TIDMSDM TIDMTTG
RNS Number : 9681E
Stadium Group PLC
15 February 2018
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes
of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (MAR).
Stadium Group plc
("Stadium" or the "Company")
Recommended Cash Offer
The Board of Stadium notes the announcement (the "Announcement")
made earlier today by TT Electronics plc of its recommended cash
offer for the entire issued share capital of the Company. The
Company refers you to the Announcement for the full details. The
full text of the Announcement is set out below.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR
REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES
OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014
15 FEBRUARY 2018
RECOMMED CASH OFFER
for
STADIUM GROUP PLC
by
TT ELECTRONICS PLC
Summary
-- The Boards of Stadium Group plc (Stadium) and TT Electronics
plc (TT) are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement
on the terms of a recommended cash offer for Stadium by TT pursuant
to which TT will acquire the entire issued and to be issued share
capital of Stadium (the Transaction). It is intended that the
Transaction will be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme
of arrangement between Stadium and the Stadium Shareholders under
Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006.
-- Under the terms of the Transaction, Stadium Shareholders will
be entitled to receive:
120 pence in cash for each Stadium Share
which values the entire issued share capital of Stadium at
approximately GBP45.8 million.
-- In addition, the Stadium Board has declared a special
dividend of 2.1 pence per Stadium Share (the Dividend). The
Dividend, which is conditional on completion of the Transaction and
in lieu of any final dividend for the financial year ended 31
December 2017, will be paid within 14 days of the Effective Date
and will be paid by Stadium to Stadium Shareholders on the register
of members of Stadium at the Scheme Record Time (irrespective of
whether or not they attended or voted at the Court Meeting or the
Stadium General Meeting (and, if they attended and voted, whether
or not they voted in favour of the Transaction)). No other dividend
is currently contemplated by Stadium to be declared, approved, made
or paid from the date of this announcement and before the Effective
Date.
-- The Transaction represents a premium of approximately:
-- 43.7 per cent. to the Closing Price of 83.50 pence per
Stadium Share on 14 February 2018, being the latest practicable
date before the date of this announcement;
-- approximately 35.8 per cent. to the volume weighted average
price of approximately 88.39 pence per Stadium Share for the 30
days ended 14 February 2018, being the latest practicable date
before the date of this announcement; and
-- 39.8 per cent. to the volume weighted average price of 85.84
pence per Stadium Share for the three months ended 14 February
2018, being the latest practicable date before the date of this
announcement.
-- The Transaction is the first acquisition by TT following the
disposal of TT's Transportation Sensing and Control Division in
2017, and follows TT's stated strategy to focus on areas of
structural growth where there is increased electronic content and
greater product differentiation.
-- TT's strong portfolio of products and capabilities will be
enhanced by the Transaction, strengthening the position of the
enlarged business in sectors where demand for electronics is
growing quickly.
-- Benefits to TT of the combination will include:
-- a greater presence in attractive segments of the industrial,
medical, aerospace and defence and transportation sectors;
-- enhanced product capabilities in power electronics and
connectivity, adding more scale to the respective businesses of
both TT and Stadium;
-- extended research and development (R&D) capabilities,
building on Stadium's R&D resources to leverage new product
innovation and accelerating new product launches to market; and
-- a complementary customer base, providing cross selling
opportunities for both businesses.
-- The Transaction will be funded entirely from TT's existing
cash resources and committed bank facilities.
-- TT expects the Transaction to be immediately earnings
enhancing, and to meet its targeted return on capital hurdle rate
in the year ending 31 December 2020.
-- The Stadium Directors, who have been so advised by N+1 Singer
as to the financial terms of the Transaction, consider the terms of
the Transaction to be fair and reasonable. N+1 Singer is providing
independent financial advice to the Stadium Directors for the
purposes of Rule 3 of the Code. In providing its financial advice
to the Stadium Directors, N+1 Singer has taken into account the
commercial assessments of the Stadium Directors.
-- Accordingly, the Stadium Directors intend to recommend
unanimously that Stadium Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme
at the Court Meeting and the resolutions relating to the
Transaction at the Stadium General Meeting (or, in the event that
the Transaction is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to
accept or procure the acceptance of such Takeover Offer). Each of
Charlie Peppiatt, Nick Brayshaw and Christopher Gill have
irrevocably undertaken to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court
Meeting and in favour of the resolutions relating to the
Transaction at the Stadium General Meeting in respect of their own
beneficial holdings of Stadium Shares, amounting to, in aggregate,
402,110 Stadium Shares representing approximately 1.1 per cent. of
Stadium's share capital in issue on 14 February 2018 (being the
latest practicable date before the release of this announcement).
Further details are set out in Appendix 3 to this announcement.
-- In addition to the irrevocable undertakings received from
each of Charlie Peppiatt, Nick Brayshaw and Christopher Gill, TT
has received irrevocable undertakings from certain Stadium
Shareholders representing, in aggregate, approximately 24.2 per
cent. of Stadium's share capital in issue on 14 February 2018
(being the latest practicable date before the release of this
announcement) to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting
and in favour of the resolutions relating to the Transaction at the
Stadium General Meeting, or in the event that the Transaction is
implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure the
acceptance of such Takeover Offer. Further details are set out in
Appendix 3 to this announcement.
-- The Transaction is subject to a number of Conditions and
further terms, including the approval of the Scheme by the Stadium
Shareholders by the requisite majorities and the sanctioning of the
Scheme by the Court. The Conditions are set out in full at Appendix
1 to this announcement.
-- The Scheme Document, containing further information about the
Transaction and notices of the Court Meeting and the Stadium
General Meeting, together with the Forms of Proxy, will be
published as soon as practicable and, in any event, within 28 days
of this announcement.
-- Commenting on the Transaction, Richard Tyson, CEO of TT, said:
"The acquisition of Stadium is an important step to accelerate
our strategy of building leading positions in sectors where
increasing electrification is fuelling demand for our highly
engineered electronic solutions.
We look forward to welcoming Stadium's employees and combining
power electronics capabilities and R&D expertise to drive
growth for the combined business. Stadium will add complementary
technologies including connectivity offerings, in industries we
already know well. We remain committed to deploying our resources
to accelerate growth through capital investments and acquisitions
to enhance TT's potential and create value for our
shareholders."
-- Commenting on the Transaction, Nick Brayshaw, Chairman of Stadium, said:
"On behalf of the Stadium Board, I can confirm the
recommendation of the Stadium Directors in favour of TT's cash
offer for Stadium. The Stadium Board's strategy in transitioning
the company to a design-led technology business with a focus on
wireless connectivity, power and interface and displays has been
successful and is now entering the next phase of growth. We believe
that the offer from TT represents an attractive and certain value
in cash today for Stadium Shareholders, reflecting the high quality
of the business, its people and future prospects. The strategic fit
with TT is strong and the Stadium Board believes that the combined
business provides considerable scope for accelerating the
development of Stadium's strategy, strengthening the foundations to
grow significant shareholder value whilst continuing to broaden the
opportunities for our people, our customers and our products."
-- Rothschild is acting as financial adviser to TT in respect of
the Transaction. Numis is acting as corporate broker to TT in
respect of the Transaction. Allen & Overy LLP is acting as
legal adviser to TT.
-- N+1 Singer is acting as financial adviser and broker to
Stadium in respect of the Transaction. Pinsent Masons LLP is acting
as legal adviser to Stadium.
-- TT will hold a conference call and webinar for analysts and
investors at 8:30 a.m. GMT today which will be webcast at
http://webcasting.brrmedia.co.uk/broadcast/5a82d8c3cb5fd9447f49dff5
with a dial-in facility available on +44 (0)330 336 9411. The
access code and title is 6448056 "Company Announcement". For
further details, please contact MHP on +44 (0)20 3128 8100. A copy
of the analyst and investor presentation will be available, subject
to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted
Jurisdictions, for inspection on TT's website at
http://www.ttelectronics.com/ promptly and in any event by no later
than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the date
of this announcement. For the avoidance of doubt the content of the
website is not incorporated into, and does not form part of, this
announcement.
This summary should be read in conjunction with, and is subject
to, the full text of this announcement (including the Appendices).
The Transaction will be subject to the Conditions and certain
further terms set out in Appendix 1 to this announcement and to the
full terms and conditions which will be set out in the Scheme
Document. Appendix 2 contains the bases and sources of certain
information used in this summary and this announcement. Appendix 3
contains details of the irrevocable undertakings received in
relation to the Transaction that are referred to in this
announcement. Appendix 4 contains details of a profit estimate for
the year ended 31 December 2017 and a profit forecast for the year
ending 31 December 2018 made by Stadium in its trading update
announcement released on 8 November 2017. Appendix 5 contains
definitions of certain terms used in this summary and this
announcement.
Market Soundings
Market soundings, as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation,
were taken in respect of the Transaction with the result that
certain persons became aware of inside information, as permitted by
the Market Abuse Regulation. That inside information is set out in
this announcement. Therefore, those persons that received inside
information in a market sounding are no longer in possession of
inside information relating to Stadium and TT and their respective
securities.
Enquiries:
TT Electronics plc
Richard Tyson, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1932
Officer 825 300
Mark Hoad, Chief Financial Officer
Emma Darke, Head of Investor Relations
and Communications
Rothschild (Financial Adviser Tel: +44 (0)20
to TT) 7280 5000
Neil Thwaites
Numis (Corporate Broker to TT) Tel: +44 (0)
Luke Bordewich 20 7260 1000
Michael Burke
MHP (PR Adviser to TT) Tel: +44 (0)20
3128 8100
Tim Rowntree
Katie Hunt
Ivana Petkova
Stadium Group plc Tel: +44 (0)
118 931 1199
Nick Brayshaw, Chairman
N+1 Singer (Financial Adviser Tel: +44 (0)
and Broker to Stadium) 207 496 3000
Richard Lindley
James White
Walbrook PR (PR Adviser to Stadium) Tel: +44 (0)
20 7933 8780
Paul McManus
Important notices relating to financial advisers
N M Rothschild & Sons Limited (Rothschild), which is
authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is
acting exclusively as financial adviser to TT and for no one else
in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and
will not be responsible to anyone other than TT for providing the
protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the matters referred to in this announcement. Neither
Rothschild, nor any of its affiliates, 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 Rothschild in connection with this
announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Numis Securities Ltd (Numis), which is authorised and regulated
in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting solely for TT as broker
and for no one else in relation to the Transaction, the content of
this announcement and other matters described in this announcement,
and will not be responsible to anyone other than TT for providing
the protections afforded to the clients of Numis or for providing
advice to any other person in relation to the Transaction, the
content of this announcement or any other matters described in this
announcement.
Nplus1 Singer Advisory LLP (N+1 Singer), which is authorised and
regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting solely for
Stadium as financial adviser and broker in relation to the matters
referred to in this announcement and for no one else. N+1 Singer
will not be responsible to anyone other than Stadium for providing
the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the contents of this announcement or any arrangement
referred to herein. N+1 Singer has given, and not withdrawn, its
consent to the inclusion in this announcement of the references to
its name and the advice it has given to Stadium in the form and
context in which they appear.
Further information
This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute
or form 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 Transaction
or otherwise. The Transaction will be implemented solely pursuant
to the terms of the Scheme Document (or, in the event that the
Transaction is to be implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, the
Offer Document), which will contain the full terms and conditions
of the Transaction, including details of how to vote in respect of
the Transaction. Any response to the Transaction should be made
only on the basis of information contained in the Scheme Document.
Stadium Shareholders are advised to read the formal documentation
in relation to the Transaction carefully once it has been
despatched.
Overseas jurisdictions
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in
or into 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. In particular, the ability of persons who
are not resident in the United Kingdom to vote their Stadium Shares
with respect to the Scheme at the Court Meeting, or to execute and
deliver forms of proxy appointing another person to vote at the
Court Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the
relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. Any failure to
comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation
of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons
involved in the Transaction disclaim any responsibility or
liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying
with English law, the rules of the London Stock Exchange, the AIM
Rules and the Code and the 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 & Wales.
Unless otherwise determined by TT or required by the Code, and
permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Transaction will
not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a
Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in
that jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the
Transaction by any such use, means, instrumentality or form within
a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so
would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction.
Accordingly, copies of this announcement and any formal
documentation relating to the Transaction are not being, and must
not be, directly or indirectly, mailed, transmitted or otherwise
forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted
Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction where to do so would
constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction, and
persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees
and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or
send such documents in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction.
Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect
of the Transaction. If the Transaction 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 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 or from within any Restricted
Jurisdiction.
Further details in relation to Stadium Shareholders in overseas
jurisdictions will be contained in the Scheme Document.
Notice to US holders of Stadium Shares
The Transaction relates to the shares of an English company and
is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for
under English company law. 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 Exchange Act.
Accordingly, the Transaction is subject to the disclosure
requirements and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to
schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure
requirements of United States tender offer and proxy solicitation
rules. If, in the future, TT exercises the right to implement the
Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend
such Takeover Offer into the United States, the Transaction will be
made in compliance with applicable United States laws and
regulations. Financial information included in this announcement
and the Scheme Document has been or will be prepared in accordance
with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom that may
not be comparable to financial information of US companies or
companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States.
It may be difficult for US holders of Stadium Shares to enforce
their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal securities
laws, since Stadium and TT are located in a non-US jurisdiction,
and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of
a non-US jurisdiction. US holders of Stadium Shares may not be able
to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US
court for violations of the 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.
Neither the SEC nor any securities commission of any state of
the United States has approved the Transaction, passed upon the
fairness of the Transaction or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy
of this announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offence in the United States.
In accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule
14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, TT or its nominees or brokers
(acting as agents) may from time to time make certain purchases of,
or arrangements to purchase, Stadium Shares outside the United
States, other than pursuant to the Transaction, until the date on
which the Takeover Offer and/or Scheme becomes effective, lapses or
is otherwise withdrawn. These purchases may occur either in the
open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at
negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases will be
disclosed as required in the UK, will be reported to the Regulatory
News Service of the London Stock Exchange and will be available on
the London Stock Exchange website.
Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains statements about TT and Stadium which
are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements" and which
are prospective in nature. All statements other than statements of
historical fact included in this announcement may be
forward-looking statements. They are based on current expectations
and projections 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. Often, but not always, forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words
such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "is subject to",
"budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts",
"intends", "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "aims",
"projects", "future-proofing" or words or terms of similar
substance or the negative of such words or terms, as well as
variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would",
"might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements
are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and
uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Forward-looking
statements may include statements relating to the following: (i)
future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings,
synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition,
dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and
management strategies and the expansion and growth of TT's or
Stadium's operations and potential synergies resulting from the
Transaction; and (iii) the effects of global economic conditions
and governmental regulation on TT's or Stadium's business.
Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks
and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results
and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors may cause
the actual results, performance or achievements of the TT Group or
the Stadium Group to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. These factors include changes in the
global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and
regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in
tax rates and future business combinations or disposals. For a
discussion of important factors which could cause actual results to
differ from forward-looking statements in relation to the TT Group
or the Stadium Group, refer to the annual report and accounts of
the TT Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2016 and of
the Stadium Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2016,
respectively. Each of the TT Group and the Stadium Group, and each
of their respective members, directors, officers, employees,
advisers and persons acting on their behalf, expressly disclaims
any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
or other statements contained in this announcement, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by applicable law.
No member of the TT Group, nor the Stadium Group, nor any of
their respective associates, directors, officers, employees or
advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that
the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any
forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually
occur.
Except as expressly provided in this announcement, no
forward-looking or other statements have been reviewed by the
auditors of the TT Group or the Stadium Group. All subsequent oral
or written forward-looking statements attributable to any member of
the TT Group or Stadium Group, or any of their respective
associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement
above.
Profit forecast and profit estimate
The 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate is a profit estimate and the
2018 Stadium Profit Forecast is a profit forecast for the purposes
of Rule 28 of the Code. As required by Rule 28.1 of the Code, the
assumptions on which the 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate and the 2018
Stadium Profit Forecast are stated are set out in Appendix 4 to
this announcement.
Other than the 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate and the 2018 Stadium
Profit Forecast, no statement in this announcement is intended as a
profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this
announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or
earnings per share for TT or Stadium, as appropriate, for the
current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed
the historical published earnings or earnings per share for TT or
Stadium, as appropriate.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1
per cent. 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 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the
commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later
than 3.30 pm (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 per cent. 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,
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 pm (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 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 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.
Rule 2.9 disclosure
In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, Stadium announces that
its issued share capital consists of 38,178,122 ordinary shares of
five pence each. The International Securities Identification Number
for the Stadium Shares is GB0008375098.
Information relating to Stadium Shareholders
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain
other information provided by Stadium Shareholders, persons with
information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of
communications from Stadium may be provided to TT during the Offer
Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 to the Code to
comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Code.
Publication on website
A copy of this announcement will be available, subject to
certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted
Jurisdictions, for inspection on TT's website at
http://www.ttelectronics.com/ and on Stadium's website at
www.stadiumgroupplc.com/offer-for-stadium-group-plc promptly and in
any event by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business
Day following the date of this announcement. The analyst and
investor presentation referred to above will be available, subject
to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted
Jurisdictions, for inspection on TT's website at
http://www.ttelectronics.com/ promptly and in any event by no later
than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the date
of this announcement. For the avoidance of doubt the contents of
those websites are not incorporated into, and do not form part of,
this announcement.
Stadium Shareholders may request a hard copy of this
announcement, free of charge, by contacting N+1 Singer on +44 (0)
207 496 3000 or TT on +44 (0)1932 825 300. Stadium Shareholders may
also request that all future documents, announcements and
information to be sent to them in relation to the Transaction
should be in hard copy form.
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.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR
REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES
OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014
15 FEBRUARY 2018
RECOMMED CASH OFFER
for
STADIUM GROUP PLC
by
TT ELECTRONICS PLC
1. Introduction
The Boards of Stadium Group plc (Stadium) and TT Electronics plc
(TT) are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on
the terms of a recommended cash offer for Stadium by TT pursuant to
which TT will acquire the entire issued and to be issued share
capital of Stadium (the Transaction).
2. The Transaction
Under the terms of the Transaction, Stadium Shareholders will be
entitled to receive:
120 pence in cash for each Stadium Share
which values the entire issued share capital of Stadium at
approximately GBP45.8 million.
In addition, the Stadium Board has declared a special dividend
of 2.1 pence per Stadium Share (the Dividend). The Dividend, which
is conditional on completion of the Transaction and in lieu of any
final dividend for the financial year ended 31 December 2017, will
be paid within 14 days of the Effective Date and will be paid by
Stadium to Stadium Shareholders on the register of members of
Stadium at the Scheme Record Time (irrespective of whether or not
they attended or voted at the Court Meeting or the Stadium General
Meeting (and, if they attended and voted, whether or not they voted
in favour of the Transaction)). No other dividend is currently
contemplated by Stadium to be declared, approved, made or paid from
the date of this announcement and before the Effective Date.
The Transaction represents a premium of approximately:
-- 43.7 per cent. to the Closing Price of 83.50 pence per
Stadium Share on 14 February 2018, being the latest practicable
date before the date of this announcement;
-- approximately 35.8 per cent. to the volume weighted average
price of approximately 88.39 pence per Stadium Share for the 30
days ended 14 February 2018, being the latest practicable date
before the date of this announcement; and
-- 39.8 per cent. to the volume weighted average price of 85.84
pence per Stadium Share for the three months ended 14 February
2018, being the latest practicable date before the date of this
announcement.
It is intended that the Transaction will be implemented by way
of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement between Stadium and the
Stadium Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006,
further details of which are contained in this announcement and
will be set out in the Scheme Document.
The Transaction is conditional upon, amongst other things, the
approval of the Scheme by the Scheme Shareholders and the sanction
of the Scheme by the Court. Appendix 1 to this announcement sets
out the Conditions and further terms to which the Transaction will
be subject. The Transaction does not require the approval of TT
shareholders.
The Scheme Document, containing further information about the
offer and notices of the Court Meeting and the Stadium General
Meeting, will be published as soon as practicable and, in any
event, within 28 days of this announcement.
The Transaction will be financed from TT's existing cash
resources and committed bank facilities.
3. Background to and reasons for the Transaction
TT's strategy is to build leading positions in sectors with
structural growth drivers where there is increasing electronic
content. TT is focused on areas where its industry expertise and
R&D investment create strong and differentiated capabilities
which are valued by its customers to engineer smarter solutions
together.
TT believes that a combination with Stadium will enhance TT's
strong portfolio of products and capabilities, strengthening the
position of the enlarged business in attractive sectors,
particularly in relation to power electronics and connectivity
products, where demand for electronics is growing quickly. It is
anticipated that the benefits to TT of the Transaction will
include:
-- a greater presence in attractive segments of the industrial,
medical, aerospace and defence and transportation sectors;
-- enhanced product capabilities in power electronics and
connectivity, adding more scale to the respective businesses of
both TT and Stadium;
-- extended R&D capabilities, building on Stadium's R&D
resources to leverage new product innovation and accelerating new
product launches to market; and
-- a complementary customer base, providing cross selling
opportunities for both businesses.
Greater presence in attractive sectors with a complementary
customer base
The combination will accelerate both companies' strategies to
design and manufacture higher value, higher margin products, whilst
targeting the same attractive sectors. Both companies have an
extensive global customer base in the industrial, medical,
aerospace and defence and transportation sectors. By combining the
domain expertise and product portfolios of both companies, the
combined organisational capability and competitive position in
these attractive sectors will be strengthened.
TT and Stadium have a complementary customer base, providing
opportunities for both businesses to cross-sell their respective
product portfolios. The TT Board believes that TT's scale and well
established routes-to-market, including with specialist and large
established distributors, will be beneficial to extending Stadium's
product presence. In particular, the development of Stadium's North
American business is expected to be accelerated through TT's
established network in the region and relationships with key
customers.
Enhanced product capabilities
Stadium's product offering will strengthen the combined business
to make further progress with its power electronics offering. In
December 2015, TT acquired Aero Stanrew, a specialist
electromagnetics provider, to bolster its power electronics
capabilities. The TT Board believes that Stadium's power electronic
capabilities for standard and custom power systems, as well as
their connectivity and M2M offerings in the Internet of Things
(IoT) applications, will extend TT's existing expertise and
reach.
Extended R&D capabilities to drive growth for the future
TT has increased investment in R&D to launch more new
products to market as it increasingly works alongside its customers
to provide engineered electronic solutions. Stadium has
successfully grown its Technology Products division through organic
investment and acquisitions, setting up three R&D centres in
Kista (Stockholm), Norwich and Southampton to position the business
for future growth. The combination of TT and Stadium would position
the enlarged business as an increasingly product-focused provider
of differentiated solutions for its global customers. The TT Board
believes that TT and Stadium's complementary strategies, alongside
TT's greater scale, will create opportunities for the combined
business to prosper.
Synergies
Based on the analysis carried out to date as part of due
diligence and initial integration planning, TT has identified cost
synergies mainly arising from:
-- removal of PLC cost duplication;
-- consolidation of sales networks in North America; and
-- procurement savings, mainly based on expected benefits of scale.
Creating value for shareholders of TT
TT expects the Transaction to be immediately earnings enhancing,
and to meet its targeted return on capital hurdle rate of 12 per
cent. pre-tax in the year ending 31 December 2020.
4. Recommendation
The Stadium Directors, who have been so advised by N+1 Singer as
to the financial terms of the Transaction, consider the terms of
the Transaction to be fair and reasonable. N+1 Singer is providing
independent financial advice to the Stadium Directors for the
purposes of Rule 3 of the Code. In providing its financial advice
to the Stadium Directors, N+1 Singer has taken into account the
commercial assessments of the Stadium Directors.
Accordingly, the Stadium Directors intend to recommend
unanimously that Stadium Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme
at the Court Meeting and the resolutions relating to the
Transaction at the Stadium General Meeting (or, in the event that
the Transaction is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to
accept or procure acceptance of such Takeover Offer). Each of
Charlie Peppiatt, Nick Brayshaw and Christopher Gill have
irrevocably undertaken to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court
Meeting and in favour of the resolutions relating to the
Transaction at the Stadium General Meeting in respect of their own
beneficial holdings of Stadium Shares, amounting to, in aggregate,
402,110 Stadium Shares representing approximately 1.1 per cent. of
Stadium's share capital in issue on 14 February 2018 (being the
last practicable date before the release of this announcement).
Further details are set out in Appendix 3 to this announcement.
N+1 Singer has given and not withdrawn its consent to the
inclusion in this announcement of references to its advice to the
Stadium Directors in the form and context in which it appears.
5. Background to and reasons for the recommendation of the Stadium Directors
Stadium continues to make significant progress in transitioning
from an electronic assemblies business to a design-led technology
business. Growth has been strong in the Technology Products
division, supported by acquisitions, with the offering of
complementary electronic technologies and specialist design-focused
engineering expertise proving attractive to customers.
Whilst Stadium would have a strong independent future, the
Stadium Directors consider that the offer by TT provides Stadium
Shareholders with value at a level which adequately reflects both
the quality of the Stadium business and its prospects. The offer
provides certainty, in cash, to Stadium Shareholders today as
against the inherent uncertainty of the delivery of future value
that exists in any business. Accordingly, the Stadium Directors
believe that the Stadium Shareholders should have the opportunity
to realise their investment in Stadium on the terms proposed by
TT.
The Stadium Directors note that the Transaction represents a
material premium, in cash, of approximately 43.7 per cent. to the
Closing Price of 83.50 pence per Stadium Share on 14 February 2018,
being the latest practicable date before the date of this
announcement; 35.8 per cent. to the volume weighted average price
of approximately 88.39 pence per Stadium Share for the 30 days
ended 14 February 2018, being the latest practicable date before
the date of this announcement; and 39.8 per cent. to the volume
weighted average price of 85.84 pence per Stadium Share for the
three months ended 14 February 2018, being the latest practicable
date before the date of this announcement. In addition, Stadium
Shareholders will be entitled to receive the Dividend which is
conditional on completion of the Transaction and in lieu of any
final dividend for the financial year ended 31 December 2017.
The combination of the two companies is expected to be highly
complementary, both having strategies to design and manufacture
higher value, higher margin products, and the enlarged group will
benefit from greater economies of scale and cross selling
opportunities. Stadium's enhanced offering of integrated
technologies underpinned by strong technical teams across multiple
regions, which is proving to be very attractive to customers, will
be enhanced by TT's larger structure, wider reach and industry
knowledge. Accordingly, the Stadium Directors believe that there is
strong commercial logic to a combination of TT and Stadium.
6. Irrevocable undertakings
TT has received irrevocable undertakings to vote, or procure a
vote, in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the
resolutions relating to the Transaction at the Stadium General
Meeting from each of the Stadium Directors who hold Stadium Shares
in respect of their own shareholdings, amounting to, in aggregate,
402,110 Stadium Shares representing approximately 1.1 per cent. of
Stadium's share capital in issue on 14 February 2018 (being the
latest practicable date before the release of this announcement).
The irrevocable undertakings from the Stadium Directors remain
binding in the event of a competing offer being made for
Stadium.
TT has received irrevocable undertakings to vote, or procure a
vote, in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the
resolutions relating to the Transaction at the Stadium General
Meeting (or, in the event that the Transaction is implemented by
way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure the acceptance of
such Takeover Offer) from Lombard Odier Investment Managers Group,
in respect of funds or accounts managed by Lombard Odier Investment
Managers entities (LOIM) and AXA Investment Managers UK Limited
(AXA) in respect of 9,231,216 Stadium Shares representing
approximately 24.2 per cent. of Stadium's share capital in issue on
14 February 2018 (being the latest practicable date before the
release of this announcement).
TT has therefore received in aggregate irrevocable undertakings
representing 25.2 per cent. of the share capital of Stadium in
issue as at 14 February 2018. Further details of these undertakings
are set out in Appendix 3 to this announcement.
7. Information on Stadium
Stadium, headquartered in the UK, is a leading supplier of
wireless connectivity solutions, power products, human machine
interface (HMI) solutions and electronics assemblies with design,
manufacturing and fulfilment operations in the UK, Sweden, the USA
and Asia. Stadium develops integrated electronic technologies
including power supplies, single board computing, HMI solutions and
wireless M2M connected devices for IoT applications including
medical equipment, transportation, mobile healthcare, smart home,
industrial, security and aerospace and defence.
Stadium consists of two divisions:
Technology Products (60% of 2016 revenues)
-- Connectivity solutions - design, integration and manufacture
of M2M and IoT wireless solutions;
-- Power supplies (including Stontronics Limited) - custom and
standard power products from 1W to 10Kw; and
-- HMI - intelligent interface and display solutions.
Electronic Assemblies (40% of 2016 revenues)
-- Electronic manufacturing services to global original equipment manufacturers.
For the year ended 31 December 2016, Stadium generated revenue
of GBP53.1 million and generated operating profit and profit before
tax of GBP2.7 million and GBP2.2 million, respectively. Stadium's
gross assets as at 30 June 2017 amounted to GBP52.1 million.
Profit estimate and profit forecast
Within Stadium's trading update announcement released on 8
November 2017, the Stadium Board stated that in respect of the year
to 31 December 2017, it expected "single digit percentage growth in
normalised profit before tax" (the 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate).
Within the same announcement, the Stadium Board stated that in
respect of the year to 31 December 2018, "the forward visibility
provided by the order book and the strong design pipeline of newly
awarded projects, provides confidence that the Company will deliver
double-digit revenue and profit before tax growth" (the 2018
Stadium Profit Forecast). The 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate was
repeated in the trading update on 18 January 2018 when the Stadium
Board stated that "trading for the year ended 31 December 2017 was
in line with management's expectations following the trading update
in November 2017".
The 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate and the 2018 Stadium Profit
Forecast were initially published before TT made an approach with
regard to a possible offer for Stadium and therefore the
requirements of Rule 28.1(c)(i) of the Code apply.
The Stadium Directors confirm that the 2017 Stadium Profit
Estimate remains valid, that it has been properly compiled on the
basis of the assumptions stated and that the basis of accounting
used in making the 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate is consistent with
Stadium's accounting policies. Further details of the 2017 Stadium
Profit Estimate, which constitutes a profit estimate for the
purposes of Rule 28 of the Code, including the basis of preparation
and the assumptions used, are set out in Appendix 4 to this
announcement.
The Stadium Directors confirm that the 2018 Stadium Profit
Forecast remains valid, that it has been properly compiled on the
basis of the assumptions stated and that the basis of accounting
used in making the 2018 Stadium Profit Forecast is consistent with
Stadium's accounting policies. Further details of the 2018 Stadium
Profit Forecast, which constitutes a profit forecast for the
purposes of Rule 28 of the Code, including the basis of preparation
and the assumptions used, are set out in Appendix 4 to this
announcement.
8. Information on TT
TT is a global provider of engineered electronics for
performance critical applications. TT works with market-leading
customers in the industrial, medical, aerospace and defence and
transportation sectors. TT has three divisions: Sensors and
Specialist Components, Power Electronics and Global Manufacturing
Solutions.
The product offerings in the Sensors and Specialist Components
division include current sensing, circuit protection, signal
conditioning, optoelectronics, and sensors for torque, position,
pressure, flow and temperature. The Power Electronics division
typically designs and manufactures specialist, high reliability
electronic components and sub-assemblies supplying into power
management, engine controls and connectivity systems. The Global
Manufacturing Solutions division provides high mix low volume
manufacturing solutions for products in a wide range of end
applications ranging from medical devices to power control modules
used in rail transport infrastructure.
9. Management, employees and locations of business
TT attaches great importance to the skills and experience of the
existing operational management and employees of Stadium and
believes that they will benefit from enhanced career and business
opportunities within the combined business.
Management
No plans are in place in respect of any awards for members of
the Stadium management team other than those set out in paragraph
17 of this announcement.
Locations - Head Office
Following completion of the Transaction, Woking, UK, will remain
TT's global and corporate headquarters and will also perform
central functions in relation to the operations acquired from
Stadium. Stadium's Reading office will continue to perform
functions consistent with the running of the business within
Stadium.
Employees and pension schemes
TT expects that Stadium's employees will be a key factor in
maximising the opportunities that the Transaction will present.
As part of the integration process and following the successful
completion of the Transaction, a full review of the Stadium
businesses will be undertaken to confirm any organisational and
structural changes that should be implemented to benefit the
combined business.
The TT Board recognises, however, that in order to achieve the
expected benefits of the Transaction, some operational and
administrative restructuring of Stadium will be required following
completion of the Transaction. The synergy work carried out (as
described in paragraph 3 above) has confirmed the potential to
generate cost savings for the combined business through PLC cost
efficiencies as well as a consolidation of North American sales
networks, including certain headcount reductions in those areas.
However, as at the date of this announcement, proposals have yet to
be finalised as to how and where such headcount reductions will be
implemented. In addition to the integration of the overlapping
offices of Stadium and TT in North America, there will no longer be
a requirement for the planned expansion of Stadium's North American
sales and operations footprint.
TT expects overall job reductions related to the current Stadium
workforce initiated by TT throughout the integration process of
less than 3 per cent. of Stadium's total head count. There is not
anticipated to be any impact on TT's employees.
The timing and magnitude of workforce reductions and eventual
office closures remain subject to a number of factors including
overall market conditions, the more detailed integration review
(which is anticipated to commence shortly after completion of the
Transaction and is targeted to be completed in the first 12 months
of ownership) and any required consultations with employees and
their representatives.
It is expected that, upon completion of the Transaction, the
chairman and non-executive directors of Stadium will each resign
from their office as directors of Stadium.
Other than as a result of the anticipated headcount reductions
described in this paragraph 9, TT has no intention to make any
changes to the continuing employment of Stadium Group employees and
management, nor any material changes to their conditions of
employment. TT does not expect any material change in the balance
of skills and functions of Stadium employees. TT has no intention
to make any reduction to the level of employer contributions into
Stadium's pension schemes.
The Stadium Group Retirement Benefits Plan (1974) (the Stadium
Plan) and the Southern & Redfern Limited Retirement Benefits
Scheme (the Redfern Fund) are final salary pension plans operating
for qualifying employees of Stadium. The Stadium Plan was closed to
new entrants in 1995 and to future accruals in 2011. The Redfern
Fund was closed to new entrants in 1997 and to future accruals in
2001.
The TT Board has confirmed that the existing statutory and
contractual employment rights, including accrued pension rights, of
all Stadium employees will be fully safeguarded upon and following
completion of the Transaction.
TT does not intend to redeploy fixed assets of Stadium following
completion of the Transaction.
R&D
Both TT and Stadium rely on their R&D expertise to provide
innovative and differentiated solutions to their customers. TT
believes that the Transaction allows both companies to combine and
extend their R&D capabilities to focus on designing and
manufacturing products that will meet tomorrow's technological
challenges and serve increasingly complex customer needs. TT
intends to build on Stadium's existing R&D capabilities, which
it views as complementary and additive to its own R&D strategy,
to leverage capabilities driving new product innovation and
accelerating new product launches to market. The enhanced scale of
the combined business is expected to position the combined business
for further growth.
TT's intention is to continue to invest in R&D across the
enlarged business and the skills and capabilities to support this
function and does not expect any R&D rationalisations as a
result of the Transaction.
Brand strategy
Following completion of the Transaction, TT will undertake a
review of Stadium's brand strategy. This review will look at the
value of the Stadium brand and associated strategy and make a
decision around its continuing use or discontinuing use of the
brand in part or all of the Stadium business.
10. Dividends
The Stadium Board has declared the Dividend. The Dividend, which
is conditional upon completion of the Transaction and in lieu of
any final dividend for the financial year ended 31 December 2017,
will be paid within 14 days of the Effective Date and will be paid
by Stadium to all Stadium Shareholders on the register of members
of Stadium at the Scheme Record Time (irrespective of whether or
not they attended or voted at the Court Meeting or the Stadium
General Meeting (and, if they attended and voted, whether or not
they have voted in favour of the Transaction)). No other dividend
is currently contemplated by Stadium to be declared, approved, made
or paid from the date of this announcement and before the Effective
Date. If any dividend or other distribution (including any return
of capital) is authorised, declared, made or paid by Stadium in
respect of a Stadium Share, on or after the date of this
announcement and before the Effective Date, other than the
Dividend, TT reserves the right to reduce the Cash Consideration by
the amount of all or part of: (i) any excess in the case of the
Dividend; or (ii) any such other dividend or other
distribution.
If the Transaction does not become effective by the Long Stop
Date, the Stadium Directors would consider declaring a dividend in
the ordinary course for the financial year ended 31 December 2017
and a further announcement would be made in this regard by Stadium
at the relevant time, if appropriate.
11. Current trading
Current trading for both TT and Stadium continues in line with
statements made in their announcements on 20 November 2017 and 18
January 2018, respectively.
Stadium's net debt at 31 December 2017 was circa GBP11.8 million
and the combined deficit of its two defined benefit pension schemes
was circa GBP3.7 million on an IAS19 basis.
12. Financing
The cash consideration payable by TT to Stadium Shareholders
under the Transaction will be financed from TT's existing cash
resources and committed bank facilities.
Rothschild, as financial adviser to TT, is satisfied that
sufficient resources are available to TT to satisfy, in full, the
cash consideration payable to Stadium Shareholders under the terms
of the Transaction.
13. Structure of the Transaction
13.1 Terms and conditions
The Transaction is conditional upon, amongst other things, the
approval of the Scheme by the Scheme Shareholders and the sanction
of the Scheme by the Court. Appendix 1 to this announcement sets
out the Conditions and further terms to which the Transaction will
be subject. The Transaction does not require the approval of TT
shareholders.
13.2 Scheme of arrangement
It is intended that the Transaction will be implemented by way
of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement between Stadium and the
Scheme Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006. The
Scheme is an arrangement between Stadium and the Scheme
Shareholders. The procedure involves, among other things, an
application by Stadium to the Court to sanction the Scheme. The
purpose of the Scheme is to enable TT to become the owner of the
whole of the issued and to be issued share capital of Stadium.
Under the Scheme, the Scheme Shares held by Scheme Shareholders
will be transferred to TT in consideration for which Scheme
Shareholders will receive the Cash Consideration on the basis
described in paragraph 2 above.
The Scheme is subject to the Conditions. To become effective,
the Scheme requires the approval of Scheme Shareholders by the
passing of a resolution at the Court Meeting. The resolution to
approve the Scheme must be approved by a majority in number of the
Scheme Shareholders present and voting (and entitled to vote),
either in person or by proxy, representing not less than 75 per
cent. in value of the Scheme Shares voted by such Scheme
Shareholders. In addition, a special resolution must be passed at
the Stadium General Meeting to authorise the Stadium Directors to
give effect to the Scheme and deal with certain ancillary matters,
which requires the approval of Stadium Shareholders representing at
least 75 per cent. of the votes cast at the Stadium General Meeting
(either in person or by proxy). The Stadium General Meeting will be
held immediately after the Court Meeting.
The Stadium Meetings are to be held no later than the 22nd day
after the expected date of the Stadium Meetings to be set out in
the Scheme Document in due course (or such later date as may be
agreed between Stadium and TT).
Following the Stadium Meetings, the Scheme must be sanctioned by
the Court (with or without modification but with any such
modification being acceptable to TT and Stadium) no later than the
22nd day after the expected date of the Scheme Court Hearing to be
set out in the Scheme Document in due course (or such later date as
may be agreed between Stadium and TT). The Scheme will only become
effective once a copy of the Scheme Court Order is delivered to the
Registrar of Companies.
Upon the Scheme becoming effective, it will be binding on all
Stadium Shareholders, irrespective of whether or not they attended
or voted at the Stadium Meetings (and if they attended and voted,
whether or not they voted in favour of the resolutions at such
meetings) and the Cash Consideration will be despatched by TT to
Scheme Shareholders no later than 14 days after the Effective
Date.
The Scheme shall lapse if the Scheme does not become effective
by the Long Stop Date, provided that the deadline for the Scheme to
become effective may be extended by agreement between Stadium and
TT, with the consent of the Court or the Panel, if required.
The Scheme Document will include full details of the Scheme,
together with notices of the Court Meeting and the Stadium General
Meeting and the expected timetable, and will specify the action to
be taken by Scheme Shareholders. The Forms of Proxy accompanying
the Scheme Document will also be posted to Scheme Shareholders.
The Scheme will be governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Scheme will be subject to the applicable requirements of the
Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the FCA.
13.3 Timetable
The timing of implementation of the Transaction will be
dependent upon a number of factors including availability of the
Court. However, subject to these factors, it is expected that the
posting of the Scheme Document will occur in March 2018 and that
the Scheme will become effective in the second quarter of 2018.
13.4 Cancellation of admission to trading and re-registration
Shortly before the Effective Date, an application will be made
to the London Stock Exchange for admission of the Stadium Shares to
trading on AIM to be cancelled on the first Business Day following
the Effective Date. The last day of dealings in, and for
registration of transfers of, Stadium Shares is expected to be at
the close of business on the Business Day before the Effective
Date. No dealings in Stadium Shares will be registered after this
date.
It is intended that the cancellation of admission of the Stadium
Shares to trading on AIM will take effect at the opening of
business on the first Business Day following the Effective Date. In
addition, at the opening of business on the first Business Day
following the Effective Date entitlements to Stadium Shares held
within the CREST system will be cancelled and share certificates in
respect of Scheme Shares will cease to be valid and should, if so
requested by Stadium, be sent to Stadium for cancellation. It is
also intended that as soon as possible after the Effective Date,
Stadium will be re-registered as a private limited company under
the relevant provisions of the Companies Act.
14. Opening Position Disclosure
In connection with the Transaction, TT will make a public
Opening Position Disclosure setting out details of its interests or
short positions in, or rights to subscribe for, any relevant
securities of Stadium by no later than 12 noon (London time) on 1
March 2018.
TT's Opening Position Disclosure will include details of any
interests or short positions in, or rights to subscribe for, any
relevant securities of Stadium held by all persons acting in
concert with TT.
15. Disclosure of interests in Stadium Shares
As at the close of business on 14 February 2018, being the
latest practicable date before the date of this announcement,
neither TT, nor any of the TT Directors, nor, so far as TT is
aware, any person acting in concert (within the meaning of the
Code) with TT has:
-- any interest in, or right to subscribe for, any Stadium
Shares nor does any such person have any short position in Stadium
Shares, including any short position (whether conditional or
absolute and whether in the money or otherwise), any short position
under a derivative, any agreement to sell, any delivery obligation
or right to require another person to purchase or take delivery of
Stadium Shares or any dealing arrangement of
the kind referred to in Note 11 of the definition of acting in concert in the Code; or
-- borrowed or lent any Stadium Shares or entered into any
financial collateral arrangements relating to Stadium Shares.
It has not been possible by the date of this announcement to
ascertain the interests in Stadium Shares (if any) of all of TT's
concert parties. Further enquiries will be completed before
publication of TT's Opening Position Disclosure which will include
details of any interests or short positions in, or rights to
subscribe for, any relevant securities of Stadium held by all
persons acting in concert with TT.
16. Offer-related arrangements
Confidentiality Agreement
TT and Stadium entered into a confidentiality agreement on 20
December 2017 (the Confidentiality Agreement) pursuant to which TT
has undertaken to keep confidential information relating to Stadium
and not to disclose it to third parties (other than to permitted
disclosees) unless required by law or regulation.
The Confidentiality Agreement also contains undertakings from TT
that for a period of 12 months from the date of the Confidentiality
Agreement, TT shall not, without the prior written consent of
Stadium, acquire or offer to acquire any interest in securities of
Stadium (which undertaking ceases as at the date of this
announcement) and that, for a period of 18 months from the date of
the Confidentiality Agreement, TT shall not solicit certain
employees of Stadium or certain consultants or independent
contractors engaged by Stadium, subject to customary carve-outs.
These confidentiality obligations will cease to have effect on
completion of the Transaction. If the Transaction does not
complete, the confidentiality obligations shall remain in force for
a period of 18 months from the date of the Confidentiality
Agreement.
Options Letter
Stadium has provided a letter to TT dated 15 February 2018 (the
Options Letter) in which the Remco has set out the approach it has
taken in relation to the treatment of the Options under the Stadium
Share Schemes.
17. Stadium Share Schemes
The Remco has set out its approach in relation to the treatment
of the Options under the Stadium Share Schemes in the Options
Letter referred to at paragraph 16 above.
Details of the effect of the Transaction on the Options will be
set out in the Scheme Document or, as the case may be, the Offer
Document, and, in accordance with Rule 15 of the Code, in a
separate communication to the participants in the Stadium Share
Schemes.
18. Documents available on websites
Copies of the following documents will published promptly, and
in any event by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business
Day following this announcement on TT's website, at
http://www.ttelectronics.com/ and on Stadium's website at
www.stadiumgroupplc.com/offer-for-stadium-group-plc and will be
made available until the end of the Offer Period:
-- a copy of this announcement;
-- the irrevocable undertakings described in paragraph 6 and set
out in Appendix 3 to this announcement;
-- the Confidentiality Agreement;
-- the Options Letter;
-- the consent letter of Rothschild;
-- the consent letter of Numis; and
-- the consent letter of N+1 Singer.
19. General
This announcement does not constitute an offer or an invitation
to purchase or subscribe for any securities.
Your attention is drawn to the further information contained in
the Appendices which form part of, and should be read in
conjunction with, this announcement.
The Transaction will be subject to the Conditions and further
terms set out in Appendix 1 to this announcement and to the full
terms and conditions which will be set out in the Scheme Document.
Appendix 2 contains the bases and sources of certain information
used in this announcement. Appendix 3 contains details of the
irrevocable undertakings received in relation to the Transaction
that are referred to in this announcement. Appendix 4 contains
details of the 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate and the 2018 Stadium
Profit Forecast made by Stadium in its trading update announcement
released on 8 November 2017. Appendix 5 contains definitions of
certain terms used in this announcement.
Enquiries:
TT Electronics plc
Richard Tyson, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0)1932
Officer 825 300
Mark Hoad, Chief Financial Officer
Emma Darke, Head of Investor Relations
and Communications
Rothschild (Financial Adviser Tel: +44 (0)20
to TT) 7280 5000
Neil Thwaites
Numis (Corporate Broker to TT) Tel: +44 (0)
Luke Bordewich 20 7260 1000
Michael Burke
MHP (PR Adviser to TT) Tel: +44 (0)20
3128 8100
Tim Rowntree
Katie Hunt
Ivana Petkova
Stadium Group plc Tel: +44 (0)
118 931 1199
Nick Brayshaw, Chairman
N+1 Singer (Financial Adviser Tel: +44 (0)
and Broker to Stadium) 207 496 3000
Richard Lindley
James White
Walbrook PR (PR Adviser to Stadium) Tel: +44 (0)
20 7933 8780
Paul McManus
Important notices relating to financial advisers
N M Rothschild & Sons Limited (Rothschild), which is
authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is
acting exclusively as financial adviser to TT and for no one else
in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and
will not be responsible to anyone other than TT for providing the
protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the matters referred to in this announcement. Neither
Rothschild, nor any of its affiliates, 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 Rothschild in connection with this
announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Numis Securities Limited (Numis), which is authorised and
regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting solely for TT
as broker and for no one else in relation to the Transaction, the
content of this announcement and other matters described in this
announcement, and will not be responsible to anyone other than TT
for providing the protections afforded to the clients of Numis or
for providing advice to any other person in relation to the
Transaction, the content of this announcement or any other matters
described in this announcement.
Nplus1 Singer Advisory LLP (N+1 Singer), which is authorised and
regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting solely for
Stadium as financial adviser and broker in relation to the matters
referred to in this announcement and for no one else. N+1 Singer
will not be responsible to anyone other than Stadium for providing
the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the contents of this announcement or any arrangement
referred to herein. N+1 Singer has given, and not withdrawn, its
consent to the inclusion in this announcement of the references to
its name and the advice it has given to Stadium in the form and
context in which they appear.
Further information
This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute
or form 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 Transaction
or otherwise. The Transaction will be implemented solely pursuant
to the terms of the Scheme Document (or, in the event that the
Transaction is to be implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, the
Offer Document), which will contain the full terms and conditions
of the Transaction, including details of how to vote in respect of
the Transaction. Any response to the Transaction should be made
only on the basis of information contained in the Scheme Document.
Stadium Shareholders are advised to read the formal documentation
in relation to the Transaction carefully once it has been
despatched.
Overseas jurisdictions
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in
or into 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. In particular, the ability of persons who
are not resident in the United Kingdom to vote their Stadium Shares
with respect to the Scheme at the Court Meeting, or to execute and
deliver forms of proxy appointing another person to vote at the
Court Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the
relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. Any failure to
comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation
of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons
involved in the Transaction disclaim any responsibility or
liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying
with English law, the rules of the London Stock Exchange, the AIM
Rules and the Code and the 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 & Wales.
Unless otherwise determined by TT or required by the Code, and
permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Transaction will
not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a
Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in
that jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the
Transaction by any such use, means, instrumentality or form within
a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so
would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction.
Accordingly, copies of this announcement and any formal
documentation relating to the Transaction are not being, and must
not be, directly or indirectly, mailed, transmitted or otherwise
forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted
Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction where to do so would
constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction, and
persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees
and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or
send such documents in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction.
Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect
of the Transaction. If the Transaction 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 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 or from within any Restricted
Jurisdiction.
Further details in relation to Stadium Shareholders in overseas
jurisdictions will be contained in the Scheme Document.
Notice to US holders of Stadium Shares
The Transaction relates to the shares of an English company and
is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for
under English company law. 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 Exchange Act.
Accordingly, the Transaction is subject to the disclosure
requirements and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to
schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure
requirements of United States tender offer and proxy solicitation
rules. If, in the future, TT exercises the right to implement the
Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend
such Takeover Offer into the United States, the Transaction will be
made in compliance with applicable United States laws and
regulations. Financial information included in this announcement
and the Scheme Document has been or will be prepared in accordance
with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom that may
not be comparable to financial information of US companies or
companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States.
It may be difficult for US holders of Stadium Shares to enforce
their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal securities
laws, since Stadium and TT are located in a non-US jurisdiction,
and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of
a non-US jurisdiction. US holders of Stadium Shares may not be able
to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US
court for violations of the 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.
Neither the SEC nor any securities commission of any state of
the United States has approved the Transaction, passed upon the
fairness of the Transaction or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy
of this announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offence in the United States.
In accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule
14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, TT or its nominees or brokers
(acting as agents) may from time to time make certain purchases of,
or arrangements to purchase, Stadium Shares outside the United
States, other than pursuant to the Transaction, until the date on
which the Takeover Offer and/or Scheme becomes effective, lapses or
is otherwise withdrawn. These purchases may occur either in the
open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at
negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases will be
disclosed as required in the UK, will be reported to the Regulatory
News Service of the London Stock Exchange and will be available on
the London Stock Exchange website.
Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains statements about TT and Stadium which
are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements" and which
are prospective in nature. All statements other than statements of
historical fact included in this announcement may be
forward-looking statements. They are based on current expectations
and projections 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. Often, but not always, forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words
such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "is subject to",
"budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts",
"intends", "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "aims",
"projects", "future-proofing" or words or terms of similar
substance or the negative of such words or terms, as well as
variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would",
"might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements
are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and
uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Forward-looking
statements may include statements relating to the following: (i)
future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings,
synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition,
dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and
management strategies and the expansion and growth of TT's or
Stadium's operations and potential synergies resulting from the
Transaction; and (iii) the effects of global economic conditions
and governmental regulation on TT's or Stadium's business.
Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks
and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results
and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors may cause
the actual results, performance or achievements of the TT Group or
the Stadium Group to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. These factors include changes in the
global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and
regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in
tax rates and future business combinations or disposals. For a
discussion of important factors which could cause actual results to
differ from forward-looking statements in relation to the TT Group
or the Stadium Group, refer to the annual report and accounts of
the TT Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2016 and of
the Stadium Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2016,
respectively. Each of the TT Group and the Stadium Group, and each
of their respective members, directors, officers, employees,
advisers and persons acting on their behalf, expressly disclaims
any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
or other statements contained in this announcement, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by applicable law.
No member of the TT Group, nor the Stadium Group, nor any of
their respective associates, directors, officers, employees or
advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that
the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any
forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually
occur.
Except as expressly provided in this announcement, no
forward-looking or other statements have been reviewed by the
auditors of the TT Group or the Stadium Group. All subsequent oral
or written forward-looking statements attributable to any member of
the TT Group or Stadium Group, or any of their respective
associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement
above.
Profit forecasts and profit estimates
The 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate is a profit estimate and the
2018 Stadium Profit Forecast is a profit forecast for the purposes
of Rule 28 of the Code. As required by Rule 28.1 of the Code, the
assumptions on which the 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate and the 2018
Stadium Profit Forecast are based are set out in Appendix 4 to this
Announcement.
Other than the 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate and the 2018 Stadium
Profit Forecast, no statement in this announcement is intended as a
profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this
announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or
earnings per share for TT or Stadium, as appropriate, for the
current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed
the historical published earnings or earnings per share for TT or
Stadium, as appropriate.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1
per cent. 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 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the
commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later
than 3.30 pm (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 per cent. 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,
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 pm (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 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 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.
Rule 2.9 disclosure
In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, Stadium announces that
its issued share capital consists of 38,178,122 ordinary shares of
five pence each. The International Securities Identification Number
for the Stadium Shares is GB0008375098.
Information relating to Stadium Shareholders
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain
other information provided by Stadium Shareholders, persons with
information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of
communications from Stadium may be provided to TT during the Offer
Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 to the Code to
comply with Rule 2.11 (c) of the Code.
Publication on website
A copy of this announcement will be available, subject to
certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted
Jurisdictions, for inspection on TT's website at
http://www.ttelectronics.com/ and on Stadium's website at
www.stadiumgroupplc.com/offer-for-stadium-group-plc promptly and in
any event by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business
Day following the date of this announcement. The analyst and
investor presentation referred to above will be available, subject
to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted
Jurisdictions, for inspection on TT's website at
http://www.ttelectronics.com/ promptly and in any event by no later
than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the date
of this announcement. For the avoidance of doubt the contents of
those websites are not incorporated into, and do not form part of,
this announcement.
Stadium Shareholders may request a hard copy of this
announcement , free of charge, by contacting N+1 Singer on +44 (0)
207 496 3000 or TT on +44 (0)1932 825 300. Stadium Shareholders may
also request that all future documents, announcements and
information to be sent to them in relation to the Transaction
should be in hard copy form.
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.
APPIX 1
CONDITIONS AND CERTAIN FURTHER TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION
PART 1
CONDITIONS OF THE TRANSACTION
The Transaction will be subject to the terms and conditions set
out in this Appendix and in the Scheme Document.
1. Conditions to the Transaction
The Transaction will be conditional upon the Scheme becoming
unconditional and becoming effective, subject to the provisions of
the Code, by no later than the Long Stop Date.
Scheme approval
The Scheme will be conditional upon:
(a) its approval by a majority in number representing not less
than 75 per cent. in value of the Scheme Shareholders (or the
relevant class or classes of them, if applicable) present and
voting, either in person or by proxy, at the Court Meeting and at
any separate class meeting which may be required by the Court or at
any adjournment of any such meeting on or before the 22nd day after
the expected date of the Court Meeting to be set out in the Scheme
Document in due course (or such later date, if any, as TT and
Stadium may agree and the Court may allow);
(b) all resolutions necessary to approve and implement the
Scheme being duly passed by the requisite majority or majorities at
the Stadium General Meeting or at any adjournment of that meeting
on or before the 22nd day after the expected date of the Stadium
General Meeting to be set out in the Scheme Document in due course
(or such later date, if any, as TT and Stadium may agree and the
Court may allow); and
(c) the sanction of the Scheme with or without modification (but
subject to any such modification being acceptable to TT and
Stadium) by the Court on or before the 22nd day after the expected
date of the Scheme Court Hearing to be set out in the Scheme
Document in due course (or such later date, if any, as TT and
Stadium may agree and the Court may allow) and the delivery of a
copy of the Scheme Court Order to the Registrar of Companies.
In addition, TT and Stadium have agreed that the Transaction
will be conditional upon the following Conditions and, accordingly,
the necessary actions to make the Scheme effective will not be
taken unless the following Conditions (as amended if appropriate)
have been satisfied or, where relevant, waived:
General third party clearances
(d) no government or governmental, quasi-governmental,
supranational, statutory, regulatory, environmental or
investigative body, court, trade agency, association, institution
or any other similar body or person whatsoever in any jurisdiction
(each a Third Party) having decided to take, institute, implement
or threaten any action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or
reference, or enacted, made or proposed any statute, regulation,
decision or order, or having taken any other steps which would or
might reasonably be expected to:
(i) require, prevent or delay the divestiture, or materially
alter the terms envisaged for any proposed divestiture by any
member of the Wider TT Group or any member of the Wider Stadium
Group of all or any portion of their respective businesses, assets
or property or impose any limitation on the ability of any of them
to conduct their respective businesses (or any of them) or to own
any of their respective assets or properties or any part thereof
which, in any such case, is material in the context of the Wider TT
Group or the Wider Stadium Group, in either case taken as a
whole;
(ii) require, prevent or delay the divestiture by any member of
the Wider TT Group of any shares, securities or other interests in
any member of the Wider Stadium Group;
(iii) impose any material limitation on, or result in a delay
in, the ability of any member of the Wider TT Group directly or
indirectly to acquire or to hold or to exercise effectively,
directly or indirectly, any rights of ownership in respect of
shares or loans or securities convertible into shares or any other
securities (or the equivalent) in any member of the Wider Stadium
Group or the Wider TT Group or to exercise management control over
any such member;
(iv) otherwise adversely affect the business, assets, profits or
prospects of any member of the Wider TT Group or of any member of
the Wider Stadium Group to an extent which is material in the
context of the Wider TT Group or the Wider Stadium Group, in either
case taken as a whole;
(v) make the Transaction or its implementation or the
acquisition or proposed acquisition by TT or any member of the
Wider TT Group of any shares or other securities in, or control of
Stadium void, illegal, and/or unenforceable under the laws of any
jurisdiction, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, restrain,
restrict, prohibit, delay or otherwise interfere with the same, or
impose additional conditions or obligations with respect thereto,
or otherwise challenge or interfere therewith;
(vi) require any member of the Wider TT Group or the Wider
Stadium Group to offer to acquire any shares or other securities
(or the equivalent) or interest in any member of the Wider Stadium
Group or the Wider TT Group owned by any third party;
(vii) impose any limitation on, or result in any delay of, the
ability of any member of the Wider Stadium Group or the Wider TT
Group to integrate or co-ordinate its business, or any part of it,
with the businesses of any other member of the Wider Stadium Group
or the Wider TT Group which is material in the context of the
Transaction; or
(viii) result in any member of the Wider Stadium Group or the
Wider TT Group ceasing to be able to carry on business under any
name under which it presently does so,
and all applicable waiting and other time periods during which
any such Third Party could institute, implement or threaten any
action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference or
any other step under the laws of any jurisdiction in respect of the
Transaction or the acquisition or proposed acquisition of any
Stadium Shares having expired, lapsed or been terminated;
(e) all necessary filings or applications having been made in
connection with the Transaction and all statutory or regulatory
obligations in any jurisdiction having been complied with in
connection with the Transaction or the acquisition by any member of
the Wider TT Group of any shares or other securities in, or control
of, Stadium and all authorisations, orders, recognitions, grants,
consents, licences, confirmations, clearances, permissions and
approvals reasonably deemed necessary or appropriate by TT or any
member of the Wider TT Group for or in respect of the Transaction
or the proposed acquisition of any shares or other securities in,
or control of, Stadium by any member of the Wider TT Group having
been obtained in terms and in a form reasonably satisfactory to TT
from all appropriate Third Parties or persons with whom any member
of the Wider Stadium Group has entered into contractual
arrangements and all such authorisations, orders, recognitions,
grants, consents, licences, confirmations, clearances, permissions
and approvals together with all material authorisations orders,
recognitions, grants, licences, confirmations, clearances,
permissions and approvals reasonably deemed necessary or
appropriate to carry on the business of any member of the Wider
Stadium Group, remaining in full force and effect and all filings
necessary for such purpose having been made and there being no
notice or intimation of any intention to revoke or not to renew any
of the same at the time at which the Transaction becomes otherwise
unconditional and all necessary statutory or regulatory obligations
in any jurisdiction having been complied with;
Absence of adverse circumstances arising from agreements and
arrangements
(f) save as Disclosed, there being no provision of any
agreement, arrangement, licence, permit or other instrument to
which any member of the Wider Stadium Group is a party or by or to
which any such member or any of its assets may be bound, entitled
or subject, which in consequence of the Transaction or the proposed
acquisition of any shares or other securities in Stadium or because
of a change in the control or management of Stadium or otherwise,
could or might result in (in each case to an extent which is
material in the context of the Wider Stadium Group as a whole):
(i) any moneys borrowed by or any other indebtedness (actual or
contingent) of, or grant available to any such member, being or
becoming repayable or capable of being declared repayable
immediately or earlier than their or its stated maturity date or
repayment date or the ability of any such member to borrow moneys
or incur any indebtedness being withdrawn or inhibited or being
capable of becoming or being withdrawn or inhibited;
(ii) any such agreement, arrangement, licence, permit or
instrument or the rights, liabilities, obligations or interests of
any such member thereunder being terminated or adversely modified
or adversely affected or any obligation or liability arising or any
adverse action being taken or arising thereunder;
(iii) any assets or interests of any such member being or
falling to be disposed of or charged or any right arising under
which any such asset or interest could be required to be disposed
of or charged;
(iv) the creation or enforcement of any mortgage, charge or
other security interest over the whole or any part of the business,
property or assets of any such member;
(v) the rights, liabilities, obligations or interests of any
such member in, or the business of any such member with, any
person, firm or body (or any arrangement or arrangements relating
to any such interest or business) being terminated, adversely
modified or adversely affected;
(vi) the value of any such member or its financial or trading
position or prospects being prejudiced or adversely affected;
(vii) any such member ceasing to be able to carry on business
under any name under which it presently does so; or
(viii) the creation of any liability, actual or contingent, by any such member,
and no event having occurred which, under any provision of any
agreement, arrangement, licence or other instrument to which any
member of the Wider Stadium Group is a party or by or to which any
such member or any of its assets may be bound, entitled or subject,
could result in any of the events or circumstances as are referred
to in sub-paragraphs (i) to (viii) of this Condition (in each case
to the extent which is material in the context of the Wider Stadium
Group taken as a whole);
No material transactions or changes occurring since 31 December
2016
(g) save as Disclosed, since 31 December 2016 no member of the
Wider Stadium Group having:
(i) save as between Stadium and wholly-owned subsidiaries of
Stadium or for Stadium Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of
options or vesting of awards granted under the Stadium Share
Schemes, issued, authorised or proposed the issue of additional
shares of any class;
(ii) save as between Stadium and wholly-owned subsidiaries of
Stadium, or for the grant of options or awards under the Stadium
Share Schemes, issued or agreed to issue, authorised or proposed
the issue of securities convertible into shares of any class or
rights, warrants or options to subscribe for, or acquire, any such
shares or convertible securities;
(iii) other than to another member of the Stadium Group,
recommended, declared, paid or made or proposed to recommend,
declare, pay or make any bonus, dividend or other distribution
whether payable in cash or otherwise, save for the Dividend;
(iv) save for any acquisition or disposal in the ordinary course
of business which is not material in nature or intra-Stadium Group
transactions, merged or demerged with any body corporate or
acquired or disposed of or transferred, mortgaged or charged or
created any security interest over any assets or any right, title
or interest in any asset (including shares and trade investments)
or authorised or proposed or announced any intention to propose any
merger, demerger, acquisition or disposal, transfer, mortgage,
charge or security interest, in each case which is material in the
context of the Wider Stadium Group taken as a whole;
(v) save for intra-Stadium Group transactions, made or
authorised or proposed or announced an intention to propose any
change in its loan capital in each case, to the extent which is
material in the context of the Wider Stadium Group taken as a
whole;
(vi) issued, authorised or proposed the issue of any debentures
or (save for intra-Stadium Group transactions), save in the
ordinary course of business, incurred or increased any indebtedness
or become subject to any guarantee or contingent liability;
(vii) purchased, redeemed or repaid or announced any proposal to
purchase, redeem or repay any of its own shares or other securities
or reduced or, save in respect to the matters mentioned in sub-
paragraph (i) above, made any other change to any part of its share
capital;
(viii) other than pursuant to the Transaction (and except for
transactions between Stadium and its wholly-owned subsidiaries or
between wholly-owned subsidiaries of Stadium which are not material
in the context of the Wider Stadium Group) implemented, or
authorised, proposed or announced its intention to implement, any
reconstruction, amalgamation, scheme, commitment or other
transaction or arrangement;
(ix) entered into or changed the terms of any contract with any
director or senior executive;
(x) entered into or varied or authorised, proposed or announced
its intention to enter into or vary any contract, transaction or
commitment (whether in respect of capital expenditure or otherwise)
which is of a long term, onerous or unusual nature or magnitude or
which is or could be restrictive on the businesses of any member of
the Wider Stadium Group or the Wider TT Group or which involves or
could involve an obligation of such a nature or magnitude, and
which in each case is material in the context of the Wider Stadium
Group taken as a whole;
(xi) (other than in respect of a member which is dormant and was
solvent at the relevant time) taken any corporate action or had any
legal proceedings started or threatened against it for its
winding-up, dissolution or reorganisation or for the appointment of
a receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, trustee or
similar officer of all or any of its assets or revenues or any
analogous proceedings in any jurisdiction or had any such person
appointed, and in each such case, to the extent which is material
in the context of the Wider Stadium Group taken as a whole;
(xii) entered into any contract, transaction or arrangement
which would be restrictive on the business of any member of the
Wider Stadium Group other than to a nature and extent which is
normal in the context of the business concerned, and in each such
case which is material or would reasonably likely to be material in
the context of the Wider Stadium Group taken as a whole;
(xiii) waived or compromised any claim otherwise than in the
ordinary course of business and in any case which is material in
the context of the Wider Stadium Group taken as a whole;
(xiv) entered into any contract, commitment, arrangement or
agreement or passed any resolution or made any offer (which remains
open for acceptance) with respect to or announced any intention to,
or to propose to, effect any of the transactions, matters or events
referred to in this Condition;
(xv) made or agreed or consented to any change to:
(A) the terms of the trust deeds constituting the pension
scheme(s) established by any member of the Wider Stadium Group for
its directors, employees or their dependents;
(B) the contributions payable to any such scheme(s) or to the
benefits which accrue or to the pensions which are payable
thereunder;
(C) the basis on which qualification for, or accrual or
entitlement to, such benefits or pensions are calculated or
determined; or
(D) the basis upon which the liabilities (including pensions) of
such pension schemes are funded, valued or made;
(xvi) proposed, agreed to provide or modified the terms of the
Stadium Share Schemes or any share option scheme, incentive scheme
or other benefit constituting a material change relating to the
employment or termination of employment of a material category of
persons employed by the Wider Stadium Group or which constitutes a
material change to the terms or conditions of employment of any
senior employee of the Wider Stadium Group;
(xvii) made any material alteration to its constitutional documents; or
(xviii) other than with the consent of TT, taken (or agreed or
proposed to take) any action which requires, or would require, the
consent of the Panel or the approval of Stadium Shareholders in
general meeting in accordance with, or as contemplated by, Rule
21.1 of the Code;
No adverse change, litigation or regulatory enquiry
(h) save as Disclosed, since 31 December 2016:
(i) no adverse change or deterioration having occurred in the
business, assets, financial or trading position or profits or
prospects of any member of the Wider Stadium Group, and no
circumstances having arisen which would be expected to result in
any such adverse change, which, in any such case, is material in
the context of the Wider Stadium Group taken as a whole;
(ii) no litigation, arbitration proceedings, prosecution or
other legal proceedings to which any member of the Wider Stadium
Group is or may become a party (whether as a plaintiff, defendant
or otherwise), and no investigation by any Third Party against or
in respect of any member of the Wider Stadium Group, having been
instituted, announced or threatened by or against, or remaining
outstanding in respect of, any member of the Wider Stadium Group,
in each case to an extent which is material, in the context of the
Wider Stadium Group taken as a whole; and
(iii) no contingent or other liability having arisen or become
apparent to Stadium or increased (other than in the ordinary course
of business) which will or would be likely to adversely affect the
business, assets, financial or trading position or profits or
prospects or operational performance of any member of the Wider
Stadium Group, in each case to an extent which is material in the
context of the Wider Stadium Group taken as a whole;
No withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of
licence
(i) save as Disclosed, no steps having been taken which are
likely to result in the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or
modification of any licence held by any member of the Wider Stadium
Group which is necessary for the proper carrying on of its business
and the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of
which is material and has had, or would reasonably be likely to
have, a material adverse effect on the Wider Stadium Group taken as
a whole;
No discovery of certain matters
(j) save as Disclosed, TT not having discovered:
(i) that any financial, business or other information concerning
the Wider Stadium Group as contained in the information disclosed
at any time by or on behalf of any member of the Wider Stadium
Group publicly to any member of the Wider TT Group is misleading,
contains a misrepresentation of fact or omits to state a fact
necessary to make that information not misleading and which was not
subsequently corrected before the date of this announcement by
disclosure either publicly or otherwise to TT;
(ii) that any member of the Wider Stadium Group is subject to
any liability (contingent or otherwise); or
(iii) any information which affects the import of any
information disclosed at any time prior to this announcement by or
on behalf of any member of the Wider Stadium Group to any member of
the Wider TT Group,
in each case, to the extent which is material in the context of
the Wider Stadium Group taken as a whole;
Anti-corruption, sanctions and criminal property
(k) save as Disclosed, TT not having discovered that:
(i) (A) any past or present member, director, officer or
employee of the Wider Stadium Group is or has at any time engaged
in any activity, practice or conduct which would constitute an
offence under the Bribery Act 2010, the US Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977 or any other applicable anti-corruption
legislation; or (B) any person that performs or has performed
services for or on behalf of the Wider Stadium Group is or has at
any time engaged in any activity, practice or conduct in connection
with the performance of such services which would constitute an
offence under the Bribery Act 2010, the US Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977 or any other applicable anti-corruption
legislation; or
(ii) any material asset of any member of the Wider Stadium Group
constitutes criminal property as defined by section 340(3) of the
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (but disregarding paragraph (b) of that
definition); or
(iii) any past or present member, director, officer or employee
of the Stadium Group has engaged in any business with, made any
investments in, made any funds or assets available to or received
any funds or assets from: (A) any government, entity or individual
in respect of which US or European Union persons, or persons
operating in those territories, are prohibited from engaging in
activities or doing business, or from receiving or making available
funds or economic resources, by US or European Union laws or
regulations, including the economic sanctions administered by the
United States Office of Foreign Assets Control, or HM Treasury
& Customs; or (B) any government, entity or individual targeted
by any of the economic sanctions of the United Nations, the United
States, the European Union or any of its member states, in each
case to an extent which is material in the context of the Wider
Stadium Group taken as a whole; or
(iv) any member of the Stadium Group has been engaged in any
transaction which would cause TT to be in breach of any applicable
law or regulation upon its acquisition of Stadium, including the
economic sanctions of the United States Office of Foreign Assets
Control, or HM Treasury & Customs, or any government, entity or
individual targeted by any of the economic sanctions of the United
Nations, the United States, the European Union or any of its member
states.
PART 2
CERTAIN FURTHER TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION
Waiver and invocation of the Conditions
Subject to the requirements of the Panel in accordance with the
Code, TT reserves the right to waive, in whole or in part, all or
any of the Conditions above, except for Conditions (a) to (c).
Conditions (d) to (k) (inclusive) must be fulfilled or, where
applicable, waived by no later than 11:59 p.m. on the date
immediately preceding the date of the Scheme Court Hearing, failing
which the Scheme will lapse. TT shall be under no obligation to
waive or treat as satisfied any of Conditions (d) to (k)
(inclusive) by a date earlier than the latest date specified above
for the fulfilment or waiver thereof, notwithstanding that the
other Conditions to the Transaction may at such earlier date have
been waived or fulfilled and that there are at such earlier date no
circumstances indicating that any of such Conditions may not be
capable of fulfilment.
TT undertakes that it will, immediately before the Scheme Court
Hearing, provide notice in writing to Stadium that either: (i) the
Conditions (except Conditions (a) to (c)) have each been satisfied
or that TT has waived or treated as waived such Conditions; or (ii)
it intends to invoke or treat as incapable of satisfaction each or
any such Condition, which will always be subject to the Panel's
consent.
The Scheme will not become effective unless the Conditions have
become satisfied (or, where applicable, waived) by the Long Stop
Date.
Certain further terms of the Transaction
The Scheme will be governed by the laws of England and Wales and
be subject to the jurisdiction of the Court and to the Conditions
and further terms set out in this announcement and in the Scheme
Document. The Transaction will comply with the applicable rules and
regulations of the FCA, AIM, the London Stock Exchange and the
Code. This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, an
offer or invitation to purchase Stadium Shares or any other
securities.
Each of the Conditions shall be regarded as a separate Condition
and shall not be limited by reference to any other Condition.
If TT is required by the Panel to make an offer for Stadium
Shares under the provisions of Rule 9 of the Code, TT may make such
alterations to any of the above Conditions as are necessary to
comply with the provisions of that Rule.
The Scheme shall lapse and shall not become effective if:
(a) insofar as the Transaction constitutes, or is deemed to
constitute, a concentration with an EU dimension within the scope
of the EUMR, the European Commission either initiating proceedings
under Article 6(1)(c) of the EUMR or making a referral to the CMA
under Article 4(4) or Article 9(1) of the EUMR and there is then a
reference of the Transaction or matter arising from or relating to
it to the chair of the CMA for the constitution of a group under
schedule 4 to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013; or
(b) in so far as the Transaction does not constitute, or is not
deemed to constitute, a concentration with an EU dimension within
the scope of the EUMR, the Transaction or any matter arising from
or relating to it becoming subject to a reference to the chair of
the CMA for the constitution of a group under schedule 4 to the
Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013,
in either case before the Court Meeting.
The offer will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into,
or by use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality
(including, without limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone,
internet or e-mail) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any
facility of a national securities exchange of, any Restricted
Jurisdiction and the Transaction will not be capable of acceptance
by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility or from within
any Restricted Jurisdiction.
The Stadium Shares will be acquired by TT fully paid and free
from all liens, charges, encumbrances, rights of pre-emption and
any other third party rights of any nature whatsoever and together
with all rights attaching to them as at the date of this
announcement or subsequently attaching or accruing to them,
including, without limitation, voting rights and the right to
receive and retain, in full, all dividends and other distributions
(if any) declared, made or paid, or any other return of capital
(whether by way of reduction of share capital or share premium
account or otherwise) made on or after the date of this
announcement and before the Effective Date, other than the
Dividend.
Accordingly, insofar as any dividend or other distribution
(including a return of capital) is authorised, declared, made, paid
or payable by Stadium in respect of a Stadium Share on or after the
date of this announcement and before the Effective Date, other than
the Dividend, TT reserves the right to reduce the Cash
Consideration by the amount of all or part of: (i) any excess in
the case of the Dividend; or (ii) any such other dividend or other
distribution, except insofar as the Stadium Share is or will be
transferred pursuant to the Transaction on a basis which entitles
TT alone to receive the dividend and/or distribution and/or return
of capital but if that reduction in price has not been effected,
the person to whom the Cash Consideration is paid in respect of
that Stadium Share, will be obliged to account to TT for the amount
of such dividend and/or distribution and/or return of capital.
APPIX 2
GENERAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND BASES OF CALCULATION
-- In this announcement, unless otherwise stated, or the context
otherwise requires, the following bases and sources have been
used:
-- financial information relating to TT is extracted (without
adjustment) from the audited consolidated financial statements of
TT for the relevant years or from the unaudited interim
consolidated financial statements of TT for the relevant half
years, prepared in accordance with IFRS;
-- financial information relating to Stadium is extracted
(without adjustment) from the audited consolidated financial
statements of Stadium for the relevant years or from the unaudited
interim consolidated financial statements of Stadium for the
relevant half years, prepared in accordance with IFRS;
-- any references to the existing issued share capital of
Stadium are based on 38,178,122 Stadium Shares in issue as at 14
February 2018 (being the latest practicable date before the release
of this announcement);
-- the fully diluted share capital of Stadium (being 38,478,122
Stadium Shares) is calculated on the basis of:
-- the number of issued Stadium Shares referred to in the paragraph above; and
-- any further Stadium Shares which may be issued on or after
the date of this announcement on the exercise of options or vesting
of options under the Stadium Share Schemes and having regard to the
determinations of the Remco in the Options Letter; and
-- unless otherwise stated, all prices and Closing Prices for
Stadium Shares are closing middle market quotations derived from
the AIM appendix to the Daily Official List.
APPIX 3
DETAILS OF IRREVOCABLE UNDERTAKINGS
Stadium Director irrevocable undertakings in respect of Stadium
Shares
The following Stadium Directors have given irrevocable
undertakings which include undertakings to vote, or procure a vote,
in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions
relating to the Transaction at the Stadium General Meeting in
respect of their own shareholdings:
Name of Stadium Number of Stadium Percentage of Stadium
Director Shares issued share capital
------------------ ------------------ ----------------------
Charlie Peppiatt 186, 263 0.5%
------------------ ------------------ ----------------------
Nick Brayshaw 179,052 0.5%
------------------ ------------------ ----------------------
Christopher
Gill 36,795 0.1%
------------------ ------------------ ----------------------
Charlie Peppiatt, a Stadium Director, has also provided the
irrevocable undertaking to vote in favour of the Scheme at the
Court Meeting and the resolutions relating to the Transaction at
the Stadium General Meeting in respect of any Stadium Shares
received pursuant to his options under the Stadium Share Schemes
(being interests over 475,000 Stadium Shares).
The obligations of the Stadium Directors under the irrevocable
undertakings shall lapse and cease to have effect:
-- immediately if TT announces, with the consent of the Panel,
that it does not intend to proceed with the Transaction and no new,
revised or replacement Scheme is contemporaneously announced by TT
in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code; or
-- immediately if the Scheme Document has not been posted within
twenty eight (28) days of the issue of this announcement (or within
such longer period as TT or Stadium, with the consent of the Panel
determine); or
-- immediately if a competing offer for Stadium is made and such
competing offer is declared unconditional in all respects or
otherwise becomes effective; or
-- on and from the earlier of:
-- the Longstop Date; and
-- the time and date on which the Transaction is withdrawn,
lapses or otherwise terminates in accordance with its terms.
These irrevocable undertakings remain binding in the event a
competing offer is made for Stadium.
Stadium Shareholder irrevocable undertakings in respect of
Stadium Shares
The following persons have given irrevocable undertakings which
include undertakings to vote, or procure a vote, in favour of the
Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions relating to the
Transaction at the Stadium General Meeting, or, in the event that
the Transaction is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to
accept or procure the acceptance of such Takeover Offer:
Name of Stadium Number of Stadium Percentage of Stadium
Shareholder Shares issued share capital
----------------- ------------------ ----------------------
Lombard Odier
Investment
Management
Group 7,478,986 19.6%
----------------- ------------------ ----------------------
AXA Investment
Managers UK
Limited 1,752,230 4.6%
----------------- ------------------ ----------------------
The obligations of LOIM under its irrevocable undertakings shall
lapse and cease to have effect on and from the earlier of the
following occurrences:
-- the Scheme or Takeover Offer does not become effective on or
before 31 August 2018; or
-- TT announces, with the consent of the Panel, before the Offer
Document or Scheme Document is published, that it does not intend
to proceed with the Transaction and no new, revised or replacement
Scheme or Takeover Offer is contemporaneously announced by TT in
accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code; or
-- the Scheme (or Takeover Offer) does not become effective,
lapses or is withdrawn in accordance with its terms, provided that
such lapse or withdrawal is not solely as a result of TT's decision
to pursue a Takeover Offer; or
-- the Scheme Document or Offer Document has not been posted
within 28 days of this announcement (or such longer period as TT or
Stadium, with the consent of the Panel, determine) provided that if
the Transaction was initially being implemented as a Scheme and TT
elects to implement the Transaction as a Takeover Offer, or vice
versa, the time period shall be extended to refer to within 28 days
of the public announcement announcing that election; or
-- any competing offer for the issued and to be issued ordinary
share capital of Stadium is announced which exceeds TT's offer
price by 10% or more, and TT has not issued a revised offer
exceeding that competing offer within a period of five days from
that announcement.
The obligations of AXA under its irrevocable undertaking shall
lapse and cease to have effect:
-- immediately if TT announces, with the consent of the Panel,
that it does not intend to proceed with the Transaction; or
-- on and from the earlier of:
-- 31 August 2018; or
-- the time and date on which the Transaction is withdrawn,
lapses or otherwise terminates in accordance with its terms; or
-- any competing offer for the issued and to be issued ordinary
share capital of Stadium is announced which exceeds TT's offer
price by at least 5% or more at the time the competing offer is
announced, and TT has not matched or beaten that offer price within
a period of five days from that announcement.
APPIX 4
THE 2017 STADIUM PROFIT ESTIMATE AND THE 2018 STADIUM PROFIT
FORECAST
a) 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate
Within the trading update announcement released by Stadium on 8
November 2017, the Stadium Board stated that in respect of the year
to 31 December 2017, it "now expects single digit percentage growth
in normalised profit before tax". This statement constitutes a
profit forecast under the Code as it sets a "profit floor". As it
is in respect of a financial period which has expired and for which
audited results have not yet been published, it is defined as a
profit estimate.
The 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate was repeated in the Stadium
trading update on 18 January 2018 when the Stadium Board stated
that "trading for the year ended 31 December 2017 was in line with
management's expectations following the trading update in November
2017".
The 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate was initially published before
TT made an approach with regard to a possible offer for Stadium and
therefore the requirements of Rule 28.1(c)(i) of the Code apply.
The Stadium Directors confirm that the 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate
represents a forecast of Normalised Profit Before Tax (as defined
in Appendix 5 to this announcement).
Basis of preparation and assumptions
The Stadium Directors prepared the 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate
released on 8 November 2017 on the basis of the forecast outcome
for the financial year to 31 December 2017. In confirming the 2017
Stadium Profit Estimate, the Stadium Directors have reviewed the
draft management accounts for the year ended 31 December 2017. The
Stadium Directors have assumed that no material adjustments will be
made to the management accounts during the preparation and audit of
the annual report and accounts for the financial year ended 31
December 2017.
Stadium Directors' confirmation
The Stadium Directors have considered the 2017 Stadium Profit
Estimate and confirm that it remains valid as at the date of this
announcement, that the 2017 Stadium Profit Estimate has been
properly compiled on the basis set out above and that the basis of
accounting used is consistent with Stadium's accounting policies,
which are in accordance with IFRS and are those that Stadium
expects to apply in preparing its annual report and accounts for
the financial year ended 31 December 2017.
b) 2018 Stadium Profit Forecast
Within the trading update announcement released by Stadium on 8
November 2017, the Stadium Board stated that in respect of the year
to 31 December 2018, it anticipated that "the forward visibility
provided by the order book and the strong design pipeline of newly
awarded projects, provides confidence that the Company will deliver
double-digit revenue and profit before tax growth in the coming
year". This statement constitutes a profit forecast under the Code
as it sets a "profit floor".
The 2018 Stadium Profit Forecast was published before TT made an
approach with regard to a possible offer for Stadium and therefore
the requirements of Rule 28.1(c)(i) of the Code apply. The Stadium
Directors confirm that the 2018 Stadium Profit Forecast represents
a forecast of Normalised Profit Before Tax (as defined in Appendix
5 to this announcement).
Basis of preparation
The Stadium Directors prepared the 2018 Stadium Profit Forecast
released on 8 November 2017 on the basis of the budget for the
financial year ending 31 December 2018. In confirming the 2018
Stadium Profit Forecast, the Stadium Directors have reconfirmed the
budget for the year ending 31 December 2018, and have made the
following assumptions in respect of the financial year ending 31
December 2018:
Assumptions outside of Stadium's influence or control
-- there is no loss of any material key customer;
-- there will be no material adverse foreign exchange movements; and
-- there will be no material change in the market conditions in
relation to customer demand, sourcing of materials or the
competitive environment.
Assumptions within Stadium's influence or control
-- there are no material investments or capital expenditure, in
addition to those already planned;
-- there will be no material change in the existing operational
strategy of Stadium; and
-- there will be no material acquisitions or disposals.
The 2018 Stadium Profit Forecast excludes the costs associated
with, and the ongoing impact of, the Transaction.
Stadium Directors' confirmation
The Stadium Directors have considered the 2018 Stadium Profit
Forecast and confirm that it remains valid as at the date of this
announcement, that the 2018 Stadium Profit Forecast has been
properly compiled on the basis of the assumptions set out above and
that the basis of accounting used is consistent with Stadium's
accounting policies, which are in accordance with IFRS and are
those that Stadium expects to apply in preparing its annual report
and accounts for the financial year ending 31 December 2018.
APPIX 5
dEFINITIONS
The following definitions apply throughout this announcement,
unless the context otherwise requires:
2017 Stadium the profit estimate included within
Profit Estimate Stadium's trading update announcement
released on 8 November 2017 in respect
of the year to 31 December 2017, as
detailed further in Appendix 4
2018 Stadium the profit forecast included within
Profit Forecast Stadium's trading update announcement
released on 8 November 2017 in respect
of the year to 31 December 2018, as
detailed further in Appendix 4
AIM the AIM market of the London Stock
Exchange
AIM Rules the AIM rules for companies published
by the London Stock Exchange
Board as the context requires, the board
of directors of TT or the board of
directors of Stadium and the terms
TT Board and Stadium Board shall be
construed accordingly
Business a day on which banks are generally
Day open for business in London (apart
from Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays)
Cash Consideration the consideration payable to Scheme
Shareholders in connection with the
Transaction, being 120 pence per Stadium
Share
Closing the closing middle market quotation
Price of a Stadium Share derived from the
AIM appendix to the Daily Official
List
CMA the UK Competition and Markets Authority
Code the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers
Companies the UK Companies Act 2006, as amended
Act 2006 from time to time
Conditions the conditions to the Transaction as
set out in Part 1 of Appendix 1 and
to be set out in the Scheme Document
Confidentiality the confidentiality agreement dated
Agreement 20 December 2017 entered into between
Stadium and TT
Court the High Court of Justice in England
and Wales
Court Meeting the meeting(s) of the Scheme Shareholders
to be convened by order of the Court
pursuant to section 896 of the Companies
Act 2006, notice of which will be set
out in the Scheme Document, for the
purpose of considering, and if thought
fit, approving the Scheme (with or
without amendment) and any adjournment,
postponement or reconvention of such
meeting
CREST the relevant system (as defined in
the Uncertificated Securities Regulations
2001 (SI 2001/3755) (the Regulations))
in respect of which Euroclear UK and
Ireland Limited is the Operator (as
defined in the Regulations) in accordance
with which securities may be held and
transferred in uncertificated form
Daily Official the daily official list of the London
List Stock Exchange
Disclosed information which has been fairly disclosed
by or on behalf of Stadium:
* in the annual report and accounts of the Stadium
Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2016;
* in Stadium's announcement dated 5 September 2017 of
its half year results;
* in this announcement;
* in any other public announcement made by, or on
behalf of, Stadium in accordance with the Market
Abuse Regulation, the AIM Rules or the Disclosure
Guidance and Transparency Rules before the date of
this announcement;
* in writing before the date of this announcement by or
on behalf of Stadium to TT (or its respective
officers, employees, agents or advisers in their
capacity as such); or
* in the virtual data room operated by or on behalf of
Stadium and which TT is able to access in relation to
the Transaction before the date of this announcement
Disclosure the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency
Guidance Rules of the FCA in its capacity as
and Transparency the UK Listing Authority under FSMA
Rules and contained in the UK Listing Authority's
publication of the same name (as amended
from time to time)
Dividend the special dividend of 2.1 pence per
Stadium Share declared by the Stadium
Board, which is conditional on completion
of the Transaction and will be paid
by Stadium to Stadium Shareholders
on the register of members of Stadium
at the Scheme Record Time
Effective
Date * the date on which the Scheme becomes effective in
accordance with its terms; or
* if the Transaction is implemented by way of a
Takeover Offer, the date on which the Takeover Offer
has been declared or become unconditional in all
respects in accordance with the Code or the date on
which a Stadium Shareholder validly accepts the
Takeover Offer, whichever is later
EU or European the European Union
Union
EUMR the EU Merger Regulation (No 139/2004)
FCA the United Kingdom Financial Conduct
Authority
Forms of either or both (as the context demands)
Proxy of the form of proxy in relation to
the Court Meeting and the form of proxy
in relation to the Stadium General
Meeting
FSMA Financial Services and Markets Act
2000 (as amended from time to time)
IAS19 International Accounting Standard 19
concerning employee benefits under
the IFRS rules set by the International
Accounting Standards Board
IFRS international accounting standards
and international financial reporting
standards and interpretations thereof,
approved or published by the International
Accounting Standards Board and adopted
by the European Union
IoT the Internet of Things
London Stock London Stock Exchange plc
Exchange
Long Stop 31 August 2018, or such later date
Date (if any) as TT and Stadium may agree,
with the consent of the Panel, and
the Court may allow
M2M machine-to-machine
Market Abuse the Market Abuse Regulation (2014/596/EU)
Regulation
N+1 Singer Nplus1 Singer Advisory LLP
Normalised for the purposes of the 2017 Stadium
Profit Before Profit Estimate and the 2018 Stadium
Tax Profit Forecast, Stadium defines "normalised
profit before tax" as profit before
tax, the costs relating to acquisitions
and disposals, business restructuring
costs, any profit/(loss) on the disposal
of businesses, items deemed to be of
an exceptional nature (where such "exceptional"
items are material non-recurring items
of income or expense that are shown
separately due to the significance
of their nature or amount, and do not
form of the underlying business of
the Stadium Group), and the impairment
of goodwill and acquired intangibles
Numis Numis Securities Ltd
Offer Document should the Transaction be implemented
by means of a Takeover Offer, the document
to be sent to Stadium Shareholders
containing the full terms and conditions
of such Takeover Offer
Offer Period the offer period (as defined in the
Code) relating to Stadium, which commenced
on 15 February 2018
Options the outstanding options to acquire
a total of 1,040,000 Stadium Shares
granted under the rules of the Stadium
Share Schemes
Options the options letter dated 15 February
Letter 2018 provided by Stadium to TT
Panel the UK Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
Remco the Remuneration Committee of Stadium
R&D research and development
Registrar the registrar of companies in England
of Companies and Wales
Restricted any jurisdiction where local laws or
Jurisdiction regulations may result in significant
risk of civil, regulatory or criminal
exposure if information concerning
the Transaction is sent or made available
to Stadium Shareholders in that jurisdiction
(in accordance with Rule 30.3 of the
Code)
Rothschild N M Rothschild & Sons Limited
Scheme the proposed scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act
2006 between Stadium and the Stadium
Shareholders to implement the Transaction
with or subject to any modification,
addition or condition approved or imposed
by the Court and agreed to by Stadium
and TT
Scheme Court the hearing of the Court to sanction
Hearing the Scheme under section 899 of the
Companies Act 2006
Scheme Court the order of the Court sanctioning
Order the Scheme under section 899 of the
Companies Act 2006
Scheme Document the document to be dispatched to (among
others) Stadium Shareholders, containing
and setting out, among other things,
the full terms and conditions of the
Scheme and including the particulars
required by section 897 of the Companies
Act 2006
Scheme Record the time and date specified as such
Time in the Scheme Document, expected to
be 6.00 p.m. on the Business Day immediately
before the Effective Date
Scheme Shareholders holders of Scheme Shares
Scheme Shares 1. the Stadium Shares in issue at the
date of the Scheme Document other than
any Stadium Shares owned by TT;
2. any Stadium Shares issued after
the date of the Scheme Document and
before the Voting Record Time; and
3. any Stadium Shares issued at or
after the Voting Record Time and before
the Scheme Record Time in respect of
which the original or subsequent holder
of such Stadium Shares is bound by
the Scheme, or shall by such time have
agreed in writing to be bound by the
Scheme
SEC US Securities and Exchange Commission
Significant in relation to an undertaking, a direct
Interest or indirect interest of 20 per cent.
or more of: (i) the total voting rights
conferred by the equity share capital
(as defined in section 548 of the Companies
Act 2006) of such undertaking; or (ii)
the relevant partnership interest
Stadium Stadium Group plc, a company incorporated
in England and Wales with registered
number 00236394
Stadium the directors of Stadium as at the
Directors date of this announcement or, where
the context so requires, the directors
of Stadium from time to time
Stadium the general meeting of Stadium Shareholders
General (including any adjournment, postponement
Meeting or reconvention of it) to be convened
for the purpose of considering, and
if thought fit, approving the shareholder
resolutions necessary to enable Stadium
to implement the Transaction, notice
of which shall be contained in the
Scheme Document
Stadium Stadium and its subsidiaries and subsidiary
Group undertakings from time to time
Stadium the Court Meeting and the Stadium General
Meetings Meeting
Stadium the holders of Stadium Shares
Shareholders
Stadium the ordinary shares of five pence each
Shares in the capital of Stadium
Stadium the Performance Share Plan 2006 and
Share Schemes the Performance Share Plan 2017
Takeover should the Transaction be implemented
Offer by way of a takeover offer as defined
in Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies
Act 2006, the offer to be made by or
on behalf of TT to acquire the entire
issued and to be issued share capital
of Stadium not already owned by TT
and, where the context permits, any
subsequent revision, variation, extension
or renewal of such takeover offer
Third Party has the meaning given in paragraph
(d) of Part 1 of Appendix 1
Transaction the proposed acquisition by TT of the
entire issued and to be issued share
capital of Stadium, to be effected
by the Scheme as described in this
announcement (or by a Takeover Offer
under certain circumstances described
in this announcement)
TT TT Electronics plc, a company incorporated
in England and Wales under registered
number 00087249
TT Directors the directors of TT as at the date
of this announcement or, where the
context so requires, the directors
of TT from time to time
TT Group TT and its subsidiaries and subsidiary
undertakings from time to time
UK or United the United Kingdom of Great Britain
Kingdom and Northern Ireland
US or United the United States of America, its territories
States and possessions, any state of the United
States and the District of Columbia
US Exchange US Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Act (as amended)
Voting Record 6.00 p.m. on the day two days before
Time the date of the Court Meeting or any
adjournment of it (as the case may
be), in each case excluding any day
that is not a Business Day
Wider Stadium Stadium and its subsidiaries, subsidiary
Group undertakings, associated undertakings
and any other body corporate, partnership,
joint venture or person in which Stadium
and all such undertakings (aggregating
their interests) have a Significant
Interest
Wider TT TT and its subsidiaries, subsidiary
Group undertakings, associated undertakings
and any other body corporate, partnership,
joint venture or person in which TT
and all such undertakings (aggregating
their interests) have a Significant
Interest
GBP, p, the lawful currency of the United Kingdom
pence, Sterling from time to time
or GBP
For the purposes of this announcement, "subsidiary", "subsidiary
undertaking", "undertaking" and "associated undertaking" have the
respective meanings given by the Companies Act 2006.
References to an enactment include references to that enactment
as amended, replaced, consolidated or re-enacted by or under any
other enactment before or after the date of this announcement.
All references to time in this announcement are to London time
unless otherwise stated.
References to the singular include the plural and vice
versa.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
OFBEALASFLEPEEF
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 15, 2018 02:01 ET (07:01 GMT)
Grafico Azioni Stadium Group (LSE:SDM)
Storico
Da Dic 2024 a Gen 2025
Grafico Azioni Stadium Group (LSE:SDM)
Storico
Da Gen 2024 a Gen 2025