THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES TO THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION THAT
QUALIFIES OR MAY HAVE QUALIFIED AS INSIDE INFORMATION WITHIN THE
MEANING OF ARTICLE 7(1) OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU)
596/2014 as it forms part of domestic
law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended (euwa).
NOT FOR
RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON
LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ITS
TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS (INCLUDING PUERTO RICO, THE U.S. VIRGIN
ISLANDS, GUAM, AMERICAN SAMOA, WAKE ISLAND AND THE NORTHERN MARIANA
ISLANDS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA) OR TO ANY U.S. PERSON OR IN OR INTO ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE, PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE
THIS DOCUMENT
ANNINGTON FUNDING PLC
ANNOUNCES INDICATIVE RESULTS OF ITS TENDER OFFER
5 February 2024. Annington Funding
plc (the "Offeror") hereby
announces the indicative results of its invitation to Noteholders
of its outstanding £625,000,000 2.646 per cent. Notes due 12 July
2025 (ISIN: XS1645518496), issued by the Offeror and guaranteed by
Annington Limited, Annington Homes Limited and Annington Property
Limited (together, the "Guarantors" and each a "Guarantor") (the "Notes") to tender such Notes for
purchase by the Offeror for cash (the "Offer"), as further provided in the
tender offer memorandum dated 26 January 2024 (the "Tender Offer Memorandum").
The Offer was announced on 26
January 2024.
The Offer is subject to the
conditions set out in the Tender Offer Memorandum prepared in
connection with the Offer and is subject to the offer and
distribution restrictions set out therein. Capitalised terms used
in this announcement and not otherwise defined have the meanings
given to them in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
The Expiration Deadline for the
Offer was 4.00 p.m. (London time) on 2 February 2024. As at the
Expiration Deadline, £312,261,000 in aggregate principal amount of
the Notes had been validly tendered pursuant to the
Offer.
Indicative Results of the Offer
Following the Expiration Deadline,
the Offeror hereby announces that it intends to increase the
Maximum Acceptance Amount to such a level that it may purchase all
the Notes validly tendered for purchase without applying any
Scaling Factor. Therefore, the Offeror hereby announces its
non-binding intention to (subject to confirmation in its sole and
absolute discretion) set the Final Acceptance Amount at
£312,261,000, with no Scaling Factor applying.
Pricing and Settlement
Final pricing for the Offer in
respect of the Notes will take place at or around 11.00 a.m (London
time) on 5 February 2024 (the "Pricing Time"). As soon as reasonably
practicable after the Pricing Time, the Offeror will announce
whether it will accept valid tenders of Notes pursuant to the Offer
and, if so accepted (i) the Final Acceptance Amount, (ii) the
Purchase Price in respect of the Notes (including whether such
Purchase Price has been calculated using the Par Call Date or
Maturity Date), (iii) any Scaling Factor (if applicable), and (iv)
the Accrued Interest in respect of the Notes.
The Purchase Price and Accrued
Interest Payments will be paid to Noteholders whose Notes are
accepted for purchase by the Offeror on the Settlement Date, which
is expected to occur on 7 February 2024.
Further Information
A complete description of the terms
and conditions of the Offer is set out in the Tender Offer
Memorandum. Barclays Bank PLC and Goldman Sachs International are
acting as the Dealer Managers for the Offer. Kroll Issuer Services
Limited is acting as Tender Agent.
Questions and requests for
assistance in connection with the Offer may be directed
to:
THE DEALER
MANAGERS
Barclays Bank
PLC
1 Churchill Place
London E14 5HP
United
Kingdom
|
Goldman Sachs International
Plumtree
Court
25 Shoe
Lane
London
EC4A 4AU
United
Kingdom
|
Telephone: +44 20 3134 8515
Email: eu.lm@barclays.com
Attention: Liability Management Group
|
Telephone: +44 20 7774 4836
Email: liabilitymanagement.eu@gs.com
Attention: Liability Management Group
|
Questions and requests for a copy of
the Tender Offer Memorandum may be directed to:
THE TENDER
AGENT
Kroll Issuer Services
Limited
The Shard
32 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9SG
Tel: +44 207 704 0880
Attention: Owen Morris
Email:
annington@is.kroll.com
Tender Offer
Website: https://deals.is.kroll.com/annington
Each Noteholder is solely
responsible for making its own independent appraisal of all matters
as such Noteholder deems appropriate (including those relating to
the Offer, the Notes, the Offeror and the Guarantors) and each
Noteholder must make its own decision, based upon its own judgement
and having obtained advice from such financial, accounting, legal
and tax advisers as it may deem necessary, as to whether to tender
any or all of its Notes for purchase pursuant to the
Offer.
None of the Dealer Managers, the
Tender Agent or any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or affiliates assumes any responsibility for the
accuracy or completeness of the information concerning the Offer
contained in this announcement or in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
None of the Dealer Managers, the Tender Agent, the Offeror, the
Guarantors or any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or affiliates is acting for any Noteholder, or
will be responsible to any Noteholder for providing any protections
which would be afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the Offer, and accordingly none of the Dealer Managers,
the Tender Agent, the Guarantors or any of their respective
directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any
responsibility for any failure by the Offeror to disclose
information with regard to the Offeror or the Notes which is
material in the context of the Offer and which is not otherwise
publicly available.
None of the Dealer Managers, the
Tender Agent, the Offeror, the Guarantors or any of their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates
makes any representation or recommendation whatsoever regarding the
Offer, or any recommendation as to whether Noteholders should
tender Notes in the Offer.
Disclaimer
This announcement must be read in
conjunction with the Tender Offer Memorandum. This announcement and
the Tender Offer Memorandum contain important information which
should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect
to the Offer. If any Noteholder is in any doubt as to the contents
of this announcement or the Tender Offer Memorandum or the action
it should take, it is recommended to seek its own financial and
legal advice, including in respect of any tax consequences,
immediately from its stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor,
accountant or other independent financial, tax or legal
adviser.
MAR
This announcement is released by
Annington Funding plc and contains information that qualified or
may have qualified as inside information for the purposes of
Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014
as it forms part of domestic law of the United
Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA ("MAR"). For the purposes of MAR this
announcement is made by Stephen Leung, Director, on behalf of
Annington Funding plc.