NOT FOR
RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE
RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
This Announcement contains inside information as stipulated
under the Market Abuse Regulation no 596/2014 (incorporated into UK
law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 as
amended by virtue of the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit)
Regulations 2019). Upon the publication of this Announcement via a
Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now
considered to be in the public domain.
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
2 May
2024
RECOMMENDED CASH
ACQUISITION
OF
TCLARKE PLC
BY
REGENT ACQUISITIONS
LIMITED
to be effected by means of a scheme of
arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
PUBLICATION OF SCHEME DOCUMENT AND
EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS
On 16 April 2024, the boards of TClarke plc
("TClarke") and Regent Acquisitions Limited ("Regent") announced
that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash
offer by Regent for the entire issued and to be issued share
capital of TClarke not already held by any member of the Wider
Regent Group (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is to be
implemented by way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act")(the
"Scheme").
Publication of the Scheme
Document
TClarke is pleased to announce that a circular
in relation to the Scheme (the "Scheme Document"), setting out,
amongst other things, a letter from the Chairman of TClarke, an
explanatory statement pursuant to section 897 of the Act, the full
terms and conditions of the Scheme, an expected timetable of
principal events, notices of the Court Meeting and General Meeting
(together, the "Meetings") and details of the action to be taken by
TClarke Shareholders, has been published today. The Scheme Document
is available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons
in Restricted Jurisdictions, on TClarke's website at
www.tclarke.co.uk/investors.
Hard copies of the Scheme Document and Forms of
Proxy for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting will be sent to
TClarke Shareholders, other than TClarke Shareholders in Restricted
Jurisdictions. For information purposes only, TClarke is also
sending a copy of the Scheme Document to persons with information
rights and any holders of options or awards under the TClarke Share
Plans and details of the proposals being made to such participants
will be sent to them separately.
Capitalised terms used in this announcement
shall, unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings as set out
in the Scheme Document. All references in this announcement to
times are to London, United Kingdom time unless otherwise
stated.
Recommendation
The TClarke Directors, who have been so advised
by Cavendish Capital Markets Limited ("Cavendish") as to the
financial terms of the Acquisition, unanimously consider the terms
of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing its
advice to the TClarke Directors, Cavendish has taken into account
the commercial assessments of the TClarke Directors. Cavendish is
providing independent financial advice to the TClarke Directors for
the purposes of Rule 3 of the Code.
Accordingly,
the TClarke Directors unanimously recommend that TClarke
Shareholders vote in favour, or procure votes in favour, of the
Scheme at the Court Meeting, and that TClarke Shareholders vote in
favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting.
The TClarke Directors who hold TClarke Shares have irrevocably
undertaken to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and
in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting
in respect of their entire beneficial holdings (and the beneficial
holdings of their close relatives and related trusts), being, in
aggregate, 2,255,081 TClarke Shares (representing approximately
4.26 per cent. of the existing issued ordinary share capital of
TClarke as at the Latest Practicable Date.
TClarke Shareholders should carefully read the
Scheme Document in its entirety before making a decision with
respect to the Scheme.
Actions required and notices of the
Court Meeting and General Meeting
As detailed further in the Scheme Document, in
order to become Effective, the Scheme will require, amongst other
things: (i) approval by a majority in number of the Scheme
Shareholders entitled to vote and present and voting, either in
person or by proxy at the Court Meeting (or any adjournment
thereof), representing not less than 75 per cent. in value of the
Scheme Shares voted by such Scheme Shareholders; (ii) passing of
the Resolution necessary to, amongst other things, implement the
Scheme at the General Meeting, by the requisite majority of TClarke
Shareholders at the General Meeting; and (iii) the sanction of the
Scheme by the Court. The Scheme is also subject to the satisfaction
(or, where applicable, waiver) of the other Conditions that are set
out in the Scheme Document.
Notices of the Meetings, each of which will be
held at Canopy by Hilton, 11-15 Minories, London EC3N
1AX on 29 May 2024, are set out in the Scheme
Document. The Court Meeting will start at 10.15 a.m. on that date
and the General Meeting will start at 10.30 a.m. on that date (or
as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting is concluded or
adjourned).
Any changes to the arrangements for the Court
Meeting and the General Meeting will be communicated to the Scheme
Shareholders and TClarke Shareholders before the relevant Meetings,
through TClarke's website at
www.tclarke.co.uk/investors and by announcement
through a Regulatory Information Service.
It is
important that, for the Court Meeting in particular, as many votes
as possible are cast so that the Court may be satisfied that there
is a fair and reasonable representation of the opinion of the
Scheme. Scheme Shareholders and TClarke Shareholders are therefore
strongly encouraged to complete, sign and return their Forms of
Proxy (by post or by hand, email or through the CREST electronic
proxy appointment service or electronically through the Investor
Centre) for the Meetings as soon as possible and in any event so
that the proxy appointment and instructions are received no later
than 10.15 a.m. on 24 May 2024 in the case of the Court Meeting and
10.30 a.m. on 24 May 2024 in the case of the General Meeting or, in
the case of any adjournment, not later than 48 hours before the
time fixed for such adjourned Meeting(s) (excluding any non-working
days). Scheme Shareholders and TClarke Shareholders are also
strongly encouraged, in respect of each Meeting, to appoint "the
Chair of the Meeting" as their proxy.
Timetable of principal
events
The Scheme Document contains an expected
timetable of principal events in relation to the Scheme, which is
also set out in the Appendix to this announcement. Subject to
obtaining the approval of the requisite majority of Scheme
Shareholders at the Court Meeting, the requisite majority of
TClarke Shareholders at the General Meeting, the sanction of the
Court and the satisfaction or, where applicable, waiver of the
other Conditions (as set out in the Scheme Document), the Scheme is
expected to become Effective in June 2024.
The dates and times given herein are indicative
only, are based on TClarke's and Regent's current expected dates
for the implementation of the Scheme and are subject to change. If
any of the key dates and/or times set out in the expected timetable
change, notice of any such change will be made by the issuance of
an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service, with such
announcements also being made available on TClarke's website at
www.tclarke.co.uk/investors and, if required by
the Panel, by posting notice of the change(s) to TClarke's
Shareholders.
Information for TClarke
Shareholders
If the Scheme is sanctioned as outlined above,
the last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers
of, TClarke Shares on the Main Market of the London Stock
Exchange is expected to be the Business Day immediately after the
Sanction Hearing, following which TClarke will make an application
to the London Stock Exchange for suspension of dealings in TClarke
Shares on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market with effect from
7.30 a.m. on the second Business Day following the Sanction
Hearing. It is intended that, prior to the Effective Date, requests
will be made to: (i) the London Stock Exchange for TClarke Shares
to cease to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's
Main Market; and (ii) the FCA for the listing of TClarke Shares on
the Official List to be cancelled, in each case to take effect by
8.00 a.m. on the Business Day following the Effective
Date.
On the Effective Date, share certificates in
respect of Scheme Shares will cease to be valid. In addition,
entitlements to Scheme Shares held within the CREST system will be
cancelled on the Effective Date.
TClarke Shareholder
helpline
If TClarke Shareholders have any questions
about this announcement, the Scheme Document, the Court Meeting or
the General Meeting, or how to complete the Forms of Proxy
electronically or through the CREST
electronic proxy appointment service or via Proxymity, please call
the shareholder helpline operated by Link Group on +44 (0)371 664
0321 or on +44 371 664 0321 from outside the UK. Calls are charged
at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls
outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable
international rate. The helpline is open between 9.00 a.m. to 5.30
p.m., Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and
Wales. Please note that Link Group cannot provide any financial,
legal or tax advice nor provide any advice on the merits of the
Scheme and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and
training purposes.
Enquiries:
TClarke plc
Iain McCusker, Non
Executive Chairman
Mark Lawrence, Group Chief Executive Officer
Trevor Mitchell, Chief Financial Officer
|
+44 (0) 20 7997
7400
|
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (Rule
3 Independent Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker to
TClarke)
Ben Jeynes
Henrik Persson
Hamish Waller
|
+44 (0) 20 7220
0500
|
RMS Partners (PR adviser to
TClarke)
Simon
Courtenay
|
+44 (0) 20 3735
6551
|
Regent Acquisitions
Limited
Deep
Valecha
|
+44 (0) 20 8896
6000
|
SPARK Advisory Partners Limited
(Financial Adviser to Regent)
Matt Davis
James Keeshan
Adam Dawes
|
+44 (0) 20 3368
3550
|
Simmons & Simmons LLP is acting as legal adviser to Regent.
Pinsent Masons LLP is acting as legal adviser to
TClarke.
Appendix
Expected Timetable of Principal
Events
Event
|
Expected time/date
|
Publication of the Scheme Document
|
1 May 2024
|
Latest time
for lodging Forms of Proxy for:
|
|
Court Meeting (BLUE Form of Proxy)
|
10:15 a.m.
on 24 May 2024 (1)
|
General Meeting (WHITE Form of
Proxy)
|
10:30 a.m. on 24 May
2024 (2)
|
Voting Record time for the Court Meeting and
the General Meeting
|
close of business on
24 May 2024 (3)
|
Court Meeting
|
10:15 a.m. on 29 May
2024
|
General Meeting
|
10:30 a.m. on 29 May
2024 (4)
|
Payment date of Permitted Dividend
|
7 June 2024
(5)
|
The following
dates and times associated with the Scheme are subject to change
and will depend on, among other things, the date on which the
Conditions to the Scheme are satisfied or, if capable of waiver,
waived, and the date on which the Court sanctions the Scheme.
TClarke will give adequate notice of all of these dates and times,
when known, by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory
Information Service, with such announcement being made available on
TClarke's website at
www.tclarke.co.uk/investors.
Further updates and changes to these times will be notified in the
same way. See also note (1).
The
following dates are indicative only and are subject to
change (6)
|
Court Hearing to
sanction the Scheme
|
21 June
2024
|
Last day of dealings
in, and for the registration of transfers in TClarke
Shares
|
24 June
2024
|
Disablement of CREST
in respect of TClarke Shares
|
24 June
2024
|
|
|
Scheme Record Time and
Date
|
close of business on
24 June 2024
|
Suspension of listing
of, and dealings in, TClarke Shares
|
7.30 a.m. on 25 June
2024
|
Expected Effective
Date of the Scheme
|
25 June 2024
(D)
|
Cancellation of
listing and admission to trading of TClarke Shares on the Main
Market
|
By 7.00 a.m. on
D+1
|
Latest date for
despatch of cheques and for settlement through CREST of other form
of payment in respect of Consideration due under the
Scheme
|
By 14 days after the
Effective Date
|
Long-Stop
Date
|
31 August 2024
(7)
|
Notes:
(1)
It is requested that blue Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting be
lodged not later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the
Court Meeting, excluding any part of a day that is not a business
day. Blue Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting not lodged by this
time can be handed to the Chairman of the Court Meeting (or a
representative of Link Group on behalf of the Chairman) any time
prior to the commencement of the Court Meeting or any adjournment
thereof.
(2)
White Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting must be lodged not
later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the General
Meeting, excluding any part of a day that is not a business day.
White Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting not lodged by this
time will be invalid.
(3)
If either the Court Meeting or the General Meeting is adjourned,
the Voting Record Time for the relevant adjourned meeting will be
6.00 p.m. on the day which is two days before the date of the
adjourned meeting, excluding any part of a day that is not a
business day.
(4) Or as soon as the Court
Meeting shall have concluded or been adjourned.
(5)
Subject to approval by TClarke Shareholders at the TClarke
AGM.
(6)
These dates are indicative only and will depend, among other
things, on the date upon which: (i) the Conditions are satisfied or
(if capable of waiver) waived; (ii) the Court sanctions the Scheme;
and (iii) the Court Order is delivered to the Registrar of
Companies. If either the Court Meeting or the General Meeting is
adjourned, the Voting Record Time for the relevant adjourned
meeting will be 6.00 p.m. on the day which is two days before the
date of the adjourned meeting, excluding any part of a day that is
not a business day.
(7)
This is the latest date by which the Scheme may become Effective
unless Regent and TClarke, with the consent of the
Panel, agree, and (if required) the Court may allow, a later
date.
Participants of the TClarke Share Plans will be
contacted separately to inform them of the effect of the Scheme on
their rights under the TClarke Share Plans.
All references in this announcement to times
are to London time unless otherwise stated.
The dates and times given are indicative only
and are based on TClarke's and Regents's current expectations and
may be subject to change (including as a result of changes to the
regulatory timetable). If any of the expected times and/or dates
above change (a) the revised times and/or dates will be notified to
TClarke Shareholders by announcement through a Regulatory
Information Service, with such announcement being made available on
TClarke's website at
www.tclarke.co.uk/investors and (b) if required by the Panel,
TClarke will send notice of the change(s) to TClarke Shareholders
and, for information only to participants of the TClarke Share
Plans.
Important
Notices
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited
("Cavendish"), which is authorised and
regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting as financial
adviser to TClarke and no one else in connection with the matters
described in this Announcement and will not be responsible to
anyone other than TClarke for providing the protections offered to
clients of Cavendish or for providing advice in connection with any
matter referred to in this Announcement. Neither Cavendish nor any
of its affiliates (nor their respective directors, officers,
employees or agents) owes or accepts any duty, liability or
responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in
contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is
not a client of Cavendish in connection with this Announcement, any
statement contained herein, the Acquisition or otherwise. No
representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by
Cavendish as to the contents of this Announcement.
SPARK Advisory Partners Limited ("SPARK"), which is authorised and regulated in the
United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting as financial adviser to Regent
and no-one else in connection with the matters described in this
Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than
Regent for providing the protections afforded to clients of SPARK
or for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to
in this Announcement. Neither SPARK nor any of its affiliates (nor
their respective directors, officers, employees or agents) owes or
accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether
direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or
otherwise) to any person who is not a client of SPARK in connection
with this Announcement, any statement contained herein, the
Acquisition or otherwise. No representation or warranty, express or
implied, is made by SPARK as to the contents of this
Announcement.
Further
information
This Announcement is for information purposes
only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form any
part of any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to
purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise
dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or
approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the Acquisition or
otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of
securities of TClarke in any jurisdiction in contravention of
applicable law. The Acquisition will be made and implemented solely
pursuant to the terms of the Scheme Document (or if the Acquisition
is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document),
which, together with the Forms of Proxy, will contain the full
terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how
to vote in respect of the Acquisition. Any vote in respect of, or
other response to, the Acquisition should be made only on the basis
of the information contained in the Scheme Document (or if the
Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer
Document).
Regent and TClarke will prepare the Scheme
Document (or if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover
Offer, the Offer Document) to be distributed to (amongst others)
TClarke Shareholders. Regent and TClarke urge TClarke Shareholders
to read the Scheme Document (or if the Acquisition is implemented
by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document) when it becomes
available because it will contain important information relating to
the Acquisition.
This Announcement does not constitute a
prospectus, prospectus equivalent document or an exempted
document.
The statements contained in this Announcement
are made as at the date of this Announcement, unless some other
times is specified in relation to them, and publication of this
Announcement shall not give rise to any implication that there has
been no change in the facts set forth in this Announcement since
such date.
Overseas
Shareholders
This Announcement has been prepared in
accordance with, and for the purposes of complying with, English
law, the Code, the Market Abuse Regulation, the Listing Rules and
the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, and information
disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been
disclosed if this Announcement had been prepared in accordance with
the laws of jurisdictions outside of England.
The release, publication or distribution of
this Announcement in, into or from jurisdictions other than the
United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore any persons
who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the
United Kingdom should inform themselves about, and observe, any
applicable legal or regulatory requirements.
The availability of the Acquisition to TClarke
Shareholders who are not resident in and citizens of the United
Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in
which they are located or of which they are a citizen. Persons who
are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of,
and observe any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of
their jurisdictions. Any person (including, without limitation,
nominees, trustees and custodians) who would, or otherwise intends
to, forward this Announcement, the Scheme Document or any
accompanying document to any jurisdiction outside the United
Kingdom should refrain from doing so and seek appropriate
professional advice before taking any action. In particular, the
ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom to
vote their TClarke Shares at the Court Meeting or the General
Meeting, or to execute and deliver Forms of Proxy appointing
another to vote their TClarke Shares in respect of the Court
Meeting or the General Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by
the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which they are
located.
Any failure to comply with the applicable legal
or regulatory requirements may constitute a violation of the laws
and/or regulations of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in
the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility and liability for the
violation of such restrictions by any person. Further details in
relation to Overseas Shareholders will be contained in the Scheme
Document.
Unless otherwise determined by Regent or
required by the Code, and permitted by applicable law and
regulation, the Acquisition will not be made, in whole or in part,
directly or indirectly, in or into or from a Restricted
Jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the
relevant laws or regulations of such jurisdiction and no person may
vote in favour of the Acquisition by any such use, means,
instrumentality or from within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any
other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the
laws of that jurisdiction. Copies of this Announcement and any
formal documentation relation to the Acquisition are not being, and
must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded,
distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction
and persons receiving such documents (including custodians,
nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward,
distribute or send it in or into or from any Restricted
Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported
vote in respect of the Acquisition. If the Acquisition is
implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted
by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be
made directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of mails or
any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to,
facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or
telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility
of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted
Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer may not be capable of
acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or
facilities.
The Acquisition will be subject to English law
and the jurisdiction of the Court, and the applicable requirements
of the Takeover Code, the Takeover Panel, the FCA, the London Stock
Exchange (including pursuant to the Listing Rules) and the
Registrar of Companies.
Notice to US
investors in TClarke
The Acquisition relates to the securities of an
English company and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme
of arrangement under English law. This Announcement, the Scheme
Document and certain other documents relating to the Acquisition
have been or will be prepared in accordance with English law, the
Code and UK disclosure requirements, format and style, all of which
differ from those in the United States. A transaction effected by
means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer
rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the US Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "US Exchange
Act"). Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the
procedural and disclosure requirements of and practices applicable
in the UK to schemes of arrangement, which differ from the
procedural and disclosure requirements of the United States tender
offer and proxy solicitation rules. However, if Regent elects to
implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer and determines
to extend the offer into the United States, the Takeover Offer will
be made in compliance with applicable United States laws and
regulations, including, without limitation and to the extent
applicable, under section 14(e) of the US Exchange Act and
Regulation 14E thereunder, as well as the US Securities Act of
1933, as amended.
Financial statements, and all financial
information that is included in this Announcement or that may be
included in the Scheme Document, or any other documents relating to
the Acquisition, have been or will be prepared in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards or other reporting
standards or accounting practice which may not be comparable to
financial statements of companies in the United States or other
companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States.
The receipt of cash by a US holder of TClarke
Shares as consideration for the transfer of its Scheme Shares
pursuant to the Scheme may be a taxable transaction for United
States federal income tax purposes and under applicable United
States state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws.
Each TClarke Shareholder (including US holders) is urged to consult
its independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax
consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them.
It may be difficult for US holders of TClarke
Shares to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the US
federal securities laws, since Regent and TClarke are located in
countries other than the United States, and some of their officers
and directors may be residents of countries other than the United
States. US holders of TClarke Shares may have difficulty effecting
service of process within the United States upon those persons or
recovering against judgments of US courts, including judgments
based upon the civil liability provisions of the US federal
securities laws. US holders of TClarke Shares may not be able to
sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court
for violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult
to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves
to a US court's judgement.
In accordance with normal UK practice and
consistent with Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, Regent,
certain affiliated companies and their nominees or brokers (acting
as agents) may make certain purchases of, or arrangements to
purchase, shares in TClarke outside of the US, other than pursuant
to the Acquisition, until the date on which the Acquisition and/or
Scheme becomes Effective in accordance with its terms, lapses or is
otherwise withdrawn. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase
were to be made, they would be made outside the United States and
would comply with applicable law, including the US Exchange Act.
These purchases could occur either in the open market at prevailing
prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any
information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase will
be disclosed as required in the UK, will be reported to a
Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London
Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.
This Announcement does not constitute or form a
part of any offer to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any
offer to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, any
securities in the United States.
Neither the US Securities and Exchange
Commission nor any securities commission of any state or other
jurisdiction of the United States has approved the Acquisition,
passed upon the fairness of the Acquisition, or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this Announcement. Any representation to
the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.
Forward-looking
statements
This Announcement (including information
incorporated by reference in this Announcement), oral statements
made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by
TClarke and Regent may contain certain statements which are, or may
be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These
forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not
based historical facts, but rather on current expectations and
projections of the management of TClarke and/or Regent (as the case
may be) about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and
uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially
from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements.
These forward-looking statements can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical
or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such
as "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan",
"goal", "believe", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could" or
other words or terms of similar meaning or the negative
thereof.
These statements are based on assumptions and
assessments made by Regent and/or TClarke in light of their
experience and their perception of historical trends, current
conditions, future developments and other factors they believe
appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risk and uncertainty, because they relate to
events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future
and the factors described in the context of such forward-looking
statements in this Announcement could cause actual results,
performance or developments to differ materially from those
expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those described in the forward-looking statements, include, but are
not limited to: the ability to complete the Acquisition, the
ability to obtain requisite regulatory and shareholder approvals
and the satisfaction of other Conditions on the proposed terms,
changes in the global, political, economic, business or competitive
environments and in market and regulatory forces, changes in
financial regulatory matters, changes in future exchange and
interest rates, changes in tax rates and future business
combinations or dispositions. Although it is believed that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will
prove to have been correct and you are therefore cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which
speak only as at the date of this Announcement. Neither Regent nor
TClarke assumes any obligation to update or correct the information
contained in this Announcement (whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise), except as required by
applicable law. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking
statements attributable to Regent or TClarke or any person acting
on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the
cautionary statement above. Should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described
in this Announcement. Other than in accordance with their legal or
regulatory obligations, neither Regent nor TClarke assume any
obligation to update publicly or revise forward-looking or other
statements contained in this Announcement, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent
legally required.
No profit
forecasts or estimates
No statement in this Announcement is intended
to constitute a profit forecast, profit estimate or quantified
benefits statement for any period and no statement in this
Announcement should be interpreted to mean that the earnings or
earnings per share for TClarke for the current or future financial
years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published
earnings or earnings per share for TClarke.
Right to
switch to a Takeover Offer
Regent reserves the right to elect to implement
the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer for the entire issued
and to be issued share capital of TClarke not already held by a
member of the Wider Regent Group as an alternative to the Scheme
(subject to the Takeover Panel's consent and the terms of the
Co-operation Agreement). In such an event, the Takeover Offer will
be implemented on substantially the same terms, so far as
applicable, as those which would apply to the Scheme.
If the Acquisition is effected by way of
Takeover Offer, and such Takeover Offer becomes or is declared
unconditional and sufficient acceptances are received, Regent
intends to exercise its rights to apply the provisions of Chapter 3
of Part 28 of the Companies Act so as to acquire compulsorily the
remaining TClarke Shares in respect of which the Takeover Offer has
not been accepted.
Publication on
website
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a
copy of this Announcement and the documents required to be
published under Rule 26 of the Code, will be made available
(subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in
Restricted Jurisdictions), free of charge, on TClarke's
website at:
www.tclarke.co.uk/investors and on
Regent's website at https://www.regentacquisitions.co.uk
by no later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day following the date
of this Announcement. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the
contents of these websites nor the content of any other website
accessible from hyperlinks on such websites is incorporated into,
or forms part of, this Announcement.
Requesting
hard copies
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Code,
TClarke Shareholders, persons with information rights and
participants in the TClarke Share Plans may request a hard copy of
this Announcement, free of charge, by contacting TClarke's
registrar, Link Group on 0371 664 0321 or by submitting a request
in writing to Link Group, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street,
Leeds, LS1 4DL. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate
and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be
charged at the applicable international rate. The helpline is open
between 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday excluding public
holidays in England and Wales. Please note that Link Group cannot
provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be
recorded and monitored for security and training
purposes.
For persons who receive a copy of this
Announcement in electronic form or via a website notification, a
hard copy of this Announcement will not be sent unless so
requested. In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Code, a person so
entitled may also request that all future documents, announcements
and information to be sent to them in relation to the Acquisition
should be in hard copy form.
Electronic
communications - information for TClarke
Shareholders
Please be aware that addresses, electronic
addresses and certain information provided by TClarke Shareholders,
persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the
receipt of communications from TClarke may be provided to Regent
during the Offer Period as required under section 4 of Appendix 4
of the Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Code.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this Announcement
have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures
shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary
slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be
an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede
them.
Dealing and
Opening Position Disclosure Requirements of the
Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who
is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of
an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any
offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been
announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash)
must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement
of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in
which any securities exchange offeror is first
identified.
An Opening Position Disclosure must contain
details of the person's interests and short positions in, and
rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the
offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An
Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies
must be made by no later than 3:30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th
business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if
appropriate, by no later than 3:30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th
business day following the announcement in which any securities
exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in
the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities
exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening
Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing
Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who
is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant
securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange
offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any
relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities
exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the
dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions
in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of
(i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange
offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously
been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to
whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3:30 p.m.
(London time) on the business day following the date of the
relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to
an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to
acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree
company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be
a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made
by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures
must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any
persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and
8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in
respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures
and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure
Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk,
including details of the number of relevant securities in issue,
when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first
identified. You should contact the Takeover Panel's Market
Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as
to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure
or a Dealing Disclosure.
Independent
advice
If you are in any doubt about the contents of
this Announcement or the action you should take, you are
recommended to seek your own independent financial advice
immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor or
independent financial adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are
resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another
appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.