THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE
APPENDIX, (THE "ANNOUNCEMENT") AND THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION
OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR
INTO THE UNITED STATES, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, AUSTRALIA, NEW
ZEALAND, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE
RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION. PLEASE SEE THE
IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR CONTAIN ANY INVITATION,
SOLICITATION, RECOMMENDATION, OFFER OR ADVICE TO ANY PERSON TO
PURCHASE AND/OR SUBSCRIBE FOR, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR DISPOSE OF ANY
SECURITIES IN DIRECTA PLUS PLC OR ANY OTHER ENTITY IN ANY
JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOR THE FACT OF ITS
DISTRIBUTION, SHALL FORM THE BASIS OF, OR BE RELIED ON IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY INVESTMENT DECISION IN RESPECT OF DIRECTA PLUS
PLC.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE
INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF EU REGULATION 596/2014
AS RETAINED AS PART OF UK LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
(WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (AS AMENDED) ("UK MAR"). IN ADDITION, MARKET SOUNDINGS
(AS DEFINED IN UK MAR) WERE TAKEN IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN OF THE
MATTERS CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, WITH THE RESULT THAT
CERTAIN PERSONS BECAME AWARE OF SUCH INSIDE INFORMATION, AS
PERMITTED BY UK MAR. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT,
THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC
DOMAIN.
11 June 2024
Directa Plus plc
Proposed equity raise to fund
significant growth opportunities
Directa Plus (AIM: DCTA) (the "Company"), a leading producer and
supplier of graphene nanoplatelets based products for use in
consumer and industrial markets, announces its intention to
undertake a fundraising to raise gross proceeds of a minimum of
£6.8 million (before expenses) and a maximum of
£6.9 million (before expenses) by way of
a conditional placing (the "Placing") and a conditional
subscription (the "Subscription" and, together with the
Placing and including the Directors' Intended Participation (as
defined below), the "Fundraising"), pursuant to which it
proposes to issue up to 38,361,106 new
Ordinary Shares of 0.25p each, in aggregate (the "New Ordinary Shares"), at a price
of 18p each (the "Issue Price").
Certain directors of the Company have confirmed
their intention to participate in the Fundraising and subscribe for
555,555 New Ordinary Shares in aggregate between them (the
"Directors' Intended
Participation"). As the Company is currently in a close
period under MAR until the publication of its full year results for
the period ended 31 December 2023 ("Results"), the Directors are not
permitted to enter into any arrangement until after publication of
the Results (and subject to each not being in possession of any
other unpublished price sensitive information at such
time).
The Fundraising will be conditional on
obtaining approval of the Shareholders at a General Meeting of the
Company which will be notified to Shareholders in due
course.
Details of
the Placing
The Placing will be effected by way of an
accelerated bookbuild (the "Bookbuild") which will be launched
immediately following this Announcement and will be available to
new and existing eligible institutional investors. Cavendish
Capital Markets Limited ("Cavendish") and Singer Capital Markets
Securities Limited ("Singer
Capital Markets") are acting as joint brokers in relation to
the Placing (the "Joint
Brokers"). A placing agreement has been entered into today
between the Company, Cavendish and Singer Capital Markets in
connection with the Placing (the "Placing Agreement"). Further details on
the Placing, which is subject to the terms and conditions set out
in the Appendix 1 to this Announcement, are set out in paragraph 5
below.
Whilst the Company has already conducted a
focused marketing exercise amongst certain Shareholders and other
investors, and the Company is pleased with the level of indicative
support received to date, there can be no certainty at this time
that the Placing will be successful. The timing of the closing of
the Placing, the number of Placing Shares and the allocation of the
Placing Shares are at the discretion of the Company and the Joint
Brokers and a further announcement confirming these details is
expected to be made in due course.
The Joint Brokers reserve the right to close
the Bookbuild without further notice.
Details of
the Subscription
The Company is pleased to confirm that Nant
Capital, LLC the Company's largest shareholder, has today entered
into a Subscription Agreement to conditionally subscribe for a
total of 22,222,222 New Ordinary Shares
("Subscription Shares") as
part of the Fundraising, at the Issue Price and at the same time as
the Placing.
Nant Capital, LLC (taken together with Dr
Patrick Soon-Shiong, the beneficial owner of Nant Capital, LLC) is
currently interested in 18,975,652 Existing Ordinary Shares,
representing 28.73 per cent. of the Company's current issued share
capital.
The Subscription is not being made subject to
the terms and conditions set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement
and instead will be made on the terms set out of the underlying
subscription agreements with the Company.
Nant Capital, LLC is considered to be a
"related party" as it is a "substantial shareholder" as such terms
are defined under the AIM Rules and, accordingly, its participation
in the Subscription constitutes a related party transaction for the
purposes of Rule 13 of the AIM Rules. The Directors consider,
having consulted with the Company's nominated adviser, Cavendish,
that the terms of the participation in the Subscription by Nant
Capital, LLC is fair and reasonable insofar as the Shareholders are
concerned.
Directors'
Intended Participation
Certain directors of the Company have confirmed
their intention to participate in the Fundraising and subscribe for
555,555 New Ordinary Shares in aggregate between them (the
"Directors' Intended
Participation"). As the Company is currently in a close
period under MAR until the publication of its full year results for
the period ended 31 December 2023 ("Results"), the Directors are not
permitted to enter into any arrangement until after publication of
the Results (and subject to each not being in possession of any
other unpublished price sensitive information at such time). Whilst
it is currently expected that the Results will be published prior
to the proposed date of Admission, in the event that the Directors
are unable to participate prior to that date (for whatever reason),
to the extent the Directors' Intended Participation then takes
place, the Company will apply for admission of the relevant New
Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM separately and to take effect
following the admission of the remaining Subscription Shares and
the Placing Shares.
Rule 9
Waiver
Assuming Nant Capital, LLC's participation in,
and following completion of, the Fundraising, Nant Capital, LLC
will be interested (for the purpose of the City Code) in Ordinary
Shares carrying 30 per cent. or more of the Company's voting share
capital, which would ordinarily result in Nant Capital, LLC having
to make a mandatory offer under Rule 9 of the City Code.
However, the Panel has agreed to waive the obligation
on Nant Capital, LLC (or any person acting in concert with it) to
make a mandatory cash offer under Rule 9 of the City Code that
would otherwise arise as a result of its participation in the
Placing (the "Rule 9
Waiver"), subject to the approval of such waiver by
independent shareholders on a poll at the Company's General
Meeting.
In the event that the Resolution to approve the Rule
9 Waiver is approved, and on the assumption that the Fundraising is
completed, including the Directors' Intended Participation, and
that no person exercises any options or other rights to subscribe
for Ordinary Shares or New Ordinary Shares, as at Admission, the
maximum aggregate interest of Nant Capital LLC (and any persons
acting in concert with it) in shares which carry voting rights in
the Company (for the purpose of the City Code) would be 39.45 per
cent. In the event that the Directors' Intended Participation does
not proceed, the maximum aggregate interest of Nant Capital LLC
(and any persons acting in concert with it) in shares which carry
voting rights in the Company (for the purpose of the City Code)
would be 39.67 per cent.
The Fundraising is subject to Shareholder approval
(amongst other things):
·
|
to grant the necessary authorities to issue the New
Ordinary Shares;
|
·
|
of the Rule 9 Waiver, on a poll vote of independent
shareholders in accordance with the City Code.
|
Richard
Hickinbotham, Non-Executive Chairman, commented:
"Directa Plus
has made consistent progress towards its goal of commercialising
its graphene products and processes with a high quality, growing
roster of customers. The Fundraising will enable the Company to
accelerate that progress by providing funds for investment in what
the Board considers to be exciting opportunities. We look
forward to beginning the next phase of growth."
For
further information, please contact:
Directa Plus
plc
|
+39 02
36714458
|
Giulio Cesareo, CEO
|
|
Giorgio Bonfanti, CFO
|
|
|
|
Cavendish
Capital Markets Limited (Nominated Adviser and Joint
Broker)
|
+44 131 220
6939
|
Neil McDonald
|
|
Adam Rae
|
|
|
|
Singer Capital
Markets Securities Limited (Joint Broker)
|
+44 20 7496
3069
|
Rick Thompson
|
|
Phil Davies
|
|
|
|
Alma Strategic
Communications (Financial PR Adviser)
|
+44 20 3405
0205
|
Justine James
|
|
Hannah Campbell
|
|
Kinvara Verdon
|
|
This Announcement should be read in its entirety. In
particular, you should read and understand the information provided
in the "Important Notices" section of this Announcement and to the
detailed terms and conditions of the Placing and further
information relating to the Bookbuild described in Appendix 1 to
this Announcement (which also forms part of this
Announcement).
The
person responsible for arranging the release of this Announcement
on behalf of the Company is Giorgio Bonfanti, Chief Financial
Officer of the Company.
1.
Background to and reasons for the Fundraising
Introduction
Directa Plus was established in 2005
and admitted to trading on the AIM market in 2016. The Company has
a unique and proven process for the production of pristine,
chemical free graphene nanoplatelets, tailored to its partners' and
customers' requirements which is both flexible and scalable. The
Company relies on an increasingly valuable intellectual property
portfolio that continues to build and the benefits of its
chemical-free production process sets Directa Plus apart from its
competitors. The Company's current patent portfolio comprises 98
granted patents plus 38 patents pending, grouped in 22 families - 4
covering the G+® production process and 18 covering G+® products
and applications. The Company is transitioning from a learning and
discovery company to greater commercialisation and growth. The
Fundraising will allow the Company to progress to the next stage in
its journey.
Strategy
Global graphene demand is expected
to increase significantly over the next 10 years. The Company is
well positioned to benefit from this market growth and to play a
key role in its near-term development. The Company's strategy is to
target existing products and markets that can be significantly
improved with the addition of Directa Plus products. The Company
works with key partners, benefitting from their knowledge of the
market, strong reputation and commercial channels.
The Company has been shifting its
strategic focus from R&D towards sustainable growth and
financial returns, targeting the following four main key strategic
actions:
·
|
Prioritise the two commercially
advanced verticals and expand internationally:
|
|
(A)
|
Environmental remediation - through
its now wholly owned subsidiary, Setcar, using Directa Plus'
Grafysorber® technology to help the oil and gas industry to tackle
environmental issues from hydrocarbon pollution;
|
|
(B)
|
Textiles - printing nanoplatelets on
fabrics, and enhanced membranes for the sports, luxury, fashion,
workwear and defence markets;
|
·
|
Continuous margin improvement and
reduction of production cost;
|
·
|
Balance investment in medium and
longer-term market opportunities with a strict focus on
operational, cost and capital discipline across the organisation;
and
|
·
|
Restructure the organisation in
Italy and Romania to prepare for future fast growth.
|
2.
Use of proceeds from the Fundraising
The Company is seeking to raise capital to
invest in line with its strategic plan and accelerate its path to
profitability.
The proposed use of proceeds is:
·
|
£1.5 million for the Setcar acquisition, with
approximately £860,000 being utilised to repay the loan provided by
Nant Capital, LLC (which was used to part pay the €1.5 million
acquisition of the minority interest (49%) in Setcar) alongside
£0.6 million to strengthen the internal cash resources of
Setcar;
|
|
·
|
£1.1 million for capital expenditure in
dedicated equipment within the Environmental division and
improvements in the production line with a Nitrogen production unit
to replace Argon; and
|
|
·
|
£2.4 million for capital for growth by
strengthening the commercial and operational capabilities of the
Directa Plus team:
|
|
|
o
|
£1.0 million for new hires for the internal
salesforce alongside agents and professional services to access to
new markets (US and Asia) and adding a new expert engineer
alongside additional technical and operating hires in
Setcar;
|
|
o
|
£0.4 million to strengthen the operational
capabilities and professional support to improve the production
line and further the direct cost reduction;
|
|
o
|
£0.5 million to maintain momentum on other
opportunities focused on research and development.
|
|
|
| |
The remaining balance of the Fundraising (if
any) will go towards general working capital needs to support
growth and provide additional balance sheet strength.
3.
Current trading and prospects
The Company announced its interim
results for the 6 months to June 2023 on 27 September 2023, with
revenue of €4.59 million (H1 2022: €5.51 million) and an EBITDA
loss of €1.25 million. Cash at the period end was €4.24
million.
The Company traded strongly through
the second half of 2023, with growth driven by both the
Environmental and Textile verticals. On 12 February 2024, the
Company announced that it expected to report revenues for FY23 of
c.€11 million, with an improvement in adjusted EBITDA loss of at
least 20% from 2022, slightly ahead of market expectations.
Following accounting adjustments within Setcar, the Company now
expects to confirm revenues for FY23 of c.€10.5 million, with an
adjusted EBITDA loss of €2.56 million (a 19% improvement year on
year), subject to final audit processes.
The Company has a significant
current pipeline of opportunities and tenders at various stages of
development and across all verticals, including the participation
in a €44 million two-year contract being sought by Setcar.
Accordingly, the Company expects to deliver material revenue growth
in future periods as these crystallise.
Management retains a positive
outlook for the Company and, subject only to the timing of the
expected major contract award described above, has confidence in
meeting current market current market consensus revenue
expectations for the year to 31 December 2024 ("FY24") of c.€17 million. Taking into
account the further, incremental investment in the business made
possible by the Fundraising and the anticipated margins assumptions
on larger tenders, the Company expects to achieve its target of
turning EBITDA positive in 2025.
As at 31 May 2024, the Group had
cash of €0.86 million (on a statutory basis, unaudited).
Shareholders should note that in the
event that the Resolutions are not passed, Admission will not occur
and the Company would not receive the funds from the Placing or the
Subscription, which would limit the amount of working capital
available to the Company. There is no certainty that other funding
would be available on suitable terms or at all. Accordingly, in
light of the Group's cash position, it would be likely that the
Company would have to severely restrict its costs, potentially
impacting its ability to progress its growth strategy and generate
value for the Group.
4.
EIS / VCT
The Company received advance assurance on 1
April 2016 from HM Revenue & Customs ("HMRC") that it is a qualifying company
for the purposes of the Enterprise Investment Scheme ("EIS Advance Assurance"). On 14
March 2024, the Company applied to HMRC to receive
advance assurance that it continues to be a qualifying company for
EIS Advance Assurance.
The Company received an email from HMRC dated
18 April 2024, stating that they believe they will be
able to authorise the Company to issue compliance certificates
under Section 204(1) Income Tax Act 2007 in respect of the Ordinary
Shares to be issued, following receipt of a form EIS1
satisfactorily completed. HMRC also confirmed that the Company
would be considered 'knowledge intensive' for the proposed issue of
shares pursuant to the EIS/VCT Placing.
HMRC can no longer consider applications to
receive advance assurance that a company is a qualifying company
for the purposes of the Venture Capital Trust rules ("VCT Advance Assurance") where the
details of the potential qualifying holding are not
given.
The assurance does not guarantee the
availability of any form of relief under the Enterprise Investment
Scheme to any particular subscriber and there can be no certainty
that either VCT Advance Assurance will be granted by HMRC or that
the EIS Advance Assurance will be reconfirmed.
Investors considering taking advantage of EIS
Relief or making a qualifying VCT investment are recommended to
seek their own professional advice in order that they may fully
understand how the relief legislation may apply in their individual
circumstances. Any Shareholder who is in any doubt as to his
taxation position under the EIS and VCT legislation, or who is
subject to tax in a jurisdiction other than the UK, should consult
an appropriate professional adviser.
5.
Details of the Placing
The Placing is being conducted through the
Bookbuild which is managed by the Joint Brokers.
The Bookbuild will open with immediate effect
following release of this Announcement. The price at which such
Placing Shares are to be issued is 18p (the "Issue Price"). The number of Placing
Shares to be issued in the Placing will be agreed by the Joint
Brokers and the Company at the close of the Bookbuild. The timing
of the closing of the Bookbuild and allocations are at the
discretion of the Joint Brokers and the Company. Details of the
number of New Ordinary Shares to be issued will be announced as
soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuild.
The Placing is subject to the terms and
conditions set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement.
In conjunction with the Placing and as outlined
above, certain existing Shareholders have entered into Subscription
Agreements with the Company to conditionally subscribe for new
Ordinary Shares alongside the Placing and it is anticipated that
certain Directors will also enter into Subscription Agreements with
the Company to conditionally subscribe for new Ordinary Shares
alongside the Placing (the "Subscription Shares" and, together with
the Placing Shares, the "New
Ordinary Shares"). The Subscription Shares will be
subscribed for on the basis agreed pursuant to subscription
agreements with the Company, rather than the terms and conditions
of the Placing set out in Appendix 1 to this
Announcement.
Application will be made to the London Stock
Exchange for the New Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to the
Fundraising to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected that
Admission will occur and that dealings in the Placing Shares and
the Subscription Shares will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 1 July 2024
on which date it is also expected that the Placing Shares and the
Subscription Shares will be enabled for settlement in
CREST.
The New Ordinary Shares, when issued, will be
issued and credited as fully paid and will rank in full for all
dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the
admission of those Ordinary Shares and will otherwise rank on
Admission pari passu in all respects with each other and with the
Existing Ordinary Shares.
The Company's total costs and expenses
associated with the Fundraising are estimated to be
£0.5 million.
The Placing is conditional upon, amongst other
things:
·
|
the Joint Brokers and the Company agreeing the
number of Placing Shares at the close of the Bookbuild;
|
·
|
the passing of the Resolutions without
amendment to be proposed at the General Meeting;
|
·
|
the Placing Agreement having become
unconditional (save for Admission) and not having been terminated
in accordance with its terms prior to Admission;
|
·
|
the allotment of the EIS/VCT Placing Shares in
advance of the allotment of the Non-EIS/VCT Placing Shares;
and
|
·
|
Admission taking place by no later than 8.00
a.m. on 1 July 2024 (or such later date as the Joint Brokers may
agree in writing with the Company, being not later than 8.00 a.m.
on 15 July 2024).
|
If any of the conditions are not satisfied or
waived by both of the Joint Brokers in their absolute discretion
(where permitted under the terms of the Placing Agreement), the New
Ordinary Shares (other than the EIS/VCT Placing Shares in certain
circumstances) will not be issued and Admission will not take
place.
Pursuant to the Placing Agreement, the Joint
Brokers, as agents for the Company, have agreed to use their
respective reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for the
Placing Shares at the Issue Price.
The Placing Agreement contains customary
warranties given by the Company in favour of the Joint Brokers in
relation to, inter alia, the accuracy of the information in this
Announcement and other matters relating to the Company and its
business. In addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify the
Joint Brokers in relation to certain liabilities which the Joint
Brokers may incur in respect of the Placing.
Under the Placing Agreement, the Company has
agreed to pay to the Joint Brokers a commission based on the
aggregate value of the New Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to the
Placing at the Issue Price.
Each Joint Broker has the right to terminate
the Placing Agreement in certain circumstances prior to Admission,
in particular, in the event of a breach of any of the warranties or
a material adverse change.
The Placing Agreement also provides for the
Company to pay all costs, charges and expenses of, or incidental
to, the Placing and Admission including all legal and other
professional fees and expenses.
The Placing Shares have not been made available
to the public and have not been offered or sold in any jurisdiction
where it would be unlawful to do so.
For
further information:
Directa Plus
plc
|
+39 02
36714458
|
Giulio Cesareo, CEO
|
|
Giorgio Bonfanti, CFO
|
|
|
|
Cavendish
Capital Markets Limited (Nominated Adviser and Joint
Broker)
|
+44 131 220
6939
|
Neil McDonald
|
|
Adam Rae
|
|
|
|
Singer Capital
Markets Securities Limited (Joint Broker)
|
+44 20 7496
3069
|
Rick Thompson
|
|
Phil Davies
|
|
|
|
Alma Strategic
Communications (Financial PR Adviser)
|
+44 20 3405
0205
|
Justine James
|
|
Hannah Campbell
Kinvara Verdon
|
|
Notes to Editors
Directa Plus (www.directa-plus.com)
is one of the largest producers and suppliers of graphene-based
products for use in consumer and industrial markets. The Company's
graphene manufacturing capability uses proprietary patented
technology based on a plasma super expansion process. Starting from
natural graphite, each step of Directa Plus' production process -
expansion, exfoliation and drying - creates graphene-based
materials and hybrid graphene materials ready for a variety of uses
and available in various forms such as powder, liquid and
paste.
This proprietary production process
uses a physical process, rather than a chemical process, to process
graphite into pristine graphene nanoplatelets, which enables
Directa Plus to offer a sustainable, non-toxic product, without
unwanted by-products.
Directa Plus' products are made of
hybrid graphene materials and graphene nano-platelets. The products
(marketed as G+) have multiple applications due to its properties.
These G+ products can be categorised into various families, with
different products being suitable for specific practical
applications.
Directa Plus was established in 2005
and is based in Lomazzo (Como, Italy) and has been listed on the
AIM market of the London Stock Exchange since May 2016. Directa
Plus holds the Green Economy Mark from London Stock Exchange which
recognises companies that contribute to the global green
economy.
IMPORTANT NOTICES
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE
APPENDICES AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THEM, IS RESTRICTED AND
IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE, FORWARDING OR DISTRIBUTION,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF
THE UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (COLLECTIVELY, THE
"UNITED STATES") (OTHER
THAN PURSUANT TO CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS), AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SOUTH
AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH
PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. FURTHER,
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN
OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT
BEEN APPROVED BY THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, NOR IS IT INTENDED THAT
IT WILL BE SO APPROVED.
This Announcement or any part of it
does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or
the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for,
any securities in the United States, Canada, Australia, South
Africa, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be
unlawful. No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in
any such jurisdiction.
No action has been taken by the
Company, Cavendish Capital Markets Limited ("Cavendish"), Singer Capital Markets
Securities Limited ("Singer
Capital Markets" and, together with Cavendish, the
"Joint Brokers") or any of their respective
affiliates, or any person acting on its or their behalf that would
permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution
of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material
relating to such Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action
for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this
Announcement comes are required by the Company and the Joint
Brokers to inform themselves about, and to observe, such
restrictions.
No prospectus, offering memorandum,
offering document or admission document has been or will be made
available in connection with the matters contained in this
Announcement and no such prospectus is required (in accordance with
Regulation (EU) No 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 14 June 2017 (as amended) (the "EU Prospectus Regulation") or the UK
version of the EU Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of UK law
by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended)
(the "UK Prospectus Regulation")) to be
published.
The Placing Shares have not been and
will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "US
Securities Act"), or with
any securities regulatory authority of any State or other
jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, or
transferred, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States
except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not
subject to, the registration requirements of the US Securities Act
and in compliance with the securities laws of any State or any
other jurisdiction of the United States. Accordingly, the Placing
Shares will be offered and sold only (i) outside of the United
States in "offshore transactions" (as such term is defined in
Regulation S under the US Securities Act ("Regulation S")) pursuant to Regulation
S and otherwise in accordance with applicable laws; and (ii) in the
United States to persons who are "qualified institutional buyers"
(as defined in Rule 144A under the US Securities Act) and who have
delivered to the Company and the Joint Brokers a US Investor Letter
substantially in the form provided to it, in each case, pursuant to
an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, registration
under the US Securities Act. No public offering of the Securities
will be made in the United States or elsewhere.
The Placing has not been approved or
disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state
securities commission in the United States or any US regulatory
authority, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or
endorsed the merits of the Placing, or the accuracy or adequacy of
this presentation. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offence in the United States.
This Announcement has not been
approved by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") or the London Stock
Exchange.
In member states of the European
Economic Area (the "EEA"),
this Announcement is directed at and is only being distributed to
"qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2€ of the EU
Prospectus Regulation ("Qualified
Investors"). In the United Kingdom, this Announcement is
directed at and is only being distributed to "qualified investors"
within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation
who are also (i) persons having professional experience in matters
relating to investments who fall within the definition of
"investment professional" in Article 19(5) of the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as
amended (the "Order"); or (ii) high net worth companies,
unincorporated associations and partnerships and trustees of high
value trusts as described in Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order;
or (iii) other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be
communicated (all such persons together being "Relevant Persons"). Any investment or
investment activity to which this Announcement relates is available
only to (i) in any member state of the EEA, Qualified Investors;
and (ii) in the United Kingdom, Relevant Persons, and will be
engaged in only with such persons. This Announcement must not be
acted on or relied on (i) in any member state of the EEA, by
persons who are not Qualified Investors; and (ii) in the United
Kingdom, by persons who are not Relevant Persons.
The relevant clearances have not
been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of
any province or territory of Canada, no prospectus has been lodged
with, or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant
clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained for the South
Africa Reserve Bank or any other applicable body in South Africa in
relation to the Placing Shares and the Placing Shares have not
been, nor will they be, registered under or offering in compliance
with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of
Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan. Accordingly, the Placing
Shares may not (unless an exemption under the relevant securities
laws is applicable) be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly
or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, South Africa, or Japan
or any other jurisdiction in which such activities would be
unlawful.
By participating in the Bookbuild
and the Placing, each person who is invited to and who chooses to
participate in the Placing (each a "Placee") by making an oral or written
and legally binding offer to acquire Placing Shares will be deemed
to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, to
be participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on
the terms and conditions contained in Appendix 1 to this
Announcement and to be providing the representations, warranties,
indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in
Appendix 1 to this Announcement.
Certain statements contained in this
Announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" with respect
to the financial condition, results of operations and businesses
and plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the "Group"). Words such as "believes",
"anticipates", "estimates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "aims",
"potential", "will", "would", "could", "considered", "likely",
"estimate" and variations of these words and similar future or
conditional expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking
statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such
statements. These statements and forecasts involve risk and
uncertainty because they relate to events and depend upon future
circumstances that have not occurred. There are a number of factors
that could cause actual results or developments to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements and forecasts. As a result, the Group's actual financial
condition, results of operations and business and plans may differ
materially from the plans, goals and expectations expressed or
implied by these forward-looking statements. No representation or
warranty is made as to the achievement or reasonableness of, and no
reliance should be placed on, such forward-looking statements. No
statement in this Announcement is intended to be, nor may it be
construed as, a profit forecast or be relied upon as a guide to
future performance. The forward-looking statements contained in
this Announcement speak only as of the date of this Announcement.
The Company, its directors, the Joint Brokers, their respective
affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf each
expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or
revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required to
do so by applicable law or regulation, the FCA or the London Stock
Exchange.
Cavendish Capital Markets
Limited and Singer Capital Markets
Securities Limited are authorised and regulated in
the United Kingdom by the FCA. Each Joint Broker is acting
exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the
Placing, the contents of this Announcement and other matters
described in this Announcement. No Joint Broker will regard any
other person as its client in relation to the Placing, the content
of this Announcement and other matters described in this
Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone (including any
Placees) other than the Company for providing the protections
afforded to their respective clients or for providing advice to any
other person in relation to the Placing, the content of this
Announcement or any other matters referred to in this
Announcement.
This Announcement has been issued by
and is the sole responsibility of the Company. None of the
information in this Announcement has been independently verified or
approved by either of the Joint Brokers or any of their respective
partners, directors, officers, employees, advisers, consultants or
affiliates. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is
or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or
liability is or will be accepted by either Joint Broker or by any
of its affiliates or any person acting on their behalf as to, or in
relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or
any other written or oral information made available to or publicly
available to any interested party or its advisers, and any
liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
In connection with the Placing, each
of the Joint Brokers and any of their affiliates, acting as
investors for their own account, may take up a portion of the
shares in the Placing as a principal position and in that capacity
may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell for their own accounts or
otherwise deal for their own account in such shares and other
securities of the Company or related investments in connection with
the Placing or otherwise. Accordingly, references to Placing Shares
being offered, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be
read as including any issue or offer to, or acquisition, placing or
dealing by the Joint Brokers and any of their affiliates acting in
such capacity. In addition, each of the Joint Brokers and any of
their affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including
swaps) with investors in connection with which the Joint Brokers
and any of their affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or
dispose of shares. Neither of the Joint Brokers intend to disclose
the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in
accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do
so.
This Announcement does not
constitute a recommendation concerning any investor's investment
decision with respect to the Placing. Any indication in this
Announcement of the price at which Ordinary Shares have been bought
or sold in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future
performance. The price of shares and any income expected from them
may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full
amount invested upon disposal of the shares. Past performance is no
guide to future performance. The contents of this Announcement are
not to be construed as legal, business, financial or tax advice.
Each investor or prospective investor should consult his, her or
its own legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser or tax
adviser for legal, financial, business or tax advice.
Any indication in this Announcement
of the price at which the Company's shares have been bought or sold
in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance.
Persons needing advice should consult an independent financial
adviser. No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a
profit forecast or profit estimate for any period and no statement
in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings,
earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free
cash flow for the Company for the current or future financial
periods would necessarily match or exceed the historical published
earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations
or free cash flow for the Company.
All offers of the Placing Shares
will be made pursuant to an exemption under the EU Prospectus
Regulation or the UK Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to
produce a prospectus. This Announcement is being distributed and
communicated to persons in the UK only in circumstances to which
section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as
amended does not apply.
The Placing Shares to be issued or
sold pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any
stock exchange other than the London Stock Exchange.
Persons (including, without
limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other
legal obligation to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek
appropriate advice before taking any action.
Neither the content of the Company's
website (or any other website) nor the content of any website
accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other
website) is incorporated into or forms part of this
Announcement.
This Announcement has been prepared
for the purposes of complying with applicable law and regulation in
the United Kingdom and the 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 and regulations of
any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.
UK Product Governance
Requirements
Solely for the purposes of the
product governance requirements of Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook
Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK
Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any
liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which
any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance
Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing
Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has
determined that such Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end
target market of retail investors and investors who meet the
criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each
as defined in the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; and
(ii) eligible for distribution through all permitted distribution
channels (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the
Target Market Assessment, "distributors" (for the purposes of the
UK Product Governance Requirements) should note that: the price of
the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part
of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income
and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares
is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed
income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction
with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of
evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have
sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result
therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the
requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling
restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted
that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Joint
Brokers will only procure investors who meet the criteria of
professional clients and eligible counterparties.
For the avoidance of doubt, the
Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of
suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of Chapters 9A or
10A respectively of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business
Sourcebook; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of
investors to invest in, or purchase or take any other action
whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares. Each distributor is
responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in
respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate
distribution channels.
APPENDIX 1
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE
PLACING
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE PLACING FOR
INVITED PLACEES ONLY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE
TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX 1)
AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (TOGETHER, THIS
"ANNOUNCEMENT") ARE FOR
INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHOSE
ORDINARY ACTIVITIES INVOLVE THEM IN ACQUIRING, HOLDING, MANAGING
AND DISPOSING OF INVESTMENTS (AS PRINCIPAL OR AGENT) FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THEIR BUSINESS AND WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN
MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND ARE: (1) IF IN A MEMBER STATE
OF THE EEA QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF THE EU
PROSPECTUS REGULATION; (2) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED
INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF THE UK PROSPECTUS
REGULATION; WHO (A) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL
SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS
AMENDED (THE "ORDER")
(INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS) OR (B) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO
(D) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.)
OF THE ORDER; OR (3) OTHERWISE, PERSONS TO WHOM IT IS OTHERWISE
LAWFUL TO COMMUNICATE IT TO (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING
REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT
PERSONS").
BY ACCEPTING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT, YOU REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT YOU ARE A REVELANT
PERSON. NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOR THE INFORMATION IN IT SHOULD
BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS.
PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT
IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO
WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT
PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR THE SALE OR
SUBSCRIPTION OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY OR ACQUIRE OF ANY
SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES OR
ELSEWHERE.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES
FOR SALE INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN
AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT OR WITH ANY
SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION OF THE
UNITED STATES OR UNDER ANY SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER
JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD,
RESOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR DELIVERED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY,
IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE
EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE US SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE,
AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE
OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. SUBJECT TO CERTAIN
EXCEPTIONS AND AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY, THE PLACING
SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD ONLY (I) OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED
STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT
AND OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS, (II) IN THE
UNITED STATES TO PERSONS WHO ARE "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS"
(AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT) OR (III)
OTHERWISE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE US SECURITIES ACT. ANY OFFER OR SALE OF PLACING
SHARES IN THE UNITED STATES WILL BE MADE ONLY BY BROKER-DEALERS WHO
ARE REGISTERED AS SUCH UNDER THE U.S. EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS
AMENDED. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC OFFER OF THE SECURITIES MENTIONED
HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION
OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR
INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW
ZEALAND, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN
WHICH SUCH RELEASE PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL
(THE "RESTRICTED
JURISDICTIONS"). NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IS
BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED KINGDOM OR ELSEWHERE
WHERE SUCH OFFERING WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. NO MONEY, SECURITIES OR
OTHER CONSIDERATION FROM ANY PERSON INSIDE THE UNITED STATES IS
BEING SOLICITED AND, IF SENT IN RESPONSE TO THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN
ADVISORS AS TO ANY LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF A
PURCHASE OF PLACING SHARES. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT,
ANY PART OF IT OR ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT MAY BE RESTRICTED
BY LAW IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS, AND ANY PERSON INTO WHOSE
POSSESSION THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, ANY PART OF IT OR ANY INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN IT COMES SHOULD INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT, AND OBSERVE,
SUCH RESTRICTIONS.
All offers of the Placing Shares in the United
Kingdom or the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption from the
requirement to produce a prospectus under the UK Prospectus
Regulation or the EU Prospectus Regulation, as appropriate. In the
United Kingdom, this Announcement is being directed solely at
persons in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does
not require the approval of the relevant communication by an
authorised person.
The Placing Shares have not been approved or
disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state
securities commission or other regulatory authority in the United
States nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or
endorsed the merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of
this Announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offence in the United States. The relevant clearances have not
been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of
any province or territory of Canada, no prospectus has been lodged
with, or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant
clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained for the South
Africa Reserve Bank or any other applicable body in the Republic of
South Africa in relation to the Placing Shares and the Placing
Shares have not been, nor will they be registered under or offered
in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or
territory of Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South
Africa. Accordingly, the Placing Shares may not (unless an
exemption under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be
offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or
into Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or
any other jurisdiction outside the EEA.
Persons (including without limitation, nominees
and trustees) who have a contractual right or other legal
obligations to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek
appropriate advice before taking any action.
This Announcement should be read in its
entirety. In particular, any Placee should read and understand the
information provided in the "Important Notice" section of this
Announcement.
Each Placee which confirms its agreement to the
Joint Brokers (whether orally or in writing) to subscribe for
Placing Shares under the Placing, hereby agrees with the Joint
Brokers and the Company that it will be bound by these terms and
conditions and will be deemed to have accepted them.
The Joint Brokers may require any Placee to
agree to such further terms and/or conditions and/or give such
additional warranties and/or representations as the Joint Brokers
(in their absolute discretion) sees fit and/or may require any such
Placee to execute a separate placing letter.
The Joint Brokers make no representation to any
Placees regarding an investment in the Placing Shares. Neither
Joint Broker nor any of their respective affiliates, agents,
directors, officers, employees or consultants make any
representation to any Placees regarding an investment in the
Placing Shares. The Placing does not constitute a recommendation or
financial product advice and the Joint Brokers have not had regard
to particular objectives, financial situation and needs for each of
the Placees.
By participating in the Bookbuild and the
Placing, each Placee, by making an oral or written and legally
binding offer to acquire Placing Shares, will be deemed to have
read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, to be
participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on the
terms and conditions contained herein and to be providing the
representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and
undertakings contained herein.
EACH PLACEE
SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO ANY LEGAL, REGULATORY,
TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF A SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE PLACING
SHARES.
In particular, each such Placee represents,
warrants, undertakes, agrees and acknowledges (amongst other
things) that:
1. it is a
Relevant Person and undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage
or dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the
purposes of its business;
2. in the
case of a Relevant Person in the United Kingdom who acquires any
Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing:
(a)
it is either a qualified investor within the
meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation
("UK Qualified Investor");
and
(b)
in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it
as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1)
of the UK Prospectus Regulation:
(i) the Placing
Shares acquired by it in the Placing have not been acquired on
behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer
or resale to, persons in the United Kingdom other than UK Qualified
Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the
Joint Brokers has been given to the offer or resale; or
(ii) where
Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in the
United Kingdom other than UK Qualified Investors, the offer of
those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the UK Prospectus
Regulation as having been made to such persons;
3. in the
case of a Relevant Person in a member state of the EEA (each a
"Relevant State") who
acquires any Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing:
(a)
it is a "qualified investor" within the meaning of
Article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation ("EU Qualified Investor");
and
(b)
in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it
as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1)
of the EU Prospectus Regulation:
(i) the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing have not been
acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to
their offer or resale to, persons in a Relevant State other than EU
Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent
of the Joint Brokers has been given to the offer or resale;
or
(ii) where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of
persons in a Relevant State other than EU Qualified Investors, the
offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the EU
Prospectus Regulation as having been made to such
persons;
4. it is acquiring
the Placing Shares for its own account or is acquiring the Placing
Shares for an account with respect to which it exercises sole
investment discretion and has the authority to make and does make
the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements,
undertakings and agreements contained herein;
5. it understands
(or if acting for the account of another person, such person has
confirmed that such person understands) the resale and transfer
restrictions set out in this Announcement; and
6. except
as otherwise permitted by the Company and subject to any available
exemptions from applicable securities laws, it (and any account
referred to above) is outside the United States acquiring the
Placing Shares in offshore transactions as defined in and in
accordance with Regulation S under the US Securities
Act.
The Company and the Joint Brokers will rely
upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations,
warranties, acknowledgements and agreements. Each Placee hereby
agrees with the Joint Brokers and the Company to be bound by these
terms and conditions as being the terms and conditions upon which
Placing Shares will be issued. A Placee shall, without limitation,
become so bound if the relevant Joint Broker confirms to such
Placee its allocation of Placing Shares.
Upon being notified of its allocation of
Placing Shares, a Placee shall be contractually committed to
subscribe for the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the
Issue Price and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, will be
deemed to have agreed not to exercise any rights to rescind or
terminate or otherwise withdraw from such commitment.
No
prospectus
The Placing Shares are being offered to a
limited number of specifically invited persons only and will not be
offered in such a way as to require any prospectus or other
offering document to be published. No prospectus or other offering
document has been or will be submitted to be approved by the FCA in
relation to the Placing or the Placing Shares and Placees'
commitments will be made solely on the basis of their own
assessment of the Company, the Placing Shares and the Placing based
on the information contained in this Announcement and the
announcement of the result of the Placing (the "Result of Placing Announcement")
(together, the "Placing
Documents") and any Publicly Available Information and
subject to any further terms set forth in the trade confirmation
sent to Placees.
Each Placee, by participating in the Placing,
agrees that the content of the Placing Documents is exclusively the
responsibility of the Company and confirms that it has neither
received nor relied on any information (other than the Publicly
Available Information), representation, warranty or statement made
by or on behalf of either Joint Broker or the Company or any other
person and none of the Joint Brokers, the Company nor any other
person acting on such person's behalf nor any of their respective
affiliates has or shall have any responsibility or liability for
any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any
other information, representation, warranty or statement
(regardless of whether or not such information, representation,
warranty or statement was given or made by or on behalf of any such
persons). Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on
its own investigation of the business, financial or other position
of the Company in accepting a participation in the
Placing.
No Placee should consider any information in
this Announcement to be legal, financial, tax or business advice.
Each Placee should consult its own legal adviser, tax advisor,
financial advisor and business advisor for legal, tax, business and
financial advice regarding an investment in the Placing Shares.
Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person
for fraudulent misrepresentation.
Details of the
Placing Agreement and the Placing Shares
Cavendish and Singer Capital Markets are acting
as joint brokers and joint bookrunners in connection with the
Placing and have entered into the Placing Agreement with the
Company under which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set
out in the Placing Agreement, each Joint Broker, as agent for and
on behalf of the Company, has agreed to use its reasonable
endeavours to procure Placees for the Placing Shares. The Placing
is not being underwritten by either Joint Broker or any other
person.
The price per Ordinary Share at which the
Placing Shares are to be placed is 18 pence (the "Issue Price"). The final number of
Placing Shares will be determined by the Company and the Joint
Brokers at the close of the Bookbuild and will be set out in the
executed terms of placing (the "Terms of Placing"). The timing of the
closing of the book and allocations are at the discretion of the
Company and the Joint Brokers. Details of the number
of Placing Shares will be announced as soon as practicable after
the close of the Bookbuild via the Result of Placing
Announcement.
The Placing Shares will be made up of a number
of new Ordinary Shares issued and allotted by the Company.
Accordingly, by participating in the Placing, Placees agree to
subscribe for Placing Shares.
Subject to the Resolutions having been passed
at the General Meeting in respect of the Placing Shares only, all
the Placing Shares have been or will be duly authorised and will,
when issued, be credited as fully paid up and will be issued
subject to the Company's Articles of Association and
rank pari
passu in all respects with the Existing Ordinary
Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other
distributions declared, made or paid on or in respect of the
Ordinary Shares after the date of issue of the Placing Shares, and
will on issue be free of all pre-emption rights, claims, liens,
charges, encumbrances and equities.
Application
for admission to trading on AIM
Application has been made to the London Stock
Exchange for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM
("Admission"). On the
assumption that, amongst other things, the Resolutions are passed
by the shareholders of the Company at the General Meeting, it
is expected that Admission will become effective (in accordance
with the AIM Rules) and that dealings in the Placing Shares will
commence at 8.00 a.m. on 1 July 2024 (being the second business day
following the General Meeting) or such later time or date as the
Joint Brokers may agree with the Company, being no later than 8.00
a.m. on 15 July 2024.
Bookbuild
The Joint Brokers will today commence the
accelerated bookbuilding process to determine demand for
participation in the Placing by Placees (the "Bookbuild"). This Appendix 1 gives
details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of
participation in, the Placing. No commissions will be paid to
Placees or by Placees in respect of any Placing Shares.
The Joint Brokers and the Company shall be
entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method to the
Bookbuild as they may, in their sole discretion,
determine.
Participation
in, and principal terms of, the Placing
1.
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Cavendish is acting as nominated adviser to the
Company in connection with the Placing and Admission. Cavendish and
Singer Capital Markets are acting as joint brokers in connection
with the Placing. Each of Cavendish and Singer Capital Markets are
authorised and regulated entities in the United Kingdom by the FCA
and are acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in
connection with the matters referred to in this Announcement and
will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company in
relation to the matters described in this Announcement. Cavendish's
responsibilities as the Company's nominated adviser under the AIM
Rules for Nominated Advisers are owed solely to the London Stock
Exchange and are not owed to the Company, any director of the
Company or to any other person.
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2.
|
Participation in the Placing will only be
available to persons who may lawfully be, and are, invited to
participate by either Joint Broker. Each Joint Broker may itself
agree to be a Placee in respect of all or some of the Placing
Shares or may nominate any member of its group to do so.
Each Joint Broker and any of their respective
affiliates are entitled to enter bids in the Bookbuild as
principal.
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3.
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The Bookbuild if successful, will establish the
aggregate amount payable to the Joint Brokers, as settlement agents
for the Company, by all Placees whose bids are successful. The
final number of Placing Shares will be agreed between the Joint
Brokers and the Company following completion of the
Bookbuild. Following a successful completion of the
Bookbuild, the Company will confirm the closing of the Placing via
the Result of Placing Announcement.
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4.
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To bid in the Bookbuild, prospective Placees
should communicate their bid orally by telephone or in writing to
their usual sales contact at one of the Joint
Brokers. Each bid should state the aggregate number of
Placing Shares which the prospective Placee wishes to subscribe for
at the Issue Price. Bids in the Bookbuild may be scaled down
by the Joint Brokers on the basis
referred to in paragraph 6 below. Each
Joint Broker reserves the right not to accept bids or to accept
bids in part rather than in whole. The acceptance of the bids shall
be at the Joint Brokers' absolute
discretion, subject to agreement with the Company.
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5.
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The Bookbuild will open with immediate effect
following release of this Announcement and is expected to close no
later than 7.00 a.m. on 11 June 2024 but may be closed earlier or
later at the discretion of the Joint
Brokers. The Joint Brokers
may, in agreement with the Company, accept bids that are
received after the Bookbuild has closed. The Company reserves the
right (upon the prior agreement of the Joint
Brokers) to vary the number of Placing Shares to be
issued pursuant to the Placing, in its absolute
discretion.
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6.
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Allocations of the Placing Shares will be
determined by the Joint Brokers after
consultation with the Company (and in accordance with each Joint
Broker's allocation policy as has been supplied by such Joint
Broker to the Company in advance of such consultation). Allocations
will be confirmed orally by the Joint Brokers
and a trade confirmation will be despatched as soon as
possible thereafter. Oral confirmation by the relevant Joint Broker
to such Placee constitutes an irrevocable legally binding
commitment upon such person (who will at that point become a
Placee), in favour of such Joint Broker and the Company, to
subscribe for the number of Placing Shares allocated to it and to
pay the Issue Price in respect of each such share on the terms and
conditions set out in this Appendix 1 and in accordance with the
Company's Articles of Association. A bid in the Bookbuild will be
made on the terms and subject to the conditions in this Appendix 1
and will be legally binding on the Placee on behalf of which it is
made and except with the consent of the relevant Joint Broker, such
commitment will not be capable of variation, termination,
rescission or revocation after the time at which it is
submitted.
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7.
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Each Placee will have an immediate, separate,
irrevocable and binding obligation, owed to each Joint
Broker, as agent for the Company, to pay to it (or as
it may direct) in cleared funds an amount equal to the product of
the Issue Price and the number of Placing Shares such Placee has
agreed to acquire and the Company has agreed to allot and issue to
that Placee.
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8.
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Each Placee's allocation and commitment will be
evidenced by a trade confirmation issued to such Placee. The terms
of this Appendix 1 will be deemed incorporated in that trade
confirmation.
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9.
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Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's
allocation pursuant to the Placing is confirmed, settlement for all
Placing Shares to be subscribed for pursuant to the Placing will be
required to be made at the same time, on the basis explained below
under "Registration and
Settlement".
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10.
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All obligations under the Bookbuild and the
Placing will be subject to fulfilment or (where applicable) waiver
of the conditions referred to below under "Conditions of the Placing" and to the
Placing not being terminated on the basis referred to below under
"Right to terminate under the
Placing Agreement".
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11.
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By participating in the Placing, each Placee
will agree that its rights and obligations in respect of the
Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described below
and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the
Placee.
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12.
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To the fullest extent permissible by law, none
of the Joint Brokers, the Company nor any
of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or
employees shall have any responsibility or liability (whether in
contract, tort or otherwise) to any Placee (or to any other person
whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise). In particular,
none of the Joint Brokers, the Company,
nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers
or employees shall have any responsibility or liability (including
to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect
of the Joint Brokers' conduct of the
Placing or of such alternative method of effecting the Placing
as the Joint Brokers and the Company may
agree.
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13.
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The Placing Shares will be issued subject to
the terms and conditions of this Appendix 1 and each Placee's
commitment to subscribe for Placing Shares on the terms set out
herein will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may in
future be made to the terms and conditions of the Placing and
Placees will have no right to be consulted or require that their
consent be obtained with respect to the Company's or
the Joint Brokers' conduct of the
Placing.
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Conditions of
the Placing
The Placing is conditional, amongst other
things, upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not
having been terminated in accordance with its terms.
The obligations of the Joint Brokers under the
Placing Agreement in relation to the Placing and Admission on
customary conditions, including (amongst others) (the "Conditions"):
1.
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the performance by the Company of certain
specified obligations under the Placing Agreement to the extent
that they fall to be performed prior to Admission;
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2.
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the Resolutions
having been passed without amendment by the required majority
at the General Meeting;
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3.
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the Company not being in breach of any of its
obligations and undertakings under the Placing Agreement which fall
to be performed or satisfied prior to Admission;
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4.
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each of the warranties given by the Company
contained in the Placing Agreement being true, accurate and not
misleading: (i) as at and on the date of the Placing Agreement;
(ii) as at the time of the execution of the Terms of Placing; and
(iii) as at and on Admission as though they had been given and made
at such times and on such dates by reference to the facts and
circumstances from time to time subsisting;
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5.
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the Company having allotted the EIS/VCT Placing
Shares and, subject only to Admission, the Non-EIS/VCT Placing
Shares;
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6.
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delivery by the Company of certain customary
documents to the Joint Brokers as
requested under the terms of the Placing Agreement;
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7.
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the Joint Brokers not having
exercised their rights to terminate the Placing
Agreement;
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8.
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each of the Subscription Agreements having not
been terminated and remaining in full force and effect;
and
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9.
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Admission occurring no later than 8.00 a.m. on
1 July 2024 (or such later time or date as the Joint
Brokers may otherwise agree with the Company, being no
later than 8.00 a.m. on 15 July 2024) (the issue of
the EIS/VCT Placing Shares as part of the Fundraising is not
conditional on Admission).
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If: (i) any of the Conditions in relation to
the Placing and Admission are not fulfilled or (where permitted)
waived by the Joint Brokers by the relevant time or date specified
(or such later time or date as the Joint Brokers may agree with the
Company, being no later than 8.00 a.m. on 1 July 2024); or (ii) the
Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified
below under "Right to terminate
under the Placing Agreement", the Placing and Admission will
not proceed and the Placees' rights and obligations hereunder in
relation to the Placing Shares shall cease and terminate at such
time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by it or on
its behalf (or any person on whose behalf the Placee is acting) in
respect thereof.
The Joint Brokers may, at their discretion and
upon such terms as it thinks fit, waive compliance by the Company
with the whole or any part of any of its obligations in relation to
the Conditions or extend the time or date provided for fulfilment
of any such Conditions in respect of all or any part of the
performance thereof, save in respect of Conditions
2, 5 and
9 above. Any such extension or waiver will not
affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Appendix
1.
Neither Joint Broker nor the Company, nor any
of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or
employees shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other
person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in
respect of any decision they may make as to whether or not to waive
or to extend the time and/or date for the satisfaction of any
Condition to the Placing (or any part of it), nor for any decision
they may make as to the satisfaction of any Condition or in respect
of the Placing generally (or any part of it), and by participating
in the Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is within
the absolute discretion of the Joint Brokers. Placees will have no
rights against the Joint Brokers or any of their respective
members, directors or employees under the Placing Agreement
pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (as
amended) or otherwise.
Right to
terminate under the Placing Agreement
Each Joint Broker is entitled at any time
before Admission to terminate the Placing Agreement in accordance
with its terms in certain circumstances, including (amongst other
things) in the event that:
1.
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any statement in any document or announcement
issued or published by or on behalf of the Company in connection
with the Placing is or has become untrue, inaccurate or misleading
in any respect, or any matter has arisen which would, if such
document or announcement had been issued at that time, constitute
an inaccuracy or omission from such document or
announcement;
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2.
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there has been a breach by the Company of any
of its obligations, undertakings or
covenants under the Placing Agreement which the Joint
Brokers (acting in good faith) consider is
material;
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3.
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there has been a breach by the Company of any
of the warranties contained in the Placing Agreement or any of such
warranties is not, or ceases to be, true, accurate and not
misleading;
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4.
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in the opinion of either Joint Broker (acting
in good faith), there has been a Material Adverse
Change;
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5.
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there has occurred, or in the opinion of either
Joint Broker (acting in good faith) it is reasonably likely that
there will occur, certain customary force majeure
events;
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6.
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notice has been given by Cavendish as Nominated
Adviser to the Company to terminate its role as Nominated Adviser
or any matter arises which Cavendish as Nominated Adviser considers
(acting in good faith) may adversely affect its ability to perform
its functions under the AIM Rules or the AIM Rules for Nominated
Advisers or fulfil the obligations of a nominated adviser to the
Company;
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7.
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a matter having arisen which is likely to give
rise to an indemnity claim under the Placing Agreement
which either Joint Broker consider
is material; or
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8.
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the Company's application for Admission is
withdrawn or refused by the London Stock Exchange or, in the
opinion of either Joint Broker (acting in good faith), will not be
granted.
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Upon termination, the parties to the Placing
Agreement shall be released and discharged (except for any
liability arising before or in relation to such termination) from
their respective obligations under or pursuant to the Placing
Agreement, subject to certain exceptions.
By participating in the Placing, each Placee
agrees that (i) the exercise by the Joint Brokers of any right of
termination or of any other discretion under the Placing Agreement
shall be within the absolute discretion of the Joint Brokers and
that they need not make any reference to, or consult with, Placees
and that they shall have no liability to Placees whatsoever in
connection with any such exercise or failure to so exercise and
(ii) its rights and obligations terminate only in the circumstances
described above under "Right to
terminate under the Placing Agreement" and "Conditions of the Placing", and its
participation will not be capable of rescission or termination by
it after oral confirmation by the relevant Joint Broker of the
allocation and commitments following the close of the
Bookbuild.
Registration
and Settlement
Settlement of transactions in the Placing
Shares (ISIN: GB00BSM98843) following Admission will take place
within CREST, subject to certain exceptions. The Joint Brokers
reserve the right to require settlement for, and delivery of, the
Placing Shares (or any part thereof) to Placees by such other means
that they may deem necessary if delivery or settlement is not
possible or practicable within the CREST system or would not be
consistent with the regulatory requirements in the Placee's
jurisdiction.
Following the close of the Bookbuild, each
Placee to be allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a
trade confirmation stating the number of Placing Shares allocated
to them at the Issue Price, the aggregate amount owed by such
Placee to the relevant Joint Broker and settlement instructions.
Each Placee agrees that it will do all things necessary to ensure
that delivery and payment is completed in accordance with the
standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions in respect
of the Placing Shares that it has in place with the relevant Joint
Broker.
The Company will deliver (or will procure the
delivery of) the Placing Shares to a CREST account operated by the
relevant Joint Broker as agent for the Company and such Joint
Broker will enter its delivery instruction into the CREST system.
The input to CREST by a Placee of a matching or acceptance
instruction will then allow delivery of the relevant Placing Shares
to that Placee against payment.
It is expected that settlement for the Placing
Shares will be on 28 June 2024 for the EIS/VCT Placing Shares and
on 1 July 2024 for the Non-EIS/VCT Placing Shares, in accordance
with the instructions set out in the trade confirmation. The issue
of the EIS/VCT Placing Shares is not conditional upon the issue of
the balance of the Placing Shares. However, it is conditional,
inter alia, on:
(a)
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the performance by the Company of certain
specified obligations under the Placing Agreement in so far as the
same fall to be performed prior to completion of the EIS/VCT
Placing;
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(b)
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the Placing Agreement having been entered into
and it having not been terminated prior to the issue of the EIS/VCT
Placing Shares; and
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(c)
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the satisfaction or, where appropriate, the
waiver of all other conditions set out in the Placing Agreement
relating to the issue of the EIS/VCT Placing Shares.
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Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does
not comply with these obligations, the Joint Brokers may sell any
or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such
Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for the Joint
Brokers' account and benefit, an amount equal to the aggregate
amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. The relevant
Placee will, however, remain liable for any shortfall below the
aggregate amount owed by it and will be required to bear any stamp
duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other taxes or duties (together
with any interest or penalties) imposed in any jurisdiction which
may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares on such Placee's
behalf.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a
custodian or settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the trade
confirmation is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant
person within that organisation. Insofar as Placing Shares are
issued in a Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the name of
any person for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or that of a
nominee for such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as
provided below, be so registered free from any liability to UK
stamp duty or SDRT. If there are any circumstances in which any
stamp duty or SDRT or other similar taxes or duties (including any
interest and penalties relating thereto) is payable in respect of
the allocation, allotment, issue, sale, transfer or delivery of the
Placing Shares (or, for the avoidance of doubt, if any stamp duty
or SDRT is payable in connection with any subsequent transfer of or
agreement to transfer Placing Shares), neither the Joint Brokers or
the Company shall be responsible for payment thereof.
Enterprise
Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trust (VCT)
Schemes
The Company received advance assurance on 1
April 2016 from HM Revenue & Customs ("HMRC") that it is a qualifying company
for the purposes of the Enterprise Investment Scheme ("EIS Advance Assurance"). On 14 March
2024, the Company applied to HMRC to receive advance assurance that
it continues to be a qualifying company for EIS Advance
Assurance.
The Company received an email from HMRC dated
18 April 2024, stating that they believe they will be able to
authorise the Company to issue compliance certificates under
Section 204(1) Income Tax Act 2007 in respect of the Ordinary
Shares to be issued, following receipt of a form EIS1
satisfactorily completed. HMRC also confirmed that the Company
would be considered 'knowledge intensive' for the proposed issue of
shares pursuant to the EIS/VCT Placing.
HMRC can no longer consider applications to
receive advance assurance that a company is a qualifying company
for the purposes of the Venture Capital Trust rules ("VCT Advance Assurance") where the
details of the potential qualifying holding are not
given.
The assurance does not guarantee the
availability of any form of relief under the Enterprise Investment
Scheme to any particular subscriber and there can be no certainty
that either VCT Advance Assurance will be granted by HMRC or that
the EIS Advance Assurance will be reconfirmed.
The status of the EIS/VCT Placing Shares as a
qualifying holding for VCT purposes will be conditional (amongst
other things) on the qualifying conditions being satisfied
throughout the period of ownership. The status of the EIS/VCT
Placing Shares as qualifying for EIS Relief will be conditional
(amongst other things) on the qualifying conditions being
satisfied, both by the Company and (as regards those conditions to
be met by the investor) the investor throughout a period of at
least three years from the date of issue. There can be no assurance
that the Company will conduct its activities in a way that will
secure or retain qualifying status for VCT and/or EIS purposes (and
indeed circumstances may arise where the directors of the Company
believe that the interests of the Group are not served by seeking
to retain such status). Further, the conditions for VCT Relief and
EIS Relief are complex and relevant investors are recommended to
seek their own professional advice before investing. This paragraph
is without prejudice to any separate comfort letter which may have
been given by the Company to certain VCT investors in connection
with the EIS/VCT Placing.
Investors considering taking advantage of EIS
Relief or making a qualifying VCT investment are recommended to
seek their own professional advice in order that they may fully
understand how the relief legislation may apply in their individual
circumstances. Any shareholder who is in any doubt as to his
taxation position under the EIS and VCT legislation, or who is
subject to tax in a jurisdiction other than the UK, should consult
an appropriate professional adviser.
Representations, warranties,
undertakings and acknowledgements
By
participating in the Placing each Placee (and any person acting on
such Placee's behalf) irrevocably acknowledges, confirms,
undertakes, represents, warrants and agrees (as the case may be)
with each Joint Broker (in their respective capacity as joint
broker, joint bookrunner and placing agent of the Company in
respect of the Placing) and the Company, in each case as a
fundamental term of their application for Placing Shares, the
following (save where the Joint Brokers and the Company expressly
agrees in writing to the contrary):
1.
it has read and understood this Announcement (including this
Appendix 1) in its entirety and that its participation in
the Bookbuild and the Placing and its acquisition of the Placing
Shares is subject to and based upon all the terms, conditions,
representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements,
agreements and undertakings and other information contained herein
and that it has not relied on, and will not rely on, any
information given or any representations, warranties or statements
made at any time by any person in connection with Admission, the
Bookbuild, the Placing, the Group, the Placing Shares or otherwise,
other than the information contained in this Announcement and the
Publicly Available Information;
2. it
acknowledges and agrees that its acceptance of its participation in
the Placing on the terms set out in this Announcement (including
this Appendix 1) is legally binding, irrevocable and is not capable
of termination or rescission by it in any circumstances;
3. (a)
it has made its own assessment of the Company, the Placing Shares
and the terms of the Placing based on this Announcement (including
this Appendix 1) and any Publicly Available Information; (b) the
Ordinary Shares are admitted to trading on AIM and that the Company
is therefore required to publish certain business and financial
information in accordance with MAR and rules and regulations of the
London Stock Exchange (including the AIM Rules) (collectively and
together with the information referred to in (a) above, the
"Exchange Information")
which includes a description of the Company's business and the
Company's most recent balance sheet and profit and loss account,
and similar statements for preceding financial years, and that it
has reviewed such Exchange Information and that it is able to
obtain or access such information, or comparable information
concerning any other publicly traded company, in each case without
undue difficulty; and (c) it has had access to such financial and
other information (including the business, financial condition,
prospects, creditworthiness, status and affairs of the Company, the
Placing and the Placing Shares) concerning the Company, the Placing
and the Placing Shares as it has deemed necessary in connection
with its own investment decision to subscribe for any of the
Placing Shares and has satisfied itself that the information is
still current and has relied on that investigation for the purposes
of its decision to participate in the Placing;
4. to be
bound by the terms of the Articles of Association of the
Company;
5. the
person whom it specifies for registration as holder of the Placing
Shares will be (a) itself or (b) its nominee, as the case may be.
Neither Joint Broker nor the Company will be responsible for any
liability to stamp duty or SDRT or other similar taxes or duties
imposed in any jurisdiction (including interest and penalties
relating thereto) ("Indemnified
Taxes"). Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of such
Placee agrees to indemnify each Joint Broker and the Company on an
after-tax basis in respect of any Indemnified Taxes;
6. neither Joint Broker nor any of its affiliates agents,
directors, officers and employees accepts any responsibility for
any acts or omissions of the Company or any of the directors of the
Company or any other person in connection with the
Placing;
7. time
is of the essence as regards its obligations under this Appendix
1;
8. any
document that is to be sent to it in connection with the Placing
will be sent at its risk and may be sent to it at any address
provided by it to the relevant Joint Broker;
9. it
will not distribute, forward, transfer, duplicate or otherwise
transmit this Announcement or any part of it, or any other
presentational or other material concerning the Placing (including
electronic copies thereof) to any person and represents that it has
not distributed, forwarded, transferred, duplicated, or otherwise
transmitted any such documents to any person;
10.
it has not received (and will not receive) a
prospectus or other offering document in connection with the
Bookbuild, the Placing or the Placing Shares and acknowledges that
no prospectus or other offering document (a) is required under the
UK Prospectus Regulation or other applicable law; and (b) has been
or will be prepared in connection with the Placing;
11.
in connection with the Placing, each Joint Broker
and any of its affiliates acting as an investor for its own account
may subscribe for Placing Shares in the Company and in that
capacity may retain, purchase or sell for its own account such
Placing Shares in the Company and any securities of the Company or
related investments and may offer or sell such securities or other
investments otherwise than in connection with the Placing.
Accordingly, references in this Announcement to the Placing Shares
being issued, offered or placed should be read as including any
issue, offering or placement of such shares in the Company to each
Joint Broker or any of its affiliates acting in such
capacity;
12.
either Joint Broker or its affiliates may enter
into financing arrangements and swaps with investors in connection
with such Joint Broker or any of its affiliates may from time to
time acquire, hold or dispose of such securities of the Company,
including the Placing Shares;
13.
neither Joint Broker intends to disclose the
extent of any investment or transactions referred to in
paragraphs 11 and 12 above
otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory
obligation to do so;
14.
neither of the Joint Brokers owe any fiduciary or
other duties to any Placee in respect of any representations,
warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the Placing
Agreement;
15.
its participation in the Placing is on the basis
that it is not and will not be a client of either Joint Broker in
connection with its participation in the Placing and that either
Joint Broker has no duties or responsibilities to it for providing
the protections afforded to its clients or customers or for
providing advice in relation to the Placing nor in respect of any
representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities contained
in the Placing Agreement nor for the exercise or performance of any
of its rights and obligations thereunder including any rights to
waive or vary any conditions or exercise any termination
right;
16.
the content of the Placing Documents and the
Publicly Available Information has been prepared by and is
exclusively the responsibility of the Company (and such other
persons specifically identified as accepting responsibility to
certain parts thereto) and neither Joint Broker nor any of its
affiliates agents, directors, officers or employees nor any person
acting on behalf of any of them is responsible for or has or shall
have any responsibility or liability for any information,
representation, warranty or statement contained in, or omission
from, the Placing Documents, the Publicly Available Information or
otherwise nor will they be liable for any Placee's decision to
participate in the Placing based on any information,
representation, warranty or statement contained in the Placing
Documents, the Publicly Available Information or otherwise,
provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of
any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made by such
person;
17.
the only information on which it is entitled to
rely and on which such Placee has relied in committing itself to
subscribe for Placing Shares is contained in the Placing Documents
or any Publicly Available Information (save that in the case of
Publicly Available Information, a Placee's right to rely on that
information is limited to the right that such Placee would have as
a matter of law in the absence of this paragraph
17), such information
being all that such Placee deems necessary or appropriate and
sufficient to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing
Shares;
18.
it has neither received nor relied on any other
information given, or representations, warranties or statements,
express or implied, made, by either Joint Broker nor the Company
nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers
or employees acting on behalf of any of them (including in any
management presentation delivered in respect of the Bookbuild) with
respect to the Company, the Placing or the Placing Shares or the
accuracy, completeness or adequacy of any information contained in
the Placing Documents, or the Publicly Available Information or
otherwise;
19.
neither Joint Broker or the Company nor any of
their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or
employees or any person acting on behalf of any of them has
provided, nor will provide, it with any material or information
regarding the Placing Shares or the Company or any other person
other than the information in the Placing Documents or the Publicly
Available Information; nor has it requested either Joint Broker or
the Company or any of their respective affiliates or any person
acting on behalf of any of them to provide it with any such
material or information;
20.
neither Joint Broker or the Company will be liable
for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on
any other information, representation, warranty or statement,
provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of
any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made by that
person;
21.
it may not rely, and has not relied, on any
investigation that either Joint Broker, any of its affiliates or
any person acting on its behalf, may have conducted with respect to
the Placing Shares, the terms of the Placing or the Company, and
none of such persons has made any representation, express or
implied, with respect to the Company, the Placing, the Bookbuild,
the Placing Shares or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the
information in the Placing Documents, the Publicly Available
Information or any other information;
22.
in making any decision to subscribe for Placing
Shares it:
(a) has sufficient knowledge,
sophistication and experience in financial, business and
international investment matters as is required to evaluate the
merits and risks of subscribing for the Placing Shares;
(b) will not look to either Joint
Broker for all or part of any such loss it may suffer;
(c) is experienced in
investing in securities of a similar nature to the Ordinary Shares
and in the sector in which the Company operates and is aware that
it may be required to bear, and is able to bear, the economic risk
of participating in, and is able to sustain a complete loss in
connection with, the Placing and has no need for liquidity with
respect to its investment in the Placing Shares;
(d) is able to sustain a complete
loss of an investment in the Placing Shares;
(e) has no need for liquidity with
respect to its investment in the Placing Shares;
(f) is aware and understands
that an investment in the Placing Shares involves a considerable
degree of risk; and
(g) has had sufficient time
and access to information to consider and conduct its own due
diligence, examination, investigation and assessment with respect
to the offer and purchase of the Placing Shares, including the
legal, regulatory, tax, business, currency and other economic and
financial considerations relevant to such investment and has
conducted its own due diligence, examination, investigation and
assessment of the Company and Group, the Placing Shares and the
terms of the Placing and has satisfied itself that the information
resulting from such investigation is still current and relied on
that investigation for the purposes of its decision to participate
in the Placing;
23.
it is subscribing for the Placing Shares for its
own account or for an account with respect to which it exercises
sole investment discretion and has the authority to make and does
make the acknowledgements, representations, warranties,
undertakings and agreements contained in this Appendix
1;
24.
it is acting as principal only in respect of the
Placing or, if it is acting for any other person, it is:
(a) duly authorised to do so
and has full power to make the acknowledgments, representations and
agreements herein on behalf of each such person; and
(b) will remain liable to the
Company and/or the Joint Brokers for the
performance of all its obligations as a Placee in respect of the
Placing (regardless of the fact that it is acting for another
person), and
agrees that the provisions of this paragraph
shall survive the resale of the Placing Shares by or on behalf of
any person for whom it is acting;
25.
it and any person acting on its behalf is entitled
to subscribe for the Placing Shares under the laws and regulations
of all relevant jurisdictions that apply to it and that it has
fully observed such laws and regulations, has capacity and
authority and is entitled to enter into and perform its obligations
as a subscriber of Placing Shares and will honour such obligations,
and has obtained all such governmental and other guarantees,
permits, authorisations, approvals and consents which may be
required thereunder and complied with all necessary formalities to
enable it to commit to this participation in the Placing and to
perform its obligations in relation thereto (including, without
limitation, in the case of any person on whose behalf it is acting,
all necessary consents and authorities to agree to the terms set
out or referred to in this Appendix 1) and will honour such
obligations and that it has not taken any action or omitted to take
any action which will or may result in either Joint Broker or the
Company or any of their respective directors, officers, agents,
employees or advisers acting in breach of the legal or regulatory
requirements of any jurisdiction in connection with the
Placing;
26.
where it is subscribing for Placing Shares for one
or more managed accounts, it is authorised in writing by each
managed account to subscribe for the Placing Shares for each
managed account;
27.
it irrevocably appoints any duly authorised
officer of the Joint Brokers as its agent for the purpose of
executing and delivering to the Company and/or its registrars any
documents on its behalf necessary to enable it to be registered as
the holder of any of the Placing Shares for which it agrees to
subscribe or purchase for upon the terms of this Appendix
1;
28.
the Placing Shares have not been and will not be
registered or otherwise qualified and that a prospectus will not be
cleared in respect of any of the Placing Shares under the
securities laws or legislation of the Restricted Jurisdictions, or
any state, province, territory or jurisdiction thereof;
29.
the Placing Shares may not be offered, sold, or
delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the Restricted
Jurisdictions or any jurisdiction (subject to certain exceptions)
in which it would be unlawful to do so and no action has been or
will be taken by any of the Company or either Joint Broker or any
person acting on behalf of the Company or either Joint Broker that
would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing
Shares in the Restricted Jurisdictions or any country or
jurisdiction, or any state, province, territory or jurisdiction
thereof, where any such action for that purpose is
required;
30.
no action has been or will be taken by any of the
Company or either Joint Broker or any person acting on behalf of
the Company or either Joint Broker that would, or is intended to,
permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in the United States or
in any country or jurisdiction where any such action for that
purpose is required;
31.
unless otherwise specifically agreed with the
Joint Brokers, it is not and at the time the Placing Shares are
subscribed for, neither it nor the beneficial owner of the Placing
Shares will be, a resident of, nor have an address in, Australia,
New Zealand, Russia, Japan, the Republic of South Africa, any
province or territory of Canada or other jurisdiction in which it
would be unlawful to make or accept an offer to acquire the Placing
Shares;
32.
it may be asked to disclose in writing or orally
to either Joint Broker:
(a) if he or she is an
individual, his or her nationality; or
(b) if he or she is a discretionary
fund manager, the jurisdiction in which the funds are managed or
owned;
33.
it is and the prospective beneficial owner of the
Placing Shares is, and at the time the Placing Shares are
subscribed for will be outside the United States and is acquiring
the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction" as defined in,
and in accordance with, Regulation S under the US Securities
Act;
34.
it has not been offered to purchase or subscribe
for Placing Shares by means of any "directed selling efforts" as defined
in Regulation S under the US Securities Act or by means of any
"general solicitation" or
"general advertising"
within the meaning of Regulation D under the US Securities
Act;
35.
it understands that the Placing Shares have not
been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act and
may not be offered, sold or resold, pledged or delivered in or into
or from the United States except pursuant to (i) an effective
registration statement under the US Securities Act; or (ii)
pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to,
the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and, in each
case, in accordance with applicable United States state securities
laws and regulations. No representation is being made as to the
availability of any exemption under the US Securities Act for the
reoffer, resale, pledge or transfer of the Placing
Shares;
36.
it (and any account for which it is purchasing) is
not acquiring the Placing Shares with a view to any offer, sale or
distribution thereof within the meaning of the US Securities
Act;
37.
it understands that there may be certain
consequences under United States and other tax laws resulting from
an investment in the Placing and it has made such investigation and
has consulted its own independent advisers or otherwise has
satisfied itself concerning, without limitation, the effects of
United States federal, state and local income tax laws and foreign
tax laws generally;
38.
it understands that the Company has not undertaken
to determine whether it will be treated as a passive foreign
investment company ("PFIC")
for US federal income tax purposes for the current year, or whether
it is likely to be so treated for future years and neither the
Company nor the Joint Brokers make any representation or warranty
with respect to the same. Accordingly, neither the Company nor the
Joint Brokers can provide any advice to United States investors as
to whether the Company is or is not a PFIC for the current tax
year, or whether it will be in future tax years. Accordingly,
neither the Company nor the Joint Brokers undertakes to provide to
United States investors or shareholders any information necessary
or desirable to facilitate their filing of annual information
returns, and United States investors and shareholders should not
assume that this information will be made available to
them;
39.
if it is within the United Kingdom, it is a UK
Qualified Investor and if it is within a Relevant State, it is an
EU Qualified Investor;
40.
it has not offered or sold and will not offer or
sell any Placing Shares to persons in the EEA except to EU
Qualified Investors or otherwise in circumstances which have not
resulted in and which will not result in an offer to the public in
any member state of the EEA within the meaning of the EU Prospectus
Regulation;
41.
if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is
used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, the Placing
Shares acquired by it in the Placing will not be acquired on a
non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be acquired
with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in the United
Kingdom other than UK Qualified Investors, or in circumstances in
which the express prior written consent of the Joint Brokers has
been given to each proposed offer or resale;
42.
if in the United Kingdom, that it is a person (i)
having professional experience in matters relating to investments
who falls within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article
19(5) of the Order or (ii) who falls within Article 49(2) (a) to
(d) ("High Net Worth Companies,
Unincorporated Associations, etc") of the Order, or (iii) to
whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated;
43.
if in the United Kingdom, unless otherwise agreed
by the Joint Brokers, it is a "professional client" or an
"eligible counterparty"
within the meaning of Chapter 3 of COBS and it is purchasing
Placing Shares for investment only and not with a view to resale or
distribution;
44.
it will not make an offer to the public of the
Placing Shares and it has not offered or sold and will not offer or
sell any Placing Shares to persons in the United Kingdom, except to
persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring,
holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or
agent) for the purposes of their business or otherwise in
circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result in
an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of
section 85(1) of FSMA;
45.
it has only communicated or caused to be
communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated
any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity
(within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) relating to the Placing
Shares in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not
require approval of the communication by an authorised person and
it acknowledges and agrees that the Placing Documents have not and
will not have been approved by either Joint Broker in its capacity
as an authorised person under section 21 of the FSMA and it may not
therefore be subject to the controls which would apply if it was
made or approved as a financial promotion by an authorised
person;
46.
it has complied and will comply with all
applicable laws with respect to anything done by it or on its
behalf in relation to the Placing Shares (including all applicable
provisions in FSMA and MAR) in respect of anything done in, from or
otherwise involving, the United Kingdom;
47.
if it is a pension fund or investment company, its
subscription for/purchase of Placing Shares is in full compliance
with applicable laws and regulations;
48.
it has complied with its obligations under the
Criminal Justice Act 1993 and Articles 8, 10 and 12 of MAR and in
connection with money laundering and terrorist financing under the
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (as amended), the Terrorism Act 2000,
the Terrorism Act 2006 and the Money Laundering, Terrorist
Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer)
Regulations 2017 and any related or similar rules, regulations or
guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any government
agency having jurisdiction in respect thereof (the "Regulations") and the Money Laundering
Sourcebook of the FCA and, if making payment on behalf of a third
party, that satisfactory evidence has been obtained and recorded by
it to verify the identity of the third party as required by the
Regulations;
49.
in order to ensure compliance with the
Regulations, either Joint Broker (for itself and as agent on behalf
of the Company) or the Company's registrars may, in their absolute
discretion, require verification of its identity. Pending the
provision to either Joint Broker or the Company's registrars, as
applicable, of evidence of identity, definitive certificates in
respect of the Placing Shares may be retained at either Joint
Broker's absolute discretion or, where appropriate, delivery of the
Placing Shares to it in uncertificated form may be delayed at
either Joint Broker's or the Company's registrars', as the case may
be, absolute discretion. If within a reasonable time after a
request for verification of identify either Joint Broker (for
itself and as agent on behalf of the Company) or the Company's
registrars have not received evidence satisfactory to them, either
Joint Broker and/or the Company may, at its absolute discretion,
terminate its commitment in respect of the Placing, in which event
the monies payable on acceptance of allotment will, if already
paid, be returned without interest to the account of the drawee's
bank from which they were originally debited. Each Placee agrees to
hold harmless and indemnify on an after-tax basis each Joint Broker
and the Company against any liability, loss or cost ensuing due to
the failure to process such application, if such evidence or
information as has been requested has not been provided by it in a
timely manner;
50.
the allocation, allotment, issue and delivery to
it, or the person specified by it for registration as holder, of
Placing Shares will not give rise to a stamp duty or SDRT liability
under (or at a rate determined under) any of sections 67, 70, 93 or
96 of the Finance Act 1986 (depositary receipts and clearance
services) and that the Placing Shares are not being acquired in
connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to
issue or transfer Placing Shares into a clearance
service;
51.
it (and any person acting on its behalf) has the
funds available to pay for the Placing Shares for which it has
agreed to subscribe and acknowledges and agrees that it will make
payment in respect of the Placing Shares allocated to it in
accordance with this Appendix 1 on the due time and date set out
herein, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed
with other subscribers or sold as either Joint Broker may in its
sole discretion determine and without liability to such Placee, who
will remain liable for any amount by which the net proceeds of such
sale falls short of the product of the relevant Issue Price and the
number of Placing Shares allocated to it and will be required to
bear any stamp duty, SDRT or other taxes or duties (together with
any interest, fines or penalties) imposed in any jurisdiction which
may arise upon the sale of such Placee's Placing Shares;
52.
any money held in an account with either Joint
Broker on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf
of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee will
not be treated as client money within the meaning of the relevant
rules and regulations of the FCA made under the FSMA. Each Placee
acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections
conferred by the client money rules: as a consequence this money
will not be segregated from the relevant Joint Broker's money in
accordance with the client money rules and will be held by it under
a banking relationship and not as trustee;
53.
its allocation (if any) of Placing Shares will
represent a maximum number of Placing Shares which it will be
entitled, and required, to subscribe for, and that the relevant
Joint Broker or the Company may call upon it to subscribe for a
lower number of Placing Shares (if any), but in no event in
aggregate more than the aforementioned maximum;
54.
neither Joint Broker nor any of its affiliates,
nor any person acting on behalf of them, is making any
recommendations to it, advising it regarding the suitability of any
transactions it may enter into in connection with the Placing and
neither Joint Broker is acting for it or its clients, and that
neither Joint Broker will be responsible for providing the
protections afforded to customers of the relevant Joint Broker or
for providing advice in respect of the transactions described in
this Announcement;
55.
it acknowledges that its commitment to acquire
Placing Shares on the terms set out in this Announcement and in the
trade confirmation, contract note or other (oral or written)
confirmation will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may
in future be made to the terms and conditions of the Placing and
that Placees will have no right to be consulted or require that
their consent be obtained with respect to the Company's or either
Joint Broker's conduct of the Placing;
56.
if it has received any 'inside information' (for
the purposes of MAR and section 56 of the Criminal Justice Act
1993) in relation to the Company and its securities in advance of
the Placing, it confirms that it has received such information
within the market soundings regime provided for in article 11 of
MAR and associated delegated regulations and it has not:
(a) used that inside
information to acquire or dispose of securities of the Company or
financial instruments related thereto or cancel or amend an order
concerning the Company's securities or any such financial
instruments;
(b) used that inside information to
encourage, require, recommend or induce another person to deal in
the securities of the Company or financial instruments related
thereto or to cancel or amend an order concerning the Company's
securities or such financial instruments; or
(c) disclosed such
information to any person, prior to the information being made
publicly available;
57.
the rights and remedies of the Company and the
Joint Brokers under the terms and conditions in this Appendix 1 are
in addition to any rights and remedies which would otherwise be
available to each of them and the exercise or partial exercise of
one will not prevent the exercise of others;
58.
these terms and conditions of the Placing and any
agreements entered into by it pursuant to these terms and
conditions and all agreements to acquire shares pursuant to the
Placing, and all non-contractual or other obligations arising out
of or in connection with them, shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of England and it submits (on behalf of
itself and on behalf of any person on whose behalf it is acting) to
the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts as regards any
claim, dispute or matter arising out of any such contract
(including any dispute regarding the existence, validity or
termination of such contract or relating to any non- contractual or
other obligation arising out of or in connection with such
contract), except that enforcement proceedings in respect of the
obligation to make payment for the Placing Shares (together with
any interest chargeable thereon) may be taken by either the Company
or either Joint Broker in any jurisdiction in which the relevant
Placee is incorporated or in which any of its securities have a
quotation on a recognised stock exchange;
59.
it has neither received nor relied on any
confidential price sensitive information about the Company (other
than information included in this Announcement) in accepting this
invitation to participate in the Placing;
60.
it is aware of the obligations regarding insider
dealing in the Criminal Justice Act 1993, FSMA, MAR and the
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and confirms that it has and will
continue to comply with those obligations;
61.
if it is acquiring the Placing Shares as a
fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, it has full
power and authority to make, and does make, the foregoing
representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and
undertakings on behalf of each such accounts;
62.
that it will (or will procure that its nominee
will) if applicable, make notification to the Company of the
interest in its Ordinary Shares in accordance with the Disclosure
Guidance and Transparency Rules published by the FCA;
63.
it undertakes to the
relevant Joint Broker at the time of making
its commitment to subscribe for Placing Shares that it will confirm
in writing to the relevant Joint
Broker in the form of confirmation sent
by such Joint Broker to Placees the number of Placing Shares it intends to
subscribe for;
64.
it confirms that any of its clients, whether or
not identified to either Joint
Broker or any of its affiliates, will
remain its sole responsibility and will not become clients
of either Joint Broker or any of its affiliates for the purposes of the rules of the
FCA or for the purposes of any other statutory or regulatory
provision;
65.
that, as far as it is aware it is not acting in
concert (within the meaning given in the City Code) with any other
person in relation to the Company;
66.
it has not done, and will not do, anything in
relation to the Placing which has resulted in or could result in
any person being required to publish a prospectus in relation to
the Company or to any Placing Shares in accordance with FSMA or the
Prospectus Regulation or in accordance with any laws applicable in
any part of the European Union or the EEA;
67.
it undertakes to the Joint Brokers (as applicable)
at the time of making its commitment to subscribe for Placing
Shares that it will confirm in writing to the Joint Brokers (as
applicable) in the form of confirmation sent by the Joint Brokers
(as applicable) to Placees the number of Placing Shares and it
intends to subscribe for and in respect of which VCT Relief or EIS
Relief will be sought (or which will otherwise comprise Relevant
Funding) and those Placing Shares in respect of which such relief
will not be sought (or which will otherwise not comprise Relevant
Funding);
68.
that, if they are an existing shareholder of the
Company, they will not be eligible for EIS Relief in respect of any
Placing Shares applied for by them;
69.
it agrees that the exercise by the Joint Brokers
of any right of termination or any right of waiver exercisable by
the Joint Brokers contained in the Placing Agreement or the
exercise of any discretion thereunder is within the absolute
discretion of the Joint Brokers and the Joint Brokers will not have
any liability to it whatsoever in connection with any decision to
exercise or not exercise any such rights. Each Placee acknowledges
that if (i) any of the conditions in the Placing Agreement are not
satisfied (or, where relevant, waived); or (ii) the Placing
Agreement is terminated; or (iii) the Placing Agreement does not
otherwise become unconditional in all respects, the Placing will
lapse and its rights and obligations hereunder shall cease and
determine at such time and no claim shall be made by it in respect
thereof; and
70.
a communication that the Placing or the book is
"covered" (i.e. indicated demand from investors in the book equals
or exceeds the amount of the securities being offered) is not any
indication or assurance that the book will remain covered or that
the Placing and securities will be fully distributed by the Joint
Brokers. Each Joint Broker
reserves the right to take up a portion of the
securities in the Placing as a principal position at any stage at
its sole discretion, among other things, to take account of the
Company's objectives, UK MiFID II requirements and/or its
allocation policies.
The foregoing representations, warranties,
confirmations, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings are
given for the benefit of the Company as well as the Joint Brokers
and are irrevocable. Each Joint Broker and the Company and their
respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers, employees and
consultants will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing
representations, warranties, confirmations, acknowledgements,
agreements and undertakings.
Each prospective Placee, and any person acting
on behalf of such Placee, irrevocably authorises the Company and
the Joint Brokers to produce this Announcement, pursuant to, in
connection with, or as may be required by any applicable law or
regulation, administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry
with respect to the matters set forth herein.
By participating in the Placing, each Placee
(and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) agrees to indemnify
on an after-tax basis and hold the Company, each Joint Broker and
their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers and
employees harmless from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and
expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in
connection with any breach of the representations, warranties,
acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings given by the Placee
(and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) in this Appendix 1
or incurred by either Joint Broker, the Company or any of their
respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees
arising from the performance of the Placees' obligations as set out
in this Announcement, and further agrees that the provisions of
this Appendix 1 shall survive after completion of the
Placing.
No statement in the Placing Documents is
intended to be a profit forecast or estimate, and no statement in
the Placing Documents should be interpreted to mean that earnings
per share of the Company for the current or future financial years
would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings
per share of the Company. Past performance is no guide to future
performance and persons needing advice should consult an
independent financial adviser.
The Placing Shares will not be admitted to
trading on any stock exchange other than AIM, a market operated by
the London Stock Exchange.
Each of Cavendish and Singer Capital Markets is
authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom and are
together acting as joint brokers and joint bookrunners for the
Company and no one else in connection with the Placing and will not
be responsible to anyone (including any Placees) other than the
Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or
for providing advice in relation to the Placing or any other
matters referred to in this Announcement.
Taxation
The agreement to allot and issue certain of the
Placing Shares by the Company to Placees (and/or to persons for
whom such Placee is contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and
SDRT relates only to their allotment and issue to Placees, or such
persons as they nominate as their agents, direct from the Company
for the Placing Shares in question.
There should be no liability to stamp duty or
SDRT arising on the allotment of the Placing Shares by the Company.
The registration of and the issue of definitive share certificates
to holders of Ordinary Shares should not give rise to any liability
to stamp duty or SDRT.
In addition, neither UK stamp duty nor SDRT
should arise on the transfers/sale of Ordinary Shares on AIM
(including instruments transferring Ordinary Shares and agreements
to transfer Ordinary Shares).
Such agreement also assumes that the Placing
Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to
issue depositary receipts or to issue or transfer the Placing
Shares into a clearance service. If there are any such
arrangements, or the settlement relates to any other dealings in
the Placing Shares, stamp duty or SDRT or other similar taxes or
duties may be payable, for which neither the Company nor either
Joint Broker will be responsible and the Placees shall indemnify
the Company and the Joint Brokers on an after-tax basis for any
stamp duty or SDRT or other similar taxes or duties (together with
interest, fines and penalties) in any jurisdiction paid by the
Company or either Joint Broker in respect of any such arrangements
or dealings. If this is the case, each Placee should seek its own
advice and notify the relevant Joint Broker accordingly. Placees
are advised to consult with their own advisers regarding the tax
aspects of the subscription for Placing Shares.
The Company and the Joint Brokers are not
liable to bear any taxes that arise on a sale of Placing Shares
subsequent to their acquisition by Placees, including any taxes
arising otherwise than under the laws of any country in the EEA.
Each prospective Placee should, therefore, take its own advice as
to whether any such tax liability arises and notify the relevant
Joint Broker and the Company accordingly. Furthermore, each
prospective Placee agrees to indemnify on an after-tax basis and
hold each Joint Broker and/or the Company and their respective
affiliates harmless from any and all interest, fines or penalties
in relation to stamp duty, SDRT and all other similar duties or
taxes in any jurisdiction to the extent that such interest, fines
or penalties arise from the unreasonable default or delay of that
Placee or its agent.
In addition, Placees should note that they will
be liable for any capital duty, stamp duty and all other stamp,
issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or other
duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or penalties
relating thereto) payable, whether inside or outside the UK, by
them or any other person on the subscription, acquisition, transfer
or sale by them of any Placing Shares or the agreement by them to
subscribe for, acquire, transfer or sell any Placing
Shares.
All times and dates in this Announcement
(including this Appendix 1 to the Announcement) may be subject to
amendment. The Joint Brokers shall notify the Placees and any
person acting on behalf of the Placees of any changes.
APPENDIX 2
The following definitions apply throughout this
Announcement unless the context otherwise requires:
"£",
"GBP", "pounds", "pound sterling" or "sterling", "p", "penny" or "pence"
|
the lawful currency of the UK;
|
"Admission"
|
admission to trading on AIM of the Placing
Shares and the Subscription Shares in accordance with the AIM Rules
for Companies which is expected to occur at 8.00 a.m. on 1 July
2024, but no later than 15 July 2024;
|
"after-tax
basis"
|
in relation to any payment made to the Company,
either Joint Broker or their respective affiliates, agents,
directors, officers and employees in accordance with Appendix 1,
that such payment shall be calculated in such a manner as will
ensure that, after taking into account: (i) any tax required to be
deducted or withheld from the payment; (ii) the amount and timing
of any additional tax which becomes payable by the recipient as a
result of the payments being subject to tax in the hands of the
recipient of the payment; and (iii) the amount and timing of any
tax benefit which is obtained by the recipient of the payment to
the extent that such tax benefit is attributable to the matter
giving rise to the payment or to the entitlement to, or receipt of,
the payment, or to any tax required to be deducted or withheld from
the payment, the recipient of the payment is in the same after-tax
position as that in which it would have been if the matter giving
rise to the payment had not occurred;
|
"AIM"
|
the market of that name operated by the London
Stock Exchange;
|
"AIM
Rules"
|
the AIM Rules for Companies published and
amended from time to time by the London Stock Exchange;
|
"AIM Rules for
Nominated Advisers"
|
the AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers published
by the London Stock Exchange as amended from time to
time;
|
"Announcement"
|
this Announcement, including the appendices and
the terms and conditions of the Placing set out in Appendix
1;
|
"Articles of
Association" or "Articles"
|
the articles of association of the
Company;
|
"Bookbuild"
|
the bookbuilding process to be conducted by the
Joint Brokers to arrange participation by Placees in the
Placing;
|
"Cavendish"
|
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited, the
Company's nominated adviser and joint broker;
|
"certificated"
or in "certificated form"
|
in respect of a share or other security, where
that share or other security is not in uncertificated form (that
is, not in CREST);
|
"Circular"
|
the Company's circular to members of the
Company to be published on or about 11 July 2024 relating to the
Placing and the Subscription, enclosing the Notice of General
Meeting;
|
"City
Code"
|
the City Code on Takeovers and
Mergers;
|
"COBS"
|
the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business
Sourcebook;
|
"Company" or
"Directa Plus"
|
Directa Plus Plc a company registered in
England and Wales with registered number 04679109 and having its
registered office at 7th Floor 50 Broadway, London, United Kingdom,
SW1H 0DB;
|
"Concert
Party"
|
Nant Capital, LLC and Patrick
Soon-Shiong
|
"CREST"
|
the relevant system for the paperless
settlement of trades and the holding of uncertificated securities
operated by Euroclear in accordance with the CREST
Regulations;
|
"CREST
Regulations"
|
the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001
(SI 2001/3755), including (i) any enactment or subordinate
legislation which amends or supersedes those regulations; and (ii)
any applicable rules made under those regulations or any such
enactment or subordinate legislation for the time being in
force;
|
"Directors" or "Board"
|
the directors of the Company for the time
being, together being the board of directors;
|
"EEA"
|
European Economic Area;
|
"EIS"
|
the Enterprise Investment Scheme as detailed in
Part V of the Income Tax Act 2007;
|
"EIS
Relief"
|
relief from UK tax under Part 5 of the Income
Tax Act 2007 and any provisions of UK or European law referred to
therein;
|
"EIS/VCT
Placing"
|
the conditional placing of the EIS/VCT Placing
Shares at the Issue Price by the Joint Brokers;
|
"EIS/VCT
Placing Shares"
|
the new Ordinary Shares to be issued by the
Company pursuant to the EIS/VCT Placing, in the number to be agreed
between the Joint Brokers and the Company following completion of
the Bookbuild;
|
"Enlarged
Share Capital"
|
the Ordinary Shares in issue immediately
following Admission of the New Ordinary Shares;
|
"EU Prospectus
Regulation"
|
Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended and
supplemented from time to time);
|
"Euroclear"
|
Euroclear UK & International Limited, the
operator of CREST;
|
"Existing
Ordinary Shares"
|
The 66,057,649 Ordinary Shares currently in
issue at the date of this Announcement;
|
"FCA" or
"Financial Conduct Authority"
|
the UK Financial Conduct Authority;
|
"FSMA"
|
the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as
amended);
|
"Fundraising"
|
together, the Placing and the Subscription
(including the Directors' Intended Participation);
|
"General
Meeting"
|
the general meeting of the shareholders of the
Company expected to be held on 27 June 2024 at 2.30 p.m (or any
reconvened meeting following adjournment of the general
meeting);
|
"Group"
|
the Company and its subsidiary undertakings
from time to time and "Group
Company" means any one of them;
|
"Issue
Price"
|
18p per Placing Share;
|
"Joint
Brokers"
|
Cavendish and Singer Capital
Markets;
|
"London Stock
Exchange"
|
London Stock Exchange plc;
|
"MAR"
|
means the EU Market Abuse Regulation (EU)
596/2014 and all delegated or implementing regulations relating to
that Regulation as amended and transposed into the laws of the
United Kingdom pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act
2018;
|
"Material
Adverse Change"
|
means a material adverse change in or
affecting, or any development reasonably likely to result in a
material adverse change in or affecting, the condition (financial,
operational, legal, or otherwise) or the earnings, management,
results of operations, business affairs, solvency or financial
prospects of the Company or the Group (taken as a whole), whether
or not arising in the ordinary course of business and whether or
not foreseeable at the date of this Announcement;
|
"New Ordinary
Shares"
|
the Placing Shares and the Subscription Shares,
as appropriate;
|
"Nominated
Adviser"
|
has the meaning given to the expression
"nominated adviser" in the AIM Rules;
|
"Notice of
General Meeting"
|
the notice of the General Meeting contained
within the Circular;
|
"Non-EIS/VCT
Placing"
|
the conditional placing of the Non-EIS/VCT
Placing Shares at the Issue Price by the Joint Brokers;
|
"Non-EIS/VCT
Placing Shares"
|
the new Ordinary Shares to be issued by the
Company pursuant to the Non-EIS/VCT Placing, in the number to be
agreed between the Joint Brokers and the Company following
completion of the Bookbuild;
|
"Ordinary
Shares"
|
ordinary shares of £0.0025 each in the capital
of the Company;
|
"Panel"
|
the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
|
"Placees"
|
persons who agree to subscribe for Placing
Shares at the Issue Price;
|
"Placing"
|
the proposed conditional placing by the Joint
Brokers of the Placing Shares at the Issue Price in accordance with
the terms of the Placing Agreement, details of which are set out in
this Announcement;
|
"Placing
Agreement"
|
the agreement dated 11 June 2024 between the
Company, Cavendish and Singer Capital Markets relating to the
Placing;
|
"Placing
Documents"
|
this Announcement and the Result of Placing
Announcement;
|
"Placing
Shares"
|
the number of new Ordinary Shares to be
allotted and issued by the Company to Placees pursuant to the
Placing in accordance with the terms of the Placing
Agreement;
|
"Publicly
Available Information"
|
any information publicly announced through a
Regulatory Information Service by or on behalf
of the Company on or prior to the date of this
Announcement;
|
"Regulatory
Information Service"
|
the meaning given to it in the AIM
Rules;
|
"Relevant
Funding"
|
any funding received pursuant to an investment,
loan or grant from any investor who (A) is a venture capital trust
(as defined in Part 6 of the Income Tax Act 2007) (B) has claimed,
or is intending to claim, tax relief on that investment under the
Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (under Part 5A of the Income Tax
Act 2007) or the Enterprise Investment Scheme (under Part 5 of the
Income Tax Act 2007);
|
"Relevant
Person"
|
has the meaning given to it in Appendix 1 to
this Announcement;
|
"Resolutions"
|
the resolutions contained in the Notice of
General Meeting, and a reference to a numbered Resolution shall be
to the Resolution so numbered in that notice;
|
"Result of
Placing Announcement"
|
the announcement of the result of the
Placing;
|
"Rule 9
Offer"
|
a general offer under Rule 9 of the City
Code
|
"SDRT"
|
Stamp Duty Reserve Tax;
|
"Setcar"
|
means Setcar SA, the Company's majority owned
subsidiary;
|
"Shareholders"
|
means holders of the Ordinary
Shares;
|
"Singer
Capital Markets"
|
Singer Capital Markets Securities Limited, the
Company's joint broker;
|
"Subscription"
|
the conditional subscription for Subscription
Shares by Nant Capital, LLC at the Issue Price;
|
"Subscription
Agreement"
|
the agreement entered into or to be entered
into pursuant to the Subscription;
|
"Subscription
Shares"
|
the new Ordinary Shares proposed to be allotted
and issued by the Company pursuant to the Subscription, subject to
the passing of the Resolutions;
|
"subsidiary" or "subsidiary
undertaking"
|
have the meaning given to such term in the
Companies Act 2006;
|
"Terms of
Placing"
|
has the meaning given to it in Appendix 1 to
this Announcement;
|
"UK" or "United
Kingdom"
|
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland;
|
"UK MiFID
II"
|
means EU Directive 2014/65/EU as it forms part
of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act
2018;
|
"UK Prospectus
Regulation"
|
means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms
part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018;
|
"uncertificated" or "in
uncertificated form"
|
in respect of a share or other security, where
that share or other security is recorded on the relevant register
of the share or security concerned as being held in uncertificated
form in CREST and title to which, by virtue of the CREST
Regulations may be transferred by means of CREST;
|
"United
Kingdom or UK"
|
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland;
|
"United
States" or "US"
|
the United States of America, its jurisdictions
and possession, any state of the United States and the District of
Columbia;
|
"US Securities
Act"
|
the US Securities Act of 1933, as
amended;
|
"US Investor
Letter"
|
the letter in the form provided by the Joint
Brokers;
|
"VCT"
|
venture capital trust; and
|
"VCT
Relief"
|
relief from UK tax under Part 6 of the Income
Tax Act 2007 and any provisions of UK or European law referred to
therein.
|
"Waiver"
|
the waiver granted by the Panel (conditional on
the approval of the Waiver Resolution by the Independent
Shareholders on a poll) of the obligation of the Concert Party to
make a Rule 9 Offer under the City Code on the allotment and issue
to it (or members of it) of the Subscription Shares
|