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AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR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 ARC MINERALS LTD 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.
11
March 2024
Arc Minerals
Ltd
("Arc
Minerals", the "Company" or the "Group")
Proposed Placing and
Subscription to raise approximately £3.5 million and Issue of
Warrants
Arc Mineral Limited (AIM:ARC)
announces its intention to raise approximately £3.5m (before
expenses) through the issue of new ordinary shares of no par value
in the capital of the Company (the "Ordinary Shares") at 1.8p per Ordinary
Share (the "Issue
Price") and
the issue of certain Warrants, to subscribers of the new Ordinary
Shares in the ratio of one Warrant for each Ordinary Share
subscribed for (the "Fundraise"). The net proceeds of the Fundraise will be used to fund
Arc's current exploration activities, its potential acquisition
strategy, a potential off-market buyback and for general working
capital purposes.
The Placing Price represents a
discount of approximately 5.3 per cent. to the Closing Price on AIM
of 1.9 pence per Ordinary Share on 8 March 2024, being the latest
practicable business day prior to the publication of this
Announcement.
Summary
· The
Company intends to raise approximately £3.5million, in aggregate,
pursuant to the Fundraise (further details outlined below). The
allotment and issue of the new Ordinary Shares pursuant to the
Fundraise is within the Company's ability to issue shares, pursuant
to the Act.
· Certain Directors and senior managers 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
Company also proposes to issue Warrants to all subscribers in the
Fundraise granting rights to subscribe for one additional Ordinary
Share for each warrant held in the ratio of one warrant for every
one new Ordinary Share issued to such person. The Warrants are
exercisable at a price of 3 pence per Ordinary Share during the
Warrant Exercise Period.
· The
Directors intend that the net proceeds of the Fundraise will be
used to fund the Company's exploration activities in Botswana; to
fund its potential acquisition strategy (as detailed below), to
fund a potential off-market buyback of Ordinary Shares from a
significant overseas shareholder and for working capital
purposes.
The Fundraise will comprise:
· A
placing (the "Placing")
through the issue of new Ordinary Shares (the "Placing Shares") at the Issue
Price;
· A
direct subscription (the "Subscription") with the Company
for new Ordinary Shares (the "Subscription Shares"); and
· The
issue of Warrants to all subscribers in the Fundraise at the 1:1
ratio described above, such Warrants are exercisable at a price of
3 pence per Ordinary Share during the Warrant Exercise
Period.
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.
Rationale for the Fundraise
Following the successful completion
of a joint venture agreement with a subsidiary of Anglo American
plc for the development of its Zambian copper projects (see
announcement dated 10 November 2023), the Company is now focusing
on its wider interests in Botswana and the potential
to acquire new licence areas in
Zambia. In Botswana the Company intends to
undertake an induced polarization survey and further drilling in
2024. More details of the Company's activities in Botswana are set
out in the Company's announcement dated 25 January 2024. At the
same time, the Company is looking to acquire new licences areas
within the Zambian copper belt, and the Directors have commenced an
initial assessment programme to identify potential targets. To date
there are approximately three licence areas of interest to the
Directors, including one where discussions are at an advanced
stage. Whilst there can be no guarantee that any of these
conversations will progress, or that any new licences will be
acquired, the Directors believe these discussions are indicative of
the potential opportunities within the area.
The Directors also propose to use
some of the proceeds of the fundraise to undertake a potential
off-market buyback of the Company's Ordinary Shares from a
significant overseas shareholder (a "Potential Buyback"). Any Potential
Buyback would be subject to, amongst other matters, the agreement
of commercial terms, and any necessary regulatory and legal
approvals. If the Potential Buyback completes it is the Directors'
intention that the acquired Ordinary Shares would then be
cancelled. The Directors believe that the ability to buy back a
specific targeted shareholding in this manner will be beneficial to
shareholders as a whole since by executing such a transaction, the
Company should be able to ensure that the shares are disposed of in
an orderly manner so as to avoid a considerable volume of shares
being sold in the market far in excess of normal daily volumes of
trades.
Use
of Proceeds
Accordingly, the Company is seeking
to raise approximately £3.5m:
·
To progress its Botswana exploration
programme;
·
To assess potential new licence areas in Zambia,
and, if a target licence area is identified, to fund the associated
due diligence, costs of acquiring the licence and any initial work
programmes ("Potential Licence
Acquisition Process");
·
To undertake the Potential Buyback; and
·
For working capital purposes.
The Directors anticipate applying
approximately £2,000,000 of the Fundraise to the Potential Licence
Acquisition Process and the Potential Buyback. In the event
that no new licence areas are identified and/or the Potential
Buyback does not progress, all associated funds will be applied for
general working capital purposes and to progress work on the
Company's Botswana licences.
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 25 March 2024 (or such other time and/or date, being no
later than 8.00 a.m. on 15 April 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 full take up
of the Placing, the Placing Shares will represent
approximately 13.6 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 25 March
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 are not true and
accurate when given or the Company fails to comply with any of its
obligations prior to either Admission. WHI may also terminate the
Placing Agreement if there has been a material adverse change in
national or international financial, political, economic, monetary
or stock market conditions (primary or secondary) or an imposition
of or compliance with any law or governmental or regulatory order,
rule, regulation, restriction or direction which, in the opinion of
WHI, 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 Warrants
As referred to above, the Company
has also agreed to issue Warrants to all subscribers in the
Fundraise on the basis of one Warrant for every one new Ordinary
Share subscribed for. Such Warrants would
be issued following Admission, with each Warrant granting the
holder the right to subscribe for one new Ordinary Share.
The Warrants are exercisable at a price of 3 pence
per Ordinary Share on the earlier of;
· either
the date falling 30 days after the 30th consecutive day
upon which the Ordinary Shares have traded at price of 4.5 pence or
above; or
· the
date falling 3 years from the date of the issue of the
Warrants.
The issue and validity of the
Warrants is conditional upon Admission being effective and
occurring on or before the Long Stop Date.
The Warrants may be exercised in
whole or in part during the Warrant Exercise Period and are not
secured.
The Warrants are in certificated
form. There are also provisions in the Warrant Instrument for
convening meetings of the holders of Warrants and for modification
of rights under the Warrant Instrument.
A copy of the Warrant Instrument is
available on the Company's website.
The Subscription
Nicholas von Schirnding and Rémy
Welschinger being Directors of the Company, Ian Lynch and
Vassilios Carellas being senior management of the Company, and
certain other investors 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 Directors 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:
Arc
Minerals
|
+44 (0) 20 7917 2942
|
Nicholas von Schirnding (Executive
Chairman)
|
WH
Ireland Limited (Nomad and
Sole Broker)
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7220 1666
|
Harry Ansell / Katy Mitchell
/
Isaac Hooper
|
Shard Capital Partners LLP (Placing Agent)
|
Tel: +44 (0) 207 186
9957
|
Gareth Burchell / Damon Heath /
Simon Niven
|
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 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
|
|
|
Announcement of the
Placing
|
11 March
2024
|
Close of Placing and Announcement of
the results of the Placing and Subscription
|
11 March
2024
|
Admission and commencement of
dealing in the Placing Shares and Subscription Shares
|
at 8.00
a.m. on or around 25 March 2024
|
CREST accounts credited in respect
of the Placing Shares in uncertificated form
|
at 8.00
a.m. on or around 25 March 2024
|
Despatch of definitive share
certificates in respect of the Placing Shares and Subscription
Shares to be issued in certificated form and certificates in
respect of the Warrants
|
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:
Act
|
the BVI Business Companies Act (No.
16 of 2004) as
amended, and includes the regulations made under the
Act;
|
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);
|
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);
|
Closing Price
|
the closing middle market price of
an Existing Ordinary Share as derived from the AIM Appendix to the
Daily Official List of the London Stock Exchange;
|
Company or Arc Minerals
|
Arc Minerals Ltd, a company
incorporated in England and Wales with company number 1396532,
whose registered office is at Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town,
Tortola, British Virgin Islands, VG 1110;
|
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);
|
Depositary Interests
|
depositary interests representing
the Ordinary Shares
|
Enlarged Share Capital
|
the issued share capital of the
Company as enlarged by the issue of the Placing Shares;
|
Existing Ordinary Shares
|
the 1,233,065,129 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
|
1.8p
|
London Stock Exchange
|
London Stock Exchange
plc;
|
Ordinary Shares
|
ordinary shares of no par value 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 11
March 2024 between the Company and WH Ireland in connection with
the Placing;
|
Placing Shares
|
approximately 194 million 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, advisory board members of
the Company and certain other investors for new Ordinary
Shares
|
uncertificated or in uncertificated form
|
recorded on the register of members
of Arc Minerals 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;
|
US$
|
dollars, the lawful currency of the
United States of America;
|
Warrant Instrument
|
means the instrument dated on or
around the date of this Announcement constituting the
Warrants
|
Warrants
|
means the unlisted warrants to be
issued, conditional on completion of the Fundraise, to subscribers
of Ordinary Shares under the Fundraise, granting to the holders
thereof rights to subscribe for new Ordinary Shares exercisable at
a price of 3 pence per Ordinary Share during the Warrant Exercise
Period in accordance with the terms of the Warrant
Instrument.
|
Warrant Exercise Period
|
the earlier of either the date
falling 30 days after the 30th consecutive day upon
which the Ordinary Shares have traded at price of 4.5 pence or
above, or the date falling 3 years from the date of the issue of
the Warrants.
|
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.
|
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 Placing 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 Placing 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. It is expected that settlement of the Placing
Shares (via Depositary Interests) and Admission will become
effective at 8.00 a.m. on 25 March 2024 and that dealings in the
Placing 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 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.
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 Placing 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 Placing 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 Placing 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.
16. Each placee
will be issued with Warrants granting rights to subscribe for one
additional Ordinary Share for
each
warrant held in the ratio of one warrant for every one new Ordinary
Share issued to those placees. The Warrants are exercisable at a
price of 3 pence per Ordinary Share during the Warrant Exercise
Period.
Conditions of the Placing
The Placing is conditional upon the
Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been
terminated in accordance with its terms.
WHI's obligations under the Placing
Agreement are conditional on, inter alia:
1. the
delivery by the Company to WHI of certain documents required under
the Placing Agreement;
2. the
Company having fully performed its obligations under the Placing
Agreement to the extent that such obligations fall to be performed
prior to Admission;
3. the
issue and allotment of the Placing Shares, conditional only upon
Admission;
4.
Admission becoming effective by no later than 8.00 a.m. on 25 March
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 15 April 2024
(the "Long Stop
Date");
5. the
Placing Agreement not having been terminated by WHI 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 may notify to the Company, 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 discretion and upon
such terms as it thinks fit, waive, or 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 not true and accurate or are
misleading in any material respect when given;
2. the
Company has failed to comply with its material obligations under
the Placing Agreement in the period prior to Admission;
3. any
significant change or new matter arises, or is likely to arise, as
a result of which any of the conditions set out in the Placing
Agreement will not be satisfied or (if possible to be waived)
waived by the requisite time and/or date;
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 Group Company;
or
5.
there has been, or is reasonably likely to occur, a material
adverse change in national or international monetary, political, financial or economic conditions or
currency exchange rates or foreign exchange controls which in the
opinion of WHI has a material and adverse effect on the Placing or
otherwise render the Placing temporarily or permanently
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
allocated to it at the Placing 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 via Depositary Interests
(ISIN: VGG045791016) 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 and 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) 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;
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;
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 of 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 under the Placing
unless and until Admission becomes effective;
27. that it appoints
irrevocably any director of either 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 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;
29. 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 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;
30. 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;
31. that time shall be
of the essence as regards obligations pursuant to this
Appendix;
32. 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;
33. 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;
34. that (i) it has
complied with its obligations under the Criminal Justice Act 1993,
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 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;
35. 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;
36. 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
stock, broker 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;
37. 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 its assets are located or any of its
securities have a quotation on a recognised stock
exchange;
38. 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;
39. that WHI owes no
fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any
representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the
Placing Agreement;
40.
that WHI may, in its absolute discretion, agree to
become a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing
Shares;
41. 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;
42. 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 Placing 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;
43. 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
44. 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 (via Depositary Interests) 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 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.