TIDMPINN
RNS Number : 4661L
Pinnacle Technology Group PLC
28 April 2015
28 April 2015
Pinnacle Technology Group plc ("Pinnacle" or the "Company")
PROPOSED PLACING
AND
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING
Pinnacle Technology Group plc (AIM:PINN), the AIM listed IT
managed service provider is pleased to announce that it has
conditionally raised approximately GBP0.86 million (before
expenses) by way of a placing of 13,164,122 new Ordinary Shares, at
a price of 6.5 pence per new Ordinary Share. N+1 Singer is acting
as Nominated Adviser and sole broker for the Company in connection
with the Placing.
The Issue Price of 6.5 pence per new Ordinary Share represents a
16% per cent. premium to the closing middle market price of 5.625
pence per Existing Ordinary Share on 27 April 2015, being the
latest Dealing Day prior to the announcement of the Placing.
The purpose of the Placing is to facilitate a strategic
investment by MXC Capital, to provide funds to be used by the
Company to implement the Company's growth strategy and to fund the
working capital requirements of the Group. The Company has also
appointed MXC Capital to provide corporate finance advisory
services to the business.
The Placing is conditional, inter alia, on the passing of
Resolutions by Shareholders at the General Meeting, notice of which
is set out in the Circular. If the Resolutions are passed, the new
Ordinary Shares will be allotted immediately after the General
Meeting and Admission of the New Ordinary Shares is expected to
occur at 8.00 a.m. on 15 May 2015. Should Shareholder approval not
be obtained at the General Meeting, the Placing will not proceed.
The Placing is not being underwritten.
The Circular will be posted to shareholders later today. Copies
of the Circular will be available free of charge from the Company's
website (www.pinn.uk.com) and at the offices of N+1 Singer, One
Bartholomew Lane, London, EC2N 2AX during normal business hours on
any weekday (public holidays excepted) up to and including 14 May
2015.
Definitions for all terms defined in this announcement are
provided at the end of this announcement.
Nicholas Scallan, CEO of Pinnacle, said: "I am confident that
the involvement of MXC Capital, with its powerful network of
contacts in our industry, will generate a number of opportunities
to grow our business. I look forward to working with them."
Marc Young, CEO of MXC Capital, said: "We have known Pinnacle
for some time. We see an opportunity to work with management to
drive the Company's strategy, identify acquisition opportunities
and accelerate its growth."
For further information please contact:
Pinnacle Technology Group plc
Nicholas Scallan, Chief Executive
James Dodd, Non-Executive Chairman 0208 185 6393
N+1 Singer
Ben Wright
Richard Salmond 020 7496 3000
MXC Capital 020 7965 8149
Marc Young
Beattie Communications 0844 842 5490
Chris Gilmour
David Walker
Corrinne Douglas
1. Introduction and summary
The Company announced today that it has conditionally raised
approximately GBP0.86 million (before expenses) by way of a placing
of 13,164,122 new Ordinary Shares at a price of 6.5 pence per
share. The Placing Price represents a 16% per cent. premium to the
closing middle market price of 5.625 pence per Existing Ordinary
Share on 27 April 2015, being the latest Dealing Day prior to the
publication of this announcement.
The Placing has been arranged in order to facilitate a strategic
investment in Pinnacle by MXC Capital, the technology focused
merchant bank. MXC Capital is subscribing for 5,918,256 Ordinary
Shares, which represents 10 per cent. of the Enlarged Share Capital
alongside certain institutional investors and the Board.
The Placing is conditional, inter alia, upon the Company
obtaining approval from its Shareholders to disapply pre-emption
rights and to grant the Board authority to allot the Placing
Shares: completion of the Placing is therefore conditional upon the
passing of all of the Resolutions set out in the Notice of General
Meeting at the end of the Circular.
The Placing, which has been arranged by N+1 Singer pursuant to
the terms of the Placing Agreement, is also conditional upon
Admission and has not been underwritten by N+1 Singer. The Placing
proceeds will be used to further implement the Company's growth
strategy and to fund the working capital requirements of the Group,
further details of which are set out in paragraph 2 below.
2. Background to and reasons for the Placing and use of proceeds
The purpose of the Placing is to facilitate a strategic
investment by MXC Capital, to provide funds to be used by the
Company to implement the Company's growth strategy and to fund the
working capital requirements of the Group.
As noted in the Annual Reports and Accounts for 2014, the group
balance sheet continues to show the impact of a number of poor
acquisitions made during 2011, where loss making businesses were
acquired for relatively small consideration but with significant
liabilities. The acquisitions have not delivered the returns
anticipated at the time of purchase and have consumed funds to
repay the inherited net liabilities of the businesses. The net
asset position of the group at year end was GBP352k. To support the
balance sheet and to fund growth plans we successfully raised
GBP560k before expenses in November 2014 and this additional raise
will further strengthen the balance sheet.
3. MXC Capital
MXC Capital is an AIM quoted merchant bank specialising in
investing in technology companies with a track record of enhancing
shareholder value. MXC Capital was founded by Ian Smith and Tony
Weaver and has completed 70 technology sector transactions over the
last 13 years. MXC Capital will work with the Board of Pinnacle to
build upon and augment its strategy for growth. MXC Capital brings
a deep knowledge of the technology industry, proven operational
skills, and access to significant investment funding.
In consideration of its agreement to cornerstone the Placing to
the value of approximately GBP0.4 million, and conditional upon the
subscription by MXC Capital for 5,918,256 Ordinary Shares pursuant
to the Placing and the passing of the Resolutions, MXC Capital has
been granted warrants over 5 per cent. of the Enlarged Share
Capital (the "Warrants"). The Warrant Instrument creating the
Warrants contains a further provision to the effect that the number
of Warrants created pursuant to the terms of this Instrument shall
at all times be equal to 5 per cent. of the issued share capital of
the Company and therefore each time that the Company allots and
issues new Ordinary Shares it shall be deemed to have created such
number of additional warrants which in number are equal to 5 per
cent. of the number of new Ordinary Shares allotted and issued.
This figure of 5 per cent. will be reduced pro rata by any
allotment and issue of new Ordinary Shares pursuant to any partial
exercise of Warrants during a 7 year exercise period (including
more than one partial exercise of Warrants), for example if the
warrantholder exercises 50 per cent. of the Warrants then the
figure of 5 per cent. would be reduced to 2.5 per cent.
The Warrants are exercisable at the Placing Price and shall be
exercisable over a 7 year period on the following terms:
(i) the Warrants vesting a third per annum over the first 3 years;
(ii) 50 per cent. of the Warrants vesting in any year (one
third) becoming exercisable immediately and the remaining 50 per
cent. of the Warrants only becoming exercisable subject to 12 per
cent. per annum compound growth in the Company's share price with
respect to the Placing Price having been achieved; and
certain provisions are contained in the warrant instrument to
provide for the entire award being exercisable on a takeover of the
Company subject to the performance conditions having been met at
that time.
Further to an agreement dated 27 April 2015 between the Company
and MXC Capital under which corporate finance consultancy services
will be provided to the Company, the Company has agreed to pay a
fee of GBP30,000 (plus VAT where applicable) per annum to MXC
Capital. In addition a maximum of 2.5 per cent. of the enterprise
value of successful transactions consulted upon is payable by the
Company.
4. Trading update
On 20 February 2015, the Company released its audited final
results for the year ended 30 September 2014. This stated that,
whilst the Board has recognised from the outset that turning around
Pinnacle Technology will take time, as demonstrated by the results,
the Board continues to work to stabilise revenues in the business
and to position the company to becoming EBITDA positive. Throughout
the past year the business has been addressing loss making lines of
business, reducing costs, and management attention is now
increasingly focused on profitable revenue growth.
More recently the Board has been pleased to note the
announcement of the O2 Mobile Digital Services Agreement and whilst
the implementation of the agreement is still being progressed, the
business is excited by the opportunity presented by the
relationship. The business has also made progress in the current
year with the implementation of the Easynet agreement, reducing the
access network cost base.
These initiatives, and others that have been embarked upon in
the current financial year, are reducing the underlying cost base
of the business whilst supporting the generation of new sales
opportunities for both new client acquisition and cross-selling to
existing clients.
With the progress that has been made in turning around Pinnacle
Technology, the Board believes that the time is appropriate to
consider reviewing acquisition opportunities that will take
advantage of the underlying capabilities of the Group and corporate
structure, coupled with the highly fragmented and regionalised
market in which the Group operates. To that end, the Board has
appointed MXC Capital Advisory LLP as financial adviser to support
these activities.
With the opportunities available to Pinnacle Technology and the
early signs of progress coming from the initiatives outlined above,
albeit noting that further time and efforts are still required to
restructure the Group into the appropriate form for its operations,
the Board is increasingly confident about the future prospects of
the Company.
5. The Placing
The Company has conditionally raised approximately GBP0.8
million (net of expenses) through the issue of the Placing Shares
at the Placing Price, which represents a premium of 16% per cent.
to the closing middle market price of 5.625 pence per Existing
Ordinary Share on 27 April 2015, being the latest Dealing Day prior
to the publication of this announcement. The Placing Shares will
represent approximately 22.2 per cent. of the Company's issued
ordinary share capital immediately following Admission.
The Placing Agreement
Pursuant to the terms of the Placing Agreement, N+1 Singer has
conditionally agreed to use its reasonable endeavours, as agent for
the Company, to place the Placing Shares with certain institutional
and other investors. The Placing has not been underwritten. The
Placing Agreement is conditional upon, inter alia, the Resolutions
being duly passed at the General Meeting and Admission becoming
effective on or before 8.00 a.m. on 15 May 2015 (or such later time
and/or date as the Company and N+1 Singer may agree, but in any
event by no later than 8.00 a.m. on 29 May 2015). If any of the
conditions are not satisfied, the Placing Shares will not be issued
and all monies received from the placees will be returned to them
(at the placees' risk and without interest) as soon as possible
thereafter.
The Placing Agreement contains warranties from the Company in
favour of N+1 Singer in relation to, inter alia, the accuracy of
the information in this announcement and other matters relating to
the Group and its business. In addition, the Company has agreed to
indemnify N+1 Singer in relation to certain liabilities it may
incur in respect of the Placing. N+1 Singer has the right to
terminate the Placing Agreement in certain circumstances prior to
Admission, in particular, in the event of a material breach of the
warranties given to N+1 Singer in the Placing Agreement, the
failure of the Company to comply with any of its obligations under
the Placing Agreement (in such a way that, in the reasonable
opinion of N+1 Singer adversely affects, or makes it inadvisable to
proceed with the Placing), the occurrence of a force majeure event
or a material adverse change in (amongst other things) the
financial or political conditions in the United Kingdom (which in
the reasonable opinion of N+1 Singer adversely affects, or makes it
inadvisable to proceed with the Placing), any circumstance arising
giving rise to claim under the corporate finance indemnity or an
adverse change affecting the business of the Group (which is
material in the context of the Placing).
Settlement and dealings
Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the
Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected
that Admission will occur and that dealings will commence at 8.00
a.m. on 15 May 2015 on which date it is also expected that the
Placing Shares will be enabled for settlement in CREST.
The Placing Shares will, when issued, rank pari passu in all
respects with the Existing Ordinary Shares including the right to
receive dividends and other distributions declared following
Admission.
6. Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trusts
Investors should not consider that any of the reliefs under the
EIS and VCT regimes will be available to them in respect of any new
Ordinary Shares to be issued under the Placing.
7. Board Structure
As part of their placing participation of 3,418,256 Placing
Shares (amounting to approximately GBP0.2 million at the Placing
Price and resulting in a total holding representing approximately
10 per cent. of the Enlarged Share Capital), and subject to (i) the
agreement of the Directors (not to be unreasonably withheld), and
(ii) the appointment being approved by the Shareholders at the next
following Annual General Meeting of the Company and (iii)
subsequently in accordance with the Articles of Association of the
Company, Livingbridge VC LLP has been granted the right to appoint
a director to the Board of the Company for as long as it retains a
minimum interest of 7.5 per cent. of the issued share capital of
the Company.
As part of their placing participation of 5,918,256 Placing
Shares (amounting to approximately GBP0.4 million at the Placing
Price and resulting in a total holding representing approximately
11.61 per cent. of the Enlarged Share Capital), and subject to (i)
the agreement of the Directors (not to be unreasonably withheld),
and (ii) the appointment being approved by the Shareholders at the
next following Annual General Meeting of the Company and (iii)
subsequently in accordance with the Articles of Association of the
Company, MXC Capital has been granted the right to appoint a
Director to the Board of the Company for as long as it retains a
minimum interest of 7.5 per cent. of the issued share capital of
the Company.
8. Director Dealing and Related Party Transaction
Three directors of the Company are participating in the Placing
at the Placing Price as described below:
Number
of shares
held Percentage
Amount Number including of Enlarged
of
subscribed Placing the Placing Share
(GBP) Shares Shares Capital
James Dodd 58,785.74 904,396 4,065,935 6.87%
Thomas Black 70,009.03 1,077,062 4,842,199 8.18%
Nicholas Scallan 9,999.99 153,846 684,846 1.16%
The conditional agreements entered into by James Dodd, Thomas
Black and Nicholas Scallan to subscribe for Placing Shares are
classified as related party transactions for the purposes of the
AIM Rules. In the absence of an independent director, N+1 Singer,
the Company's Nominated Adviser, considers that the terms of the
transaction are fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's
shareholders are concerned.
9. The General Meeting
The Company currently does not have sufficient authorities in
place under section 551 and section 570 of the Act to allot
Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Placing and the Warrants and to
disapply pre-emption rights in respect of such allotments.
Accordingly, the Directors are seeking authority at the General
Meeting to allot Ordinary Shares on a non pre-emptive basis to
implement the Placing.
Notice of the General Meeting is set out in the Circular. The
General Meeting will be held at the offices of N+1 Singer, 1
Bartholomew Lane, London EC2N 2AX at 10.00 a.m. on 14 May 2015.
Shareholders have the right to attend, speak and vote at the
General Meeting (or, if they are not attending the meeting, to
appoint someone else as their proxy to vote on their behalf) if
they are on the Register at the Voting Record Time (namely 10.00
a.m. on 12 May 2015). Changes to entries in the Register after the
Voting Record Time will be disregarded in determining the rights of
any person to attend and/or vote at the General Meeting. If the
General Meeting is adjourned, only those Shareholders on the
Register 48 hours before the time of the adjourned General Meeting
(excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) will be
entitled to attend, speak and vote or to appoint a proxy.
The number of Ordinary Shares a Shareholder holds as at the
Voting Record Time will determine how many votes a Shareholder or
his proxy will have in the event of a poll.
10. Recommendation
Your Board believes the Placing to be in the best interests of
the Company and the Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the
Directors unanimously recommend you to vote in favour of the
Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting as they intend to
do in respect of their holdings, amounting, in aggregate, to
7,457,676 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 16.2 per
cent. of the existing issued share capital of the Company.
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions apply throughout this announcement
unless the context otherwise requires:
"Act" the Companies Act 2006 (as amended)
"Admission" the admission of the Placing Shares
to trading on AIM following completion
of the Placing and such admission becoming
effective in accordance with Rule 6
of the AIM Rules
"AIM" the AIM market operated by the London
Stock Exchange
"AIM Rules" the AIM Rules for Companies and guidance
notes published by the London Stock
Exchange from time to time
"certificated an ordinary share recorded on a company's
form" or "in share register as being held in certificated
certificated form (namely, not in CREST)
form"
"Circular" the circular dated 28 April 2015
"Company" or Pinnacle Technology Group plc, a company
"Pinnacle" incorporated and registered in England
and Wales under the Companies Act 1985
with registered number 5259846
"CREST" the relevant system (as defined in the
CREST Regulations) in respect of which
Euroclear is the operator (as defined
in those regulations)
"CREST Regulations" the Uncertificated Securities Regulations
2001 (S.I. 2001 No. 3755) (as amended)
"Dealing Day" a day on which the London Stock Exchange
is open for business in London
"Directors" the directors of the Company whose names
or "Board" are set out on page 4 of the Circular,
or any duly authorised committee thereof
"EIS" the Enterprise Investment Scheme as
set out in Part IV of the Income Tax
Act 2007 and Part IV and Schedule 5B
of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains
Act 1992
"Euroclear" Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited, the
operator of CREST
"Enlarged Share the issued share capital of the Company
Capital" immediately following Admission comprising
the Existing Ordinary Shares and the
Placing Shares
"Existing Ordinary the 46,018,436 ordinary shares of 1
Shares" pence each in issue at the date of this
announcement, all of which are admitted
to trading on AIM and being the entire
issued ordinary share capital of the
Company
"Form of Proxy" the form of proxy for use in connection
with the General Meeting which accompanies
the Circular
"FCA" the Financial Conduct Authority
"FSMA" the Financial Services and Markets Act
2000 (as amended)
"General Meeting" the general meeting of the Company to
be held at the offices of N+1 Singer,
1 Bartholomew Lane, London EC2N 2AX
at 10.00 a.m. on 14 May 2015, notice
of which is set out at the end of the
Circular
"Group" the Company, its subsidiaries and its
subsidiary undertakings
"HMRC" Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs
"London Stock London Stock Exchange plc
Exchange"
"MXC Capital" MXC Capital Limited (registered in Guernsey
with company number 58895 and whose
registered office is at 1st and 2nd
Floors, Elizabeth House, Les Ruettes
Brayes, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1
1EW) and any subsidiary or holding company
from time to time of MXC Capital Limited,
and any subsidiary or holding company
from time to time of a holding company
or subsidiary of MXC Capital Limited,
and each company in the MXC Group is
a member of the MXC Group;
"Nominated Adviser" Nplus1 Singer Advisory LLP, the Company's
or "N+1 Singer" nominated adviser and broker
"Notice of General the notice convening the General Meeting
Meeting" which is set out at the end of the Circular
"Ordinary Shares" the ordinary shares of 1 pence each
in the capital of the Company
"Placing" the conditional placing of the Placing
Shares by N+1 Singer, as agent on behalf
of the Company, pursuant to the Placing
Agreement, further details of which
are set out in this announcement
"Placing Agreement" the conditional agreement dated 28 April
2015 made between N+1 Singer and the
Company in relation to the Placing,
further details of which are set out
in this announcement
"Placing Price" 6.5 pence per Placing Share
"Placing Shares" the 13,164,122 new Ordinary Shares to
be issued pursuant to the Placing
"Prospectus the prospectus rules made by the FCA
Rules" pursuant to section 73A of the FSMA
"Resolutions" the resolutions set out in the Notice
of General Meeting
"Shareholders" holders of Ordinary Shares
"UK" the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
"US" or "United the United States of America, each State
States" thereof, its territories and possessions
(including the District of Columbia)
and all other areas subject to its jurisdiction
"uncertificated" an Ordinary Share recorded on a company's
or "in uncertificated share register as being held in uncertificated
form" form in CREST and title to which, by
virtue of the CREST Regulations, may
be transferred by means of CREST
"VCT" a venture capital trust within the meaning
of Chapter 3 of Part 6 of the Income
Tax Act 2007
"Warrants" the warrants referred to in paragraph
3
"Warrant Instrument" the warrant instrument referred to in
paragraph 3
-Ends-
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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