to borrow from traditional
lenders due to their credit histories.
The guarantor loan concept introduces a second individual to the
lending relationship, typically a family member or friend with a
stronger credit profile than the borrower. This individual acts as
guarantor, undertaking to make loan payments if the borrower does
not.
Amigo was founded in 2005 and has grown to become the UK's
largest provider of guarantor loans in the UK. In the process,
Amigo's guarantor loan product has allowed borrowers to rebuild
their credit scores and improve their ability to access credit from
mainstream financial service providers in the future.
Amigo is a mid-cost credit provider with one simple and
transparent product - a guarantor loan at an APR of 49.9%, with no
fees, early redemption penalties or any other charges.
Amigo Loans Ltd and Amigo Management Services Ltd are authorised
and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority
(FCA).
Financial Adviser
RBC Europe Limited (trading as "RBC Capital Markets"), which is
authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by
the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation
Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting for Amigo and no one
else in connection with the matters referred to in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Amigo
for providing the protections afforded to clients of RBC Capital
Markets, or for providing advice in connection with the matters
referred to in this announcement.
Dealing Disclosure Requirements of the City Code on Takeovers
and Mergers
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.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this document are forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the intent,
belief and current expectations of the Company or its officers with
respect to various matters. When used in this document, the words
"expects", "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "may", "will",
"should" and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements
are not promises or guarantees, and are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially
from those suggested by any such statements.
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, or the solicitation of any
vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to this announcement
or otherwise.
Senior Secured Notes
This announcement constitutes notice by Amigo Luxembourg S.A.
(the "Issuer") to the holders of the Issuer's 7.625% Senior Secured
Notes due 2024 (for the notes issued pursuant to Rule 144A of the
United States Securities Act of 1933, ISIN: XS1533928468 and Common
Code: 153392846; for the notes issued pursuant to Regulation S of
the United States Securities Act of 1933, ISIN: XS1533928625 and
Common Code: 153392862) (the "Notes") issued pursuant to pursuant
to Section 4.03(a)(3) of an indenture dated January 20, 2017 among,
inter alia, the Issuer, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank
Trustees Limited, as trustee and security agent. Amigo Holdings PLC
is the indirect parent company of the Issuer. This announcement
shall constitute a "Report" to holders of the Notes.
ENDS
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END
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