THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES
OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014 (WHICH
FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC UK LAW PURSUANT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
(WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 ("UK MAR").
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND DOES
NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF ANY OFFER OR INVITATION TO SELL OR
ISSUE, OR ANY SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE
FOR, ANY SECURITIES OF THG PLC.
NOT
FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO, OR TO ANY
PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN, ANY JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS
UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE, PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AMOUNTS TO A FINANCIAL PROMOTION FOR THE
PURPOSES OF SECTION 21 OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT
2000 ("FSMA") AND HAS BEEN APPROVED BY PRIMARYBID LIMITED WHICH IS
AUTHORISED AND REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY (FRN
779021).
NOT
FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN OR
INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA OR JAPAN.
10 October 2024
THG PLC
Retail
Offer
· THG
plc announces an offer for subscription of Retail Shares (as
defined below) via PrimaryBid;
· The issue price for the Retail Shares will be determined at
the close of the bookbuilding process in respect of the Placing (as
defined below) and will be equal to the Placing Price;
· Investors can take part through PrimaryBid's extensive network
of retail brokers, wealth managers and investment platforms
(subject to such partners' participation);
· The
Retail Offer is available to both existing shareholders and new
investors;
· There
is a minimum subscription of £250 per investor in the Retail Offer;
and
· No
commission will be charged by PrimaryBid on applications to the
Retail Offer.
Retail Offer
THG plc ("THG" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a
retail offer via PrimaryBid of new ordinary shares of £0.005 each
("Ordinary Shares") in the
capital of the Company (the "Retail Offer", and such shares, the
"Retail
Shares").
As separately announced today, the
Company is conducting a non-pre-emptive placing and subscription
(the "Placing" and the
"Subscription",
respectively) of, in aggregate, up to £75
million at a price to be determined through a bookbuild process
(the "Placing Price").
Matthew Moulding and certain of the Company's long-term
shareholders, including Sofina, Mark Evans, Sir Terry Leahy, West
Coast Capital and Brian Kennedy, have indicated that they intend to
subscribe for through the Placing or the
Subscription, in aggregate, £33 million of new Ordinary Shares at
the Placing Price.
The issue price for the Retail
Shares, as well as for the shares in the Subscription, will be
equal to the Placing Price.
The Retail Offer is conditional on
the new ordinary shares issued as part of the Placing, the
Subscription and the Retail Offer being admitted to trading on the
equity shares (transition) category of the Official List of the
Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") and admitted to trading on the
main market for listed securities of London Stock Exchange plc
("Admission"). Admission is
expected to take place at 8.00 a.m. on 15 October 2024. The Retail
Offer will not be completed without the Placing also being
completed.
The
Fundraise
On 17 September 2024, the Company
announced that it was progressing options for the demerger of its
Ingenuity division from THG (the "Demerger"), with the remaining THG
group consisting of THG's Beauty and Nutrition divisions. The final
terms of the Demerger will be provided in due course; however, it
is expected that Ingenuity will be demerged into an independent
private company ("IngenuityCo"). The Placing, the
Subscription and the Retail Offer, in conjunction with appropriate
standalone debt issuance plans for IngenuityCo, is expected to
provide IngenuityCo with sufficient medium-term funding as the
business approaches positive cash generation on a standalone
basis.
Reasons for the Retail Offer
While the Placing has been
structured as a non-pre-emptive offer so as to minimise cost and
time to completion, the Company values its retail investor base and
recognises the importance of pre-emption rights in the UK listed
company environment and is therefore pleased to provide retail
investors with the opportunity to participate in the Retail
Offer.
Existing shareholders and new
investors can access the Retail Offer through PrimaryBid's
extensive partner network of investment platforms, retail brokers
and wealth managers, subject to such partners' participation. A
list of PrimaryBid's distribution partners can be found
here.
Some partners may only accept
applications from existing shareholders and/or existing
customers.
After consideration of the various
options available to it, the Company believes that the separate
Retail Offer, which will give retail investors the opportunity to
participate in the Company's equity fundraising alongside the
Placing and the Subscription, is in the best interest of
shareholders, as well as wider stakeholders in the
Company.
Details of the Retail Offer
The Retail Offer will be open to
retail investors in the United Kingdom following release of this
announcement. The Retail Offer will close at the same time as the
bookbuilding process with respect to the Placing is
completed.
There is a minimum subscription
amount of £250 per investor in the Retail Offer.
Subscriptions under the Retail Offer
will be considered by the Company with preference to be given to
the Company's existing retail investors. Aggregate demand under the
Retail Offer will be limited to a maximum of the sterling
equivalent of EUR 8 million.
The Company reserves the right to
scale back any order at its discretion. The Company and PrimaryBid
reserve the right to reject any application for subscription under
the Retail Offer without giving any reason for such
rejection.
Investors wishing to apply for the
Retail Shares should contact their investment platform, retail
broker or wealth manager for details of their terms and conditions,
process (including for using their ISA, SIPP or GIA) and any
relevant fees or charges. PrimaryBid does not charge investors any
commission for this service.
The Retail Shares, when issued, will
be fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with each
other and with the existing ordinary shares of the Company,
including, without limitation, the right to receive all dividends
and other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of
issue.
Brokers wishing to offer their
customers access to the Retail Offer and future PrimaryBid
transactions, should contact partners@primarybid.com.
Settlement for the Retail Shares and
Admission are expected to take place on or before 8.00 a.m. on 15
October 2024. The Placing is conditional on, inter alia, the
Subscription Agreements having been entered into, and there being
no breach or termination of such agreements prior to Admission
(save for any breach or termination which in the good faith opinion
of the Joint Global Coordinators is not material in the context of
the Placing or Admission), but is not conditional on the completion
of such agreements. The Placing is not conditional on the Retail
Offer.
It should be noted that a
subscription for the Retail Shares and any investment in the
Company carries a number of risks. Investors should make their own
investigations into the merits of an investment in the Company.
Nothing in this Announcement amounts to a recommendation to invest
in the Company or amounts to investment, taxation or legal advice.
Investors should take independent advice from a person experienced
in advising on investment in securities such as the Company's
ordinary shares if they are in any doubt.
Enquiries
For
further information, please contact:
This Announcement should be read in
its entirety. In particular, the information provided in the
"Important Notices" section of this Announcement should be read and
understood.
Important Notices
This
Announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of
the Company.
The Retail Offer is offered under
the exemptions from the need for a prospectus allowed under the
FCA's Prospectus Regulation Rules. As such, there is no need for
publication of a prospectus pursuant to the Prospectus Regulation
Rules, or for approval of the same by the Financial Conduct
Authority (as competent authority under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129
as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018). No prospectus will be made available in
connection with the matters contained in this
Announcement.
Persons distributing this
Announcement must satisfy themselves that is lawful to do so. This
Announcement is for information purposes only and shall not
constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an
offer to buy, subscribe for or otherwise acquire securities in any
jurisdiction in which any such offer or solicitation would be
unlawful. Any failure to comply with this restriction may
constitute a violation of the securities laws of such
jurisdictions. Persons needing advice should consult an independent
financial adviser.
The distribution of this
Announcement and the offering, placing and/or issue of the Retail
Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action
has been taken by the Company or any of its affiliates, agents,
directors, officers or employees that that would permit an offer of
the Retail Shares or possession or distribution of this
Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating
to such Retail Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that
purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this
announcement comes are required by the Company to inform themselves
about and to observe any such restrictions.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR
PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN
WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ITS
TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (COLLECTIVELY, THE "UNITED STATES"),
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN OR JERSEY OR
ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR
DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR
INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY
JURISDICTION. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE LONDON
STOCK EXCHANGE, NOR IS IT INTENDED THAT IT WILL BE SO
APPROVED.
This Announcement or any part of it
does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or
the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for,
any securities in the United States, Canada, Australia, the
Republic of South Africa, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which
the same would be unlawful. No public offering of the securities
referred to herein is being made in any such
jurisdiction.
Investors should make their own
investigations into the merits of an investment in the Company.
Nothing in this Announcement amounts to a recommendation to invest
in the Retail Offer and/or the Company or amounts to investment,
taxation or legal advice. Persons needing advice should consult a
qualified independent legal adviser, business adviser, financial
adviser or tax adviser for legal, financial, business or tax
advice. It should be noted that a subscription for new Ordinary
Shares and investment in the Company carries a number of risks.
Investors should contact their investment platform, retail broker
or wealth manager for details of any relevant risk warnings.
Investors should take independent advice from a person experienced
in advising on investment in securities such as the new Ordinary
Shares if they are in any doubt. The price of the Ordinary Shares
and any income expected from them may go down as well as up and
participants may not get back the full amount invested upon
disposal of the shares. Past performance is no guide to future
performance.
This communication is not a public
offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities
referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under
the US Securities Act 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or
under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the
United States, and may not be offered or sold directly or
indirectly in or into the United States except pursuant to an
exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the
registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance
with the securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction of
the United States. The securities referred to herein may not be
offered and sold within the United States except pursuant to an
exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the
registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Certain statements contained in this
Announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" with respect
to the financial condition, performance, strategic initiatives,
objectives, results of operations and business of the Company. All
statements other than statements of historical facts included in
this Announcement are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking
statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed
by or that include the words "targets", "plans", "believes",
"expects", "aims", "intends", "anticipates", "estimates",
"projects", "will", "may", "would", "could" or "should", or words
or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements 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; and (ii) business and management
strategies and the expansion and growth of the Company's
operations. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and
are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause
actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially
from those projected or implied in any forward-looking statements.
The important factors that could cause the Company's actual
results, performance or achievements to differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the
macroeconomic and other impacts of COVID-19, economic and business
cycles, the terms and conditions of the Company's financing
arrangements, foreign currency rate fluctuations, competition in
the Company's principal markets, acquisitions or disposals of
businesses or assets and trends in the Company's principal
industries. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. In light of
these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in
the forward-looking statements in this Announcement may not occur.
The forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement speak
only as of the date of this Announcement. The Company and its
directors each expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to
update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless
required to do so by applicable law or regulation, the Listing
Rules, UK MAR, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, the
rules of the London Stock Exchange or the FCA.
Any indication in this Announcement
of the price at which ordinary shares have been bought or sold in
the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. 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, earnings per share or
income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the
Company, as appropriate, for the current or future years would
necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings,
earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free
cash flow for the Company.
Neither the content of the Company's
website (or any other website) nor the content of any website
accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other
website) is incorporated into or forms part of this Announcement.
The Retail Shares to be issued or sold pursuant to the Retail Offer
will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than
the London Stock Exchange.