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 IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FALLING UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY
CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE
AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7
OF THE CODE OR OTHERWISE. THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY OFFER
WILL BE MADE.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES
OF ARTICLE 7 OF REGULATION (EU) NO 596/2014 (WHICH FORMS PART OF UK
LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018)
("MAR"). UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THE INSIDE
INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN FOR THE
PURPOSES OF MAR.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
18
March 2024
Urban Logistics REIT PLC
("Urban Logistics" or the "Company")
Update on Urban Logistics'
Evaluation of abrdn Property Income Trust Limited
("API")
Further to API's announcement of 14 March 2024, Urban
Logistics sets out an update on its evaluation of API, further
information on an alternative proposal already submitted to the
Board of API and the views of the Board of Urban Logistics as to
why this proposal constitutes a superior proposition for the API
shareholder body as a whole amongst the alternatives being reviewed
by the Board of API.
The
Board of Urban Logistics urges API shareholders to vote
against the Custodian Offer and to encourage their Board
to re-consider the Urban Logistics Proposals.
Introduction
Urban Logistics notes the
announcement by API on 14 March 2024 and the statement released on
14 March 2024 by the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the
"Takeover Panel") extending
the date by which Urban Logistics must either announce a firm
intention to make an offer for API under Rule 2.7 of the Code or
announce that it does not intend to make an offer for API, to
5.00pm on 20 March 2024.
On 20 February 2024, Urban Logistics
announced that it had approached the Board of API regarding an
indicative share-for-share offer for the entire issued and to be
issued share capital of API at an exchange ratio of 0.469 Urban
Logistics shares for each API share (the "Original Indicative Offer", further
details of which are set out below) which still remains under
consideration by Urban Logistics.
In its announcement of 14 March
2024, API referenced an indicative alternative proposal made by
Urban Logistics to API on 7 March 2014 (the "Alternative Proposal"). Urban Logistics
herein provides further details on the Alternative Proposal which
the Board of Urban Logistics believes would provide API
shareholders with an attractive opportunity to receive shares in
Urban Logistics and to realise an element of cash from their
shareholding in API.
A productive dialogue between the
Boards of Urban Logistics and API and their respective advisers has
been underway since the Original Indicative Offer was announced.
Urban Logistics and its advisers have carried out significant
legal, property, financial and tax due diligence, as well as a
comprehensive inspection of the API properties. In turn, API has
been carrying out its own due diligence on Urban
Logistics.
Finding a way forward for the API shareholder body as a
whole
The Alternative Proposal involves
the acquisition by Urban Logistics, through a scheme of
arrangement, of the net assets of API related to Logistics and
Retail Warehouse assets in the API portfolio ("Portfolio 1") with
the net assets related to API's residual portfolio ("Portfolio 2")
remaining held by API and, through a managed wind-down process, the
cash being returned to API shareholders. The Alternative Proposal
would require the approval of the API Board.
Further details of the properties
which form Portfolio 1 and Portfolio 2 are set out in Appendix
1.
Acquisition of the Net Assets
attributable to Portfolio 1 by Urban Logistics
Portfolio 1, which, as noted above,
comprises Logistics and Retail Warehouse assets, represents 66% of
the API portfolio at 31 December 2023 adjusted for in progress
sales. Under the Alternative Proposal Urban Logistics would acquire
Portfolio 1 together with 66% of API's non-property assets and
liabilities (together the "Portfolio 1 NTA").
Based on the 31 December 2023 API
NTA per share, the Portfolio 1 NTA equates to approximately 51.5p
per API share(1).
Under the scheme of arrangement,
Urban Logistics would issue Urban Logistics shares directly to API
shareholders in consideration for API transferring Portfolio 1 NTA
to Urban Logistics. The number of Urban Logistics shares issued in
consideration for the transfer of Portfolio 1 NTA would be based on
an exchange ratio of 0.31 Urban Logistics shares per API share. This represents
consideration for Portfolio 1 NTA of approximately 35.8p per API
share based on the share price of Urban Logistics
of 118.0p as at close on 15 March 2024 adjusted downward for the
Urban Logistics special dividend of 2.45p per share to be
paid to existing Urban Logistics shareholders prior to the
completion of any transaction(2).
Against an Urban Logistics NTA per
share of 161.7p as at 30 September 2023 the Urban Logistics share
price as at close on 15 March 2024 was 118.0p per share.
Managed Wind-Down of Portfolio 2 by API Post
Transaction
The Portfolio 2 properties which
would remain held in API after the extraction of Portfolio 1 would
comprise offices, leisure properties, retail properties and API's
forestry assets. Portfolio 2 represents 34% of the API portfolio at
31 December 2023 adjusted for in progress sales.
Under the Alternative Proposal it is
proposed that residual net assets of API after the
Portfolio 1 NTA has been extracted from
API (the "Portfolio 2 NTA") and, after a
share of transaction costs has been allocated to API, would be wound down in the existing API company, which would remain listed and would remain
under the governance of the existing API
Board. Urban Logistics would have no control over the managed
wind-down of API.
Based on the 31 December 2023 API
NTA per share adjusted for the extraction of the Portfolio 1 NTA,
the Portfolio 2 NTA per share equates to 26.5p per
share(1) before any deduction for a pro rata share of
transaction costs.
In the event of the API Board
pursuing the Alternative Proposal, the managed wind-down would be
conducted by API with the Portfolio 2 assets continuing to be held
within the listed API company. During the wind-down process the share
price of API may or may not reflect
API's remaining NTA per share.
Finding a superior structure for the API shareholder body as a
whole
The Board of Urban Logistics
believes that the Alternative Proposal represents a superior
structure for API shareholders as a whole to the Custodian Property
Income REIT plc ("Custodian") offer given its mix of
Urban Logistics shares and cash realisations. With respect to the
Alternative Proposal, the acquisition of Portfolio 1 for shares in
Urban Logistics represents a focused acquisition of attractive
logistics and other warehouse assets for Urban
Logistics.
Urban Logistics has now been able to
conduct extensive site visits and other due diligence on these
assets. The Board of API draws attention to the investment merits
of these assets in their announcement of 14 March 2024, but the
Board of Urban Logistics contends that the real question from here
would be how best to achieve the value in those assets for API
shareholders. The Portfolio 1 assets are considered to be of
incremental value to Urban Logistics' existing £1.1bn portfolio and
the Board of Urban Logistics believes that the best way for API
shareholders to realise value for the assets is through a
shareholding in a focused, actively managed logistics real estate
company.
The Urban Logistics Board believes
in the compelling investment merits of logistics real estate over
the medium to longer term. Other real estate asset classes may
currently be higher yielding but the Urban Logistics Board believes
that long term value will be created through a sustainable and
growing rental income base derived from assets which are fit for
modern purpose and actively managed.
The Board of Urban Logistics
believes that the realisation by API for cash of the NTA per share
in respect of Portfolio 2 would be attractive for API shareholders
seeking cash as part of the realisation of value for their
shareholding in API.
Finding a way to serve the interests of all
API
shareholders
The Board of Urban Logistics
appreciates that the Board of API
would have faced significant challenges in trying
to arrive at a single solution for a very diverse shareholder base
and against shifting conditions both in the real estate market and
in the stockmarket's views towards REITs, particularly small and
mid-sized generalist REITs.
In its announcement of 14 March
2024, API confirmed
that the API Board
undertook "a comprehensive review
of API's strategic options in Q3
2023, in light of the challenges faced by the listed real estate
sector as a whole and API
specifically". Notwithstanding
the issues faced by the API
Board, Urban Logistics is strongly of the view
that as matters stand today, it is wrong to conclude that
the Custodian-API combination addresses either challenge: the Urban Logistics
Board believes that the Custodian-API combination in reality does no
more than create a bigger version of the same problem.
To have arrived at the current
situation, the Urban Logistics Board believes that the Board of API
concluded that API did not have a viable, independent future. Many
months on from the start of the strategic review and API's dialogue
with Custodian, Urban Logistics believes, based on its own
discussions with API investors, that it has not been possible to
galvanise an API shareholder consensus behind the merger with
Custodian. The API shareholder meeting to approve the merger with
Custodian has now been postponed on two occasions.
The Urban Logistics Board notes that
"the API Board believes that a
Managed Wind-Down presents a viable strategic option for
API". Urban Logistics contends that it is in the interests
of API shareholders to call a halt to the merger with Custodian and
urges the Board of API to actively focus on the Urban Logistics
Alternative Proposal which will give API shareholders an ongoing
equity market exposure to a focused, high-performing REIT as well
as cash proceeds from a managed wind-down of the minority of API's
net tangible assets.
The Board of Urban Logistics
believes that the Alternative Proposal is a proposition which can
serve the interests of the API shareholder
body as a whole.
Urban Logistics will continue to
press the merits of its Alternative Proposal with the Board
of API. Urban
Logistics continues its constructive dialogue with
API's shareholders and a
further announcement will be made in due course.
API's announcement of 14 March 2024
Urban Logistics notes the
announcement made by API on 14 March 2024, in which API has
provided shareholders with an update on the API Board's review of
the options available to it.
API shareholders will wish to review
the whole of the API announcement of 14 March 2024 detailing the
API Board's review of the options available to it, but Urban
Logistics wishes to highlight a number of points in that
announcement.
API recognises the merits of Urban
Logistics' investment case in the announcement:
"The API Board recognises the potential merits
for API Shareholders of a
share-based transaction with Urban Logistics: the ULR Possible
Offer currently represents a premium to the undisturbed API
Share price; Urban Logistics is a
constituent of the FTSE 250 and enjoys greater scale and share
liquidity than API; Urban
Logistics and its investment adviser have a strong track record as
a specialist REIT in the logistics sector, which the API
Board believes has attractive
prospects; and the API Board recognises the potential for income
growth and value appreciation in the context of a potential merger
with Urban Logistics."
Urban Logistics notes that
based on information sourced from Bloomberg, that
average daily trading value in Urban Logistics shares over the past
12 months represents approximately 3.6x times the average daily
trading value in Custodian
shares(3).
With regard to the Urban Logistics
Alternative Proposal, Urban Logistics does not agree with the view
expressed in the API announcement that "API shareholders would lose out on value in
respect of Portfolio 1". API shareholders would be receiving
Urban Logistics shares at the equivalent of a premium to API's
undisturbed share price in respect of the proportion of API net
assets that Urban Logistics would be acquiring in exchange for
Urban Logistics shares. Moreover, the API Board also recognises the
merits of the Urban Logistics business model and strategy as
outlined above in the extract from API's own
announcement.
With regard to API's "Managed
Wind-Down" option, Urban Logistics notes that API recognises the
improvements in underlying property markets over the period of time
in which the Custodian combination and other strategic options have
been under review. Urban Logistics also notes the statement in the
API announcement which states:
"the API Board is also mindful of the impact on
pricing of bringing large volumes of assets to market as part of a
public wind-down strategy."
As at 31 December 2023, the total
value of API's real estate portfolio was £439m and the total
property assets which would be subject to the managed wind-down
under the Alternative Proposal would be c.34% of this figure
adjusted for any post 31 December 2023 disposals. The Urban
Logistics Board considers that this would represent an immaterial
proportion of the overall UK real estate market and so cannot
fairly be said to represent "large volumes of assets" in the UK
real estate market. In addition, it should be noted that a managed
wind-down of the whole API portfolio still appears to be an option
for the Board of API and to that end they state in their
announcement of 14 March 2024: "In summary, the API Board believes that a
Managed Wind-Down presents a viable strategic option for
API".
Urban Logistics notes the API
statement regarding exposure to a change in investment policy with
regard to its consideration of Urban Logistics:
"More generally, the API
Board believes that a share-based
transaction with Urban Logistics would constitute a deviation
for API Shareholders away
from the diversified, income-focused strategy in which they have
chosen to invest, to a specialised, more total return-oriented
strategy."
It must be noted that approximately
70% of API's portfolio as at 31 December 2023 is already invested
in logistics and retail warehouse assets. The Alternative Proposal
gives API shareholders an ongoing equity market exposure to a high
performing, focused logistics REIT the investment merits of which
are recognised by the Board of API in their announcement of 14
March 2024.
API has described the Alternative
Proposal as "conceptual".
Urban Logistics confirms that the Alternative Proposal was
presented to API following a significant amount of work carried out
by Urban Logistics' accounting, tax and legal advisers.
The Alternative Proposal would
require constructive engagement with the API Board to,
inter alia, complete shareholder
documentation, receive certain tax clearances from HMRC and
complete final due diligence by both Urban Logistics and
API.
Urban Logistics notes API's
continued recommendation of the
Custodian offer and that API would not recommend either the Original Indicative
Offer or the Alternative Proposal if a formal offer was made to
API on the basis set out in dialogue
between API and Urban Logistics regarding
the Alternative Offer or on the basis set out in
this announcement. Urban Logistics further notes that the
Alternative Proposal would require the support of the API Board to
proceed.
Clarification Deadline Update
Urban Logistics notes the statement
by the Takeover Panel dated 14 March 2024 which states that Urban
Logistics must, by 5.00pm on 20 March 2024, either announce a firm
intention to make an offer for API under Rule 2.7 of the Code or
announce that it does not intend to make an offer for
API.
Urban Logistics
Urban Logistics continues to be
confident in its ability to deliver value for Urban Logistics
shareholders, benefitting from its position as a specialist
logistics REIT which enjoys substantial opportunities for rental
growth and targets secure, sustainable, high-quality earnings and
capital growth.
Urban Logistics was floated on AIM
in April 2016 with a seed portfolio of c.£27m of assets and equity
market capitalisation of c.£10m. With substantial support from its
shareholders through additional capital raises, Urban Logistics has
assembled a portfolio of strategically located mid-box assets with
a gross value as at 30 September 2023 of £1.1bn. The Board believes
Urban Logistics has built a leading market position in its focus
area of UK real estate.
Urban Logistics' investment adviser
has an impressive track record and the Urban Logistics Board
continues to be confident in its ability to deliver value for the
Urban Logistics shareholders, benefitting from its position as a
specialist logistics REIT which enjoys substantial opportunities
for rental growth and targets secure, sustainable, high-quality
earnings and capital growth.
Urban Logistics has completed 12
lease events since 1 October 2023. The Urban Logistics Board
believes these completed lease events demonstrate the significant
asset management opportunities available to Urban Logistics, with
like-for-like increases in passing rent of 27% achieved on more
than 600,000 sq. ft.
Urban Logistics has seen a more
active occupational market in recent months, as tenants continue to
focus on simplifying and localising their distribution networks to
be closer to their end customers. The Board remains confident in
its core strategy of acquiring single let logistics assets with
appealing opportunities to add value through active asset
management, which it believes will continue to drive Urban
Logistics forward in 2024 and beyond. Urban Logistics' assets
largely fall into one of two segments; the "Core Assets" category
or the "Active Asset Management" category. The Core Assets category
represents some 44% of Urban Logistics' overall property portfolio
by value as at 30 September 2023 and comprises assets which are
typically let on long-term leases to large-scale tenants with
strong covenants, providing Urban Logistics with long-term, solid
income. The Active Asset Management category represents 55% of the
portfolio by value as at 30 September 2023 and comprises assets
which are typically highly reversionary, where Urban Logistics has
a short-term asset management plan to advance rents, extend lease
term, improve covenant strength and/or make significant
improvements to the environmental performance of the building. The
Urban Logistics Board believes therefore that the mix of the Urban
Logistics portfolio provides a strong balance of income and capital
growth potential which contributes to an attractive total
shareholder return proposition for shareholders.
The Urban Logistics Board believes
in the compelling investment merits of logistics real estate over
the medium to longer term. Other real estate asset classes may be
currently higher yielding but the Urban Logistics Board believes
long term value will be created through a sustainable and growing
rental income base derived from assets which are fit for modern
purpose and actively managed.
Urban Logistics benefits from a
strong balance sheet with debt 97% fixed or hedged through to term,
a weighted average maturity of 6.0 years from 30 September 2023, a
low LTV of 29%, and long relationships with its existing banking
partners. The Urban Logistics Board believes that its portfolio of
over £1bn of logistics property is attractive to lend against, and
that the relative liquid nature of its assets gives ample
opportunity to quickly recycle lower yielding assets to reduce
floating rate debt in the event of a transaction.
Urban Logistics is highly focused on
ESG matters and has strong ESG credentials; as at 30 September 2023
55% of its portfolio had an EPC of A-B, its GRESB score increased
to 3 stars and it holds an EPRA sBPR award at Gold
level.
Important Notes in Relation to the Takeover
Code
The making of any firm offer by
Urban Logistics is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a
number of customary pre-conditions, including, inter alia,
completion of due diligence, receipt of certain tax clearances and
banking consent, which are waivable at Urban Logistics'
discretion.
There can be no certainty that any
firm offer will be made, even if the pre-conditions are satisfied
or waived. A further announcement will be made in due
course.
For the purposes of Rule 2.5(a) of
the Code, Urban Logistics reserves the right to make an offer for
API on less favourable terms than the Original Indicative Offer:
(i) with the agreement or recommendation of the API Board; or (ii)
if a third party announces (after the date of this announcement) a
firm intention to make an offer or a possible offer for API which,
at that date, is of a value less than the value implied by the
Original Indicative Offer. Urban Logistics reserves the right to
introduce other forms of consideration and/or vary the mix or
composition of consideration of any offer.
With respect to the Alternative
Proposal, Urban Logistics reserves the right to amend the terms of
the proposal with the agreement or recommendation of the
API Board.
Urban Logistics further reserves the
right to adjust the terms of any offer to take account of the value
of any dividend, return of value or other distribution which is
announced, declared, made or paid by API after the date of this
announcement.
The Original Indicative Offer and
the Alternative Proposal would be subject to Urban Logistics
shareholder approval.
Further Terms of The Original Indicative
Offer
On Friday 16 February 2024, Urban
Logistics tabled an indicative proposal to API and its advisers
comprising an Original Indicative Offer exchange ratio of 0.469
Urban Logistics shares for each API share. The Original Indicative
Offer exchange ratio was predicated on, prior to completion of any
transaction:
·
Urban Logistics paying a dividend to its existing
shareholders of 2.45p per Urban Logistics share in respect of the
period up to 31 December 2023; and
·
API paying a dividend to its existing shareholders
of 1p per API share in respect of the quarter ended 31 December
2023.
Following completion of the proposed
transaction, all shareholders of the enlarged group would rank pari
passu for any dividends subsequently declared by Urban
Logistics.
Footnotes
(1) Based on applying the relevant proportion to the 31
December 2023 API Reported Unaudited EPRA NTA per share of 78.1p
sourced from the API-Custodian Scheme Document dated 1 February
2024.
(2) It is intended that the Urban Logistics Special
Dividend would only be paid in the event of the proposed
transaction being completed. This announcement therefore does not
constitute a declaration of dividend.
(3) Based on Bloomberg data up to the close of business
on 15 March 2024. Average daily trading value over the past 12
months calculated by multiplying the trading volume on each day
with the daily Volume Weighted Average Price.
Sources and bases of information
In this announcement, unless
otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, the following
bases and sources have been used.
All prices quoted for Urban
Logistics shares and API
shares are closing middle market quotations of an
Urban Logistics share or API
share (as applicable) derived from the Daily
Official List of the London Stock Exchange in respect of the
relevant date(s).
·
Issued share capital of Urban Logistics is
471,975,411 ordinary shares of 1 penny each.
·
Issued share capital of API is 381,218,977 ordinary shares of
1 penny each.
·
The financial information relating to Urban
Logistics reflects its unaudited results for the half-year ended 30
September 2023.
·
The financial information relating to
API as at 31 December 2023
is extracted from its Scheme Document released on 1 February
2024.
Enquiries
Buchanan - urbanlogistics@buchanan.uk.com
Helen Tarbet
Simon Compton
George Beale
|
+44 (0)20 7466 5000
+44 (0) 7872 604453
+44 (0) 7979 497324
+44 (0) 7450 295099
|
Appendix 1
The table below sets out the list of
API properties as at 31 December 2023 as sourced from API's Scheme
of Arrangement document dated 1 February 2024 together with Urban
Logistics' categorisation as to whether a property would be part of
Portfolio 1 or Portfolio 2. The Alternative Proposal which
allocates the API NTA 66% to Portfolio 1 NTA and 34% to Portfolio 2
NTA is derived from this categorisaton with certain assumptions by
Urban Logistics in respect of asset sales which may or may not be
made by API subsequent to 31 December 2023 and prior to the
effective date of a transaction which consummates the Alternative
Proposal.
Property Address
|
Property reference
|
Urban Logistics
Classification
|
Ocean Trade Centre, Aberdeen
|
C5285
|
Portfolio
1
|
Badentoy
North, Aberdeen
|
C5768
|
Portfolio 1
|
Unit 14 Interlink Park, Bardon
|
C5201
|
Portfolio
1
|
21 Gavin Way, Birmingham
|
C5538
|
Portfolio
1
|
3 Elliot Way, Birmingham
|
C5726
|
Portfolio
1
|
Unit 4 Easter Park, Bolton
|
C5172
|
Portfolio
1
|
Garanor Way, Bristol
|
B5675
|
Portfolio
1
|
Kings Business Park, Bristol
|
C5714
|
Portfolio
1
|
3 Earlstrees
Road, Corby
|
C5676
|
Portfolio
1
|
Bastion
Point, Dover
|
B5673
|
Portfolio
1
|
2 Brunel Way, Fareham
|
C5583
|
Portfolio
1
|
85 Fullarton
Drive, Glasgow
|
C5746
|
Portfolio
1
|
Unit 4 Monkton
Business Park, Hebburn
|
C5587
|
Portfolio
1
|
Villiers Road, Knowsley
|
C5787
|
Portfolio
1
|
Mount Farm,
Milton Keynes
|
C5534
|
Portfolio
1
|
Walton Summit, Preston
|
B5680
|
Portfolio
1
|
Symphony, Rotherham
|
C5507
|
Portfolio
1
|
Cosford
Lane, Rugby
|
B5677
|
Portfolio
1
|
Tempsford
Road, Sandy
|
C5742
|
Portfolio
1
|
Whitehorse
Business Park, Shellingford
|
C5734
|
Portfolio
1
|
Stadium Way, St. Helens
|
C5783
|
Portfolio
1
|
Tetron 141, Swadlincote
|
C5512
|
Portfolio
1
|
Tetron 93, Swadlincote
|
C5525
|
Portfolio
1
|
Opus 9,
Warrington
|
B5681
|
Portfolio
1
|
Rainhill Road, Washington
|
C5715
|
Portfolio
1
|
Alston Road, Washington
|
C5784
|
Portfolio
1
|
54 Hagley Road,
Birmingham
|
C5763
|
Portfolio
2
|
One Station Square,
Bracknell
|
C5730
|
Portfolio
2
|
Explorer, Crawley
|
C5427
|
Portfolio
2
|
160 Causewayside,
Edinburgh
|
C5767
|
Portfolio
2
|
Monck Street, London
|
C5394
|
Portfolio
2
|
15 Basinghall Street,
London
|
C5747
|
Portfolio
2
|
101 Princess Street,
Manchester
|
C5721
|
Portfolio
2
|
The Pinnacle, Reading
|
C5719
|
Portfolio
2
|
82-84 Eden Streety,
Kingston-upon-Thames
|
B5686
|
Portfolio
2
|
Howard Town Retail Park,
Glossop
|
C5517
|
Portfolio
2
|
B&Q, Halesowen
|
C5773
|
Portfolio
1
|
Victoria Shopping Park,
Hednesford
|
B5683
|
Portfolio
2
|
Olympian Way, Leyland
|
C5477
|
Portfolio
2
|
The Point Retail Park,
Rochdale
|
B5685
|
Portfolio
2
|
Morrisons, Welwyn Garden
City
|
C5788
|
Portfolio
2
|
Grand National Leisure Park,
Aintree
|
C5737
|
Portfolio
2
|
Building 3000 Birmingham Business
Park, Birmingham
|
C5750
|
Portfolio
1
|
Hollywood Green, London
|
C5113
|
Portfolio
2
|
Far Ralia, Newtonmore
|
C5782
|
Portfolio
2
|
Motor Point, Yarm Road,
Stockton-on-Tees
|
C5786
|
Portfolio
2
|
Important information
The person responsible for arranging
the release of this announcement on behalf of Urban Logistics is
Bruce Anderson.
This announcement is not intended
to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation
or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire,
subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities whether
pursuant to this announcement or otherwise, or the solicitation of
any vote in favour or approval of any offer in any jurisdiction
where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such
jurisdiction and any such offer (or solicitation) may not be
extended in any such jurisdiction.
Any securities referred to herein
have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or with any securities regulatory
authority of any state of the United States and may not be offered
or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable
exemption from registration thereunder.
This announcement has been prepared
in accordance with English law and the Code, and information
disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been
prepared in accordance with laws outside of the United Kingdom. The
distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions outside the
United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into
whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves
about, and observe, such restrictions. Any failure to comply with
the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law
of any such jurisdiction.
Disclaimer
Kinmont Limited ("Kinmont"), which is authorised and
regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom,
is acting exclusively for Urban Logistics and no one else in
connection with the possible offer and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Urban Logistics for providing the protections
afforded to clients of Kinmont nor for providing advice in relation
to the possible offer or any other matters referred to in this
announcement. Neither Kinmont 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 Kinmont in
connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein
or otherwise.
Singer Capital Markets
("Singers"), which is
authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the
United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Urban Logistics and no
one else in connection with the possible offer and will not be
responsible to anyone other than Urban Logistics for providing the
protections afforded to clients of Singers nor for providing advice
in relation to the possible offer or any other matters referred to
in this announcement. Neither Singers 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 Singers
in connection with this announcement, any statement contained
herein or otherwise.
Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co.
KG, London Branch ("Berenberg"), which is authorised and
regulated by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority
(BaFin) and is subject to limited regulation by the Financial
Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for
Urban Logistics and no one else in connection with the possible
offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Urban
Logistics for providing the protections afforded to clients of
Berenberg nor for providing advice in relation to the possible
offer or any other matters referred to in this announcement.
Neither Berenberg 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 Berenberg in connection with
this announcement, any statement contained herein or
otherwise.
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited
("Panmure Gordon"), who are
authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the
"FCA") in the United
Kingdom, are acting solely for Urban Logistics and no-one else in
connection with the transactions and arrangements described in this
announcement and will not regard any other person (whether or not a
recipient of this announcement) as a client in relation to the
transactions and arrangements described in this announcement.
Neither Panmure Gordon nor any of their respective partners,
directors, officers, employees, advisers, consultants, affiliates
or agents are responsible to anyone other than Urban Logistics for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Panmure Gordon or
for providing advice in connection with the contents of this
announcement or for any other matters referred to
herein.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any
person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant
securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange
offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of
which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be,
solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following
the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the
announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first
identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of
the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to
subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree
company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening
Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be
made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business
day following the commencement of the offer period and, if
appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th
business day following the announcement in which any securities
exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in
the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities
exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening
Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing
Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any
person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of
relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities
exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals
in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any
securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain
details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and
short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant
securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any
securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these
details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing
Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by
no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following
the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together
pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or
informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities
of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will
be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule
8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must
also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing
Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any
offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see
Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror
companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position
Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in
the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of
relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and
when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the
Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are
in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening
Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.
No
investment recommendation
This announcement is not intended to
be and does not constitute or contain any investment recommendation
as defined by Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (as it forms part of the
domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018). No information in this announcement should
be construed as recommending or suggesting an investment strategy.
Nothing in this announcement or in any related materials is a
statement of or indicates or implies any specific or probable value
outcome in any particular circumstance.
Publication on a website
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the
Code, a copy of this announcement will be made available, subject
to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in restricted
jurisdictions, on the Urban Logistics website
(www.urbanlogisticsreit.com) no later than 12 noon (London time) on
the first business day following the date of this announcement. The
content of the website referred to in this announcement is not
incorporated into and does not form part of this
announcement.