Corporate News
Proposed Placing to raise approximately £2.1 million
21 November 2022
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY THE COMPANY TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER ARTICLE 7 OF THE EU REGULATION 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF THE DOMESTIC LAW OF ENGLAND AND WALES BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (“UK MAR”). UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPENDICES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL TO DO SO.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPENDICES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE APPENDICES DO NOT CONSTITUTE OR CONTAIN ANY INVITATION, SOLICITATION, RECOMMENDATION, OFFER OR ADVICE TO ANY PERSON TO SUBSCRIBE FOR, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR DISPOSE OF ANY SECURITIES OF NORTHCODERS GROUP PLC IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH ANY SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE READ IN ITS ENTIRETY. IN PARTICULAR, YOU SHOULD READ AND UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE APPENDICES INCLUDING APPENDIX III WHICH CONTAINS THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING. THE DEFINITIONS USED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ARE SET OUT IN APPENDIX II OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
Northcoders (AIM:CODE), the independent provider of training programmes for software
coding, is pleased to announce that it intends to raise approximately £2.1 million
(before expenses) by way of a placing of approximately 694,444 new Ordinary Shares at a
price of 300 pence per share.
The Placing Price represents a discount of approximately 4.8 per cent to the closing
price of 315 pence per Ordinary Share on 18 November 2022, being the latest practicable
business day prior to the publication of this Announcement.
Key highlights and use of proceeds
Following Northcoders' significant expansion since IPO in July 2021, with increasing
consumer and corporate demand for the Group's technology training across the UK, the net
proceeds of the Placing will be used, inter alia, to further accelerate the
Company's growth strategy by introducing four new technology training courses across the
following disciplines:
- Cyber Security;
- Platform Engineering;
- Quality Assurance; and,
- Agile Project & Product Management.
These new technical disciplines will sit alongside the Company's current offerings of
Software Development and Data Engineering, resulting in the potential growth of
technology bootcamp student numbers alongside a broader service offering for corporate
clients engaging with the Northcoders Business Solutions division. The new courses
are expected to be developed and launched during the course of 2023.
Investment of £0.5 million will also be made into NCore, the Group's core technical
delivery platform, in order to further improve cost of sale efficiencies. This
investment is expected to be capitalised and to qualify for R&D tax credits.
The Directors believe that the Placing will help the Company achieve this.
The Directors have concluded that proceeding with the Placing is the most suitable option
available to the Company for raising additional funds through the issue of Placing
Shares and that issuing the Placing Shares at a discount that is fair and reasonable so
far as all existing Shareholders are concerned.
In the event of the Placing being oversubscribed, David Llewellyn, a substantial
shareholder, Chris Hill (CEO) and Amul Batra (COO) have each indicated that they would
be prepared to sell some of their Existing Ordinary Shares subject to Admission
occurring. In addition certain option holders have indicated that they would be prepared
to sell up to 50,000 new Ordinary Shares which would be issued pursuant to the exercise
of share options.
Placing Highlights
- Placing to raise approximately £2.1 million (before expenses) through the issue of approximately 694,444 Placing Shares at the Placing Price.
- The Placing will be conducted via an accelerated bookbuild process of Placing Shares at the Placing Price.
- The Placing Price represents a discount of approximately 4.8 per cent to the closing price of 315 pence per Ordinary Share on 18 November 2022, being the latest practicable business day prior to the publication of this Announcement.
- The Placing Shares, assuming full take-up, will represent 9 per cent. of the
Enlarged Issued Share Capital.
The Placing
The Placing will utilise the Company's existing shareholder authorities to issue the
Placing Shares on a non-pre-emptive basis for cash.
WH Ireland and Peterhouse are acting as Joint Bookrunners in connection with the Placing.
The Placing Shares are being offered by way of an accelerated bookbuild, which
will be launched immediately following this Announcement, in accordance with the terms
and conditions set out in Appendix III to this Announcement and is expected to close
later today.
The timing of the closing of the Bookbuild and the allocation of Placing Shares to be
issued at the Placing Price are to be determined at the discretion of the Company and
the Joint Bookrunners.
A further announcement will be made following the close of the Bookbuild, confirming
final details of the Placing.
The Placing is not being underwritten.
The expected timetable of principal events is set out in Appendix I to this
Announcement.
The Placing is conditional upon (amongst other things) the Placing Agreement not having
been terminated prior to Admission. The Placing is not conditional on a minimum
amount being raised.
Chris Hill, CEO of Northcoders Group plc, said: “Northcoders has delivered significant financial and operational progress since our IPO and we continue to cement our reputation as one of the UK's leading technology training providers with a flexible hybrid business model that can meet both the demands of individuals and corporates alike. We are delighted with the positive response we have so far received, from both new and existing investors, for our plans to accelerate this growth.
“The digital skills gap and a shortage of Tech talent in the UK continues to grow, which only serves to increase demand for our services. We are using our insights in the EdTech market to strategically expand our service offering, and believe investment into new technical discipline areas, as well as development of Ncore, our core technical delivery platform, will support us in our mission to provide the UK with the technologists it needs while creating life-changing opportunities for individuals from all walks of life.”
For further enquiries:
Northcoders Group plc | Via Buchanan |
---|---|
Chris Hill, CEO | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000 |
Charlotte Prior, CFO | www.northcodersgroup.com |
WH Ireland Limited (Nominated Adviser & Joint Bookrunner) | Tel: +44 (0)20 7220 1666 |
Mike Coe / Sarah Mather (Corporate Finance) | |
Fraser Marshall (Corporate Broking) | |
Peterhouse Capital Limited (Joint Bookrunner) | Tel+44 (0) 20 7496 0930 |
Lucy Williams | www.peterhousecap.com |
Duncan Vasey | |
Buchanan Communications | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000 |
Henry Harrison-Topham | northcoders@buchanan.uk.com |
Jamie Hooper | |
George Cleary |
Notes to Editors
Northcoders is a market leading provider of coding and software development training for
businesses and individuals. Founded in 2015, its business model operates a hybrid
structure with a flagship site in Manchester and other sites in Leeds, Birmingham and
Newcastle supported by a proven digital offering to support its students across the
UK.
Powered by IP rich technology, Northcoders' coding school offers boot camp courses to
individuals from a range of backgrounds, delivered through virtual and physical
learning. The Group also works with blue chip corporates across multiple sectors
to supply innovative EdTech solutions for the upskilling and reskilling of employees,
and is also a registered provider of government-backed apprenticeships in the field.
With a keen focus of inclusivity, diversity and quality at its core, Northcoders aims to
address the digital skills gap in the UK to meet the increasing demand for digital
specialists from businesses and public agencies. It operates in a significant and
growing market with structural growth trends further accelerated by Covid-19.
Northcoders was admitted to trading on AIM in July 2021 with the ticker CODE.L. For
additional information please visit www.northcodersgroup.com.
Additional
Information
Background to, and reasons for, the Placing
The Company is looking to further accelerate its growth strategy by introducing four new
technology training courses and developing its Ncore Platform.
The Company has already developed a new data engineering curriculum with the first cohort
having now started. It is now looking to develop four new technology training
disciplines across Cyber Security, Platform Engineering, Quality Assurance, and Agile
Project & Product Management.
These new technical disciplines will sit alongside the Company's current discipline
offerings of Software Development and Data Engineering, resulting in the potential
growth of Technology bootcamp student numbers alongside a broader service offering for
corporate clients engaging with the Northcoders Business Solutions division.
In addition, Northcoders intends to develop its Ncore Platform in order to:
- pivot from a “Reactive” to a “Proactive” delivery model;
- enable more predictable demand for tutor time;
- increase efficiency to reduce student to tutor ratio;
- increase learner engagement and contact time with a tutor;
- enable us to supply data-driven reporting to corporates which is often a requirement;
- forecasted to yield 20–25 per cent. cost-of-sale cash saving whilst also considering inflation of technologist's salary expectations; and
- provide infrastructure to launch part-time and “open university style” distance
learning courses.
Use of Proceeds
The proceeds of the Placing will be used to accelerate its strategy and as a result the
net proceeds will therefore be applied towards:
- increasing the technical disciplines it offers to learners, as set out above. Each new discipline is expected to cost £0.38 million to establish. The Directors expect that each course will take six months to develop and launch and should operate profitably within a further six months. In addition, the Directors expect this will diversify the Company's revenue streams; and
- £0.5 million for the development of the Ncore Platform as described above.
Further details of the Placing
Pursuant to the Placing Agreement, the Joint Bookrunners, as agents for the Company, have
conditionally agreed to use reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers at the Placing
Price for the Placing Shares.
The Joint Bookrunners intend to conditionally place the Placing Shares with certain
institutional and other investors at the Placing Price.
The Placing is conditional upon (amongst other things) the Placing Agreement not having
been terminated and Admission occurring on or before 8.00 a.m. on 24 November 2022 (or
such later date and/or time as the Joint Bookrunners and the Company may agree, being no
later than 5.00 p.m. on 5 December 2022).
The Placing Agreement contains customary warranties from the Company in favour of the
Joint Bookrunners 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 Bookrunners in relation to
certain liabilities that they may incur in respect of the Placing.
The Joint Bookrunners (acting in good faith) have the right to terminate the Placing
Agreement in certain circumstances prior to Admission in respect of the Placing Shares,
including (but not limited to): in the event that there is a material breach of any of
the warranties in the Placing Agreement or there is a material adverse change affecting
the condition (financial, operational, legal or otherwise), earnings, management,
business affairs or operations of the Company, whether or not foreseeable as at the date
of the Placing Agreement and whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business.
The Joint Bookrunners may also terminate the Placing Agreement if there has been a
material adverse change in certain international financial markets, a suspension or
material limitation in trading on certain stock exchanges or a material disruption in
commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance which, in the opinion of a
Joint Bookrunner (acting in good faith), makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed
with the Placing.
The Placing is not being underwritten. The Placing is not conditional on a minimum amount
being raised.
Admission to trading
Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for Admission, which is
expected to become effective and dealings in the Placing Shares to commence at, 8.00
a.m. on 24 November 2022.
IMPORTANT NOTICES
This Announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking
statements”. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes”, “estimates”, “forecasts”,
“plans”, “prepares”, “anticipates”, “projects”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”, “will”,
“seeks”, “should” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable
terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or
intentions. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical
facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this Announcement and include
statements regarding the Company's and the Directors' intentions, beliefs or current
expectations concerning, amongst other things, the Company's prospects, growth and
strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties
because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in
the future. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The
Company's actual performance, achievements and financial condition may differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this Announcement.
In addition, even if the Company's results of operations, performance, achievements and
financial condition are consistent with the forward-looking statements in this
Announcement, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or
developments in subsequent periods. Any forward-looking statements that the Company
makes in this Announcement speak only as of the date of such statement and (other than
in accordance with their legal or regulatory obligations) neither the Company, nor the
Joint Bookrunners nor any of their respective associates, directors, officers or
advisers shall be obliged to update such statements. Comparisons of results for current
and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of
future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical
data.
WH Ireland, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting
as Nominated Adviser and Joint Bookrunner exclusively for the Company and no one else in
connection with the contents of this document and will not regard any other person
(whether or not a recipient of this document) as its client in relation to the contents
of this document nor will it be responsible to anyone other than the Company for
providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to
the contents of this document. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any,
which may be imposed on WH Ireland by FSMA or the regulatory regime established
thereunder, WH Ireland accepts no responsibility whatsoever, and makes no representation
or warranty, express or implied, for the contents of this document including its
accuracy, completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to
be made by it, or on behalf of it, the Company or any other person, in connection with
the Company and the contents of this document, whether as to the past or the future. WH
Ireland accordingly disclaims all and any liability whatsoever, whether arising in tort,
contract or otherwise (save as referred to above), which it might otherwise have in
respect of the contents of this document or any such statement. The responsibilities of
WH Ireland as the Company's nominated adviser under the AIM Rules for Companies and the
AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers are owed solely to London Stock Exchange and are not
owed to the Company or to any director or shareholder of the Company or any other
person, in respect of its decision to acquire shares in the capital of the Company in
reliance on any part of this document, or otherwise.
Peterhouse which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting
solely as Joint Bookrunner exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection
with the contents of this document and will not regard any other person (whether or not
a recipient of this document) as its client in relation to the contents of this document
nor will it be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the
protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the contents
of this document. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be
imposed on Peterhouse by FSMA or the regulatory regime established thereunder,
Peterhouse accepts no responsibility whatsoever, and makes no representation or
warranty, express or implied, for the contents of this document including its accuracy,
completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to be made by
it, or on behalf of it, the Company or any other person, in connection with the Company
and the contents of this document, whether as to the past or the future. Peterhouse
accordingly disclaims all and any liability whatsoever, whether arising in tort,
contract or otherwise (save as referred to above), which it might otherwise have in
respect of the contents of this document or any such statement.
The Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities
Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of
the United States and may not be offered, sold, pledged, taken up, exercised, resold,
renounced, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United
States absent registration under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption
from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the
Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or
other jurisdiction of the United States. The Placing Shares have not been
approved, disapproved or recommended by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, any
state securities commission in the United States or any other U.S. regulatory authority,
nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the
offering of the Placing Shares . Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred
to herein may not be offered or sold in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, the
Republic of South Africa or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident
or citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South
Africa.
No public offering of securities is being made 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,
and nor will they be, registered under or offered in compliance with the securities laws
of any state, province or territory of Canada, Australia, 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 Canada, Australia, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or any
other jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom or to, or for the account or benefit of
any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or
to any investor located or resident in Canada.
No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in the United States, United
Kingdom or elsewhere. All offers of the Placing Shares will be made pursuant to an
exemption under the UK version of Regulation (EU) no 2017/1129 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017, which is part of UK law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended from time to time, and includes any
relevant implementing measure in any member state (the “UK Prospectus
Regulation”) from the requirement to produce a prospectus. This
Announcement is being distributed to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances
in which section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended does
not apply.
No prospectus will be made available in connection with the matters contained in this
Announcement and no such prospectus is required (in accordance with the UK Prospectus
Regulation) to be published. This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out
herein are for information purposes only and are directed only at persons who are: (a)
persons in member states (“Member States”) of the European Economic
Area (“EEA”) who are qualified investors as defined in section 86(7) of
FSMA, as amended (“Qualified Investors”), being persons falling within
the meaning of article 2(e) of Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129; and (b) in the
United Kingdom, Qualified Investors who are persons who (i) have professional experience
in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of “investment
professionals” in article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
(Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order>”); (ii)
are persons falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies,
unincorporated associations, etc”) of the Order; or (iii) are persons to whom it may
otherwise be lawfully communicated; (all such persons together being referred to as
“relevant persons”).
This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein must not 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 and the terms and conditions set out
herein relates is available only to relevant
persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.
The information in this Announcement, which includes certain information drawn from
public sources, does not purport to be comprehensive and has not been independently
verified. This announcement contains statements that are, or may be deemed
forward-looking statements, which relate, inter alia, to the Company's proposed
strategy, plans and objectives. Such forward looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the control of the
Company (including but not limited to future market conditions, legislative and
regulatory changes, the actions of governmental regulators and changes in the political,
social or economic framework in which the Company operates) that could cause the actual
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from such
forward-looking statements.
The content of this Announcement has not been approved by an authorised person within the
meaning of the FSMA>. Reliance on this announcement for the purpose of engaging in
any investment activity may expose an individual to a significant risk of losing all of
the property or other assets invested. 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, and
persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
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 the Joint
Bookrunners or by any of its affiliates or agents 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.
No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or estimate, and no
statement in this Announcement> 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.
The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading
on any stock exchange other than AIM.
Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on
the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this Announcement.
APPENDIX I
Expected Timetable for the Placing
2022 | |
Announcement of the results of the Placing |
21 November |
Admission effective and dealings in the Placing Shares on AIM |
8:00 a.m. on 24 November |
Placing Shares credited to CREST stock accounts |
8:00 a.m. on 24 November |
Trade date for any Sale Shares |
8:00 a.m. on 28 November |
Despatch of definitive share certificates in respect of Placing Shares to be
issued in certificated form |
Within 10 business days of Admission |
Despatch of definitive share certificates in respect of Sale Shares to be
issued in certificated form |
Within 12 business days of Admission |
Long Stop Date | 5:00 p.m. on 5 December |
Notes:
(i) References to times in this Announcement are to London time (unless otherwise stated).
(ii) If any of the above times or dates should change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified by an announcement to an RIS.
APPENDIX II
Definitions
The following definitions apply throughout this Announcement unless the context requires
otherwise or unless it is otherwise specifically provided:
“Act” | the Companies Act 2006 (as amended) |
“Admission'' | the admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM becoming effective in accordance with Rule 6 of the AIM Rules |
“AIM'' | the market of that name operated by the London Stock Exchange |
“AIM Rules” | the AIM Rules for Companies published by the London Stock Exchange from time to time |
“Announcement” | this announcement |
“Articles” | the articles of association of the Company (as amended from time to time) |
“Bookbuild” | the accelerated bookbuilding to be conducted by the Joint Bookrunners pursuant to the Placing Agreement and this Announcement |
“Business Day” | any day on which banks are usually open for business in England and Wales for the transaction of sterling business, other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday |
“certificated” or “in certificated
form” |
an Ordinary Share recorded on the Company's share register as being held in certificated form (namely, not in CREST) |
“Company” or “Northcoders” | Northcoders Group plc, a company incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985 with registered number 13378742 |
“CREST” or “CREST system” | 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 (SI2001/3755) |
“Directors” or “Board” | the directors of the Company or any duly authorised committee thereof |
“Enlarged Issued Share Capital” | the issued ordinary share capital of the Company immediately following Admission |
“EU” | the European Union |
"Euroclear" | Euroclear UK & International Limited, the operator of CREST |
“Existing Ordinary Shares” | the 6,944,445 Ordinary Shares in issue as at the date of this this Announcement |
"FCA" | the Financial Conduct Authority |
"FSMA" | the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 |
“Group” | the Company and its subsidiaries (as defined in the Act) |
“ISIN” | International Securities Identification Number |
“Joint Bookrunners” | WH Ireland and Peterhouse |
“London Stock Exchange” | London Stock Exchange plc |
“Long Stop Date” | 5 December 2022 |
"Money Laundering Regulations" | the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (as amended), the money laundering provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1993, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Criminal Finances Act 2017 |
“Ncore Platform” | Ncore, the Group's core technical delivery platform |
“Ordinary Shares” | ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the capital of the Company |
“Peterhouse” | Peterhouse Capital Limited, joint bookrunner to the Company in respect of the Placing |
“Placee” | any person subscribing for and/or purchasing Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing |
“Placing” | the placing of Placing Shares by the Joint Bookrunners on behalf of the Company at the Placing Price pursuant to the Placing Agreement |
“Placing Agreement” | the agreement dated 21 November 2022 between the Company and the Joint Bookrunners relating to the Placing |
“Placing Price” | 300 pence per Placing Share |
“Placing Shares” | the new Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing, the number of which will be announced by the Company on completion of the Bookbuild |
“Prospectus Regulation” | Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and Council of 14 June 2017 |
"Publicly Available Information" | any information 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” | one of the regulatory information services authorised by the FCA acting in its capacity as the UK listing authority to receive, process and disseminate regulatory information |
“Sale Shares” | Existing Ordinary Shares held by David Llewellyn, a substantial shareholder, Chris Hill (CEO), Amul Batra (COO) and 50,000 new Ordinary Shares that would be issued pursuant to the exercise of share options held by certain option holders, that together may be sold by the holders in the event of the Placing being oversubscribed |
“Securities Act” | the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended |
“Shareholders” | the holders of Ordinary Shares (as the context requires) at the relevant time |
“SONIA” | sterling overnight index average |
“UK MAR” or “UK Market Abuse Regulation” | the Market Abuse Regulation (2014/596/EU) (incorporating the technical standards, delegated regulations and guidance notes, published by the European Commission, London Stock Exchange, the FCA and the European Securities and Markets Authority) as it applies in England and Wales by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended from time to time |
“United Kingdom" or ''UK” | the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
“United States” or “US” | the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia and any other area subject to its jurisdiction |
“US Person” | has the meaning set out in Regulation S of the Securities Act |
“WH Ireland” | WH Ireland Limited, nominated adviser to the Company and joint bookrunner to the Company in respect of the Placing |
"£", "pounds sterling", "pence" or "p" | are references to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom |
APPENDIX III
Terms and conditions of the
Placing
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPENDICES, (TOGETHER, THE “ANNOUNCEMENT”) AND THE
INFORMATION IN IT IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
CANADA, AUSTRALIA, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY
OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS APPENDIX AND THE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE DIRECTED
ONLY AT: (A) PERSONS WHO ARE IN A MEMBER STATE AND ARE, UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED BY THE
JOINT BOOKRUNNERS, “QUALIFIED INVESTORS” AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF
THE PROSPECTUS REGULATION; AND (B) PERSONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WHO ARE QUALIFIED
INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE UK PROSPECTUS REGULATIONS WHO ARE ALSO: (I)
"INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS>" WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 19(5) OF
THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE
“ORDER”); (II) PERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) ("HIGH
NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC") OF THE ORDER; OR (III) PERSONS
TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE BE LAWFULLY COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING
REFERRED TO AS “RELEVANT PERSONS”). THIS APPENDIX AND THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT
RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS APPENDIX AND THE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN RELATE IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND
WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH
SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY
JURISDICTION. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR
SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF OR
SOLICITATION TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE
SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO
AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR AS PART OF A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. NEITHER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR OTHER
JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE
SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE PLACING OR THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES IS BEING MADE IN
THE UNITED STATES.
EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED
ASPECTS OF AN INVESTMENT IN PLACING SHARES. THE PRICE OF SHARES AND THE INCOME FROM THEM
(IF ANY) MAY GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP AND INVESTORS MAY NOT GET BACK THE FULL AMOUNT
INVESTED ON DISPOSAL OF SHARES.
All offers of the Placing Shares will be made pursuant to an exemption under the UK
version of the Prospectus Regulation, which is part of UK law by virtue of the European
Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended from time to time, and includes any relevant
implementing measure in any member state (the “UK Prospectus
Regulation”) from the requirement to produce a prospectus. This
Announcement is being distributed to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances
in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply.
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> or the South African Reserve Bank; 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, the Republic of South
Africa or any other jurisdiction in which such offer, sale, resale or delivery would be
unlawful.
Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU
Directive 2014>/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID
II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593
supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the
"MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and
any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer"
(for the purposes of the Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with
respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process,
which has determined that the Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target
market of: (a) retail investors, (b) investors who meet the criteria of professional
clients and (c) eligible counterparties (each as defined in MiFID II); and (ii) eligible
for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the
"Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors
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 offer.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an
assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; 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.
Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or
other legal obligation to forward a copy of this Appendix or the Announcement of which
it forms part should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.
These terms and conditions apply to persons making an offer to acquire Placing Shares.
Each Placee hereby agrees with the Joint Bookrunners and the Company to be bound by
these terms and conditions as being the terms and conditions upon which Placing Shares
will be issued or acquired. A Placee shall, without limitation, become so bound if the
Joint Bookrunners 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 acquire the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Placing 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.
In this Appendix, unless the context otherwise requires, “Placee” means a Relevant Person
(including individuals, funds or others) on whose behalf a commitment to subscribe for
or acquire Placing Shares has been given.
Details of the Placing and Placing Shares
The Joint Bookrunners and the Company have entered into a Placing Agreement, under which
the Joint Bookrunners have, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out therein,
agreed severally to use their reasonable endeavours to procure Placees for the Placing
Shares. The Placing is not being underwritten by the Joint Bookrunners or any other
person.
The number of Placing Shares will be determined following completion of the Bookbuild as
set out in this Announcement. The timing of the closing of the Bookbuild, the number of
Placing Shares and allocations are at the discretion of the Joint Bookrunners and a
further announcement confirming these details will be made in due course.
The Placing Shares will, when issued, be subject to the Articles, will be credited as
fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the Existing Ordinary
Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions (if any)
declared, made or paid on or in respect of Ordinary Shares after the date of issue of
the Placing Shares.
The Placing Shares will trade on AIM under CODE with ISIN GB00BL97B942.
Application for admission to trading
Applications will be made to London Stock Exchange for admission to trading of the
Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected that Admission will take
place on or before 8.00 a.m. on 24 November 2022 and that dealings will commence at the
same time.
Bookbuild
The Joint Bookrunners will today commence the Bookbuild to determine demand for
participation in the Placing by potential Placees at the Placing Price. This Appendix
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 Bookrunners 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
- The Joint Bookrunners are arranging the Placing as agents for the Company.
- Participation in the Placing is only available to persons who are lawfully able to
be, and have been, invited to participate by the Joint Bookrunners. The Joint
Bookrunners (and any of their affiliates and / or agents) are entitled to
participate in the Placing as principals.
- To bid in the Bookbuild, Placees should communicate their bid by telephone or by
email to their usual contact at the Joint Bookrunners. Each bid should state
the number of Placing Shares which the prospective Placee wishes to subscribe for at
the Placing Price, and each such placee acknowledges and agrees that their bid will
be irrevocable. Bids may be scaled down by the Joint Bookrunners on the basis
referred to in paragraph 7 below.
- The timing of the closing of the Bookbuild will be at the discretion of the Joint
Bookrunners. The Company reserves the right to reduce or seek to increase the
amount to be raised pursuant to the Placing, in its absolute discretion.
- Each Placee's allocation will be confirmed to Placees orally, or by email, by the
Joint Bookrunners following the close of the Bookbuild and a trade confirmation or
contract note will be dispatched as soon as possible thereafter. The Joint
Bookrunners' oral or emailed confirmation will give rise to an irrevocable, legally
binding commitment by that person (who at that point becomes a Placee), in favour of
the Joint Bookrunners and the Company, under which it agrees to acquire by
subscription or purchase the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Placing
Price and otherwise on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this
Appendix and in accordance with the Company's articles of association. Except with
the Joint Bookrunners' consent, such commitment will not be capable of variation or
revocation.
- The number of Placing Shares to be issued will be agreed between the Joint
Bookrunners and the Company following close of the Bookbuild. The Company will make
an announcement of the number of Placing Shares to be placed at the Placing Price
via a Regulatory Information Service following the close of the Bookbuild.
- Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5 above, the Joint Bookrunners may choose not to accept
bids and/or to accept bids, either in whole or in part, on the basis of allocations
determined at their discretion (after consultation with the Company) and may scale
down any bids for this purpose on such basis as it may determine. The Joint
Bookrunners may also, notwithstanding paragraphs 4 and 5 above, subject to the prior
consent of the Company, allocate Placing Shares after the time of any initial
allocation to any person submitting a bid after that time.
- A bid in the Bookbuild will be made on the terms and subject to the conditions in
the Announcement (including this Appendix) and will be legally binding on the Placee
on behalf of which it is made and except with Joint Bookrunners' consent will not be
capable of variation or revocation from the time at which it is submitted.
- Except as required by law or regulation, no press release or other announcement will
be made by Joint Bookrunners or the Company using the name of any Placee (or its
agent), in its capacity as Placee (or agent), other than with such Placee's prior
written consent.
- Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's allocation pursuant to the Placing is
confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares to be placed pursuant to the Placing
will be required to be made at the same time, on the basis explained below under
"Registration and Settlement".
- All obligations of Joint Bookrunners under the Placing will be subject to fulfilment
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".
- By participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees 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.
- To the fullest extent permitted by law and the applicable rules of the Financial
Conduct Authority ("FCA"), neither the Joint Bookrunners nor any of
each of their affiliates shall have any liability to Placees (or to any other person
whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise whether or not a recipient of
these terms and conditions) in respect of the Placing. Each Placee acknowledges and
agrees that the Company is responsible for the delivery of the Placing Shares to the
Placees and the Joint Bookrunners and each of their affiliates shall have no
liability to the Placees for the failure of the Company to fulfil those
obligations<. In particular, none of the Joint Bookrunners nor any of each
of their affiliates shall have any liability (including to the extent permissible by
law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of Joint Bookrunners' conduct of the
Placing.
Conditions of the Placing
The Joint Bookrunners' obligations under the Placing Agreement in respect of the Placing
Shares for Admission are conditional on, among other things:
- the Company having allotted the Placing Shares, subject only to Admission;
- none of the warranties given by the Company to the Joint Bookrunners being untrue,
inaccurate or misleading in any material respect in each case by reference to the
facts and circumstances then subsisting;
- the Company having performed all of its obligations under the Placing Agreement (to
the extent that such obligations fall to be performed prior to Admission) and not
being in breach of the Placing Agreement;
- there not having occurred, in the opinion of any Joint Bookrunner (following
reasonable consultation with the Company), a Material Adverse Effect (as such term
is defined in the Placing Agreement) at any time prior to Admission;
- Admission having become effective at or before 8.00 a.m. on 24 November 2022 (or
such later time and / or date as the Company and the Joint Bookrunners may agree in
writing, being not later than 5.00 p.m. on 5 December 2022).
If: (i) any of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement in relation to the
Placing Shares are not fulfilled or waived by Joint Bookrunners by the respective time
or date where specified (or such later time or date as Joint Bookrunners and Company may
agree in writing, not being later than 5.00 p.m. on 5 December 2022); (ii) any of such
conditions becomes incapable of being fulfilled at any time prior to Admission and is
not waived by the Joint Bookrunners; or (iii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the
circumstances specified below, the Placing will lapse 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 the Placee in respect
thereof.
The Joint Bookrunners may (acting together), at their sole discretion and upon such terms
as they think fit, waive or extend the period for, compliance by the Company with the
whole or any part of any of the Company's obligations in relation to the conditions in
the Placing Agreement save that that certain of the conditions, including those relating
to Admission, may not be waived. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees'
commitments as set out in this Announcement.
Neither the Joint Bookrunners, the Company nor any of their respective affiliates 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 nor for any decision they may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in
respect of the Placing generally and by participating in the Placing each Placee agrees
that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of the Joint Bookrunners.
Right to terminate the Placing
Agreement
The Joint Bookrunners are entitled, at any time before Admission, to terminate the
Placing Agreement by giving notice to the Company in certain circumstances,
including:
- any statement contained in the Placing Documents (as defined in the Placing
Agreement) has, in the opinion of any Joint Bookrunner (following reasonable
consultation with the Company), become or is discovered to be untrue, inaccurate or
misleading in any material respect; or
- any matters have arisen or have been discovered which would, if the Placing
Documents were to be issued at that time, constitute an omission therefrom; or
- any of the conditions to the Placing Agreement has become incapable of satisfaction
before the latest time provided for in the Placing Agreement or any of the
conditions has not been satisfied before the latest time provided in the Placing
Agreement and in either case has not been waived; or
- any of the Warranties become untrue, inaccurate or misleading in any material
respect by reference to the facts or circumstances subsisting at any such time, or a
matter arises that gives rise to a claim under the Company Indemnity (as defined in
the Placing Agreement); or
- the Company fails, in any respect which is material in the opinion of a Joint
Bookrunner (acting in good faith), to comply with any of its obligations under the
Placing Agreement; or
- in the opinion of any Joint Bookrunner (following reasonable consultation with the
Company), there has been a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Placing
Agreement); or
- there has been a change in certain international financial markets, a suspension or
material limitation in trading on certain stock exchanges or a material disruption
in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance which a Joint Bookrunner
considers (acting in good faith) makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with
the Placing or Admission.
The rights and obligations of the Placees will not be subject to termination by the
Placees or any prospective Placees at any time or in any circumstances. By participating
in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by the Joint Bookrunners of any right of
termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute
discretion of the Joint Bookrunners, as applicable, and that none of them need make any
reference to Placees and that neither the Joint Bookrunners, nor any of its respective
affiliates shall have any liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such
exercise.
No Admission Document or Prospectus
The Placing Shares are being offered to a limited number of specifically invited persons
only and have not been nor will be offered in such a way as to require the publication
of an admission document or prospectus in the United Kingdom or in any other
jurisdiction. No offering document, admission document or prospectus has been or will be
submitted to be approved by the FCA in relation to the Placing, and Placees' commitments
will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the Announcement
(including this Appendix) and the business and financial information that the Company is
required to publish in accordance with the AIM Rules (the "Exchange
Information").
Each Placee, by accepting a participation in the Placing, agrees that the content of this
Announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms that it has
neither received nor relied on any other information (other than the Exchange
Information), representation, warranty, or statement made by or on behalf of the
Company, or the Joint Bookrunners or any other person and neither the Joint Bookrunners,
the Company nor any other person will be liable for any Placee's decision to participate
in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement
which the Placees may have obtained or received and, if given or made, such information,
representation, warranty or statement must not be relied upon as having been authorised
by the Joint Bookrunners, the Company, or their respective officers, directors,
employees or agents.
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. Neither the Company nor the Joint Bookrunners are making any undertaking or
warranty to any Placee regarding the legality of an investment in the Placing Shares by
such Placee under any legal, investment or similar laws or regulations. Each Placee
should not consider any information in this Announcement to be legal, tax or business
advice. Each Placee should consult its own solicitor, tax adviser and financial adviser
for independent legal, tax and financial advice regarding an investment in the Placing
Shares. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for
fraudulent misrepresentation.
Registration and settlement
Following the close of the Bookbuild, each Placee allocated Placing Shares in the Placing
will be sent a trade confirmation or contract note in accordance with the standing
arrangements in place with the relevant Joint Bookrunner, stating the number of Placing
Shares allocated to it at the Placing Price, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee
(in GBP) and a form of confirmation in relation to settlement instructions.
Each Placee will be deemed to agree that it will do all things necessary to ensure that
delivery and payment is completed as directed by the Joint Bookrunners in accordance
with the standing CREST settlement instructions which they have in place with the
relevant Joint Bookrunner.
Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00BL97B942) following Admission
will take place within the system administered by Euroclear UK & International
Limited ("CREST") provided that, subject to certain exceptions, the
Joint Bookrunners reserve the right to require settlement for, and delivery of, the
Placing Shares (or a portion thereof) to Placees by such other means that it deems
necessary if delivery or settlement is not possible or practicable within CREST within
the timetable set out in this Announcement or would not be consistent with the
regulatory requirements in any Placee's jurisdiction.
It is expected that settlement will be on 24 November 2022 in accordance with the
instructions set out in the form of confirmation.
Interest is chargeable daily on payments not received from Placees on the due date in
accordance with the arrangements set out above at the rate of two percentage points
above SONIA.
Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does not comply with these obligations, the
Joint Bookrunners 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 appropriate the relevant
Joint Bookrunner's account and benefit (as agents for the Company), an amount equal to
the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. The relevant Placee will,
however, remain liable and shall indemnify the Joint Bookrunners on demand for any
shortfall below the aggregate amount owed by it and may be required to bear any stamp
duty or stamp duty reserve tax or securities transfer tax (together with any interest or
penalties) which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf.
By communicating a bid for Placing Shares, each Placee confers on the Joint Bookrunners
such authorities and powers necessary to carry out any such sale and agrees to ratify
and confirm all actions which the Joint Bookrunners lawfully takes in pursuance of such
sale.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees should
ensure that the form of confirmation is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant
person within that organisation.
Insofar as Placing Shares are registered 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 stamp duty reserve tax or securities
transfer tax. Neither the Joint Bookrunners nor the Company will be liable in any
circumstances for the payment of stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or securities
transfer tax in connection with any of the Placing Shares. Placees will not be
entitled to receive any fee or commission in connection with the Placing.
Representations, warranties and further terms
By participating in the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) makes the following representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings (as the case may be) to the Joint Bookrunners (for themselves and on behalf of the Company):
- that it has read and understood this Announcement, including the Appendices, in its
entirety and that its subscription for or purchase of Placing Shares is subject to
and based upon all the terms, conditions, representations, warranties,
acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings and other information contained herein
and undertakes not to redistribute or duplicate this Announcement;
- that its obligations are irrevocable and legally binding and shall not be capable of
rescission or termination by it in any circumstances;
- that the exercise by the Joint Bookrunners of any right or discretion under the
Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Joint Bookrunners,
and the Joint Bookrunners need not have any reference to it and shall have no
liability to it whatsoever in connection with any decision to exercise or not to
exercise any such right and each Placee agrees that it has no rights against the
Joint Bookrunners, or the Company, or any of their respective officers, directors or
employees, under the Placing Agreement pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third
Parties Act) 1999;
- that these terms and conditions represent the whole and only agreement between it,
the Joint Bookrunners and the Company in relation to its participation in the
Placing and supersedes any previous agreement between any of such parties in
relation to such participation. Accordingly, each Placee, in accepting its
participation in the Placing, is not relying on any information or representation or
warranty in relation to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of the Placing
Shares other than as contained in this Announcement and the Exchange Information.
Each Placee agrees that neither the Company, the Joint Bookrunners nor any of their
respective officers, directors or employees will have any liability for any such
other information, representation or warranty, express or implied;
- that in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary,
as that term is used in Article 5 of the 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 any Member
State other than Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent
of the Joint Bookrunners has been given to the offer or resale; or (ii) where
Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any Member State
other than Qualified Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not
treated under the Prospectus Regulation as having been made to such persons;
- that 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, 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 a Member State or the UK other than Qualified Investors or Relevant
Persons, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the Joint Bookrunners has
been given to the offer or resale;
- that neither it nor, as the case may be, its clients expect the Joint Bookrunners to
have any duties or responsibilities to such persons similar or comparable to the
duties of "best execution" and "suitability" imposed by the FCA's Conduct of
Business Source Book, and that the Joint Bookrunners are not acting for it or its
clients, and that the Joint Bookrunners will not be responsible for providing the
protections afforded to customers of the Joint Bookrunners or for providing advice
in respect of the transactions described herein;
- that it has made its own assessment of the Placing Shares and has relied on its own
investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in
accepting a participation in the Placing and neither the Joint Bookrunners nor the
Company or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or
employees or any person acting on behalf of any of them has provided, and will not
provide, it with any material regarding the Placing Shares or the Company or any
other person other than the information in this Announcement or the Publicly
Available Information; nor has it requested the Joint Bookrunners, the Company or
any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees or any
person acting on behalf of any of them to provide it with any such information;
- that it is: (i) unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Joint Bookrunners,
located outside the United States and it is not a US person as defined in Regulation
S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S") and it is subscribing
for the Placing Shares only in "offshore transactions" as defined in and pursuant to
Regulation S, and (ii) it is not subscribing for Placing Shares as a result of any
"directed selling efforts" as defined in Regulation S or by means of any form of
"general solicitation" or "general advertising" as such terms are defined in
Regulation D under the Securities Act;
- that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the
Securities Act, or under the securities legislation of, or with any securities
regulatory authority of, any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and
that, subject to certain exceptions, the Placing Shares may not be offered, sold,
pledged, resold, transferred, delivered or distributed into or within the United
States;
- that the only information on which it is entitled to rely on and on which it has
relied in committing to subscribe for the Placing Shares is contained in the
Announcement and Publicly Available Information, such information being all that it
deems necessary to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares and
it has made its own assessment of the Company, the Placing Shares and the terms of
the Placing based on the Announcement and Publicly Available Information;
- that neither the Joint Bookrunners nor the Company or any of their respective
affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees has made any representation or
warranty to it, express or implied, with respect to the Company, the Placing or the
Placing Shares or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Publicly Available
Information;
- that unless specifically agreed with the Joint Bookrunners, it is not and was not
acting on a non-discretionary basis for the account or benefit of a person located
within the United States at the time the undertaking to subscribe for Placing Shares
was given and it is not acquiring Placing Shares with a view to the offer, sale,
resale, transfer, delivery or distribution, directly or indirectly, of any Placing
Shares into the United States and it will not reoffer, resell, pledge or otherwise
transfer the Placing Shares except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and
otherwise in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state or
jurisdiction of the United States;
- that it is not a national or resident of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South
Africa or Japan or a corporation, partnership or other entity organised under the
laws of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa or Japan and
that it will not offer, sell, renounce, transfer or deliver, directly or indirectly,
any of the Placing Shares in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of South
Africa or Japan or to or for the benefit of any person resident in Canada,
Australia, the Republic of South Africa or Japan and each Placee acknowledges that
the relevant exemptions are not being obtained from the Securities Commission of any
province of Canada, that no document has been or will be lodged with, filed with or
registered by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or Japanese
Ministry of Finance and that the Placing Shares are not being offered for sale and
may not be, directly or indirectly, offered, sold, transferred or delivered in or
into Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa or Japan;
- that it does not have a registered address in, and is not a citizen, resident or
national of, any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make or accept an offer of
the Placing Shares and it is not acting on a non-discretionary basis for any such
person;
- that it has not, directly or indirectly, distributed, forwarded, transferred or
otherwise transmitted, and will not, directly or indirectly, distribute, forward,
transfer or otherwise transmit, any presentation or offering materials concerning
the Placing Shares to any persons within the United States or to any US persons (as
that term is defined in Regulation S);
- that it is entitled to subscribe for Placing Shares under the laws of all relevant
jurisdictions which apply to it and that it has fully observed such laws and
obtained all governmental and other consents which may be required thereunder or
otherwise and it has complied with all necessary formalities and that it has not
taken any action which will or may result in the Company or the Joint Bookrunners or
any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents acting in breach of
any regulatory or legal requirements of any territory in connection with the Placing
or its acceptance;
- that it has obtained all necessary consents and authorities to enable it to give its
commitment to subscribe for the Placing Shares and to perform its subscription
and/or purchase obligations;
- that where it is acquiring Placing Shares for one or more managed accounts, it is
authorised in writing by each managed account: (a) to acquire the Placing Shares for
each managed account; (b) to make on its behalf the representations, warranties,
acknowledgements, undertakings and agreements in this appendix and the announcement
of which it forms part; and (c) to receive on its behalf any investment letter
relating to the Placing in the form provided to it by the Joint Bookrunners;
- that it is either: (a) a person of a kind described in paragraph 5 of Article 19
(persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments and who
are investment professionals) of the Order; or (b) a person of a kind described in
paragraph 2 of Article 49 (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations,
partnerships or trusts or their respective directors, officers or employees) of the
Order; or (c) a person to whom it is otherwise lawful for this Announcement to be
communicated and in the case of (a) and (b) undertakes that it will acquire, hold,
manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the purposes of
its business;
- that, unless otherwise agreed by the Joint Bookrunners, it is a qualified investor
(as defined in section 86(7) of FSMA;
- that, unless otherwise agreed by the Joint Bookrunners, it is a "professional
client" or an "eligible counterparty" within the meaning of Chapter 3 of the FCA's
Conduct of Business Sourcebook and it is purchasing Placing Shares for investment
only and not with a view to resale or distribution;
- 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;
- it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of FSMA with respect
to anything done by it in relation to the Placing Shares in, from or otherwise
involving the United Kingdom;
- that any money held in an account with each of the Joint Bookrunners (or its
nominee) on its behalf and/or any person acting on its behalf will not be treated as
client money within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the FCA. Each Placee
further acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections conferred
by the FCA's client money rules. As a consequence, this money will not be segregated
from the Joint Bookrunners' (or its nominee's) money in accordance with such client
money rules and will be used by the Joint Bookrunners in the course of its own
business and each Placee will rank only as a general creditor of the Joint
Bookrunners;
- 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;
- that it is not, and it is not acting on behalf of, a person falling within
subsections (6), (7) or (8) of sections 67 or 70 respectively or subsections (2) and
(3) of section 93 or subsection (1) of section 96 of the Finance Act 1986;
- that it will not deal or cause or permit any other person to deal in all or any of
the Placing Shares which it is subscribing for under the Placing unless and until
Admission becomes effective;
- that it appoints irrevocably any director of the Joint Bookrunners as its agent for
the purpose of executing and delivering to the Company and/or its registrars any
document on its behalf necessary to enable it to be registered as the holder of the
Placing Shares;
- that, as far as it is aware, it is not acting in concert (within the meaning given
in The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers) with any other person in relation to the
Company;
- that this Announcement does not constitute a securities recommendation or financial
product advice and that neither the Joint Bookrunners nor the Company has considered
its particular objectives, financial situation and needs;
- that it is aware that it may be required to bear, and it, and any accounts for which
it may be acting, are able to bear, the economic risk of, and is able to sustain, a
complete loss in connection with the Placing;
- that it will indemnify and hold the Company and the Joint Bookrunners and their
respective affiliates 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 in this Appendix and further agrees that the Company and the Joint
Bookrunners will rely on the truth and accuracy of the confirmations, warranties,
acknowledgements and undertakings herein and, if any of the foregoing is or becomes
no longer true or accurate, the Placee shall promptly notify the Joint Bookrunners
and the Company. All confirmations, warranties, acknowledgements and undertakings
given by the Placee, pursuant to this Announcement (including this Appendix) are
given to the Joint Bookrunners for themselves and on behalf of the Company and will
survive completion of the Placing and Admission;
- that time shall be of the essence as regards its obligations pursuant to this
Appendix;
- that it is responsible for obtaining any legal, tax and other advice that it deems
necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of its obligations in
accepting the terms and conditions of the Placing, and that it is not relying on the
Company or the Joint Bookrunners to provide any legal, tax or other advice to it;
- that all dates and times in this Announcement (including this Appendix) may be
subject to amendment and that the Joint Bookrunners shall notify it of such
amendments;
- that (i) it has complied with its obligations under the Criminal Justice Act 1993,
Part VIII of FSMA and UK MAR, (ii) in connection with money laundering and terrorist
financing, it has complied with its obligations under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
(as amended), the Terrorism Act 2000 (as amended), the Terrorism Act 2006 and the
Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and (iii) it is not a person: (a) with whom
transactions are prohibited under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or any
economic sanction programmes administered by, or regulations promulgated by, the
Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury; (b) named
on the Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets maintained by HM Treasury of
the United Kingdom; or (c) subject to financial sanctions imposed pursuant to a
regulation of the European Union or a regulation adopted by the United Nations
(together, the "Regulations"); 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 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 and it has obtained all governmental and other consents (if any) which
may be required for the purpose of, or as a consequence of, such purchase, and it
will provide promptly to the Joint Bookrunners such evidence, if any, as to the
identity or location or legal status of any person which the Joint Bookrunners may
request from it in connection with the Placing (for the purpose of complying with
such Regulations or ascertaining the nationality of any person or the
jurisdiction(s) to which any person is subject or otherwise) in the form and manner
requested by the Joint Bookrunners on the basis that any failure by it to do so may
result in the number of Placing Shares that are to be subscribed for by it or at its
direction pursuant to the Placing being reduced to such number, or to nil, as the
Joint Bookrunners may decide in their absolute discretion;
- that it will not make any offer to the public of those Placing Shares to be
subscribed for by it for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation or UK Prospectus
Regulation, as applicable;
- that it will not distribute any document relating to the Placing Shares and it will
be acquiring the Placing Shares for its own account as principal or for a
discretionary account or accounts (as to which it has the authority to make the
statements set out herein) for investment purposes only and it does not have any
contract, understanding or arrangement with any person to sell, pledge, transfer or
grant a participation therein to such person or any third person with respect of any
Placing Shares; save that if it is a private client stockbroker or fund manager it
confirms that in purchasing the Placing Shares it is acting under the terms of one
or more discretionary mandates granted to it by private clients and it is not acting
on an execution only basis or under specific instructions to purchase the Placing
Shares for the account of any third party;
- that it acknowledges that these terms and conditions and any agreements entered into
by it pursuant to these terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of England and Wales 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, 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 the Company or the Joint Bookrunners 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;
- that any documents sent to Placees will be sent at the Placees' risk. They may be
sent by post to such Placees at an address notified to the Joint Bookrunners;
- that the Joint Bookrunners owe no fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect
of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the Placing
Agreement;
- that the Joint Bookrunners or any of its affiliates may, at their absolute
discretion, agree to become a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing
Shares;
- that no prospectus or offering document has been or will be prepared in connection
with the Placing and it has not received and will not receive a prospectus or other
offering document in connection with the Placing or the Placing Shares; and
- that if it has received any confidential price sensitive information concerning the Company in advance of the publication of this Announcement, it has not: (i) dealt in the securities of the Company; (ii) encouraged, required, recommended or induced another person to deal in the securities of the Company; or (iii) disclosed such information to any person, prior to such information being made publicly available.
The Company, the Joint Bookrunners and their respective affiliates will rely upon the
truth and accuracy of each of the foregoing representations, warranties,
acknowledgements and undertakings which are given to the Joint Bookrunners for
themselves and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable.
The provisions of this Appendix may be waived, varied or modified as regards specific
Placees or on a general basis by the Joint Bookrunners.
The agreement to settle a Placee's subscription (and/or the subscription of a person for
whom such Placee is contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax
depends on the settlement relating only to a subscription by it and/or such person
direct from the Company for the Placing Shares in question. Such agreement assumes that
the Placing Shares are not being subscribed for in connection with arrangements to issue
depositary receipts or to transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance service. If there
are any such arrangements, or the settlement relates to any other subsequent dealing in
the Placing Shares, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax may be payable, for which
neither the Company nor the Joint Bookrunners will be responsible, and the Placee to
whom (or on behalf of whom, or in respect of the person for whom it is participating in
the Placing as an agent or nominee) the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of
Placing Shares has given rise to such UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax undertakes
to pay such UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax forthwith and to indemnify on an
after-tax basis and to hold harmless the Company and the Joint Bookrunners in the event
that any of the Company and/or the Joint Bookrunners has incurred any such liability to
UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If this is the case, each Placee should seek
its own advice and notify the Joint Bookrunners accordingly.
In addition, Placees should note that they will be liable for any 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 outside the
UK by them or any other person on the subscription or purchase by them of any Placing
Shares or the agreement by them to subscribe for or purchase any Placing Shares.
All times and dates in this Announcement (including this Appendix) may be subject to
amendment. The Joint Bookrunners shall notify the Placees and any person acting on
behalf of the Placees of any changes.
This Announcement has been issued by, and is the sole responsibility, of the Company. 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 the Joint Bookrunners or by any of its respective affiliates or agents 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.