THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED
BY THE COMPANY TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER
THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 AS IT FORMS
PART OF UK DOMESTIC LAW PURSUANT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL)
ACT 2018, AS AMENDED. 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 HEREIN, IS RESTRICTED
AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES,
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR NEW
ZEALAND 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 ACUITY RM 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.
17
June 2024
Acuity RM Group plc
("Acuity", the "Company" or the "Group")
Proposed Placing and
Subscription to raise approximately £1 million
Acuity (AIM: ACRM), the software
group announces its intention to raise approximately £1 million
(before expenses) through the issue of new ordinary shares of 0.1p
each in the capital of the Company (the "Ordinary Shares") at 3.5 pence per
Ordinary Share (the "Issue
Price") (the "Fundraise"). The net proceeds of the
Fundraise will be used to fund investment and expansion of the
sales team, and increase marketing activities and new product
development.
The Issue Price represents a
discount of approximately 9 per cent. to the closing price on AIM
of 3.85 pence per Ordinary Share on 14 June 2024, being the latest
practicable business day prior to the publication of this
Announcement.
Summary
· The
Company intends to raise approximately £1 million, in aggregate,
pursuant to the Fundraise (further details outlined
below).
· The
Fundraise will be conducted by way of a non pre-emptive share
issue.
· Certain Directors of the Company and other investors have
indicated their intention to participate in the Fundraise, by way
of a direct subscription with the Company.
· The
Directors intend that the net proceeds of the Fundraise will be
used to fund investment and expansion of the sales team, and
increase marketing activities and new product
development.
The Fundraise will
comprise:
· a
placing (the "Placing")
through the issue of new Ordinary Shares (the "Placing Shares") at the Issue Price;
and
· a
direct subscription (the "Subscription") with the
Company for new Ordinary Shares (the "Subscription Shares") at the Issue
Price.
The Placing will be effected by way
of an accelerated bookbuild (the "Bookbuild") at the Issue Price. The
Bookbuild will open with immediate effect following the release of
this Announcement. A further announcement confirming the closing of
the Bookbuild and the number of new Ordinary Shares to be issued
pursuant to the Placing and Subscription is expected to be made in
due course.
The Placing is subject to the terms
and conditions set out in Appendix III to this Announcement.
WH Ireland Limited ("WH
Ireland") is acting as bookrunner (the "Bookrunner") in connection with the
Placing.
The following sets out the
background to, and the reasons for, the Fundraise and explains why
the Directors consider the Fundraise to be in the best interests of
the Company and its Shareholders as a whole.
Background and reasons for the Fundraising
The Company acquired Acuity Risk
Management Limited ("ARM")
via a reverse takeover in April 2023. ARM
is an established provider of risk management services. ARM's
award-winning STREAM® is a GRC software platform, which analyses
data about organisations to improve business decisions and
management. It is used by organisations in markets including
government, utilities, defence, broadcasting, manufacturing and
healthcare. Most customers use it for managing cybersecurity and IT
risks and for compliance with ISO 27001 and other standards and
regulations. STREAM® is sold on a SaaS or private cloud delivery
(on-premise) basis, typically with a three year licence, invoiced
annually in advance. Sales are made directly through the Company's
own sales team and via a growing network of partners in the UK and
the US.
The Company's strategic aim is to
increase revenues particularly recurring revenues, to generate
cash, profits and generate shareholder value. The Company expects
ARM's trading to be cash generative by 31 December 2024. The
Company plan to achieve this by:
· Growing new orders materially
· Increasing market share of large US$15bn fast growing
market
· Investment in and expansion of the sales team
· Focusing on partners and relationships to accelerate
opportunities and orders
· Develop own marketing to reinforce brand and add further
value
· Exploit Gartner top four rating
Achievements since the reverse
takeover of ARM:
•
Sales pipeline: £7.9
million (£1.4m+ via partners) at 31 December 2023 up from £4.2
million in March 2023 (£0.8 million via partners). £1 million of
these opportunities are for conversion in the quarter to 30 June
2024.
•
New orders: up 45 per cent.
to £1.6 million to 31 December 2023 (£1.1 million same period
2022).
•
Major customer wins:
including the British Government and the Company's first US state
customer.
•
Contracts: won two of its
largest contracts to date valued at up to £650,000.
•
Partners: c.25 per cent. of
the pipeline is partner sourced. Since the reverse takeover 8 new
partners won including BSI Group UK, Blackfoot, FNC, Fujitsu,
Logicalis, Nettitude, Sopra, Spy Glass. As a result ARM has 15
active partners in North America, the United Kingdom and Europe.
•
New product: STORM, counter
terrorism risk management software has been launched.
•
Board changes: Kerry
Chambers appointed CEO of Acuity Risk Management Limited and an
Executive Director to the Acuity RM Group plc board and as
announced on 14 June 2024, Kate Buchan was appointed to the board
as Finance Director.
•
Team changes: the team has
been strengthened by the appointment of Kate Buchan as Finance
Director, the appointment of a Technology Director and the
recruitment of sales and marketing executives.
Rationale for the
Fundraise
Following the successful reverse
takeover of ARM in April 2023, the Company is now focusing on
accelerating the growth of ARM by increasing the size of the sales
team and increasing their marketing activities. In addition, the
Company is seeking to migrate STREAM® to a web product in order to
improve the user experience and take advantage of modern
technologies. The capabilities of STREAM® will be enhanced
to:
· allow
it to be used remotely with mobile devices, such as tablets and
smart phones;
· simplify integrations with other software and data
sources;
· enable
artificial intelligence;
· allow
multi-tenant hosting in order to ease management and control costs;
and
· support continuous update capability and automated testing.
Use of proceeds
Accordingly, the Company is seeking
to raise net proceeds of approximately £940,000 through the
Fundraise, which will be applied as follows:
· £200k:
investment and expansion of the sales team
· £150k:
increase of marketing activities
· £500k:
new product development
· £90k:
contingencies
The
Placing
The Placing is being conducted by WH
Ireland as Bookrunner in relation to the Placing ("WHI"). A placing agreement has been
entered into between the Company and WHI in connection with the
Placing (the "Placing
Agreement").
The Placing Shares are being offered
by way of an accelerated bookbuild (the "Bookbuild"), which will open with
immediate effect following the release of this Announcement, in
accordance with the terms and conditions set out in Appendix III to
this Announcement. A further announcement confirming the closing of
the Bookbuild and the number of Placing Shares to be issued
pursuant to the Placing is expected to be made in due
course.
The Placing is not being
underwritten.
The timing of the closure of the
Bookbuild, the number of Placing Shares and the allocation of the
Placing Shares between Placees is to be determined at the
discretion of the Company and the Bookrunner.
Members of the public are not
eligible to take part in the Placing.
The allotment and issue of the
Placing Shares is conditional, inter alia, upon:
· Admission becoming effective by no later than 8.00 a.m. on 21
June 2024 (or such other time and/or date, being no later than 8.00
a.m. on 28 June 2024, as WHI and the Company may agree);
· the
conditions in the Placing Agreement in respect of the Placing
Shares being satisfied or (if applicable) waived; and
· the
Placing Agreement not having been terminated in accordance with its
terms prior to Admission.
Accordingly, if any of such
conditions are not satisfied or, if applicable, waived, the Placing
will not proceed.
The Placing Shares will be credited
as fully paid and will rank pari
passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary
Shares then in issue, including the right to receive all
future distributions, declared, paid or made in respect of the
Ordinary Shares from the date of Admission, in the case of the
Placing Shares. Assuming gross proceeds of £1 million are raised
pursuant to the Placing and Subscription, the Placing Shares
and Subscription Shares will represent approximately 19 per
cent. of the Enlarged Share Capital.
Subject to satisfaction of the
relevant conditions, it is expected that Admission will become
effective, and dealing in the Placing Shares will commence, at 8.00
a.m. (London time) on or around 21 June 2024.
WHI has the right to terminate the
Placing Agreement in certain circumstances prior to Admission,
including (but not limited to): in the event that any of the
warranties set out in the Placing Agreement become untrue,
inaccurate or misleading in any material respect or the Company
materially fails to comply with any of its obligations prior to
Admission. WHI may also terminate the Placing Agreement if there
has been (i) a material adverse change affecting the business or
prospects of the Company or its group or (ii) any change in
national or international financial, economic, political,
industrial or market conditions or currency exchange rates or
exchange controls, or any incident of terrorism or outbreak or
escalation of hostilities or any declaration by the UK or the US of
a national emergency or war or any other calamity or crisis which,
in the reasonable opinion of WHI, is likely to have an adverse
effect on business or prospects of the Company or its group and
makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the Placing. If
this termination right is exercised, or if the conditionality in
the Placing Agreement is not satisfied, the Placing will not
proceed.
A further announcement will be made
following the closure of the Bookbuild, confirming the results of
the Placing.
The expected timetable of principal
events in connection with the Placing is set out in Appendix I to
this Announcement.
The
Subscription
Angus Forrest and Kerry Chambers
being Directors of the Company, and another investor have indicated
their intention to subscribe for new Ordinary Shares at the Issue
Price pursuant to the terms and conditions of subscription letters
to be entered into between the relevant parties and the Company on
or about the date hereof.
The Subscription is not part of the
Placing and any Subscription Shares would be subscribed pursuant to
the terms of subscription agreements between the Company and the
relevant subscribers.
Further details relating to the
Subscription, including the total number of new Ordinary Shares
subscribed for and the aggregate gross proceeds of the
Subscription, will be announced as soon as practicable after
closure of the Bookbuild.
Persons who have chosen to participate in the Placing, by
making an oral or written offer to acquire Placing Shares, will be
deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its
entirety (including the Appendices) and to be making such offer on
the terms and subject to the conditions herein, and to be providing
the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and
undertakings contained in Appendix III.
For further information please
contact:
|
|
Acuity RM Group plc
|
https://www.acuityrmgroup.com
|
Angus Forrest
|
+44 (0) 20 3582 0566
|
WH Ireland (NOMAD &
Broker)
|
www.whirelandplc.com/capital-markets
|
Mike Coe / Sarah Mather
|
+44 (0) 20 7220 1666
|
Peterhouse Capital (Joint
broker)
|
|
Lucy Williams / Duncan
Vasey
|
+44 (0) 20 7469 0936
|
Clear Capital (Joint
broker)
|
|
Bob Roberts
|
+44 (0) 20 3869 6080
|
Note to Editors
Acuity RM Group plc
Acuity RM Group plc (AIM: ACRM), is
an established provider of risk management services. Its
award-winning STREAM® software platform collects data about
organisations to improve business decisions and management.
It is used by around 70 organisations in markets including
government, utilities, defence, broadcasting, manufacturing and
healthcare.
The Company is focused on delivering
long term, sustainable growth in shareholder value. In the short to
medium term this is expected to come from organic growth and
thereafter may also come from complementary
acquisitions.
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, planned work at the Company's projects and the
expected results of such work, mineral grades and mineral reserve
and resource estimates. 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 WH Ireland Limited
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 Limited ("WH Ireland"),
which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA,
is acting as nominated adviser and broker exclusively for the
Company and no one else in connection with the contents of this
Announcement and will not regard any other person (whether or not a
recipient of this Announcement) as its client in relation to the
contents of this Announcement 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 Announcement. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities,
if any, which may be imposed on WH Ireland by the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA") or the regulatory regime
established thereunder, WH Ireland accepts no responsibility
whatsoever, and makes no representation or warranty, express or
implied, as to the contents of this Announcement 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 Announcement, whether as to the past or the
future. Accordingly, WH Ireland 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 Announcement or any such statement. The
responsibilities of WH Ireland as the Company's Nominated Adviser
and Joint Broker under the AIM Rules for Companies and the AIM
Rules for Nominated Advisers are owed solely to the 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 Announcement, or otherwise.
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, New Zealand, 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, New Zealand or 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, the Financial Markets Authority of New Zealand or the
Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant clearances have not
been, and will not be, obtained from 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, New Zealand 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, New Zealand 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, New Zealand 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, the United Kingdom or
elsewhere. All offers of the Placing Shares will be made pursuant
to an exemption under the EU Prospectus Regulation, or the UK
Prospectus Regulation, (as the case may be) 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 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 on 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 securities 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 securities. Past performance is no
guide to future performance, and persons needing advice should
consult an appropriate independent financial adviser.
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 EU
Prospectus Regulation or 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 who are Qualified
Investors; 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.
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 WHI 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.
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 of
principal events
|
|
|
|
2024
|
Announcement of the
Placing
|
17
June
|
Close of Placing and Announcement of
the results of the Placing and Subscription
|
17
June
|
Admission and commencement of
dealing in the Placing Shares and Subscription Shares
|
at 8.00
a.m. on or around 21 June
|
CREST accounts credited in respect
of the Placing Shares in uncertificated form
|
at 8.00
a.m. on or around 21 June
|
Despatch of definitive share
certificates in respect of the Placing Shares and Subscription
Shares to be issued in certificated form
|
within 14
days of Admission
|
Each of the times and dates set out
in the above timetable and mentioned in this Announcement are
subject to change by the Company, in which event details of the new
times and dates will be notified to Placees by WHI or by an
announcement through a Regulatory Information Service, as the case
may be.
APPENDIX II
Definitions
The following definitions apply
throughout this Announcement, unless the context otherwise
requires:
"Company" or "Acuity"
|
Acuity RM Group plc, a public
limited company incorporated in England and Wales with registered
number 00298654 and with its registered office at
80 (2nd Floor) Cheapside, London, United Kingdom,
EC2V 6EE
|
"Admission"
|
the Admission of the Placing Shares
and Subscription Shares to trading on AIM;
|
"AIM"
|
AIM, a market of that
name operated by the London Stock Exchange;
|
"AIM Rules"
|
the AIM Rules for Companies, as
published by the London Stock Exchange and amended from
time to time;
|
"Announcement"
|
this announcement (including the
Appendices, which form part of this announcement);
|
"ARM"
|
Acuity Risk Management Limited, a
private limited company incorporated in England and Wales with
registered number 12369714 and with its registered office at
80 (2nd Floor) Cheapside, London, United Kingdom,
EC2V 6EE
|
"Board" or "Directors"
|
the directors of the Company or any
duly authorised committee thereof;
|
"Bookbuild"
|
the accelerated bookbuild to be
conducted by WHI pursuant to the Placing Agreement and this
Announcement;
|
"Bookrunner"
|
WH Ireland
|
"certificated" or "in
certificated form"
|
a share or other security not held
in uncertificated form (that is, not in CREST);
|
"CREST"
|
the computerised settlement system
(as defined in the CREST Regulations) operated by Euroclear UK
& International Limited, which facilitates the holding and
transfer of title to shares in uncertificated form;
|
"CREST Regulations"
|
the Uncertificated Securities
Regulations 2001 (as amended);
|
"Enlarged Share Capital"
|
the issued share capital of the
Company as enlarged by the issue of the Placing Shares and
Subscription Shares;
|
"Existing Ordinary Shares"
|
the 121,556,731 Ordinary Shares
in issue at the date of this Announcement;
|
"EU
Prospectus Regulation"
|
Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the
European Parliament and Council of 14 June 2017 and any relevant
implementing measures in any Member State of the European Economic
Area;
|
"Financial Conduct Authority" or "FCA"
|
the Financial Conduct Authority in
its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part IV
of FSMA;
|
"FSMA"
|
the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000 (as amended);
|
"Group"
|
the Company and its
subsidiaries;
|
"Issue Price"
|
3.5 pence per new Ordinary
Share
|
"London Stock Exchange"
|
London Stock Exchange
plc;
|
"Ordinary Shares"
|
ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each in
the capital of the Company;
|
"Placees"
|
subscribers for Placing
Shares;
|
"Placing"
|
the conditional placing of the
Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing Agreement;
|
Placing Agreement"
|
the conditional agreement dated 17
June 2024 between the Company and WH Ireland in connection with the
Placing;
|
"Placing Shares"
|
the Ordinary Shares to be issued
pursuant to the Placing following the conclusion of the
Bookbuild;
|
"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;
|
"Qualified Investors"
|
in member states of the European
Economic Area, "qualified investors" within the meaning of article
2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation, and in the UK, "qualified
investors" within the meaning of article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus
Regulation;
|
"Regulatory Information Service"
|
one of the regulatory information
services authorised by the FCA to receive, process and disseminate
regulatory information;
|
"Shareholders"
|
the holders of Ordinary
Shares;
|
"Subscription"
|
the proposed direct subscription
with the Company by certain Directors and certain other investors
for new Ordinary Shares
|
"uncertificated" or "in
uncertificated form"
|
recorded on the register of members
of Acuity as being held in uncertificated form in CREST and title
to which, by virtue of the CREST Regulations, may be transferred by
means of CREST;
|
"UK or United Kingdom"
|
the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland;
|
"UK
Prospectus Regulation"
|
the EU Prospectus Regulation as it
forms part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal)
Act 2018, as amended;
|
"WH
Ireland" or "WHI"
|
W H Ireland Limited, a company
incorporated in England and Wales with company number 02002044
whose registered office is situated at 24 Martin Lane, London EC4R
0DR; and
|
"£", "pounds", "penny" or "pence"
|
sterling, the lawful currency of the
United Kingdom.
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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, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, 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 OF THE
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA AND ARE, UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED BY WHI,
QUALIFIED INVESTORS; AND/OR (B) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, PERSONS WHO
ARE (I) QUALIFIED INVESTORS; AND "INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS" WITHIN
THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS
ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (AS AMENDED) (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, IS A FINANCIAL PROMOTION AND IS EXEMPT
FROM THE GENERAL RESTRICTION IN SECTION 21 OF FSMA ON THE
COMMUNICATION OF INVITATIONS OR INDUCEMENTS TO ENGAGE IN INVESTMENT
ACTIVITY, ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT IS ONLY BEING DISTRIBUTED TO
RELEVANT PERSONS. ACCORDINGLY, 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. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS MAY BE RESTRICTED OR
PROHIBITED BY LAW. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST
SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. 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 OF AN OFFER 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 U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (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 THE LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED
IMPLICATIONS OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE PLACING 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 A DISPOSAL OF THEIR
SHARES.
The distribution of the terms and
conditions and/or the Placing and/or issue of the Placing Shares in
certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been
taken by the Company, the Bookrunner or any of their respective
affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees that would
permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution
of the terms and conditions or any other offering or publicity
material relating to such Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where
action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession
these terms and conditions come are required by the Company and the
Bookrunner to inform themselves about and to observe any such
restrictions.
These terms and conditions or any
part of them are for information purposes only and do not
constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or the
solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for, any
securities in the United States (including its territories and
possessions, any state of the United States and the District of
Columbia), Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan
or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No
public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in any such
jurisdiction.
In the United Kingdom, these terms
and conditions are being directed solely at persons 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 or qualified for distribution, as applicable under
or offered in compliance with the securities laws of any state,
province or territory of the United States, Australia, Canada,
Japan, New Zealand, or 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 the United States, Australia, Canada,
Japan, New Zealand, or South Africa or any other jurisdiction in
which such offer, sale, resale or delivery would be
unlawful.
Market Abuse Regulation
Market soundings, as defined in
the UK version ("UK MAR") of the Market Abuse
Regulation No. 596/2014 ("EU MAR"), which is part of English law by
virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as
amended) were taken in respect of the Placing, with the result
that certain persons became aware of inside information, as
permitted by UK MAR. That inside information is set out in this
announcement and has been disclosed as soon as possible in
accordance with paragraph 7 of article 17 of UK MAR. Therefore,
those persons that received inside information in a market sounding
are no longer in possession of inside information relating to the
Company and its securities.
Information to Distributors
Solely for the purposes of the
product governance requirements contained within the FCA Handbook
Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK
Product Governance Rules"), and disclaiming all and any liability,
whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any
"manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance
Rules) 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 investors who meet the criteria of professional
clients and eligible counterparties, each defined in the FCA
Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook ("COBS"); and (ii) eligible
for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted
by the UK Product Governance Rules (the "UK Target Market
Assessment").
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"
and/or "distributor" (for the purposes of the MiFID II 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) investors who meet the criteria
of professional clients and (b) eligible counterparties (each as
defined in MiFID II); and (ii) eligible for distribution through
all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "EU
Target Market Assessment").
Notwithstanding the UK Target Market
Assessment and the EU Target Market Assessment, distributors should
note that: the price of the Ordinary Shares may decline and
investors could lose all or part of their investment; such
securities offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection;
and an investment in such securities 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.
Each of the UK Target Market
Assessment and the EU Target Market Assessment is without prejudice
to any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in
relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that,
notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment and the EU Target
Market Assessment, WHI will only procure investors who meet the
criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties each
as defined under COBS or MiFID II, as applicable.
For the avoidance of doubt, each of
the UK Target Market Assessment and the EU Target Market Assessment
does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or
appropriateness for the purposes of Chapters 9A or 10A respectively
of COBS or MiFID II, as applicable; 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 and should be
read in their entirety. Each Placee hereby agrees with WHI and the
Company to be bound by these terms and conditions. A Placee shall,
without limitation, become so bound if WHI 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 Issue Price and otherwise on the terms and conditions set
out in this Announcement 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 Agreement and the Placing
Shares
WHI and the Company have entered
into a Placing Agreement, under which WHI has, on the terms and
subject to the conditions set out therein, undertaken to use its
reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for the Placing Shares
at the Issue Price. The Placing is not being underwritten by WHI or
any other person.
The number of the Placing Shares
will be determined following completion of the Placing. The
timing of the closing of the Placing and the number and allocation
of Placing Shares to Placees and as between the tranches of the
Placing, are at the discretion of WHI, following consultation with
the Company. Allocations will be confirmed orally or by email by
WHI following the close of the Placing. A further announcement
confirming these details will then be made as soon as practicable
following completion of the Placing.
The Placing Shares will, when
issued, be subject to the Articles, will be credited as fully
paid and 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.
Application for admission to trading on AIM
Application will be made to the
London Stock Exchange for admission to trading on AIM of the
Placing Shares and Subscription Shares. It is expected that
settlement of the Placing Shares and Subscription Shares and
Admission will become effective at 8.00 a.m. on 21 June 2024 and
that dealings in the Placing Shares and Subscription Shares will
commence at that time.
Placing
WHI will today commence an
accelerated bookbuilding process to determine demand for
participation in the Placing by potential Placees at the Issue
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.
WHI and the Company shall be
entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method to the
Placing as they may, in their discretion, determine.
The principal terms of the Placing
are as follows:
1. WHI
is arranging the Placing as agent for, and broker of, the
Company.
2.
Participation in the Placing is only available to persons who are
lawfully able to be, and have been, invited to participate by
WHI.
3. The
bookbuild, if successful, will establish the number of Placing
Shares to be issued at the Issue Price, which will be determined by
WHI, in consultation with the Company, following completion of the
Placing. The results of the Placing, including the number of
Placing Shares, will be announced on a Regulatory Information
Service following completion of the Placing.
4. To
bid in the Placing, prospective Placees should communicate their
bid by telephone to their usual contact at WHI. Each bid should
state the number of Placing Shares which the prospective Placee
wishes to subscribe. Bids may be scaled down by WHI on the basis
referred to in paragraph 8 below.
5. The
timing of the closing of the Placing will be at the discretion of
WHI. The Company reserves the right to reduce or seek to
increase the amount to be raised pursuant to the Placing, in its
absolute discretion.
6.
Allocations of the Placing Shares to Placees and as between the
tranches of the Placing will be determined by WHI, following
consultation with the Company. Each Placee's allocation will be
confirmed to Placees orally, or by email, by WHI following the
close of the Placing and a trade confirmation or contract note will
be dispatched as soon as possible thereafter. Oral or emailed
confirmation from WHI will give rise to an irrevocable, legally
binding commitment by that person (who at that point becomes a
Placee), in favour of WHI and the Company, under which it agrees to
acquire by subscription the number of Placing Shares allocated to
it at the Issue Price and otherwise on the terms and subject to the
conditions set out in this Appendix and in accordance with the
Articles. Except with WHI's consent, such commitment will not be
capable of variation or revocation.
7. The
Company will make a further announcement following the close of the
Placing detailing the results of the Placing and the number of
Placing Shares to be issued at the Issue Price.
8.
Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5 above, WHI may choose not to accept
bids and/or to accept bids, either in whole or in part, on the
basis of allocations determined at its discretion (after
consultation with the Company) and may scale down any bids for this
purpose on such basis as it may determine. WHI 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.
9. A
bid in the Placing 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 WHI's consent, will not be capable of variation or
revocation from the time at which it is submitted.
10. Except as
required by law or regulation, no press release or other
announcement will be made by WHI 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.
11. Irrespective
of the time at which a Placee's allocation pursuant to the Placing
is confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares to be acquired
pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made at the same
time, on the basis explained below under "Registration and
Settlement".
12. All
obligations of WHI under the Placing will be subject to fulfilment
of the conditions referred to below "Conditions of the Placing" and
to the Placing not being terminated on the basis referred to below
under "Right to terminate the Placing Agreement".
13. 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.
14. To the fullest
extent permissible by law and the applicable rules of the FCA,
neither WHI, nor the Company, nor any of their respective
affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees 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. In particular,
neither WHI, nor the Company, nor any of their respective
affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees shall have any
liability (including to the extent permissible by law, any
fiduciary duties) in respect of WHI's conduct of the Placing or of
such alternative method of effecting the Placing as WHI and the
Company may determine.
15. The Placing is
not subject to any minimum fundraising and no element of the
Placing is underwritten by WHI or any other person.
Conditions of the Placing
WHI's obligations under the Placing
Agreement in respect of the Placing Shares are conditional
on, inter alia:
(a) Admission becoming
effective by no later than 8.00 a.m. on 21 June 2024 or such other
date and time as may be agreed between the Company and WHI, not
being later than 8.00 a.m. on 28 June 2024 (the "Long Stop Date");
and
(b) the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional in all respects
(save for the condition relating to Admission) and not having been
terminated in accordance with its terms.
If: (i) any of the conditions
contained in the Placing Agreement, including those described
above, are not fulfilled or (where applicable) waived by WHI by the
respective time or date where specified (or such later time or date
as WHI and the Company may agree, being not later than the Long
Stop Date; (ii) any of such conditions becomes incapable of being
fulfilled; or (iii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the
circumstances specified below, the Placing will not proceed and the
Placees' rights and obligations hereunder in relation to the
Placing Shares shall cease and terminate at such time and each
Placee agrees that no claim can be made by the Placee in respect
thereof.
WHI may, at its sole discretion and
upon such terms as it thinks fit, waive, or with the Company's
agreement, extend the period for (subject to the Long Stop Date),
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 the conditions relating to either
Admission taking place may not be waived. Any such extension or
waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this
Announcement.
Neither WHI nor the Company nor any
of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or
employees shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other
person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in
respect of any decision they may make as to whether or not to waive
or to extend the time and/or date for the satisfaction of any
condition to the Placing 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
WHI.
Right to terminate the Placing Agreement
WHI is entitled, at any time before
Admission, to terminate the Placing Agreement by giving notice to
the Company in certain circumstances, including, inter alia:
1. if
any of the warranties given in the Placing Agreement are or become
untrue, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect in the
period prior to Admission;
2. the
Company has failed to comply with its material obligations under
the Placing Agreement in the period prior to Admission;
4. there has been any
material change in, or any development likely to involve a
prospective material change in, or affecting, the condition
(financial, operational, legal or otherwise), earnings, business,
management, properties, assets, rights, results of operations or
prospects of any the Company or its group; or
5. there has been, any change, or
development involving a prospective change, in national or
international financial, economic, political, industrial or market
conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls, or any
incident of terrorism or outbreak or escalation of hostilities or
any declaration by the UK or the US of a national emergency or war
or any other calamity or crisis which in the reasonable opinion of
WHI is likely to have an adverse effect on the business or
prospects of the Company or its group or otherwise render the
Placing and/or the Subscription impracticable or
inadvisable.
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
WHI of any right of termination or other discretion under the
Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of WHI
and that WHI need not make any reference to Placees in this regard
and that neither WHI nor any of its respective affiliates shall
have any liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any
such exercise or failure so to 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 they be offered in such a way as to require the
publication of a 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
or the London Stock Exchange in relation to the Placing or the
Placing Shares, and Placees' commitments will be made solely on the
basis of the information contained in the Announcement (including
this Appendix) and the Publicly Available 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 not relied on any other
information (other than the Publicly Available Information),
representation, warranty, or statement made by or on behalf of the
Company or WHI or any other person and neither WHI, 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 WHI, 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 WHI 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 closure of the Placing,
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 WHI, stating the number of Placing
Shares allocated to it at the Issue Price, the aggregate amount
owed by such Placee (in pounds sterling) 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 WHI in accordance with the
standing CREST settlement instructions which they have in place
with WHI.
Settlement of transactions in the
Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00BR0WHY71) following Admission will
take place within CREST provided that, subject to certain
exceptions, WHI reserves 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
take place in accordance with the instructions set out in the
contract note.
Interest is chargeable daily on
payments not received from Placees on the due date(s) in accordance
with the arrangements set out above at the rate of 4 percentage
points above the prevailing Bank of England base rate as determined
by WHI.
Each Placee is deemed to agree that,
if it does not comply with these obligations, WHI may sell any or
all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee's
behalf and retain from the proceeds, for WHI's account and benefit
(as agent 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 WHI 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
WHI such authorities and powers necessary to carry out any such
sale and agrees to ratify and confirm all actions which WHI
lawfully takes in pursuance of such sale. Legal and/or beneficial
title in and to any Placing Shares shall not pass to the relevant
Placee until it has fully complied with its obligations
hereunder.
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 WHI 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)
irrevocably makes the following representations, warranties,
acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings (as the case may be)
to WHI for itself and on behalf of the Company:
1.
that it has read and understood this Announcement, including this
Appendix, in its entirety and that its subscription for 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;
2.
that its obligations are irrevocable and legally binding and shall
not be capable of rescission or termination by it in any
circumstances;
3.
that the exercise by WHI of any right or discretion under the
Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of WHI,
and WHI 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 WHI or the Company, or any of their
respective officers, directors, employees agents or advisers, under
the Placing Agreement pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third
Parties Act) 1999;
4.
that these terms and conditions represent the whole and only
agreement between it, WHI 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 Publicly Available Information, such
information being all that it deems necessary to make an investment
decision in respect of the Placing Shares. Each Placee agrees that
neither the Company, nor WHI, nor any of their respective
officers, directors or employees will have any liability for any
such other information, representation or warranty, express or
implied;
5.
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
EU Prospectus Regulation and Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus
Regulation, (i) the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing
have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired
with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in any Member
State of the European Economic Area ("EEA") which has implemented
the EU Prospectus Regulation or the UK, respectively, other than
Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent
of WHI 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 of the EEA, or the UK respectively, other than Qualified
Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated
under the EU Prospectus Regulation or the UK Prospectus Regulation
as having been made to such persons;
6.
that neither it nor, as the case may be, its clients expect WHI 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 WHI
is not acting for it or its clients, and that WHI will not be
responsible for providing the protections afforded to customers of
WHI or for providing advice in respect of the transactions
described herein;
7.
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 that it shall not be entitled to rely upon any material
regarding the Placing Shares or the Company (if any) that WHI or
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, other than the information in this
Announcement or the Publicly Available Information; nor has it
requested any of WHI, 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;
8.
that it is: (i) unless otherwise agreed in writing with WHI,
located outside the United States and is not a US Person as defined
in Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S") and is
subscribing for and/or purchasing the Placing Shares only in
"offshore transactions" as defined in and pursuant to Regulation S,
and (ii) it is not subscribing for and/or purchasing 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;
9.
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 accordingly the Placing
Shares may not be offered, sold, pledged, resold, transferred,
delivered or distributed into or within the United States except in
compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act
and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to
exemptions therefrom;
10. 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 this Announcement, and the 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 this Announcement , and the
Publicly Available Information only;
11. that neither
WHI, nor the Company, nor 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;
12. that, unless
specifically agreed with WHI, 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 or any US Person at the time the
undertaking to subscribe for and/or purchase 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 or to
any US Person 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;
13. that it is not
a national or resident of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand,
the Republic of South Africa or a corporation, partnership or other
entity organised under the laws of Australia, Canada, Japan,
New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa and that it will not
(unless an exemption under the relevant securities laws is
applicable) offer, sell, renounce, transfer or deliver, directly or
indirectly, any of the Placing Shares in Australia, Canada, Japan,
New Zealand or the Republic of South Africa or to or for the
benefit of any person resident in Australia, Canada, Japan, New
Zealand, the Republic of South Africa and each Placee acknowledges
that the relevant clearances or exemptions are not being obtained
from the Securities Commission of any province or territory of
Canada, that no prospectus has been or will be lodged with, filed
with or registered by the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission, the Canadian Securities Administrators, the Japanese
Ministry of Finance, the Securities Commission of New Zealand or
the South African Reserve Bank and that the Placing Shares are not
being offered for sale and may not (unless an exemption under the
relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold, resold or
delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States,
Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa
or any other jurisdiction in which such offer, sale, resale or
delivery would be unlawful;
14. 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;
15. 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 or the
Placing Shares to any persons within the United States or to any US
Persons (as that term is defined in
Regulation S);
16. that it is
entitled to subscribe for and/or purchase 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
complied with all necessary formalities and that it has not taken
any action which will or may result in the Company or WHI 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;
17. that it has
obtained all necessary consents and authorities to enable it to
give its commitment to subscribe for and/or purchase the Placing
Shares and to perform its subscription and/or purchase
obligations;
18. 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), if applicable, to receive on its behalf any
investment letter relating to the Placing in the form provided to
it by WHI;
19. 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(2)(A)
to (D) (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;
20. that, unless
otherwise agreed by WHI, it is a Qualified Investor
(as defined in section 86(7) of the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA"));
21. that, unless
otherwise agreed by WHI, 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;
22. that 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;
23. that any money
held in an account with WHI (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 WHI's (or its
nominee's) money in accordance with such client money rules and
will be used by WHI in the course of its own business and each
Placee will rank only as a general creditor of WHI;
24. 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 requirements of Chapter 5 of the Disclosure
Guidance and Transparency Rules published by the FCA);
25. 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;
26. 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 and/or purchasing
under the Placing unless and until Admission becomes
effective;
27. that it
appoints irrevocably any director of WHI 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;
28. 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;
29. that the
Announcement does not constitute a securities recommendation or
financial product advice and that neither WHI nor the Company has
considered its particular objectives, financial situation and
needs;
30. that it has
sufficient knowledge, sophistication and experience in financial,
business and investment matters as is required to evaluate the
merits and risks of subscribing for or purchasing the Placing
Shares and is aware;
31. 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;
32. that it will
indemnify and hold the Company and WHI 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 WHI 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 WHI and
the Company. All confirmations, warranties, acknowledgements and
undertakings given by the Placee, pursuant to this Announcement
(including this Appendix) are given to WHI for itself and on behalf
of the Company and will survive completion of the Placing and
Admission;
33. that time
shall be of the essence as regards obligations pursuant to this
Appendix;
34. that it is
responsible for obtaining any legal, financial, 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 WHI to provide any legal, financial, tax or other advice
to it;
35. that all dates
and times in this Announcement (including this Appendix) may be
subject to amendment and that WHI shall notify it of such
amendments;
36. 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, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds
(information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (as amended) and
any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued,
administered or enforced by any government agency having
jurisdiction in respect thereof and the Money Laundering Sourcebook
of the FCA 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 or the United States Department
of State; (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 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 WHI such evidence, if any, as to the identity or location or
legal status of any person which WHI 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 WHI 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 and/or purchased by it or at its direction
pursuant to the Placing being reduced to such number, or to nil, as
WHI may decide in its absolute discretion;
37. that it will
not make any offer to the public within the meaning of the EU
Prospectus Regulation or the UK Prospectus Regulation of those
Placing Shares to be subscribed for and/or purchased by
it;
38. 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;
39. 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 WHI 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;
40. 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
WHI;
41. that WHI owes
no fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any
representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the
Placing Agreement;
42. that WHI or
ant of its affiliates may, in their absolute discretion, agree to
become a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing
Shares;
43. 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;
44. undertakes
that it (and any person acting on its behalf) will make payment in
respect of the Placing Shares allocated to it in accordance with
this Appendix on the due time and date set out herein, failing
which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with other
acquirers or sold as WHI may in its sole discretion determine and
without liability to such Placee, who will remain liable for any
amount by which the net proceeds of such sale falls short of the
product of the Issue Price and the number of Placing Shares
allocated to it and may be required to bear any stamp duty, stamp
duty reserve tax or other similar taxes (together with any interest
or penalties) which may arise upon the sale of such Placee's
Placing Shares;
45. that its
allocation (if any) of Placing Shares will represent a maximum
number of Placing Shares which it will be entitled, and required,
to acquire, and that WHI and/or the Company may call upon it to
acquire a lower number of Placing Shares (if any), but in no event
in aggregate more than the aforementioned maximum; and
46. 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, WHI 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 WHI for itself 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 WHI.
The agreement to settle a Placee's
subscription and/or purchase (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 and/or purchased 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 or WHI
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 WHI in the event that
any of the Company and/or WHI have 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 WHI
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 the Appendices) may be subject to
amendment. WHI 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 WHI 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.