The following amendment has been
made to the 'Publication and Posting of Scheme Document'
announcement released on Thursday 19 November at 11:36 under RNS No
7905Q.
The date of the Court Meeting under
'Expected Timetable of Principal Events' has been amended to 14
January 2025.
All other details remain
unchanged.
The full amended text is shown
below.
NOT
FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO
DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR
REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
19 DECEMBER
2024
RECOMMENDED
ACQUISITION
of
BRAND ARCHITEKTS GROUP PLC
("BRAND ARCHITEKTS")
by
WARPAINT LONDON PLC
("WARPAINT")
(to be effected by way of a
scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act
2006)
Publication and Posting of
Scheme Document
Introduction
On 5 December 2024, the Boards of
Brand Architekts and Warpaint announced that they had reached
agreement on the terms and conditions of a recommended offer by
Warpaint to acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary
share capital of Brand Architekts (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is intended to be implemented by way of a
Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the
Companies Act 2006.
Publication and posting of the Scheme
Document
The Brand Architekts Board announces
that it is today publishing a circular in relation to the
Acquisition (the "Scheme
Document"),
together with the Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting and the
General Meeting and the Form of Election for use in connection with
the Alternative Share Offer. The Scheme Document sets out, among
other things, the full terms and conditions of the Scheme, an
explanatory statement pursuant to section 897 of the Companies Act
2006, an expected timetable of principal events, notices of the
Court Meeting and General Meeting and details of the actions to be
taken by Brand Architekts Shareholders. Capitalised terms used in
this announcement shall, unless otherwise defined, have the same
meaning as set out in the Scheme Document.
Hard copies of the Scheme Document,
Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting and
Form of Election are being posted today to Brand Architekts
Shareholders and, for information only, to persons with information
rights. Hard copies of the Form of Election in connection with the
Alternative Share Offer are also being sent to relevant Brand
Architekts Shareholders who hold their shares in certificated form,
save for certain Brand Architekts Shareholders in Restricted
Jurisdictions. Brand Architekts will also be sending details of the
proposals being made to participants in the Brand Architekts Share
Plans to such participants.
Notices of the Court Meeting and General
Meeting
As further detailed in the Scheme
Document, to become Effective the Scheme requires, among other
things, that the requisite majorities of:
· Scheme
Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting;
and
· Brand
Architekts Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolution at the
General Meeting.
The Scheme is also subject to the
satisfaction or (where applicable) waiver of the Conditions and
further terms set out in the Scheme Document.
Notices convening the Court Meeting
and the General Meeting, both to be held at Brand Architekts'
offices at 8 Waldegrave Road, Teddington, London TW11 8GT, United
Kingdom on 14 January 2025 are set out in the Scheme Document. The
Court Meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. and the General Meeting at
10:15 a.m. (or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter as the
Court Meeting is concluded or adjourned). Forms of Proxy for use at
such meetings will be enclosed with the Scheme Document.
The Brand Architekts Directors, who
have been so advised by Singer Capital Markets as to the financial
terms of the Cash Offer and Alternative Share Offer, consider the
terms of each of the Cash Offer and Alternative Share Offer to be
fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the Brand
Architekts Directors, Singer Capital Markets has taken into account
the commercial assessments of the Brand Architekts Directors.
Singer Capital Markets is providing independent financial advice to
the Brand Architekts Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the
Code.
Accordingly, the Brand Architekts Directors recommend
unanimously that Brand Architekts Shareholders vote in favour of
the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution to be proposed
at the General Meeting, as the Brand Architekts Directors who hold
Brand Architekts Shares have irrevocably undertaken to do in
respect of their own beneficial holdings totalling 1,910,213 Brand
Architekts Shares (representing approximately 6.84 per cent. of the
existing issued ordinary share capital of Brand Architekts as at
the Last Practicable Date).
It
is important that, for the Court Meeting in particular, as many
votes as possible are cast so that the Court may be satisfied that
there is a fair representation of Scheme Shareholders' opinion.
Scheme Shareholders are therefore strongly urged to complete, sign
and return their Forms of Proxy or appoint a proxy either: (a) by
post or by hand to Brand Architekts' registrar, Computershare, at
Computershare Investor Services PLC, Corporate Actions Projects,
Bristol BS99 6AH, United Kingdom; or (b) through CREST; or (c)
electronically through the share portal service at
www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy,
in any case as
soon as possible.
Scheme Shareholders should read the
Scheme Document in its entirety before making a decision in respect
of the Scheme.
Delisting of Brand Architekts Shares
If the Scheme is approved by the
Scheme Shareholders and the Resolutions are approved by Brand
Architekts Shareholders, the Court sanctions the Scheme, all other
Conditions to the Acquisition are satisfied or (if capable of
waiver) waived and the Scheme becomes Effective in accordance with
its terms, then, under the anticipated timetable, it is expected
that dealings in Brand Architekts Shares will be suspended at 7:30
a.m. on 12 February 2025, the second Business Day following the
Sanction Hearing, the Scheme will become Effective on the same day
and the cancellation of the admission to trading of Brand
Architekts Shares on AIM will take effect by 8:00 a.m. on 13
February 2025, the following Business Day.
Expected Timetable of Principal Events
The Scheme Document contains an
expected timetable of principal events relating to the Scheme,
which is also set out below. The Scheme remains conditional on the
approval of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting, the
Resolution being passed by Brand Architekts Shareholders at the
General Meeting and the satisfaction or waiver of the other
Conditions set out in the Scheme Document, including the sanction
of the Court. The Scheme is expected to become
Effective on 12 February 2025
(although Brand Architekts will attempt to secure an earlier Court
date for the Sanction Hearing). Any
update to the expected timetable will be announced through a
Regulatory Information Service, with such announcement being made
available on Brand Architekts' website at https://www.brandarchitektsplc.com/offer-for-brand-architekts
and on Warpaint's website at
https://www.warpaintlondonplc.com/investors/brand-architekts-group-plc.
Event
|
Time and/or
date(1)
|
Publication of the Scheme Document
Latest time for lodging Forms of Proxy for
the:
|
19
December 2024
|
Court Meeting (BLUE form)
|
10:00
a.m. on 10 January 2025(2)
|
General Meeting (WHITE
form)
|
10:15
a.m. on 10 January 2025(3)
|
Voting Record Time for the Court Meeting and the General
Meeting
|
6:00 p.m.
on 10 January 2025(4)
|
Court Meeting
|
10:00 a.m.
on 14 January 2025
|
General Meeting
|
10:15 a.m.
on 14 January 2025(5)
|
The
following dates are indicative only and are subject to
change(6)
|
Sanction Hearing
|
Currently
anticipated to be 10 February 2025 (date "D")(7)
|
Election Withdrawal
Deadline
|
1:00 p.m.
on D+1 Business Day
|
Election Return Deadline (being the
latest time for lodging the Form of Election or electing for the
Alternative Share Offer through CREST)
|
1:00 p.m.
on D+1 Business Day
|
Last day of dealings in, and for
registration of transfers of, and disablement in CREST of,
Brand Architekts Shares
|
At close
of business on D+1 Business Day
|
Scheme Record Time
and Date
|
6:00 p.m.
on D+1 Business Day
|
Dealings in Brand Architekts Shares
suspended
|
7:30 a.m.
on D+2 Business Days
|
Effective Date of the
Scheme
|
D+2
Business Days
|
Cancellation of admission of Brand
Architekts Shares to trading on AIM
|
7:00 a.m.
on D+3 Business Days
|
New Warpaint Shares issued and
crediting of CREST accounts with New Warpaint Shares
|
8:00 a.m.
on D+3 Business Days
|
Commencement of dealings in New
Warpaint Shares on AIM
|
8:00 a.m.
on D+3 Business Days
|
Latest date for despatch of cheques
in respect of Cash Consideration and share certificates in respect
of the New Warpaint Shares in relation to valid elections for the
Alternative Share Offer (as appropriate) due under the
Scheme
|
Within 14
days of the Effective Date
|
Long Stop Date
|
30 June
2025(8)
|
Notes:
(1) All times shown are London times unless otherwise stated. The
dates and times given are indicative only and are based on Brand
Architekts' and Warpaint's current expectations and may be subject
to change.
(2) It is requested that BLUE Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting
be lodged not later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the
Court Meeting, excluding any part of a day that is not a Business
Day. An original copy of a completed and signed BLUE Form of Proxy
not so lodged may be handed to the representatives of Computershare
or the Chair of the Court Meeting before it is due to commence and
it will still be valid.
(3) WHITE Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting must be lodged
not later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the General
Meeting, excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day.
WHITE Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting not lodged by this
time will be invalid.
(4) If the Court Meeting is adjourned, the Voting Record Time will
be 6:00 p.m. on the day which is two days before the date of the
adjourned Court Meeting, excluding any part of a day that is not a
Business Day.
(5) To commence at 10:15 a.m. on 14 January 2025 (or as soon as
reasonably practicable thereafter as the Court Meeting is concluded
or adjourned).
(6) These dates and times are indicative only and will depend,
among other things, on the date upon which: (i) the Conditions are
satisfied or (if capable of waiver) waived; (ii) the Court
sanctions the Scheme; and (iii) a copy of the Court Order is
delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
(7) Brand Architekts will attempt to secure an earlier Court date
for the Sanction Hearing, subject to Court availability. If an
earlier date can be secured, the revised timetable will be
announced via a Regulatory Information Service.
(8) This is the latest date by which the Scheme may become
Effective unless Warpaint and Brand Architekts agree (and
the Panel and, if
required, the Court permit) a later date.
Dividends
If, on or after the Announcement
Date and prior to the Acquisition becoming Effective, any dividend
and/or other distribution and/or other return of capital or value
is announced, declared, made or paid or becomes payable in respect
of the Brand Architekts Shares, Warpaint reserves the right to
reduce the consideration payable pursuant to the Cash Offer (and,
as the case may be, the exchange ratio in relation to the
Alternative Share Offer) by an amount equivalent to such dividend
and/or distribution and/or other return of capital or value. In
such circumstances, Brand Architekts Shareholders would be entitled
to receive and retain any such dividend, distribution and/or other
return of capital or value.
Shareholder Helpline
If you have any questions about the
Scheme Document, the Court Meeting or the General Meeting or how to
complete the Forms of Proxy or to appoint a proxy through the CREST
electronic proxy appointment service or online, or how to complete
the Form of Election or make an Alternative Share Offer Election
through CREST, please contact Brand Architekts' registrar,
Computershare, on 0370 707 1332 within the United Kingdom or on +44
(0)370 707 1332 from overseas. Calls are charged at the standard
geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United
Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. The
helpline is open between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Please note
that Computershare cannot provide any financial, legal or tax
advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and
training purposes.
Enquiries
Brand Architekts
Quentin Higham (Chief Executive
Officer)
Geoff Ellis (Chief Financial
Officer)
|
+44 20 3166
2840
|
Singer Capital Markets (Rule 3 Adviser, Nominated Adviser and
Broker to Brand Architekts)
Jen Boorer (Investment
Banking)
James Todd (Investment
Banking)
Jalini Kalaravy (Investment
Banking)
|
+44 20 7496
3000
|
Addleshaw Goddard LLP is acting as
legal adviser to Brand Architekts in connection with the
Acquisition.
Important notices
Singer Capital Markets Advisory LLP ("Singer Capital Markets"), which is
authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is
acting as financial adviser and nominated adviser exclusively to
Brand Architekts and no-one else in connection with the matters
described in this announcement and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Brand Architekts for providing the protections
afforded to clients of Singer Capital Markets nor for providing
advice in connection with the subject matter of this announcement.
Neither Singer Capital Markets nor any of its affiliates (nor any
of their respective directors, partners, officers, employees or
agents) owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility
whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in
tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client
of Singer Capital Markets in connection with this announcement, any
statement contained herein, the Takeover Offer or otherwise. No
representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Singer
Capital Markets as to the contents of this
announcement.
Further
information
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not
intended to, and does not, constitute, or form part of, an 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 the Acquisition or otherwise, nor shall
there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of Brand
Architekts in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.
The Acquisition will be implemented solely pursuant to the terms of
the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way
of a Takeover Offer, the offer document), which contains (or will
contain) the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition,
including details of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition. Any
vote in respect of the Scheme or other response in relation to the
Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information
contained in the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is
implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer
document).
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus, prospectus
equivalent document or exempted document.
The statements contained in this announcement are made as at
the date of this announcement, unless some other time is specified
in relation to them, and publication of this announcement shall not
give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the
facts set forth in this announcement since such
date.
If
you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement or the
action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own
independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker,
bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial
adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000 (as amended) if you are resident in the United Kingdom or,
if not, from another appropriately authorised independent financial
adviser.
Overseas
Shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement
in or into jurisdictions other than the UK may be restricted by law
and therefore any persons who are subject to the law of any
jurisdiction other than the UK should inform themselves of, and
observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. Any
failure to comply with such requirements may constitute a violation
of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons
involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or
liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.
This announcement has been prepared in accordance with and for the
purpose of complying with English law, the Code, the AIM Rules, the
Market Abuse Regulation and the DTRs and information disclosed may
not be the same as that which would have been prepared in
accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside England and
Wales.
The availability of the Acquisition to Brand Architekts
Shareholders who are not resident in and citizens of the UK may be
affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they
are located or of which they are citizens. Persons who are not
resident in the UK should inform themselves of, and observe, any
applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdictions.
In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the
United Kingdom to vote their Brand Architekts Shares with respect
to the Scheme at the Court Meeting, or to appoint another person as
proxy to vote at the Court Meeting on their behalf, may be affected
by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are
located. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may
constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any
responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions
by any person. Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders
are contained in the Scheme Document.
Unless otherwise determined by Warpaint or required by the
Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the
Acquisition will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in,
into, from, or by the use of mails or any means or instrumentality
(including, but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other
electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or
foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or
other securities exchange of, any Restricted Jurisdiction where to
do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may
vote in favour of the Scheme by any such use, means,
instrumentality or from within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any
other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the
laws of that jurisdiction. Copies of this announcement and any
formal documentation relating to the Acquisition are not being, and
may not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded,
distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction
and persons receiving such documents (including, without
limitation, agents, custodians, nominees and trustees) may not mail
or otherwise forward, distribute or send the same in or into or
from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any
related purported vote in respect of the Acquisition. If the
Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless
otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover
Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in, into, from, or
by the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but
not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission,
telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any
facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of, any
Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer may not be capable
of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or
facilities.
The availability of New Warpaint Shares issued pursuant to the
Acquisition to Brand Architekts Shareholders who are not resident
in the United Kingdom or the ability of those persons to hold such
shares may be affected by the laws or regulatory requirements of
the relevant jurisdictions in which they are resident. Persons who
are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of,
and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. Brand
Architekts Shareholders who are in any doubt about such matters
should consult an appropriate independent professional adviser in
the relevant jurisdiction without delay.
Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders are
contained in the Scheme Document.
Notice to U.S. Brand
Architekts Shareholders
Brand Architekts Shareholders in the United States should note
that the Acquisition relates to the securities of a company
organised under the laws of England and Wales and is proposed to be
effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under the Companies
Act 2006. This announcement, the Scheme Document and certain other
documents relating to the Acquisition have been or will be prepared
in accordance with English law, the AIM Rules, the Code and UK
disclosure requirements, and the format and style applicable to a
scheme of arrangement under the Companies Act 2006, all of which
differ from those in the United States. A transaction effected by
means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer
rules of Section 14(e) or the proxy solicitation rules of Section
14(a) under the U.S. Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Scheme is
subject to the disclosure requirements of and practices applicable
in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement, which differ from
the disclosure requirements and practices of the United States
tender offer and proxy solicitation rules.
Brand Architekts' financial statements, and all financial
information that is included in this announcement and in the Scheme
Document, or any other documents relating to the Acquisition, have
been prepared in accordance with the UK adopted International
Accounting Standards and may not be comparable to financial
statements of companies in the United States or other companies
whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles. U.S. generally accepted
principles differ in certain respects from the UK adopted
International Accounting Standards. None of the financial
information in this announcement has been audited in accordance
with the auditing standards generally accepted in the U.S. or the
auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
of the U.S.
The New Warpaint Shares issuable to Eligible Brand Architekts
Shareholders under the Scheme have not been and will not be
registered under the U.S. Securities Act, and such New Warpaint
Shares will be issued to Eligible Brand Architekts Shareholders in
reliance on the exemption from registration set forth in Section
3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act. Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S.
Securities Act exempts the offer and sale of securities issued in
exchange for one or more bona fide outstanding securities from the
general requirement of registration where the terms and conditions
of the issuance and exchange of such securities have been approved
by a court authorized to grant the approval, after a hearing upon
the fairness of the terms and conditions of the issuance and
exchange at which all persons to whom the securities will be issued
have the right to appear and receive timely notice thereof. The
Court is authorized to conduct a hearing at which the fairness of
the terms and conditions of the Scheme will be considered. Subject
to the approval of the Scheme by the Brand Architekts Shareholders
at the Court Meeting, a hearing on the Scheme will be held at which
all Brand Architekts Shareholders are entitled to appear and be
heard. The approval of the Court will constitute the basis for the
exemption under Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act for the
securities to be exchanged and issued to Eligible Brand Architekts
Shareholders pursuant to the Scheme. Before the Sanction Hearing,
the Court will be informed of this effect of the approval of the
Scheme. The exchange and issuance of the Brand Architekts Shares
and New Warpaint Shares to Eligible Brand Architekts Shareholders
pursuant to the Scheme will also be exempt from registration under
the securities laws of the applicable states of the United
States.
The Brand Architekts Shares and New Warpaint Shares received
pursuant to the Scheme will be freely transferable under United
States federal securities laws, except that the U.S. Securities Act
imposes restrictions on the resales of those securities by persons
who are "affiliates" of Brand Architekts or Warpaint, as the case
may be, after the completion of the Scheme or within 90 days before
completion of the Scheme. As defined in Rule 144 under the U.S.
Securities Act, an "affiliate" of an issuer is a person that
directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries,
controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the
issuer. Usually, this includes the directors, executive officers
and significant shareholders of the issuer.
It
may be difficult for U.S. holders of Brand Architekts Shares to
enforce their rights and any claims they may have arising under
U.S. federal securities laws in connection with the Acquisition,
since Brand Architekts is organised under the laws of a country
other than the United States, and some or all of its officers and
directors may be residents of countries other than the United
States, and most of the assets of Brand Architekts are located
outside of the United States. U.S. holders of Brand Architekts
Shares may not be able to sue a non-U.S. company or its officers or
directors in a non-U.S. court for violations of U.S. federal
securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-U.S.
company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court's
jurisdiction or judgment.
If
Warpaint were to elect to implement the Acquisition by means of a
Takeover Offer, such Takeover Offer may be made in compliance with
applicable U.S. securities laws and regulations including, to the
extent applicable, Section 14(e) of the U.S. Exchange Act and
Regulation 14E thereunder, and will be made in accordance with the
Code. Such a Takeover Offer may be made in the United States by
Warpaint and no one else. Accordingly, the Acquisition may be
subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including
with respect to withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement
procedures and timing of payments that are different from those
applicable under U.S. domestic tender offer procedures and
law.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a Brand
Architekts Shareholder in the United States as consideration for
the transfer of its Brand Architekts Shares pursuant to the Scheme
will likely be a taxable transaction for United States federal
income tax purposes and under any applicable United States state
and local income tax laws. Each Brand Architekts Shareholder in the
United States is urged to consult its independent professional tax
or legal adviser immediately regarding the U.S. federal, state and
local income and non-income tax consequences of the Acquisition
applicable to it, as well as any consequences arising under the
laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.
The New Warpaint Shares issuable pursuant to the Scheme have
not been approved or disapproved by the SEC or the state securities
regulatory authority of any state of the United States, nor has the
SEC or the securities regulatory authority of any state of the
United States passed on the adequacy or accuracy of this
announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offence.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by
reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the
Acquisition, and other information published by Warpaint and Brand
Architekts contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be,
"forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are
prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but
rather on current expectations and projections of the management of
Warpaint and Brand Architekts about future events, and are
therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause
actual results to differ materially from the future results
expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements.
The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement
include statements relating to the expected effects of the
Acquisition on Warpaint and Brand Architekts (including their
future prospects, developments and strategies), the expected timing
and scope of the Acquisition and other statements other than
historical facts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements
can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as
"prepares", "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected",
"is subject to", "budget", "projects", "synergy", "strategy",
"scheduled", "goal", "estimates", "forecasts", "cost-saving",
"intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes",
or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would",
"might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking
statements may include statements relating to the following: (i)
future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings,
synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition,
dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and
management strategies and the expansion and growth of Warpaint's,
any member of the Warpaint Group's, Brand Architekts' or any member
of the Brand Architekts Group's operations and potential synergies
resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of global
economic conditions and governmental regulation on Warpaint's,
Brand Architekts' or any member of the Warpaint Group's or Brand
Architekts Group's business.
Although Warpaint and Brand Architekts believe that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, Warpaint and Brand Architekts can give no assurance
that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature,
forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because
they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur
in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause
actual results and developments to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, and no
undue reliance should be placed on any such forward-looking
statements.
These factors include, but are not limited to: the ability to
complete the Acquisition; the ability to obtain requisite
regulatory and shareholder approvals and the satisfaction of other
Conditions on the proposed terms and schedule; changes in the
global political, economic, business and competitive environments
and in market and regulatory forces; changes in future exchange and
interest rates; changes in tax rates; future business combinations
or disposals; changes in general economic and business conditions;
changes in the behaviour of other market participants; changes in
the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction not being
realised as a result of changes in general economic and market
conditions in the countries in which Warpaint, the Warpaint Group,
Brand Architekts and the Brand Architekts Group operate, weak,
volatile or illiquid capital and/or credit markets, changes in tax
rates, interest rate and currency value fluctuations, the degree of
competition in the geographic and business areas in which Warpaint
and Brand Architekts operate and changes in laws or in supervisory
expectations or requirements. Other unknown or unpredictable
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expected, estimated or projected in the forward-looking statements.
If any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialises or
if any one or more of the assumptions proves incorrect, actual
results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or
projected. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be
construed in the light of such factors. Neither Warpaint nor Brand
Architekts, nor any of their respective associates or directors,
officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or
guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in
any forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually
occur. You are cautioned not to place any reliance on these
forward-looking statements.
Other than in accordance with their legal or regulatory
obligations, neither Warpaint nor Brand Architekts is under any
obligation, and Warpaint and Brand Architekts expressly disclaim
any intention or obligation, to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Dealing and Opening Position
Disclosure Requirements
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 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the
commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later
than 3:30 p.m. (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 p.m. (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 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.
Publication on a
website
In
accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement
and the documents required to be published by Rule 26 of the Code
will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to
persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Warpaint's website
at
https://www.warpaintlondonplc.com/investors/Brand-Architekts-Group-plc
and on Brand
Architekts' website at https://www.brandarchitektsplc.com/offer-for-brand-architekts
by no later than
12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following this
announcement. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the content of
these websites nor of any website accessible from hyperlinks set
out in this announcement is incorporated by reference or forms part
of this announcement.
No profit forecasts,
estimates or quantified financial benefits
statements
No
statement in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast,
profit estimate or quantified financial benefits statement for any
period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted
to mean that earnings or earnings per share for Brand Architekts
for the current or future financial years would necessarily match
or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share
for Brand Architekts.
Requesting hard copy
documents
In
accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Code, Brand Architekts
Shareholders, persons with information rights and participants in
the Brand Architekts Share Plans may request a hard copy of this
announcement, free of charge, by contacting Brand Architekts'
registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC, during business
hours on 0370 707 1332 within the United Kingdom or on +44 (0) 370
707 1332 from overseas or by submitting a request in writing to
Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater
Road, Bristol BS99 6ZZ, United Kingdom, with an address to which
the hard copy may be sent. Calls are charged at the standard
geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United
Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. For
persons who receive a copy of this announcement in electronic form
or via a website notification, a hard copy of this announcement
will not be sent unless so requested. In accordance with Rule 30.3
of the Code, such persons may also request that all future
documents, announcements and information to be sent to them in
relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy
form.
Electronic
Communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and
certain other information provided by Brand Architekts
Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant
persons for the receipt of communications from Brand Architekts may
be provided to Warpaint during the offer period as required under
Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of
the Code.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this announcement have been
subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for
the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly
and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an
arithmetic aggregation of figures that precede
them.