TIDMCALL
RNS Number : 1067V
Xplorer Capital Growth I, LLC
09 December 2021
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
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9 December 2021
RECOMMED CASH ACQUISITION
of
CLOUDCALL GROUP PLC
by
XPLORER CAPITAL GROWTH I, LLC
(a newly formed company owned by funds managed and advised
by
Xplorer Capital Management LLC)
to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
Summary and highlights
-- The board of directors of CloudCall Group plc ("CloudCall")
and Xplorer Capital Growth I, LLC ("Xplorer Capital"), a newly
formed company owned by funds managed and advised by Xplorer
Capital Management LLC, are pleased to announce that they have
reached agreement on the terms of a recommended all cash offer by
Xplorer Capital for the entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary
share capital of CloudCall (the "Acquisition").
-- Under the terms of the Acquisition, CloudCall Shareholders will be entitled to receive:
81.5 pence for each CloudCall Share
-- The Acquisition values the entire issued and to be issued
share capital of CloudCall at approximately GBP39.9 million on a
fully diluted basis and the price of 81.5 pence per CloudCall Share
represents a premium of approximately:
a) 71.6 per cent. to the Closing Price of 47.5 pence per
CloudCall Share on 8 December 2021 (being the last Business Day
before the commencement of the Offer Period);
b) 62.5 per cent. to the volume-weighted average price of 50.2
pence per CloudCall Share for the one-month period ended 8 December
2021 (being the last Business Day before the commencement of the
Offer Period); and
c) 43.8 per cent. to the volume-weighted average price of 56.7
pence per CloudCall Share for the three-month period ended 8
December 2021 (being the last Business Day before the commencement
of the Offer Period).
-- If, on or after the date of this announcement and before the
Effective Date, any dividend, distribution or other return of
capital or value is announced, declared, made or paid by CloudCall
or becomes payable by CloudCall in respect of the CloudCall Shares,
Xplorer Capital reserves the right to reduce the consideration
payable under the terms of the Acquisition of the CloudCall Shares
by an amount up to the amount of such dividend and/or distribution
and/or other return of capital or value, in which case any
reference in this announcement to the consideration payable under
the terms of the Acquisition will be deemed to be a reference to
the consideration as so reduced. Any exercise by Xplorer Capital of
its rights referred to in this paragraph shall be the subject of an
announcement and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be regarded
as constituting any revision or variation of the terms of the
Scheme or the Acquisition. In such circumstances, CloudCall
Shareholders would be entitled to receive and retain any such
dividend and/or other distribution and/or return of capital or
value.
-- It is intended that the Acquisition will be implemented by
means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of
the Companies Act.
Transaction overview
-- The Acquisition is an all cash offer for CloudCall by Xplorer
Capital, unanimously recommended by the CloudCall Directors.
-- Xplorer Capital believes that CloudCall would benefit from
returning to private ownership with the support of a growth-focused
shareholder.
-- Xplorer Capital intends to provide the capital and long-term
view of value creation to enable the management team to make the
necessary investment in working capital to upgrade its technology
platform, improve and expand product capabilities, and greatly
expand and enhance the company's sales capacity.
Recommendation
-- The CloudCall Directors, who have been so advised by
Canaccord as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider
the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In
providing its advice to the CloudCall Directors, Canaccord has
taken into account the commercial assessments of the CloudCall
Directors. Canaccord is providing independent financial advice to
the CloudCall Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover
Code.
-- Accordingly, the CloudCall Directors intend to recommend
unanimously that Scheme Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme
at the Court Meeting and that CloudCall Shareholders vote in favour
of the Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting as the
CloudCall Directors who hold CloudCall Shares have irrevocably
undertaken to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings of
1,331,153 CloudCall Shares in aggregate, representing approximately
2.8 per cent. of CloudCall's issued share capital on 8 December
2021 (being the last Business Day before the date of this
announcement).
Irrevocable undertakings and letters of intent
-- In addition, Xplorer Capital has received letters of intent
to vote in favour of the resolutions relating to the Acquisition at
the Meetings (or in the event that the Acquisition is implemented
by a Takeover Offer, to accept such Takeover Offer) from Herald
Investment Management Limited, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd and
Goudy Park Management, LLC, in respect of a total of 10,133,301
CloudCall Shares, representing in aggregate approximately 21.1 per
cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of CloudCall on 8
December 2021 (being the last Business Day before the date of this
announcement).
-- In total, therefore, Xplorer Capital has received irrevocable
undertakings or letters of intent, including those irrevocable
undertakings from the CloudCall Directors who own CloudCall Shares,
in respect of, in aggregate, 11,464,454 CloudCall Shares,
representing approximately 23.9 per cent. of the issued ordinary
share capital of CloudCall on 8 December 2021 (being the last
Business Day before the date of this announcement).
-- Further details of these irrevocable undertakings and letters
of intent are set out in Appendix 3 to this announcement.
Background to and reasons for the Acquisition
-- Xplorer Capital believes that CloudCall has developed a
leading position providing communications technology to Customer
Relationship Management ("CRM") platforms. Xplorer Capital
considers there is significant scope for increased adoption of
CloudCall's technology if CloudCall has access to additional
finance.
-- To maximise the market opportunity, Xplorer Capital believes
that CloudCall would benefit from returning to private ownership
with the support of a growth-focused shareholder, who can provide
the necessary capital and long-term view of value creation to
enable the management team to make the investment in working
capital to upgrade its technology platform, improve and expand
product capabilities, and greatly expand and enhance the company's
sales capacity.
-- Xplorer Capital will provide this meaningful investment and
the flexibility to allow CloudCall's management team to focus their
attention on executing their long-term growth strategy and maximise
the growth potential of the business, whilst also providing
strategic support to develop new growth areas and operational
expertise to drive efficiency.
Information relating to Xplorer Capital and Xplorer Capital
Management LLC
Xplorer Capital and Xplorer Capital Management LLC
-- Xplorer Capital is a newly formed entity owned and managed by
funds advised by Xplorer Capital Management LLC. Xplorer Capital
Management LLC is a global technology investment firm based in
Silicon Valley, California. The core focus of funds managed by
Xplorer Capital Management LLC is to invest in emerging and
disruptive technologies that transform traditional industries on a
global scale. Xplorer Capital Management LLC likes to form
long-term partnerships with founders and management teams, and
works hard to support its portfolio companies by leveraging its
experience and connections. The firm has approximately $500 million
under management and is actively pursuing new investment
opportunities that fit the fund's thesis.
-- Xplorer Capital Management LLC's investment vehicles are
funded by a range of long-term investors that are of a scale that
can provide sufficient capital to fund CloudCall's long-term
requirements in addition to the cost of acquisition. Xplorer
Capital, the acquisition entity, will be managed by Xplorer Capital
Management LLC which is leading this investment opportunity, and
the other investors in Xplorer Capital will be passive equity
providers for these purposes. These investors include the family
office of Pete Briger.
Timetable and Conditions
-- It is intended that the Acquisition will be implemented by
way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of
the Companies Act (although Xplorer Capital reserves the right to
effect the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer, subject to the
consent of the Panel).
-- The terms of the Acquisition will be put to the Scheme
Shareholders at the Court Meeting and to the CloudCall Shareholders
at the General Meeting. In order to become Effective, the Scheme
must be approved by a majority in number of Scheme Shareholders,
present and voting (and entitled to vote) at the Court Meeting,
whether in person or by proxy, representing 75 per cent. or more in
value of the Scheme Shares held by those Scheme Shareholders (or
the relevant class or classes thereof). In addition, at the General
Meeting to implement the Scheme, the Resolution must be passed by
CloudCall Shareholders representing at least 75 per cent. of the
votes validly cast on the Resolution, whether in person or by
proxy. The General Meeting will be held immediately after the Court
Meeting.
-- The Acquisition will be on the terms and subject to the
Conditions set out in Appendix 1 and to be set out in the Scheme
Document, which will also set out further details of the
Acquisition. It is expected that the Scheme Document containing
further information about the Acquisition and notices of the
Meetings, together with the Forms of Proxy, will be published
within 28 days of the date of this announcement (or such later date
as may be agreed by Xplorer Capital and CloudCall with the consent
of the Panel). An expected timetable of principal events will be
included in the Scheme Document.
-- The Acquisition is expected to become Effective in the first
calendar quarter of 2022, subject to satisfaction (or, where
applicable, waiver) of the Conditions and the further terms set out
in Appendix 1.
Comments on the Acquisition
Commenting on the Acquisition, Keith Nilsson, founder and
Managing Partner of Xplorer Capital Management LLC, said:
-- "We are delighted to have reached agreement on the terms of
the Acquisition with the board of CloudCall. We believe CloudCall
would benefit from returning to private ownership with the support
of a growth-focused shareholder and look forward to accelerating
the growth of the business and helping it to reach its full
potential by providing CloudCall with access to significant
additional capital resources."
Commenting on the Acquisition, Peter Simmonds, Non-Executive
Chairman of CloudCall, said:
-- "Over recent years, the management of CloudCall has continued
to develop its product mix, enhanced its client base and positioned
itself for growth. However, CloudCall operates in a highly
competitive environment where many of its peers are larger and
better capitalised and CloudCall will require additional funding to
continue to support its strategy and remain competitive. Against
this backdrop, I believe the offer from Xplorer Capital represents
an attractive premium, provides certain value today for CloudCall
shareholders and provides CloudCall with the opportunity to access
significant further capital to implement CloudCall's strategy in
the future."
The above summary should be read in conjunction with, and is
subject to, the full text of this announcement (including its
Appendices). The Acquisition will be subject to the Conditions and
other terms set out in Appendix 1 and to the full terms and
conditions which will be set out in the Scheme Document. Appendix 2
contains bases and sources of certain information contained in this
announcement. Details of irrevocable undertakings and letters of
intent received are set out in Appendix 3. Certain terms used in
this summary and this announcement are defined in Appendix 4.
Enquiries
CloudCall Group plc
Simon Cleaver (Chief Executive Officer) +44 (0)20 3587
Paul Williams (Chief Financial Officer) 7188
Canaccord (financial adviser, nominated
adviser and Rule 3 adviser to CloudCall)
Simon Bridges
James Asensio
Thomas Diehl +44 (0)20 7523
Gordon Hamilton 8000
Peel Hunt (financial adviser to Xplorer
Capital)
James Britton
Oliver Jackson +44 (0)20 7418
James Smith 8900
Slaughter and May is acting as legal adviser to Xplorer Capital
in connection with the Acquisition.
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP is acting as legal adviser to
CloudCall in connection with the Acquisition.
The person responsible for arranging the release of this
announcement on behalf of CloudCall is Simon Cleaver, Chief
Executive Officer.
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 CloudCall
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 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, or
other response 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).
CloudCall and Xplorer Capital will prepare the Scheme Document
(or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer,
the Offer Document) to be distributed to CloudCall Shareholders.
CloudCall and Xplorer Capital urge CloudCall Shareholders to read
the Scheme Document when it becomes available because it will
contain important information relating to the Acquisition.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus, prospectus
equivalent document or an exempted document.
Disclaimers
Canaccord Genuity Limited ("Canaccord"), which is authorised and
regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively
as financial adviser to CloudCall and no one else in connection
with the matters described in this announcement and will not be
responsible to anyone other than CloudCall for providing the
protections afforded to clients of Canaccord nor for providing
advice in connection with any matter referred to herein. Neither
Canaccord nor any of its affiliates (nor their respective
directors, 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 Canaccord in connection with this
announcement, any statement contained herein, the Acquisition or
otherwise. Canaccord has given, and not withdrawn, its consent to
the inclusion of its advice in this announcement in the form and
context in which it is included.
Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt"), which is authorised and regulated
in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting exclusively for Xplorer
Capital and for no one else in connection with the matters referred
to in this announcement and will not be responsible to any person
other than Xplorer Capital for providing the protections afforded
to clients of Peel Hunt, nor for providing advice in relation to
the matters referred to herein. Neither Peel Hunt nor any of its
affiliates 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 Peel Hunt in connection with the matters referred to in this
announcement, or otherwise.
Overseas jurisdictions
This announcement has been prepared in accordance with, and for
the purpose of complying with, the laws of England and Wales and
the Takeover Code, and information disclosed may not be the same as
that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been
prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside
England.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in
or into certain jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be
restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the
laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should
inform themselves about, and observe any applicable requirements of
their jurisdictions.
The availability of the Acquisition to CloudCall Shareholders
who are not resident in and citizens of the United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 CloudCall Shares with
respect to the Scheme at the Court Meeting, or to execute and
deliver Forms of Proxy appointing another 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 will be
contained in the Scheme Document.
Unless otherwise determined by Xplorer Capital or required by
the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation,
the Acquisition will not be made available, in whole or in part,
directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction
where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no
person may vote in favour of the Acquisition 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
must 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 custodians,
nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward,
distribute or send them 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 or into, 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 Acquisition will be subject to the applicable requirements
of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange, the AIM
Rules and the FCA.
Notice to US investors in CloudCall
US holders of CloudCall Shares should note that the Acquisition
relates to the shares of an English company with a listing on AIM
and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for
under English company law. A transaction effected by means of a
scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or
the proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act.
Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure and
procedural requirements and practices applicable in the United
Kingdom to schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure
requirements of United States tender offer and proxy solicitation
rules.
The financial information included in this announcement and the
Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a
Takeover Offer, the Offer Document) has been or will have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles of the United Kingdom and thus may not be comparable to
the financial information of US companies or companies whose
financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States.
However, if, in the future, Xplorer Capital exercises the right
to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer and
determines to extend the offer into the United States, the Takeover
Offer will be made in compliance with applicable United States
tender offer and securities laws and regulations, including Section
14(e) of the US Exchange Act and Regulation 14E thereunder.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US holder
of CloudCall Shares as consideration for the transfer of its Scheme
Shares pursuant to the Scheme may be a taxable transaction for US
federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and
local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. The US tax
consequences of the Acquisition, if any, are not described herein.
Each CloudCall Shareholder is therefore urged to consult with
legal, tax and financial advisers in connection with making a
decision regarding the Acquisition.
It may be difficult for US holders of CloudCall Shares to
enforce their rights and any claims arising out of US federal laws,
since CloudCall is located in a non-US jurisdiction, and some or
all of its officers and directors may be residents of a non-US
jurisdiction. US holders of CloudCall Shares may not be able to sue
a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for
violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to
compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to
a US court's judgement.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, in accordance with
normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange
Act, Xplorer Capital, certain affiliated companies and their
nominees or brokers (acting as agents), may from time to time make
certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, CloudCall Shares
outside of the US, other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until
the date on which the Acquisition and/or Scheme becomes Effective,
lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. Also, in accordance with Rule
14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, each of Canaccord and Peel Hunt
will continue to act as an exempt principal trader in CloudCall
Shares on the London Stock Exchange. If such purchases or
arrangements to purchase were to be made they would occur either in
the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at
negotiated prices and comply with applicable law, including the US
Exchange Act. Any information about such purchases will be
disclosed as required in the UK, will be reported to the Regulatory
News Service of the London Stock Exchange and will be available on
the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com
.
Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any US
state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the
Acquisition, or determined if this announcement is accurate or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence
in the United States.
Forward-looking statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by
reference into this announcement), oral statements made regarding
the Acquisition, and other information published by Xplorer Capital
and CloudCall 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
Xplorer Capital and CloudCall 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 Xplorer Capital and CloudCall, 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
"plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "is subject
to", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "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. Although Xplorer
Capital and CloudCall believe that the expectations reflected in
such forward-looking statements are reasonable, Xplorer Capital and
CloudCall 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. 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; 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; the anticipated benefits from the
Acquisition not being realised as a result of changes in general
economic and market conditions in the countries in which Xplorer
Capital and CloudCall operate; weak, volatile or illiquid capital
and/or credit markets; changes in the degree of competition in the
geographic and business areas in which Xplorer Capital and
CloudCall 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 Xplorer Capital nor CloudCall, 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. Given the risks and
uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place any reliance on these
forward-looking statements. Other than in accordance with their
legal or regulatory obligations, neither Xplorer Capital nor
CloudCall is under any obligation, and Xplorer Capital and
CloudCall 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 Takeover Code, any person who is
interested in one per cent. 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 10(th) Business Day
following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate,
by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10(th) 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 Takeover Code, any person who is, or
becomes, interested in one per cent. 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, 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 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.
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 CloudCall for the current or future financial years would
necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or
earnings per share for CloudCall.
Publication on a website
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of
this announcement will be made available, subject to certain
restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted
Jurisdictions, on CloudCall's website at
https://cloudcall.com/investor/offer-for-cloudcall/ and Xplorer
Capital's website at www.xplorer.vc/disclaimer/ by no later than 12
noon (London time) on the first Business Day following the date of
this announcement. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the contents
of these websites nor the contents of any websites accessible from
any hyperlinks is incorporated into or forms part of this
announcement.
Requesting hard copy documents
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, CloudCall
Shareholders may request a hard copy of this announcement (and any
information incorporated by reference in this announcement), free
of charge, by contacting Link Group during business hours on +44
(0)371 664 0391 (from within the United Kingdom) or by submitting a
request in writing to Link Group, PXS 1, Central Square, 29
Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL. 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. Lines will be open between 9.00 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to
Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales.
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. 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 CloudCall Shareholders, persons with
information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of
communications from CloudCall may be provided to Xplorer Capital
during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4
to the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover
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.
General
If the Acquisition is effected by way of a Takeover Offer, and
such Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional in all
respects and sufficient acceptances are received, Xplorer Capital
intends to exercise its rights to apply the provisions of Chapter 3
of Part 28 of the Companies Act so as to acquire compulsorily the
remaining CloudCall Shares in respect of which the Takeover Offer
has not been accepted.
Investors should be aware that Xplorer Capital may purchase
CloudCall Shares otherwise than under any Takeover Offer or the
Scheme, including pursuant to privately negotiated purchases.
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 or independent financial adviser duly
authorised under the FSMA if you are resident in the United Kingdom
or, if not, from another appropriate authorised independent
financial adviser.
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
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9 December 2021
RECOMMED CASH ACQUISITION
of
CLOUDCALL GROUP PLC
by
XPLORER CAPITAL GROWTH I, LLC
(a newly formed company owned by funds managed and advised
by
Xplorer Capital Management LLC)
to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
1. Introduction
The board of directors of CloudCall Group plc ("CloudCall") and
Xplorer Capital Growth I, LLC ("Xplorer Capital"), a newly formed
company owned by funds managed and advised by Xplorer Capital
Management LLC, are pleased to announce that they have reached
agreement on the terms of a recommended all cash offer by Xplorer
Capital for the entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share
capital of CloudCall (the "Acquisition").
2. The Acquisition
It is intended that the Acquisition will be implemented by way
of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the
Companies Act. The purpose of the Scheme is to enable Xplorer
Capital to acquire the whole of the issued and to be issued share
capital of CloudCall.
Under the terms of the Acquisition, CloudCall Shareholders will
be entitled to receive:
81.5 pence for each CloudCall Share
The Acquisition values the entire issued and to be issued share
capital of CloudCall at approximately GBP39.9 million on a fully
diluted basis, and the price of 81.5 pence per CloudCall Share
represents a premium of approximately:
-- 71.6 per cent. to the Closing Price of 47.5 pence per
CloudCall Share on 8 December 2021 (being the last Business Day
before the commencement of the Offer Period);
-- 62.5 per cent. to the volume-weighted average price of 50.2
pence per CloudCall Share for the one-month period ended 8 December
2021 (being the last Business Day before the commencement of the
Offer Period); and
-- 43.8 per cent. to the volume-weighted average price of 56.7
pence per CloudCall Share for the three-month period ended 8
December 2021 (being the last Business Day before the commencement
of the Offer Period).
If, on or after the date of this announcement and before the
Effective Date, any dividend, distribution or other return of
capital or value is announced, declared, made or paid by CloudCall
or becomes payable by CloudCall in respect of the CloudCall Shares,
Xplorer Capital reserves the right to reduce the consideration
payable under the terms of the Acquisition of the CloudCall Shares
by an amount up to the amount of such dividend and/or distribution
and/or other return of capital or value, in which case any
reference in this announcement to the consideration payable under
the terms of the Acquisition will be deemed to be a reference to
the consideration as so reduced. Any exercise by Xplorer Capital of
its rights referred to in this paragraph shall be the subject of an
announcement and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be regarded
as constituting any revision or variation of the terms of the
Scheme or the Acquisition. In such circumstances, CloudCall
Shareholders would be entitled to receive and retain any such
dividend and/or other distribution and/or return of capital or
value.
The CloudCall Shares will be acquired fully paid and free from
all liens, charges, equitable interests, encumbrances and rights of
pre-emption and any other interests of any nature whatsoever and
together with all rights attaching thereto.
3. Background to and reasons for the Acquisition
Xplorer Capital believes that CloudCall has developed a leading
position providing communications technology to CRM platforms.
Xplorer Capital considers there is significant scope for increased
adoption of CloudCall's technology if CloudCall has access to
additional finance.
To maximise the market opportunity, Xplorer Capital believes
that CloudCall would benefit from returning to private ownership
with the support of a growth-focused shareholder, who can provide
the necessary capital and long-term view of value creation to
enable the management team to make the investment in working
capital to upgrade its technology platform, improve and expand
product capabilities, and greatly expand and enhance the company's
sales capacity.
Xplorer Capital will provide this meaningful investment and the
flexibility to allow CloudCall's management team to focus their
attention on executing their long-term growth strategy and maximise
the growth potential of the business, whilst also providing
strategic support to develop new growth areas and operational
expertise to drive efficiency.
4. Recommendation
The CloudCall Directors, who have been so advised by Canaccord
as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of
the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice
to the CloudCall Directors, Canaccord has taken into account the
commercial assessments of the CloudCall Directors. Canaccord is
providing independent financial advice to the CloudCall Directors
for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
Accordingly, the CloudCall Directors intend to recommend
unanimously that Scheme Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme
at the Court Meeting and that CloudCall Shareholders vote in favour
of the Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting as the
CloudCall Directors who hold CloudCall Shares have irrevocably
undertaken to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings of
1,331,153 CloudCall Shares in aggregate, representing approximately
2.8 per cent. of CloudCall's issued share capital on 8 December
2021 (being the last Business Day before the date of this
announcement).
Further details of these irrevocable undertakings, including the
circumstances in which they cease to be binding, are set out in
Appendix 3.
5. Background to and reasons for the Recommendation
Following the outbreak of COVID-19, 2020 was a challenging year
for the CloudCall Group with projected growth levels materially
interrupted. In the first half of the year, revenues decreased by 7
per cent., and even though revenues recovered by 12 per cent. in
the second half of the year (a V-shaped recovery) the net result
was growth of only 4 per cent. for the full year.
Since the middle of last year, the CloudCall Group has seen the
recruitment sector, which represents over 50 per cent. of its
revenues, bounce back strongly with improving sales to new
customers which accelerated through the first half of 2021.
The CloudCall Group's growth strategy has remained focused on
targeting three areas:
1. increasing its addressable market by launching more CRM integrations;
2. continuing to deliver new product enhancements that bring
tangible benefits to its customers; and
3. improving internal systems and processes to enable it to
scale up and deliver the growth the CloudCall Board believes the
CloudCall Group is capable of.
The above strategy has been designed to deliver attractive
levels of revenue growth, whilst keeping operating expenditure
growth at approximately 10 per cent. per annum in order to meet the
CloudCall Board's ambition of achieving monthly EBITDA breakeven by
mid-2023. Successful execution of the strategy will require
significant further capital that the CloudCall Board will have to
put in place through a combination of new equity capital and
increasing and extending its debt facility. The CloudCall Group is
conscious that this strategy is not one that appeals to all
CloudCall Shareholders. From interactions with its shareholders,
the CloudCall Group is aware that there is conflicting sentiment
between those who would prefer the CloudCall Group to invest more
in order for it to grow faster and deliver greater scale, whilst
conversely, there are those who would prefer the CloudCall Group to
reduce levels of operating expenditure and focus on achieving a
cash breakeven position.
At the same time, the CloudCall Group is operating in a
marketplace where many of its key competitors are materially larger
and better capitalised, some of which have raised, on average, over
$100 million in additional funding since Q3 2020. The CloudCall
Board believes access to such capital will enable these companies
to invest more and compete strongly in product development,
customer service and sales. It also means they may be perceived as
a more attractive employer "investing in growth" and in recent
times the CloudCall Group has seen a more challenging environment
for staff retention and recruitment. In this context, it is vitally
important for the CloudCall Group to ensure its offering remains
competitive given the increasing threat posed by larger and better
funded competitors.
As mentioned above, in order to execute its strategy, based on
the CloudCall Group's current operating expenditure plans, the
CloudCall Group will be required to raise more equity capital in
the coming few months. Given current stock market conditions, the
potential disruption of COVID-19 impacting operational performance
and the varying views of CloudCall Shareholders, the CloudCall
Board believes a future capital raise from the public markets may
be challenging.
Against this background, after careful consideration, the
CloudCall Board has determined that the Acquisition is in the best
interests of CloudCall Shareholders.
In considering the terms of the Acquisition, the CloudCall
Directors have considered a number of factors, including:
1. The CloudCall Group is operating in a marketplace where the
majority of its key competitors are materially larger and better
capitalised.
2. The potential challenges facing the CloudCall Group to secure
a sufficient combination of debt and equity funding on appropriate
terms to execute its strategy.
3. Xplorer Capital has the financial strength and has indicated
a willingness to invest significant capital in the CloudCall Group
to help support its growth strategy and provide the long term
capital needed to compete successfully against better capitalised
competitors.
4. The potential of a well-capitalised business under new
ownership is to the benefit of all stakeholders, partners,
customers and employees.
5. In addition, the Acquisition represents an opportunity for
CloudCall Shareholders to crystalise value, in cash, at a price of
81.5 pence per CloudCall Share which represents a premium of
approximately:
a) 71.6 per cent. to the Closing Price of 47.5 pence per
CloudCall Share on 8 December 2021 (being the last Business Day
before the commencement of the Offer Period);
b) 62.5 per cent. to the volume-weighted average price of 50.2
pence per CloudCall Share for the one-month period ended 8 December
2021 (being the last Business Day before the commencement of the
Offer Period); and
c) 43.8 per cent. to the volume-weighted average price of 56.7
pence per CloudCall Share for the three-month period ended 8
December 2021 (being the last Business Day before the commencement
of the Offer Period).
6. Irrevocable undertakings and letters of intent
The CloudCall Directors who hold CloudCall Shares have
irrevocably undertaken to vote (or, in respect of CloudCall Shares
where their interest is solely beneficial, use all reasonable
endeavours to procure the exercise of all such voting rights) in
favour of the resolutions relating to the Acquisition at the
Meetings (or in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by a
Takeover Offer, to accept such Takeover Offer) in respect of
1,331,153 CloudCall Shares in aggregate, representing approximately
2.8 per cent. of CloudCall's issued share capital on 8 December
2021 (being the last Business Day before the date of this
announcement).
In addition, Xplorer Capital has received letters of intent to
vote in favour of the resolutions relating to the Acquisition at
the Meetings (or in the event that the Acquisition is implemented
by a Takeover Offer, to accept such Takeover Offer) from Herald
Investment Management Limited, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd and
Goudy Park Management, LLC, in respect of a total of 10,133,301
CloudCall Shares, representing in aggregate approximately 21.1 per
cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of CloudCall on 8
December 2021 (being the last Business Day before the date of this
announcement).
In total, therefore, Xplorer Capital has received irrevocable
undertakings or letters of intent, including those irrevocable
undertakings from the CloudCall Directors who own CloudCall Shares,
in respect of, in aggregate, 11,464,454 CloudCall Shares,
representing approximately 23.9 per cent. of the issued ordinary
share capital of CloudCall on 8 December 2021 (being the last
Business Day before the date of this announcement).
Further details of these irrevocable undertakings and letters of
intent are set out in Appendix 3 to this announcement.
7. Information relating to CloudCall
CloudCall is a software and integrated communications business
that has developed and provides a suite of cloud-based software and
communications products and services. CloudCall's products and
services are aimed at enabling organisations to leverage their
customer data to enable more effective communications and improve
performance.
The CloudCall suite of software products allows companies to
fully integrate telephony, messaging and contact centre
capabilities into their existing CRM software, enabling
communications to be made, recorded, logged and categorised from
within the CRM system with detailed activity reporting and powerful
business intelligence capable of being easily generated.
CloudCall reported revenues of GBP6.4 million in H1 2021 (H1
2020: GBP5.8 million) and an adjusted EBITDA loss of GBP2.6 million
(excluding share based payments) for the same period (H1 2020: loss
of GBP1.7 million) as the CloudCall Group continued its strategy to
invest in those areas that will drive future revenue growth.
8. Information relating to Xplorer Capital and Xplorer Capital Management LLC
Xplorer Capital is a newly formed entity owned and managed by
funds advised by Xplorer Capital Management LLC. Xplorer Capital
Management LLC is a global technology investment firm based in
Silicon Valley, California. The core focus of funds managed by
Xplorer Capital Management LLC is to invest in emerging and
disruptive technologies that transform traditional industries on a
global scale. Xplorer Capital Management LLC likes to form
long-term partnerships with founders and management teams, and
works hard to support its portfolio companies by leveraging its
experience and connections. The firm has approximately $500 million
under management and is actively pursuing new investment
opportunities that fit the fund's thesis.
Xplorer Capital Management LLC's investment vehicles are funded
by a range of long-term investors that are of a scale that can
provide sufficient capital to fund CloudCall's long-term
requirements in addition to the cost of acquisition. Xplorer
Capital, the acquisition entity, will be managed by Xplorer Capital
Management LLC which is leading this investment opportunity, and
the other investors in Xplorer Capital will be passive equity
providers for these purposes. These investors include the family
office of Pete Briger.
Further details in relation to Xplorer Capital will be contained
in the Scheme Document.
9. Directors, management, employees, pensions, research and development and locations
Xplorer Capital's strategic plans for CloudCall
Xplorer Capital holds the reputation of the CloudCall management
team and staff in high regard. Xplorer Capital believes that the
CloudCall management team complement Xplorer Capital's existing
knowledge in CloudCall's sector.
Xplorer Capital is supportive of the CloudCall management team's
existing strategy of investing in core technology while continuing
to grow through focused integrations with CRM partners and
following completion of the Acquisition, intends to continue to
support and pursue it by providing CloudCall with access to
significant additional capital resources to accelerate the growth
of the business.
Employees and management
Xplorer Capital attaches great importance to the skill and
experience of the CloudCall management team and employees and
recognises that the commitment of the employees and management of
CloudCall will be a critical part of the future success of the
business. Xplorer Capital intends to support the CloudCall
management team and, save as set out below with respect to changes
to certain functions associated with operating the business under
public ownership, Xplorer Capital has no intention to make any
change to the continued employment of the employees and management
of the CloudCall Group, including any material changes to the terms
and conditions of employment or in the balance of skills and
functions of the management and employees of the CloudCall Group as
a result of the Acquisition. It is intended that, with effect from
the Effective Date, each of the non-executive members of the
CloudCall Board will resign from his or her office as a director of
CloudCall.
Once CloudCall ceases to be a listed company there may be
certain functions associated with operating the business under
public ownership which are no longer required or are reduced in
scope, which Xplorer Capital will review in conjunction with the
CloudCall management team. There could be headcount reductions
associated with plc functions but given the nature of how these
functions are operated at CloudCall, some of these employees could
be redeployed in other roles.
Conditions of employment and existing rights and pensions
Xplorer Capital confirms that, following completion of the
Acquisition, the existing contractual and statutory rights and
terms and conditions of employment, including pension rights and
obligations, of the management and employees of the CloudCall Group
will be fully safeguarded in accordance with applicable law.
The CloudCall Group operates a defined contribution pension
scheme on behalf of all qualified employees. The assets of the
scheme are held separately from those of the CloudCall Group in
independently administered funds. Xplorer Capital does not intend
to make any changes to the current employer pension contribution
arrangements, the accrual of benefits for existing members or the
rights of admission of new members under the pension scheme.
Headquarters, locations and research and development
Following completion of the Acquisition, CloudCall will retain
its head office operations in Leicester. Xplorer Capital has no
plans to undertake any change in any locations of CloudCall's
places of business or the functions of the head office save as set
out above in respect of plc functions.
In terms of research and development, CloudCall has product and
software development teams working on improving and upgrading
legacy software systems that are in need of repair and updating. In
addition, CloudCall has teams to enhance and add features to
CloudCall's advanced communication software that integrate with CRM
systems, which Xplorer Capital plans to develop through its
investment.
Management incentive arrangements
Following completion of the Acquisition, Xplorer Capital intends
to review the management, governance and incentive structure of
CloudCall and put in place incentivisation arrangements for certain
managers and employees of CloudCall. The terms of these
arrangements are to be determined at the appropriate time following
discussion with management. Xplorer Capital has not entered into,
and has not had discussions on proposals to enter into, any form of
incentivisation arrangements with members of the CloudCall
management or employees, and no such discussions will take place
prior to completion of the Acquisition.
Trading facilities
The CloudCall Shares are currently listed on the London Stock
Exchange's AIM market and are designated as "OTCQX securities" by
the OTC Market Group, which through a subsidiary operates an SEC
registered alternative trading system in the United States. Subject
to the Scheme becoming Effective, an application will be made to
the London Stock Exchange to cancel the admission of the CloudCall
Shares to trading on AIM, following which CloudCall will be
re-registered as a private limited company. CloudCall will also be
arranging for withdrawal of the Company's securities from OTCQX
designation following the Effective Date.
10. CloudCall Share Plans
Participants in the CloudCall Share Plans will be contacted
regarding the effect of the Acquisition on their options and awards
under the CloudCall Share Plans and an appropriate proposal will be
made to such participants in due course. Details of the proposal
will be set out in the Scheme Document (or, as the case may be, the
Offer Document) and in separate letters to be sent to participants
in the CloudCall Share Plans.
11. Financing of the Acquisition
The Cash Consideration payable by Xplorer Capital under the
terms of the Acquisition will be funded from the existing cash
resources of Xplorer Capital.
Peel Hunt, in its capacity as financial adviser to Xplorer
Capital, is satisfied that sufficient resources are available to
satisfy in full the Cash Consideration payable to CloudCall
Shareholders under the terms of the Acquisition.
12. Offer-related arrangements
On 28 November 2021, Xplorer Capital and CloudCall entered into
a confidentiality agreement in relation to the Acquisition (the
"Confidentiality Agreement"), pursuant to which, amongst other
things, Xplorer Capital gave certain undertakings to: (a) subject
to certain exceptions, keep information relating to CloudCall and
the Acquisition confidential and not to disclose it to third
parties; and (b) use such confidential information only in
connection with the Acquisition. These confidentiality obligations
will remain in force until the earlier of two years from the date
of the Confidentiality Agreement or completion of the Acquisition
by Xplorer Capital.
13. Scheme process
It is intended that the Acquisition will be effected by a
Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement between CloudCall and the
Scheme Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act. Xplorer
Capital reserves the right to effect the Acquisition by way of a
Takeover Offer, subject to the consent of the Panel.
The purpose of the Scheme is to provide for Xplorer Capital to
become owner of the whole of the issued and to be issued share
capital of CloudCall. Under the Scheme, the Acquisition is to be
achieved by the transfer of the Scheme Shares held by Scheme
Shareholders to Xplorer Capital in consideration for which Scheme
Shareholders will receive the Cash Consideration on the basis set
out in paragraph 2 above. The procedure involves, among other
things, a petition by CloudCall to the Court to sanction the
Scheme.
The Acquisition will be subject to the Conditions and the
further terms referred to in Appendix 1 and the full terms and
conditions to be set out in the Scheme Document and will only
become Effective if, among other things, the following events occur
on or before the Long Stop Date (or such later date as Xplorer
Capital and CloudCall may, with the consent of the Panel, agree
and, if required, the Court may allow):
-- a resolution to approve the Scheme is passed by a majority in
number of the Scheme Shareholders present and voting (and entitled
to vote) at the Court Meeting, either in person or by proxy,
representing 75 per cent. or more in value of each class of the
Scheme Shares held by those Scheme Shareholders;
-- the Resolution is passed at the General Meeting by CloudCall
Shareholders representing at least 75 per cent. of the votes
validly cast on the Resolution, whether in person or by proxy;
-- following the Meetings, the Scheme is sanctioned by the Court
(without modification, or with modification on terms agreed by
Xplorer Capital and CloudCall); and
-- following such sanction, an office copy of the Scheme Court
Order is delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
Upon the Scheme becoming Effective: (i) it will be binding on
all Scheme Shareholders, irrespective of whether or not they
attended or voted at the Meetings (and if they attended and voted,
whether or not they voted in favour); and (ii) share certificates
in respect of CloudCall Shares will cease to be valid and
entitlements to CloudCall Shares held within the CREST system will
be cancelled. In accordance with the applicable provisions of the
Takeover Code, the Cash Consideration for the transfer of the
Scheme Shares to Xplorer Capital will be despatched no later than
14 days after the Effective Date.
Any CloudCall Shares issued before the Scheme Record Time will
be subject to the terms of the Scheme. The Resolution to be
proposed at the General Meeting will, amongst other matters,
provide that the Articles be amended to incorporate provisions
requiring any CloudCall Shares issued after the Scheme Record Time
(other than to Xplorer Capital and/or its nominees) to be
automatically transferred to Xplorer Capital on the same terms as
the Acquisition (other than terms as to timings and formalities).
The provisions of the Articles (as amended) will avoid any person
(other than Xplorer Capital and its nominees) holding CloudCall
Shares after the Effective Date.
If the Scheme does not become Effective on or before the Long
Stop Date, it will lapse and the Acquisition will not proceed
(unless the Panel otherwise consents).
The Scheme Document will include full details of the Scheme,
together with notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting
and the expected timetable, and will specify the action to be taken
by Scheme Shareholders. It is expected that the Scheme Document,
together with the Forms of Proxy, will be published as soon as
practicable and in any event within 28 days of the date of this
announcement (unless the Panel agrees otherwise).
Subject, amongst other things, to the satisfaction or waiver of
the Conditions, it is expected that the Scheme will become
Effective in the first calendar quarter of 2022. The Scheme will be
governed by English law. The Scheme will be subject to the
applicable requirements of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the London
Stock Exchange, the AIM Rules and the FCA.
14. Dividends
If, on or after the date of this announcement and before the
Effective Date, any dividend, distribution or other return of
capital or value is announced, declared, made or paid by CloudCall
or becomes payable by CloudCall in respect of the CloudCall Shares,
Xplorer Capital reserves the right to reduce the consideration
payable under the terms of the Acquisition of the CloudCall Shares
by an amount up to the amount of such dividend and/or distribution
and/or other return of capital or value, in which case any
reference in this announcement to the consideration payable under
the terms of the Acquisition will be deemed to be a reference to
the consideration as so reduced. In such circumstances, CloudCall
Shareholders would be entitled to receive and retain any such
dividend and/or other distribution and/or return of capital or
value.
15. Disclosure of interests in CloudCall
Except for the irrevocable undertakings referred to in paragraph
6 above or as disclosed below in this paragraph 15, as at the close
of business on 8 December 2021 (being the last Business Day before
the date of this announcement), neither Xplorer Capital nor any of
their respective directors or equivalent persons, nor, so far as
Xplorer Capital is aware, any person acting in concert (within the
meaning of the Takeover Code) with Xplorer Capital:
-- has any interest in, or right to subscribe for, any relevant securities of CloudCall; nor
-- has any short position in CloudCall Shares, including any
short position under a derivative, any agreement to sell, any
delivery obligation or right to require another person to purchase
or take delivery of relevant securities of CloudCall; nor
-- has borrowed or lent any relevant securities of CloudCall or
entered into any financial collateral arrangements relating to
relevant securities of CloudCall; nor
-- is party to any dealing arrangement of the kind referred to
in Note 11 on the definition of acting in concert in the Takeover
Code in relation to relevant securities of CloudCall.
Name Nature of interest Number of CloudCall Percentage of
Shares CloudCall's
issued share
capital (per
cent.)
Shaun Noll,
Chief Investment
Officer to the
Briger family
office, as a
concert party
(within the
meaning of the
Takeover Code)
of Xplorer Capital CloudCall Shares 549,770 1.1
-------------------- -------------------- --------------
An "interest in" securities for these purposes arises, in
summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether absolute
or conditional, to changes in the price of securities (and a person
who only has a short position in securities is not treated as
interested in those securities). In particular, a person will be
treated as having an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership, voting
rights or control of securities, or by virtue of any agreement to
purchase, option in respect of, or derivative referenced to
securities.
16. Delisting, cancellation of trading and re-registration
It is expected that the last day of dealings in CloudCall Shares
on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market will be the Business Day
immediately prior to the Effective Date and no transfers will be
registered after 6.00 pm (London time) on that date.
Subject to the Scheme becoming effective, CloudCall will make an
application to the London Stock Exchange for the cancellation of
the admission to trading of the CloudCall Shares on the London
Stock Exchange's AIM market, to take effect on or shortly after the
Effective Date.
Following the Scheme becoming Effective and after the delisting
and cancellation of admission to trading of the CloudCall Shares,
it is intended that CloudCall be re-registered as a private limited
company as soon as practicable following the Effective Date.
Upon the delisting and cancellation of admission to trading of
the CloudCall Shares on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market, the
CloudCall Shares will no longer trade in the over-the-counter
market in the United States.
17. Consents
Canaccord and Peel Hunt have each given and not withdrawn their
consent to the publication of this announcement with the inclusion
herein of the references to their names in the form and context in
which they appear.
18. Documents available for inspection
Copies of the following documents will be published, by no later
than 12 noon (London time) on the first Business Day following the
date of this announcement, on CloudCall's website at
https://cloudcall.com/investor/offer-for-cloudcall/ and Xplorer
Capital's website at www.xplorer.vc/disclaimer until the Effective
Date:
-- this announcement;
-- the irrevocable undertakings and letters of intent referred
to in paragraph 6 above and summarised in Appendix 3;
-- the Confidentiality Agreement referred to in paragraph 12 above;
-- the Subscription Agreements; and
-- the consent letters from each of Canaccord and Peel Hunt referred to in paragraph 17 above.
The contents of CloudCall's website and Xplorer Capital's
website are not incorporated into and do not form part of this
announcement.
19. Overseas Shareholders
The availability of the Acquisition to CloudCall Shareholders
who are not resident in and citizens of the United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and
observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their
jurisdictions. CloudCall Shareholders who are in any doubt
regarding such matters should consult an appropriate independent
professional adviser in the relevant jurisdiction without
delay.
20. General
Xplorer Capital reserves the right to elect (with the consent of
the Panel) to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer
as an alternative to the Scheme. In such event, the Takeover Offer
will be implemented on substantially the same terms (subject to
appropriate amendments), so far as applicable, as those which would
apply to the Scheme.
The Acquisition will be on the terms and subject to the
Conditions set out in Appendix 1, and to the full terms and
conditions to be set out in the Scheme Document. The formal Scheme
Document containing further information about the Acquisition and
notices of the Meetings, together with the Forms of Proxy, will be
sent to CloudCall Shareholders as soon as practicable and in any
event within 28 days of this announcement (or on such later date as
may be agreed between Xplorer Capital and CloudCall with the
consent of the Panel).
Appendix 2 contains bases and sources of certain information
contained in this announcement. Details of irrevocable undertakings
and letters of intent received are set out in Appendix 3. Certain
terms used in this announcement are defined in Appendix 4.
This announcement does not constitute an offer for sale of any
securities or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any
securities. CloudCall Shareholders are advised to read carefully
the Scheme Document and related Forms of Proxy once these have been
dispatched.
Enquiries
CloudCall Group plc
Simon Cleaver (Chief Executive Officer) +44 (0)20 3587
Paul Williams (Chief Financial Officer) 7188
Canaccord (financial adviser, nominated adviser
and Rule 3 adviser to CloudCall)
Simon Bridges
James Asensio
Thomas Diehl +44 (0)20 7523
Gordon Hamilton 8000
Peel Hunt (financial adviser to Xplorer Capital)
James Britton
Oliver Jackson +44 (0)20 7418
James Smith 8900
Slaughter and May is acting as legal adviser to Xplorer Capital
in connection with the Acquisition.
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP is acting as legal adviser to
CloudCall in connection with the Acquisition.
The person responsible for arranging the release of this
announcement on behalf of CloudCall is Simon Cleaver, Chief
Executive Officer.
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 CloudCall
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 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, or
other response 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).
CloudCall and Xplorer Capital will prepare the Scheme Document
(or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer,
the Offer Document) to be distributed to CloudCall Shareholders.
CloudCall and Xplorer Capital urge CloudCall Shareholders to read
the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way
of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document) when it becomes available
because it will contain important information relating to the
Acquisition.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus, prospectus
equivalent document or an exempted document.
Disclaimers
Canaccord Genuity Limited ("Canaccord"), which is authorised and
regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively
as financial adviser to CloudCall and no one else in connection
with the matters described in this announcement and will not be
responsible to anyone other than CloudCall for providing the
protections afforded to clients of Canaccord nor for providing
advice in connection with any matter referred to herein. Neither
Canaccord nor any of its affiliates (nor their respective
directors, 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 Canaccord in connection with this
announcement, any statement contained herein, the Acquisition or
otherwise. Canaccord has given, and not withdrawn, its consent to
the inclusion of its advice in this announcement in the form and
context in which it is included.
Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt"), which is authorised and regulated
in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting exclusively for
CloudCall and for no-one else in connection with the matters
referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to any
person other than CloudCall for providing the protections afforded
to clients of Peel Hunt, nor for providing advice in relation to
the matters referred to herein. Neither Peel Hunt nor any of its
affiliates 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 Peel Hunt in connection with the matters referred to in this
announcement, or otherwise.
Overseas jurisdictions
This announcement has been prepared in accordance with, and for
the purpose of complying with, the laws of England and Wales and
the Takeover Code, and information disclosed may not be the same as
that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been
prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside
England.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in
or into certain jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be
restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the
laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should
inform themselves about, and observe any applicable requirements of
their jurisdictions.
The availability of the Acquisition to CloudCall Shareholders
who are not resident in and citizens of the United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 CloudCall Shares with
respect to the Scheme at the Court Meeting, or to execute and
deliver Forms of Proxy appointing another 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 will be
contained in the Scheme Document.
Unless otherwise determined by Xplorer Capital or required by
the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation,
the Acquisition will not be made available, in whole or in part,
directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction
where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no
person may vote in favour of the Acquisition 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
must 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 custodians,
nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward,
distribute or send them 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 or into, 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 Acquisition will be subject to the applicable requirements
of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange, the AIM
Rules and the FCA.
Notice to US investors in CloudCall
US holders of CloudCall Shares should note that the Acquisition
relates to the shares of an English company with a listing on AIM
and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for
under English company law. A transaction effected by means of a
scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or
the proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act.
Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure and
procedural requirements and practices applicable in the United
Kingdom to schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure
requirements of United States tender offer and proxy solicitation
rules.
The financial information included in this announcement and the
Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a
Takeover Offer, the Offer Document) has been or will have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles of the United Kingdom and thus may not be comparable to
the financial information of US companies or companies whose
financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States.
However, if, in the future, Xplorer Capital exercises the right
to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer and
determines to extend the offer into the United States, the Takeover
Offer will be made in compliance with applicable United States
tender offer and securities laws and regulations including Section
14(e) of the US Exchange Act and Regulation 14E thereunder.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US holder
of CloudCall Shares as consideration for the transfer of its Scheme
Shares pursuant to the Scheme may be a taxable transaction for US
federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and
local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. The US tax
consequences of the Acquisition, if any, are not described herein.
Each CloudCall Shareholder is therefore urged to consult with
legal, tax and financial advisers in connection with making a
decision regarding the Acquisition.
It may be difficult for US holders of CloudCall Shares to
enforce their rights and any claims arising out of US federal laws,
since CloudCall is located in a non-US jurisdiction, and some or
all of its officers and directors may be residents of a non-US
jurisdiction. US holders of CloudCall Shares may not be able to sue
a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for
violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to
compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to
a US court's judgement.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, in accordance with
normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange
Act, Xplorer Capital, certain affiliated companies and their
nominees or brokers (acting as agents), may from time to time make
certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, CloudCall Shares
outside of the US, other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until
the date on which the Acquisition and/or Scheme becomes Effective,
lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. Also, in accordance with Rule
14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, each of Canaccord and Peel Hunt
will continue to act as an exempt principal trader in CloudCall
Shares on the London Stock Exchange. If such purchases or
arrangements to purchase were to be made they would occur either in
the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at
negotiated prices and comply with applicable law, including the US
Exchange Act. Any information about such purchases will be
disclosed as required in the UK, will be reported to the Regulatory
News Service of the London Stock Exchange and will be available on
the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com
.
Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any US
state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the
Acquisition, or determined if this announcement is accurate or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence
in the United States.
Forward-looking statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by
reference into this announcement), oral statements made regarding
the Acquisition, and other information published by Xplorer Capital
and CloudCall 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
Xplorer Capital and CloudCall 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 Xplorer Capital and CloudCall, 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
"plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "is subject
to", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "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. Although Xplorer
Capital and CloudCall believe that the expectations reflected in
such forward-looking statements are reasonable, Xplorer Capital and
CloudCall 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. 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; 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; the anticipated benefits from the
Acquisition not being realised as a result of changes in general
economic and market conditions in the countries in which Xplorer
Capital and CloudCall operate; weak, volatile or illiquid capital
and/or credit markets; changes in the degree of competition in the
geographic and business areas in which Xplorer Capital and
CloudCall 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 Xplorer Capital nor CloudCall, 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. Given the risks and
uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place any reliance on these
forward-looking statements. Other than in accordance with their
legal or regulatory obligations, neither Xplorer Capital nor
CloudCall is under any obligation, and Xplorer Capital and
CloudCall 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 Takeover Code, any person who is
interested in one per cent. 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 10(th) Business Day
following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate,
by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10(th) 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 Takeover Code, any person who is, or
becomes, interested in one per cent. 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, 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 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.
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 CloudCall for the current or future financial years would
necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or
earnings per share for CloudCall.
Publication on a website
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of
this announcement will be made available, subject to certain
restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted
Jurisdictions, on CloudCall's website at
https://cloudcall.com/investor/offer-for-cloudcall/ and Xplorer
Capital's website at www.xplorer.vc/disclaimer by no later than 12
noon (London time) on the first Business Day following the date of
this announcement. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the contents
of these websites nor the contents of any websites accessible from
any hyperlinks is incorporated into or forms part of this
announcement.
Requesting hard copy documents
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, CloudCall
Shareholders may request a hard copy of this announcement (and any
information incorporated by reference in this announcement), free
of charge, by contacting Link Group during business hours on +44
(0)371 664 0391 (from within the United Kingdom) or by submitting a
request in writing to Link Group, PXS 1, Central Square, 29
Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL. 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. Lines will be open between 9.00 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to
Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales.
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. 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 CloudCall Shareholders, persons with
information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of
communications from CloudCall may be provided to Xplorer Capital
during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4
to the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover
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.
General
If the Acquisition is effected by way of a Takeover Offer, and
such Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional in all
respects and sufficient acceptances are received, Xplorer Capital
intends to exercise its rights to apply the provisions of Chapter 3
of Part 28 of the Companies Act so as to acquire compulsorily the
remaining CloudCall Shares in respect of which the Takeover Offer
has not been accepted.
Investors should be aware that Xplorer Capital may purchase
CloudCall Shares otherwise than under any Takeover Offer or the
Scheme, including pursuant to privately negotiated purchases.
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 or independent financial adviser duly
authorised under the FSMA if you are resident in the United Kingdom
or, if not, from another appropriate authorised independent
financial adviser.
APPIX 1
CONDITIONS TO AND CERTAIN FURTHER TERMS OF THE ACQUISITION
PART A: CONDITIONS TO THE SCHEME AND THE ACQUISITION
1. The Acquisition will be conditional upon the Scheme becoming
unconditional and becoming Effective, subject to the provisions of
the Takeover Code, by no later than the Long Stop Date.
Scheme approval
2. The Scheme will be conditional upon:
(A) (i) its approval by a majority in number representing not
less than 75 per cent. in value of Scheme Shareholders who are on
the register of members of CloudCall (or the relevant class or
classes thereof) at the Voting Record Time, present and voting (and
entitled to vote), whether in person or by proxy, at the Court
Meeting and at any separate class meeting which may be required (or
any adjournment thereof); and (ii) such Court Meeting (and any
separate class meeting which may be required) being held on or
before the 22(nd) day after the expected date of the Court Meeting
to be set out in the Scheme Document in due course (or such later
date as may be agreed between Xplorer Capital and CloudCall with
the consent of the Panel (and that the Court may allow if
required));
(B) (i) the Resolution being duly passed at the General Meeting
(or any adjournment thereof); and (ii) such General Meeting being
held on or before the 22(nd) day after the expected date of the
General Meeting to be set out in the Scheme Document in due course
(or such later date as may be agreed between Xplorer Capital and
CloudCall with the consent of the Panel (and that the Court may
allow if required)); and
(C) (i) the sanction of the Scheme by the Court (with or without
modification (but subject to any such modification being acceptable
to Xplorer Capital and CloudCall)) and the delivery of the office
copy of the Scheme Court Order to the Registrar of Companies; and
(ii) the Scheme Court Hearing being held on or before the 22(nd)
day after the expected date of the Scheme Court Hearing to be set
out in the Scheme Document in due course (or such later date as may
be agreed between Xplorer Capital and CloudCall with the consent of
the Panel (and that the Court may allow)).
General Third Party and regulatory conditions
3. In addition, subject as stated in Part B below and to the
requirements of the Panel, Xplorer Capital and CloudCall have
agreed that the Acquisition will be conditional upon the following
Conditions and, accordingly, the necessary actions to make the
Scheme Effective will not be taken unless the following Conditions
(as amended if appropriate) have been satisfied or, where relevant,
waived:
(A) all necessary filings or applications having been made, all
necessary waiting and other time periods (including any extensions
of such waiting and other time periods) under any applicable
legislation or regulation of any relevant jurisdiction having
expired, lapsed or been terminated (as appropriate) and all
statutory or regulatory obligations in any relevant jurisdiction
having been complied with, in each case in connection with the
Acquisition or the acquisition by any member of the Wider Xplorer
Capital Group of any shares or other securities in, or control of,
any member of the Wider CloudCall Group, where the direct
consequence of a failure to make such a notification or filing or
to wait for the expiry, lapse, or termination of any such waiting
or time period would be unlawful in any relevant jurisdiction;
(B) no relevant government or governmental, quasi-governmental,
supranational, statutory, regulatory, environmental or
investigative body, court, trade agency, association, institution,
any entity owned or controlled by any relevant government or state,
or any other body or person whatsoever in any jurisdiction (each a
"Third Party") having given notice of a decision to take,
institute, implement or threaten any action, proceeding, suit,
investigation, enquiry or reference (and, in each case, not having
withdrawn the same), or having enacted, made or proposed any
statute, regulation, decision or order, or change to published
practice or having taken any other steps, and there not continuing
to be outstanding any statute, regulation, decision or order, which
in each case would reasonably be expected to:
(i) require, prevent or materially delay the divestiture, or
materially alter the terms envisaged for any proposed divestiture
by any member of the Wider Xplorer Capital Group or any member of
the Wider CloudCall Group of all or a material part of their
respective businesses, assets or property or impose any material
limitation on the ability of any of them to conduct their
respective businesses (or any of them) or to own any of their
respective assets or properties or any part thereof;
(ii) require, prevent or materially delay the divestiture by any
member of the Wider Xplorer Capital Group of any shares or other
securities in CloudCall;
(iii) impose any material limitation on, or result in a material
delay in, the ability of any member of the Wider Xplorer Capital
Group directly or indirectly to acquire or to hold or to exercise
effectively any rights of ownership in respect of shares or any
other securities in, or to exercise voting or management control
over, any member of the Wider CloudCall Group or the Wider Xplorer
Capital Group;
(iv) make the Scheme or the Acquisition or, in each case, its
implementation or the acquisition or proposed acquisition by
Xplorer Capital or any member of the Wider Xplorer Capital Group of
any shares or other securities in, or control of CloudCall void,
illegal, and/or unenforceable under the laws of any jurisdiction,
or otherwise, directly or indirectly, restrain, restrict, prohibit,
materially delay or impose additional conditions or obligations
with respect thereto;
(v) except pursuant to the implementation of the Acquisition or,
if applicable, sections 974 to 991 of the Companies Act, require
any member of the Wider Xplorer Capital Group or the Wider
CloudCall Group to offer to acquire any shares or other securities
(or the equivalent) or interest in any member of the Wider
CloudCall Group or the Wider Xplorer Capital Group owned by any
third party;
(vi) impose any limitation on the ability of any member of the
Wider CloudCall Group to co-ordinate its business, or any part of
it, with the businesses of any other members of the Wider CloudCall
Group which is adverse to and material in the context of the Wider
CloudCall Group taken as a whole or in the context of the
Acquisition; or
(vii) otherwise adversely affect the business, assets, profits
or prospects of any member of the Wider Xplorer Capital Group or of
any member of the Wider CloudCall Group to an extent which is
material in the context of the Wider Xplorer Capital Group or the
Wider CloudCall Group in either case taken as a whole;
General other conditions
Certain matters arising as a result of any arrangement,
agreement etc.
(C) save as Disclosed, there being no provision of any
agreement, arrangement, licence, permit or other instrument to
which any member of the Wider CloudCall Group is a party or by or
to which any such member or any of its assets may be bound,
entitled or subject, or any circumstance which in consequence of
the Acquisition or the acquisition or proposed acquisition by any
member of the Wider Xplorer Capital Group of any shares or other
securities (or equivalent) in CloudCall or because of a change in
the control of CloudCall, would, or would reasonably be expected
to, result in any of the following (in any case to an extent which
is or would reasonably be expected to be material and adverse in
the context of the Wider CloudCall Group taken as a whole):
(i) any monies borrowed by or any other indebtedness or
liabilities (actual or contingent) of, or grant available to any
member of the Wider CloudCall Group, being or becoming repayable or
capable of being declared repayable immediately or earlier than
their or its stated maturity date or repayment date or the ability
of any such member to borrow moneys or incur any indebtedness being
withdrawn or inhibited or being capable of becoming or being
withdrawn or inhibited;
(ii) any asset or interest of any member of the Wider CloudCall
Group being or falling to be disposed of or charged or ceasing to
be available to any such member or any right arising under which
any such asset or interest could be required to be disposed of or
charged or could cease to be available to any member of the Wider
CloudCall Group otherwise than in the ordinary course of
business;
(iii) other than in the ordinary course of business, the
creation or enforcement of any mortgage, charge or other security
interest over the whole or any part of the business, property,
assets or interest of any member of the Wider CloudCall Group;
(iv) the rights, liabilities, obligations or interests of any
member of the Wider CloudCall Group, or the business of any such
member with, any person, firm, company or body (or any arrangement
or arrangements relating to any such interest or business) being
terminated, adversely modified or affected;
(v) the value or financial or trading position or prospects of
any member of the Wider CloudCall Group being prejudiced or
adversely affected; or
(vi) the creation or acceleration of any material liability,
actual or contingent, by any member of the Wider CloudCall Group
other than trade creditors or other liabilities incurred in the
ordinary course of business or in connection with the
Acquisition,
and, save as Disclosed, no event having occurred which, under
any provision of any agreement, arrangement, licence, permit or
other instrument to which any member of the Wider CloudCall Group
is a party or by or to which any such member or any of its assets
may be bound, entitled or subject, would reasonably be expected to
result in any of the events or circumstances as are referred to in
sub-paragraphs (i) to (vi) above, in each case to the extent
material in the context of the Wider CloudCall Group taken as a
whole;
Certain events occurring since 31 December 2020
(D) save as Disclosed, no member of the Wider CloudCall Group
having, since 31 December 2020:
(i) save as between CloudCall and wholly-owned subsidiaries of
CloudCall and/or for CloudCall Shares issued under or pursuant to
the exercise of options and vesting of awards granted under the
CloudCall Share Plans, issued or agreed to issue, authorised or
proposed the issue of additional shares of any class;
(ii) save as between CloudCall and wholly-owned subsidiaries of
CloudCall and/or for the grant of options and awards and other
rights under the CloudCall Share Plans, issued or agreed to issue,
authorised or proposed the issue of securities convertible into
shares of any class or rights, warrants or options to subscribe
for, or acquire, any such shares or convertible securities;
(iii) other than to another member of the CloudCall Group, prior
to the Acquisition becoming Effective, recommended, declared, paid
or made any dividend or other distribution payable in cash or
otherwise or made any bonus issue;
(iv) save for intra-CloudCall Group transactions and
transactions in the ordinary course of business, merged or demerged
with any body corporate or acquired or disposed of or transferred,
mortgaged or charged or created any security interest over any
assets or any right, title or interest in any asset (including
shares and trade investments) or authorised or announced any
intention to effect any merger, demerger, disposal, transfer,
mortgage, charge or security interest, in each case, other than in
the ordinary course of business and, in each case, to the extent
which is material in the context of the Wider CloudCall Group taken
as a whole;
(v) save for intra-CloudCall Group transactions, made or
authorised or proposed or announced an intention to propose any
change in its loan capital in each case, to the extent which is
material in the context of the Wider CloudCall Group taken as a
whole;
(vi) other than in the ordinary course of business, issued,
authorised or announced its intention for the issue of, or made any
change in or to, any debentures or (save for intra-CloudCall Group
transactions), incurred or increased any indebtedness or become
subject to any contingent liability to an extent which is material
in the context of the Wider CloudCall Group taken as a whole;
(vii) purchased, redeemed or repaid or announced its intention
to purchase, redeem or repay any of its own shares or other
securities or reduced or, save in respect to the matters mentioned
in sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii) above, made any other change to any
part of its share capital in each case, to the extent which is
material in the context of the Wider CloudCall Group taken as a
whole;
(viii) save for intra-CloudCall Group transactions, implemented,
or authorised, or announced its intention to implement, any
reconstruction, amalgamation, scheme, commitment or other
transaction or arrangement otherwise than in the ordinary course of
business which in any case is material in the context of the Wider
CloudCall Group taken as a whole;
(ix) entered into, varied or authorised any material agreement,
transaction, arrangement or commitment (whether in respect of
capital expenditure or otherwise) which:
(a) is of a long term, onerous or unusual nature or magnitude or
which is reasonably likely to involve an obligation of such nature
or magnitude (save in the ordinary course of business); or
(b) would or would reasonably be likely to materially restrict
the business of any member of the Wider CloudCall Group other than
to a nature and extent which is normal in the context of the
business concerned,
and, in either case, which is or would reasonably be expected to
be material and adverse in the context of the Wider CloudCall Group
taken as a whole;
(x) (other than in respect of a member which is dormant and was
solvent at the relevant time) taken any corporate action or steps
or had any legal proceedings started or threatened against it in
relation to the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any
indebtedness, or petition presented or order made for its
winding-up, dissolution or reorganisation or for the appointment of
a receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, trustee or
similar officer of all or any part of its assets or revenues or any
analogous proceedings in any jurisdiction or appointed any
analogous person in any jurisdiction or had any such person
appointed which in any case is material in the context of the Wider
CloudCall Group taken as a whole;
(xi) other than claims between CloudCall and its wholly-owned
subsidiaries or between such wholly-owned subsidiaries, waived or
compromised any claim otherwise than in the ordinary course of
business which is material in the context of the Wider CloudCall
Group taken as a whole;
(xii) made any alteration to its memorandum or articles of
association or other incorporation documents (other than in
connection with the Scheme) which is material in the context of the
Acquisition;
(xiii) been unable, or admitted in writing that it is unable, to
pay its debts or commenced negotiations with one or more of its
creditors with a view to rescheduling or restructuring any of its
indebtedness, or having stopped or suspended (or threatened to stop
or suspend) payment of its debts generally or ceased or threatened
to cease carrying on all or a substantial part of its business to
an extent which is material in the context of the Wider CloudCall
Group taken as a whole;
(xiv) otherwise than in the ordinary course of business, entered
into any contract, commitment, arrangement or agreement or passed
any resolution or made any offer (which remains open for
acceptance) with respect to, or announced any intention to, effect
any of the transactions, matters or events referred to in this
paragraph 3(D) which is material in the context of the Wider
CloudCall Group taken as a whole;
(xv) (except in relation to changes made or agreed as a result
of, or arising from, applicable law or changes to applicable law)
made or agreed or consented to:
(a) any change to:
(1) the terms of the trust deeds constituting the pension
scheme(s) established by any member of the CloudCall Group for its
directors, employees or their dependents, including the CloudCall
Pension Schemes;
(2) the contributions payable to any such scheme(s) or to the
benefits which accrue or to the pensions which are payable
thereunder;
(3) the basis on which qualification for, or accrual or
entitlement to, such benefits or pensions are calculated or
determined; or
(4) the basis upon which the liabilities (including pensions) of
such pension schemes are funded, valued or made; or
(b) any non-ordinary course change to the trustees including the
appointment of a trust corporation,
in each case, to the extent which is material in the context of
the Wider CloudCall Group taken as a whole;
(xvi) save as agreed by the Panel (if required) and by Xplorer
Capital, proposed, agreed to provide or modified the terms of any
of the CloudCall Share Plans or other benefit relating to the
employment or termination of employment of a material category of
persons employed by the Wider CloudCall Group or which constitutes
a material change to the terms or conditions of employment of any
senior executive of the Wider CloudCall Group, or entered into or
changed the terms of or made any offer (which remains open for
acceptance) to enter into or change the terms of any contract with
any director or senior executive, in each case, in a manner which
is material in the context of the Wider CloudCall Group taken as a
whole;
(xvii) taken any action which requires, or would require, the
consent of the Panel or the approval of CloudCall Shareholders in
general meeting in accordance with, or as contemplated by, Rule
21.1 of the Takeover Code;
No adverse change, litigation or regulatory enquiry
(E) save as Disclosed, since 31 December 2020:
(i) no adverse change or deterioration having occurred in the
business, assets, financial or trading position or profits or
operational performance of any member of the Wider CloudCall Group
which, in any such case, is material and adverse in the context of
the Wider CloudCall Group taken as a whole;
(ii) (other than as a result of, or in connection with, the
Acquisition) no litigation, arbitration proceedings, prosecution or
other legal proceedings to which any member of the Wider CloudCall
Group is or may become a party (whether as a plaintiff, defendant
or otherwise) and no enquiry or investigation by, or complaint or
reference to, any Third Party against or in respect of any member
of the Wider CloudCall Group having been instituted, announced,
implemented or threatened in writing by or against or remaining
outstanding in respect of any member of the Wider CloudCall Group
which in any such case has had or would reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on the Wider CloudCall Group taken
as a whole;
(iii) no contingent or other liability of any member of the
Wider CloudCall Group having arisen or become apparent or increased
other than in the ordinary course of business, which has had or
might reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the Wider
CloudCall Group taken as a whole and is material to the Wider
CloudCall Group taken as a whole;
(iv) no member of the Wider CloudCall Group having conducted its
business in breach of any applicable laws and regulations and which
in any case is material in the context of the Wider CloudCall Group
taken as a whole; and
(v) no steps having been taken which are likely to result in the
withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of any
licence or permit held by any member of the Wider CloudCall Group
which is necessary for the proper carrying on of its business and
the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of which
would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the Wider CloudCall Group taken as a whole;
No discovery of certain matters
(F) save as Disclosed, Xplorer Capital not having discovered that:
(i) any financial, business or other information concerning the
Wider CloudCall Group as contained in the information publicly
disclosed at any time by or on behalf of any member of the Wider
CloudCall Group is materially misleading, contains a material
misrepresentation of fact or omits to state a fact necessary to
make that information not misleading and which was not subsequently
corrected before the date of this announcement by disclosure either
publicly or otherwise to Xplorer Capital or its professional
advisers, in each case, to the extent which is material in the
context of the Wider CloudCall Group taken as a whole;
(ii) any member of the Wider CloudCall Group is subject to any
liability (contingent or otherwise), other than in the ordinary
course of business, which, in any case, is material in the context
of the Wider CloudCall Group taken as a whole; or
(iii) any past or present member of the Wider CloudCall Group
has failed to comply with any and/or all applicable legislation or
regulation, of any jurisdiction with regard to the use, treatment,
handling, storage, carriage, disposal, spillage, release,
discharge, leak or emission of any waste or hazardous substance or
any substance likely to impair the environment or harm human health
or animal health or otherwise relating to environmental matters or
the health and safety of humans, or that there has otherwise been
any such use, treatment, handling, storage, carriage, disposal,
spillage, release, discharge, leak or emission (whether or not the
same constituted a non-compliance by any person with any such
legislation or regulations, and wherever the same may have taken
place) which non-compliance would be likely to give rise to any
material liability (actual or contingent) or cost on the part of
any member of the Wider CloudCall Group and which is material in
the context of the Wider CloudCall Group taken as a whole;
(iv) there is any material liability (actual or contingent) to
make good, repair, reinstate or clean up any property now or
previously owned, occupied or made use of by any past or present
member of the Wider CloudCall Group under any environmental
legislation, regulation, notice, circular or order of any
government, governmental, quasi-governmental, state or local
government, supranational, statutory or other regulatory body,
agency, court, association or body in any jurisdiction, which in
any case is material in the context of the Wider CloudCall Group
taken as a whole;
Anti-corruption, economic sanctions, criminal property and money
laundering
(G) save as Disclosed, Xplorer Capital not having discovered that:
(i) any:
(a) past or present member, director, officer or employee of the
Wider CloudCall Group is or has at any time, in connection with
their position in the Wider CloudCall Group, engaged in any
activity, practice or conduct which would constitute an offence
under the Bribery Act 2010, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of
1977 or any other applicable anti-corruption or anti-bribery
legislation; or
(b) any person that performs or has performed services for or on
behalf of the Wider CloudCall Group is or has at any time engaged
in any activity, practice or conduct in connection with the
performance of such services which would constitute an offence
under the Bribery Act 2010, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of
1977 or any other applicable anti-corruption or anti-bribery
legislation; or
(ii) any asset of any member of the Wider CloudCall Group
constitutes criminal property as defined by section 340(3) of the
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (but disregarding paragraph (b) of that
definition); or
(iii) any past or present member, director, officer or employee
of the Wider CloudCall Group, or any other person for whom any such
person may be liable or responsible, is or has engaged in any
business with, made any investments in, made any funds or assets
available to or received any funds or assets from:
(a) any government, entity or individual in respect of which US,
UK or European Union persons, or persons operating in those
territories, are prohibited from engaging in activities or doing
business, or from receiving or making available funds or economic
resources, by US, UK or European Union laws or regulations,
including the economic sanctions administered by the United States
Office of Foreign Assets Control, or Her Majesty's Revenue and
Customs; or
(b) any government, entity or individual targeted by any of the
economic sanctions of the United Nations or the European Union or
any of their respective member states,
which in each case, would cause any member of the Wider
CloudCall Group to be in breach of any economic sanctions law
applicable to the Wider CloudCall Group; or
(iv) any member of the Wider CloudCall Group is or has been
engaged in any transaction which would cause the Wider CloudCall
Group to be in breach of any law or regulation prior to completion
of the Acquisition, including but not limited to the economic
sanctions of the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control, or
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, or any other relevant government
authority which in any case is material in the context of the Wider
CloudCall Group taken as a whole.
PART B: FURTHER TERMS OF THE ACQUISITION
1. Conditions 2(A) (i), 2(B) (i) and 3 (A) to (G) (inclusive)
must be fulfilled, be determined by Xplorer Capital to be or remain
satisfied or (if capable of waiver) be waived prior to the
commencement of the Scheme Court Hearing, failing which the Scheme
will lapse.
2. Notwithstanding the paragraph above and subject to the
requirements of the Panel and the Takeover Code, Xplorer Capital
reserves the right in its sole discretion to waive:
(A) the deadline set out in paragraph 1 of Part A of this
Appendix 1, and any of the deadlines set out in paragraph 2 of Part
A of this Appendix 1 for the timing of the Court Meeting, General
Meeting and the Scheme Court Hearing. If any such deadline is not
met, Xplorer Capital shall make an announcement by 8.00 am on the
Business Day following such deadline confirming whether it has
invoked or waived the relevant Condition or agreed with CloudCall
to extend the deadline in relation to the relevant Condition;
and
(B) in whole or in part, all or any of the Conditions set out in
paragraphs 3(A) to 3(G) (inclusive) of Part A of this Appendix
1.
3. Xplorer Capital shall be under no obligation to waive or
treat as satisfied any of the Conditions set out in paragraphs 3
(A) to 3 (G) (inclusive) of Part A of this Appendix 1 that it is
entitled (with the consent of the Panel and subject to the
requirements of the Takeover Code) to invoke, by a date earlier
than the latest date specified above for the fulfilment or waiver
thereof, notwithstanding that the other Conditions may at such
earlier date have been waived or fulfilled and that there are at
such earlier date no circumstances indicating that any of such
Conditions may not be capable of fulfilment.
4. Under Rule 13.5(a) of the Takeover Code and subject to
paragraph 5 , Xplorer Capital may only invoke a Condition so as to
cause the Acquisition not to proceed, to lapse or to be withdrawn
with the consent of the Panel. The Panel will normally only give
its consent if the circumstances which give rise to the right to
invoke the Condition are of material significance to Xplorer
Capital in the context of the Acquisition. This will be judged by
reference to the facts of each case at the time that the relevant
circumstances arise. The Conditions set out in paragraphs 2(A) (i),
2(B) (i) and 2(C) (i) of Part A of this Appendix 1 and, if
applicable, any acceptance condition if the Acquisition is
implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, are not subject to Rule
13.5(a) of the Takeover Code.
5. Any Condition that is subject to Rule 13.5(a) of the Takeover
Code may be waived by Xplorer Capital.
6. If Xplorer Capital is required by the Panel to make an offer
for CloudCall Shares under the provisions of Rule 9 of the Takeover
Code, Xplorer Capital may make such alterations to any of the above
Conditions and the terms of the Acquisition as are necessary to
comply with the provisions of Rule 9.
7. Xplorer Capital reserves the right to elect to implement the
Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer as an alternative to the
Scheme (subject to the Panel's consent). In such event, the
Acquisition will be implemented on the same terms and conditions
(subject to appropriate amendments including (without limitation)
the inclusion of an acceptance condition set at 75 per cent. of the
CloudCall Shares (or such other percentage as Xplorer Capital may,
subject to the rules of the Takeover Code and with the consent of
the Panel if required, decide, being in any case more than 50 per
cent. of the CloudCall Shares), or any amendments required by
applicable law or any amendments necessary to reflect the Takeover
Offer) as those which would apply to the Scheme. If the Acquisition
is effected by way of a Takeover Offer, and such Takeover Offer
becomes or is declared unconditional in all respects and sufficient
acceptances are received, Xplorer Capital intends to exercise its
rights to apply the provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the
Companies Act so as to acquire compulsorily the remaining CloudCall
Shares in respect of which the Takeover Offer has not been
accepted.
8. The CloudCall Shares will be acquired pursuant to the
Acquisition with full title guarantee, fully paid and free from all
liens, equities, charges, encumbrances, options, rights of
pre-emption and any other third party rights and interests of any
nature whatsoever and together with all rights now or hereafter
attaching or accruing to them, including voting rights and the
right to receive and retain in full all dividends and other
distributions (if any) declared, made or paid, or any other return
of capital or value (whether by reduction of share capital or share
premium account or otherwise) made on or after the Effective
Date.
9. If, on or after the date of this announcement and before the
Acquisition becomes Effective, any dividend, distribution or other
return of capital or value is announced, declared, made or paid by
CloudCall or becomes payable by CloudCall in respect of the
CloudCall Shares, Xplorer Capital reserves the right (without
prejudice to any right of Xplorer Capital, with the consent of the
Panel, to invoke the Condition set out in paragraph 3 (D)(iii) of
Part A of this Appendix 1) to reduce the consideration payable
under the terms of the Acquisition of the CloudCall Shares by an
amount equal to the aggregate amount of such dividend, distribution
or other return of capital or value. In such circumstances,
CloudCall Shareholders would be entitled to receive and retain any
such dividend, distribution or return of capital or value. Any
exercise by Xplorer Capital of its rights referred to in this
paragraph 9 shall be the subject of an announcement and, for the
avoidance of doubt, shall not be regarded as constituting any
revision or variation of the Acquisition.
10. The Acquisition will be subject, inter alia, to the
Conditions and certain further terms which are set out in this
Appendix 1 and to the full terms which will be set out in the
Scheme Document and such further terms as may be required to comply
with the provisions of the Takeover Code.
11. This announcement, any rights or liabilities arising
hereunder are, and the Acquisition, the Scheme and any Forms of
Proxy will be, governed by English law and subject to the
jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. The Acquisition
will be subject to the applicable requirements of the Takeover
Code, the AIM Rules, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the
FCA.
12. The Acquisition is not being made, directly or indirectly,
in, into or from, or by use of the mails of, or by any means of
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.
13. The availability of the Acquisition to persons not resident
in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant
jurisdictions. Any persons who are subject to the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves
about and observe any applicable requirements. Further information
in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be contained in the
Scheme Document.
14. Each of the Conditions shall be regarded as a separate
Condition and shall not be limited by reference to any other
Condition.
APPIX 2
BASES AND SOURCES
In this announcement, unless otherwise stated or the context
otherwise requires, the following bases and sources have been
used.
1. As at close of business on 8 December 2021 (being the last
Business Day before the date of this announcement) there were
48,029,216 CloudCall Shares in issue. The legal entity identifier
for the CloudCall Shares is 213800CQVFAG2XRDDA80 .
2. As at 8 December 2021 (being the last Business Day before the
date of this announcement), there were 920,590 CloudCall Shares
that may be issued pursuant to CloudCall Share Plans.
3. Any references to the issued and to be issued ordinary share
capital of CloudCall are each based on:
-- the 48,029,216 CloudCall Shares referred to in paragraph 1 above; and
-- the 920,590 CloudCall Shares that may be issued pursuant to
CloudCall Share Plans referred to in paragraph 2 above.
4. Certain figures included in this announcement have been subject to rounding adjustments.
5. Unless otherwise stated, the financial information of
CloudCall is extracted (without material adjustment) from
CloudCall's annual report and financial statements for the 12
months ended 31 December 2020, which were released on 31 March 2021
and CloudCall's interim report for the six months ended 30 June
2021, which was released on 14 September 2021.
6. Volume-weighted average prices have been derived from
Bloomberg and have been rounded to the nearest tenth of a
penny.
APPIX 3
DETAILS OF IRREVOCABLE UNDERTAKINGS AND LETTERS OF INTENT
CloudCall Directors' irrevocable undertakings
The following CloudCall Directors who hold CloudCall Shares have
given irrevocable undertakings to vote (or, in respect of CloudCall
Shares where their interest is solely beneficial, use all
reasonable endeavours to procure the exercise of all such voting
rights) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the
Resolution at the General Meeting in respect of their own holdings
of CloudCall Shares:
Name Total number Percentage of CloudCall Shares
of in issue on 8 December 2021
CloudCall Shares (being the last Business Day
before the date of this announcement)
(per cent.)
Simon Cleaver 880,344 1.8
Peter Simmonds 266,875 0.6
Paul Williams 130,947 0.3
Sophie Tomkins 52,987 0.1
Total 1,331,153 2.8
The undertakings from the CloudCall Directors will cease to be
binding only:
(A) if Xplorer Capital shall not have announced a firm intention
to proceed with the Acquisition at or before 8.00 a.m. on 17
December 2021 or on such other time and date as CloudCall and
Xplorer Capital may agree;
(B) if Xplorer Capital announces that it does not intend to
proceed with the Acquisition and no new revised or replacement
Scheme or Takeover Offer is announced by Xplorer Capital in
accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code at the same time;
(C) if the Scheme Document or Offer Document is not dispatched
to CloudCall Shareholders within 28 days of the relevant
announcement (or such longer period, in the case of the Scheme
Document, as Xplorer Capital and CloudCall agree with the consent
of the Panel or, in the case of an Offer Document, such longer
period as Xplorer Capital, with the consent of the Panel,
determines) of this announcement, provided that if the Acquisition
was initially being implemented by way of a Scheme and Xplorer
Capital elects to exercise its right to implement the Acquisition
by way of a Takeover Offer, or vice versa, the time period is to be
extended to refer to within 28 days of the issue of the press
announcement announcing the change in structure (or such other date
for the posting of the Offer Document or Scheme Document (as
applicable) as the Panel may require); or
(D) if any competing offer for the entire issued and to be
issued ordinary share capital of CloudCall becomes or is declared
unconditional or, if proceeding by way of scheme of arrangement,
becomes effective; or
(E) on the earlier of:
(i) the Long Stop Date; or
(ii) the date on which the Acquisition (whether implemented by
way of a Scheme or a Takeover Offer) is withdrawn or lapses in
accordance with its terms, unless the Acquisition is withdrawn or
lapses as a result of Xplorer Capital exercising its right to
implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer in accordance
with the Takeover Code rather than by way of a Scheme or vice
versa.
Letters of intent
Herald Investment Management Limited, Burgundy Asset Management
Ltd and Goudy Park Management, LLC have each given to Xplorer
Capital a non-binding letter of intent to vote in favour of the
resolutions relating to the Acquisition at the Meetings, in respect
of a total of 10,133,301 CloudCall Shares, representing in
aggregate approximately 21.1 per cent. of the issued ordinary share
capital of CloudCall on 8 December 2021 (being the last Business
Day before the date of this announcement), or to accept, or procure
the acceptance of, the Takeover Offer if the Acquisition is
implemented as a Takeover Offer.
The letter of intent referred to above from Herald Investment
Management Limited states that Herald Investment Management Limited
would no longer intend to vote in favour of the resolutions
relating to the Acquisition at the Meetings (or accept the Takeover
Offer if the Acquisition is implemented as a Takeover Offer) if a
competing offer is made that is at least 10% greater in value.
APPIX 4
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions apply throughout this announcement
unless the context requires otherwise:
"Acquisition" the acquisition of the entire issued, and to
be issued, ordinary share capital of CloudCall
by Xplorer Capital (other than CloudCall Shares
already held or controlled by Xplorer Capital,
if any) to be implemented by way of the Scheme
or, should Xplorer Capital so elect (with the
consent of the Panel) by way of the Takeover
Offer, and, where the context admits, any subsequent
revision, variation, extension or renewal thereof;
"AIM" the market of that name operated by the London
Stock Exchange;
"AIM Rules" Rules and Guidance notes for AIM Companies and
their nominated advisers issued by the London
Stock Exchange from time to time relating to
AIM traded securities and the operation of AIM;
"Articles" the articles of association of CloudCall from
time to time;
"Business any day (excluding any Saturday or Sunday or
Day" any public holiday in England) on which banks
in the City of London are generally open for
business;
"Canaccord" Canaccord Genuity Limited;
"Cash Consideration" the cash consideration payable by Xplorer Capital
in connection with the Acquisition, being 81.5
pence for each CloudCall Share;
"Closing the closing middle market price of a CloudCall
Price" Share as derived from the AIM appendix to the
Daily Official List on any particular date;
"CloudCall" CloudCall Group plc, a public limited company
incorporated in England and Wales with registered
number 05509873 and whose registered office
is at 1 Colton Square, Leicester, LE1 1QH;
"CloudCall the board of directors of CloudCall as at the
Board" date of this announcement;
"CloudCall the directors of CloudCall as at the date of
Directors" this announcement;
"CloudCall CloudCall and its subsidiaries and subsidiary
Group" undertakings from time to time;
"CloudCall the CloudCall defined contribution pension scheme;
Pension Scheme"
"CloudCall the CloudCall Group Share Incentive Plan and
Share Plans" CloudCall 2011 Discretionary Share Option Plan;
"CloudCall the registered holders of CloudCall Shares from
Shareholders" time to time;
"CloudCall the ordinary shares of 20 pence each in the
Shares" capital of CloudCall from time to time;
"Companies the Companies Act 2006, as amended from time
Act" to time;
"Conditions" the conditions to the Acquisition, as set out
in Appendix 1 and to be set out in the Scheme
Document;
"Confidentiality the confidentiality agreement entered into between
Agreement" Xplorer Capital and CloudCall in relation to
the Acquisition dated 28 November 2021, a summary
of which is set out in paragraph 12 of this
announcement;
"Court Meeting" the meeting of the Scheme Shareholders convened
by order of the Court pursuant to section 896
of the Companies Act for the purpose of considering
and, if thought fit, approving the Scheme (with
or without amendment) and any adjournment thereof;
"Court" the High Court of Justice in England and Wales;
"CREST" the relevant system (as defined in the Uncertificated
Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/3755) (including
as it forms part of domestic law of the United
Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal)
Act 2018)), in respect of which Euroclear UK
& Ireland Limited is the Operator (as defined
in such Regulations) in accordance with which
securities may be held and transferred in uncertificated
form;
"CRM" Customer Relationship Management;
"Daily Official the daily official list of the London Stock
List" Exchange;
"Dealing an announcement pursuant to Rule 8 of the Takeover
Disclosure" Code containing details of dealings in interests
in relevant securities of a party to an offer;
"Disclosed" either:
(a) information disclosed by, or on behalf of,
CloudCall in CloudCall's annual report and financial
statements for the 52 weeks ended 31 December
2020 or in this announcement; or
(b) as otherwise publicly announced by CloudCall
prior to the date of this announcement (by the
delivery of an announcement to a Regulatory
Information Service); or
(c) information fairly disclosed in writing
prior to the date of this announcement by or
on behalf of CloudCall to Xplorer Capital or
Xplorer Capital Management LLC (or their respective
officers, employees, agents or advisers in their
capacity as such), including (but not limited
to): (i) in connection with any management presentation
in connection with the Acquisition which was
attended by CloudCall and any of Xplorer Capital
or Xplorer Capital Management LLC (or their
respective officers, employees, agents or advisers
in their capacity as such), or (ii) via the
virtual data room operated on behalf of CloudCall
in respect of the Acquisition or via email;
"EBITDA" earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortisation;
"Effective the date on which the Acquisition becomes Effective;
Date"
"Effective" either:
(a) if the Acquisition is implemented by way
of the Scheme, the Scheme having become effective
pursuant to its terms; or
(b) if the Acquisition is implemented by way
of a Takeover Offer, means the Takeover Offer
having been declared or having become unconditional
in accordance with the requirements of the Takeover
Code;
"Excluded any CloudCall Shares: (a) registered in the
Shares" name of, or beneficially owned by Xplorer Capital,
any member of the Wider Xplorer Capital Group
or their respective nominees; (b) registered
in the name of, or beneficially owned by, funds
managed by Xplorer Capital, any member of the
Wider Xplorer Capital Group or any of their
subsidiary undertakings or their respective
nominees; or (c) held by CloudCall in treasury;
"FCA" the Financial Conduct Authority;
"FSMA" the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000,
as amended from time to time;
" Forms of the forms of proxy in connection with each of
Proxy" the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, which
shall accompany the Scheme Document;
"General the general meeting of CloudCall Shareholders
Meeting" to be convened in connection with the Scheme
to consider and, if thought fit, to approve
the Resolution (with or without amendment),
including any adjournment, postponement or reconvening
thereof;
"H1 2020" the half-year ended 30 June 2020;
"H1 2021" the half-year ended 30 June 2021;
"London Stock London Stock Exchange plc;
Exchange"
"Long Stop 28 February 2022, or such later date as may
Date" be agreed in writing between Xplorer Capital
and CloudCall (with the Panel's consent and
as the Court may allow, if such consent and/or
approval is/are required);
"Meetings" the Court Meeting and the General Meeting;
"Offer Document" if (with the consent of the Panel, as applicable)
Xplorer Capital elects to implement the Acquisition
by way of the Takeover Offer, the document to
be sent to CloudCall Shareholders which will
contain, inter alia, the terms and conditions
of the Takeover Offer;
"Offer Period" the offer period (as defined in the Takeover
Code) relating to CloudCall commencing on 9
December 2021 and ending on the earlier of the
Effective Date and/or the date on which the
Scheme lapses or is withdrawn (or such other
date as the Panel may decide);
"Overseas Scheme Shareholders who are resident in, ordinarily
Shareholders" resident in, or citizens of, jurisdictions outside
the United Kingdom;
"Panel" the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers;
"Peel Hunt" Peel Hunt LLP;
"Registrar the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales;
of Companies"
"Regulatory any information service authorised from time
Information to time by the FCA for the purpose of disseminating
Service" regulatory announcements;
"Resolution" the resolution(s) to be proposed at the General
Meeting necessary to approve and implement the
Scheme, including, amongst other things, a resolution
to amend the Articles by the adoption and inclusion
of a new article under which any CloudCall Shares
issued or transferred after the Scheme Record
Time (other than to Xplorer Capital and/or its
nominees) shall be automatically transferred
to Xplorer Capital (and, where applicable, for
consideration to be paid to the transferee or
to the original recipient of the CloudCall Shares
so transferred or issued) on the same terms
as the Acquisition (other than terms as to timings
and formalities);
"Restricted any jurisdiction where local laws or regulations
Jurisdiction" may result in a significant risk of civil, regulatory
or criminal exposure if information concerning
the Acquisition is sent or made available to
CloudCall Shareholders in that jurisdiction;
"Scheme" the proposed scheme of arrangement under Part
26 of the Companies Act between CloudCall and
Scheme Shareholders to implement the Acquisition;
"Scheme Court the hearing of the Court to sanction the Scheme
Hearing" under section 899 of the Companies Act, including
any adjournment thereof;
"Scheme Court the order of the Court sanctioning the Scheme
Order" under section 899 of the Companies Act;
"Scheme Document" the document to be dispatched to CloudCall Shareholders
including the particulars required by section
897 of the Companies Act;
"Scheme Record the time and date specified as such in the Scheme
Time" Document, expected to be 6.00 pm on the Business
Day immediately after the date of the Scheme
Court Hearing, or such later time as Xplorer
Capital and CloudCall may agree;
"Scheme Shareholders" the holders of Scheme Shares;
"Scheme Shares" all CloudCall Shares:
(a) in issue at the date of the Scheme Document;
(b) (if any) issued after the date of the Scheme
Document and prior to the Voting Record Time;
and
(c) (if any) issued at or after the Voting Record
Time and prior to the Scheme Record Time in
respect of which the original or any subsequent
holder thereof is bound by the Scheme, or shall
by such time have agreed in writing to be bound
by the Scheme,
but excluding any Excluded Shares;
"Subscription the subscription agreements entered into with
Agreements" respect to Xplorer Capital by Xplorer Capital
Fund IV GP, LLC, an entity within the Wider
Xplorer Capital Group (and the managing member
of Xplorer Capital) and the Investors as defined
therein, dated 8 December 2021;
"Substantial a direct or indirect interest in 20 per cent.
Interest" or more of the voting equity share capital of
an undertaking;
"Takeover the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, as issued
Code" from time to time by or on behalf of the Panel;
"Takeover if (with the consent of the Panel, as applicable)
Offer" Xplorer Capital elects to implement the Acquisition
by way of a takeover offer as defined in Chapter
3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act, the offer
to be made by or on behalf of Xplorer Capital
to acquire the entire issued and to be issued
share capital of CloudCall and, where the context
admits, any subsequent revision, variation,
extension or renewal of such offer;
"UK" or "United the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Kingdom" Ireland;
"US Exchange the United States Securities Exchange Act 1934,
Act" as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder;
"US" or "United the United States of America, its territories
States" and possessions, any state of the United States
of America and the District of Columbia;
"Voting Record the time and date specified as such in the Scheme
Time" Document by reference to which entitlement to
vote at the Court Meeting will be determined;
"Wider Xplorer Xplorer Capital, its subsidiary undertakings
Capital Group" and associated undertakings (including any joint
venture, partnership, firm or company) in which
Xplorer Capital and/or such undertakings (aggregating
their interests) have a Substantial Interest
or which are under the common management of
Xplorer Capital Management LLC;
"Wider CloudCall CloudCall, its subsidiary undertakings and associated
Group" undertakings (including any joint venture, partnership,
firm or company) in which CloudCall and/or such
undertakings (aggregating their interests) have
a Substantial Interest; and
"Xplorer Xplorer Capital Growth I, LLC, a Delaware corporation.
Capital"
All references to time in this announcement are to London time
unless otherwise stated.
All references to "pounds", "pounds Sterling", "Sterling",
"GBP", "pence", "penny" and "p" are to the lawful currency of the
United Kingdom.
A reference to "includes" shall mean "includes without
limitation", and references to "including" and any other similar
term shall be construed accordingly.
For the purposes of this announcement, "subsidiary", "subsidiary
undertaking", "undertaking" and "equity share capital" have the
meanings given by the Companies Act.
References to an enactment include references to that enactment
as amended, replaced, consolidated or re-enacted by or under any
other enactment before or after the date of this announcement.
References to the singular include the plural and vice
versa.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
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END
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