FWD Forward Partners Group Plc

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12 March 2024

RECOMMENDED ALL-SHARE OFFER

FOR

FORWARD PARTNERS GROUP PLC ("FORWARD PARTNERS" OR "FORWARD")

BY

MOLTEN VENTURES PLC ("MOLTEN")

COURT SANCTION OF THE SCHEME, EXERCISE OF OPTIONS

On 27 November 2023, the boards of directors of Molten and Forward Partners announced that they had reached agreement on the terms and conditions of a recommended all-share offer pursuant to which Molten will acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Forward Partners (other than Forward Shares already beneficially owned by any member of the Molten Group) (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is being implemented by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the "Scheme"). A scheme document in relation to the Scheme was published on 21 December 2023 (the "Scheme Document").  Capitalised terms used in this announcement, unless otherwise defined, shall have the meanings given to them in the Scheme Document.

On 17 January 2024, the Scheme was approved by the Scheme Voting Shareholders at the Court Meeting and the special resolution to implement the Scheme was passed by the Forward Shareholders at the General Meeting.

Further to the announcement of 17 January 2024 in relation to the results of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting and the announcement made on 15 February 2024 in relation to the satisfaction of all of the Conditions to the Acquisition relating to change of control, Forward is pleased to announce that the High Court of Justice in England and Wales has today issued a Court Order sanctioning the Scheme under section 899 of the Companies Act pursuant to which the Acquisition is being implemented ("Court Sanction"). The Scheme will become Effective upon the delivery of a copy of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies for registration, which is expected to occur on 14 March 2024.

Exercise of Options

Forward further provides notification that an application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for a total of 231,330 ordinary shares of £0.01 each to be admitted to trading on AIM, following vesting and exercise of outstanding FY23 Options granted pursuant to the Forward LTIP, as determined by the Forward Remuneration Committee (such vesting and exercise having taken place conditional upon Court Sanction). It is expected that admission of such shares will take effect at 8.00 a.m. on 13 March 2024, following which the relevant shares will be allotted and issued in order to satisfy the FY23 Options. 

Next steps

The Scheme remains conditional on the delivery of a copy of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies, which is expected to occur on 14 March 2024 and a further announcement will be made at that time.  Forward confirms that the Scheme Record Time will be 6.00 p.m. on 13 March 2024. Scheme Shareholders whose names appear on Forward's register of members at the Scheme Record Time will, upon the Scheme becoming Effective in accordance with its terms, be entitled to receive consideration as provided for in the Scheme Document.

An application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for the suspension of dealings in Forward Shares on AIM with effect from 7.30 a.m. on 14 March 2024. The last day and time for dealings in, and for registrations of transfers of, and disablement in CREST of, Forward Shares will therefore be 13 March 2024 at 6.00 p.m., and once suspended, it is not expected that trading in Forward Shares will recommence.

It is expected that, subject to the Scheme becoming Effective on 14 March 2024, the cancellation of the admission to trading of Forward Shares on AIM will take place by 7.00 a.m. on 15 March 2024.

By 7.00 a.m. on 15 March 2024, share certificates in respect of Forward Shares will cease to be valid and entitlements to Forward Shares held within the CREST system will be cancelled.

A further announcement will be made when the Scheme has become Effective.

There has been no change to the expected timetable of principal events relating to the Scheme that was set out in the announcement by the Boards of Forward and Molten dated 15 February 2024. 

All times shown are London times. If any of the expected times and/or dates above change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified to Forward Shareholders by announcement through a Regulatory Information Service, with such announcement being made available on Forward Partners' website at www.forwardpartners.com/theoffer  and Molten's website at https://investors.moltenventures.com/investor-relations/plc.

Enquiries:

Forward Partners Group plc                                                                                                     Via Alma PR

Nic Brisbourne (Chief Executive Officer)

Liberum Capital Limited                                                                                               +44 (0)20 3100 2222

(Rule 3 Adviser, Financial Adviser, Nominated Adviser and Corporate Broker to Forward Partners)    

Chris Clarke

Mark Harrison

Lauren Kettle

Anake Singh

Alma PR                                                                                                                       +44 (0)20 3405 0205

(Financial PR Adviser to Forward Partners)

David Ison

Andy Bryant

Will Ellis Hancock

Travers Smith LLP is retained as legal adviser to Forward Partners in connection with the Acquisition.

Important notices

Liberum Capital Limited ("Liberum"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting as Rule 3 adviser, financial adviser, nominated adviser and corporate broker exclusively for Forward Partners and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and the matters set out in this Announcement. Liberum will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the Acquisition or any other matter or arrangement set out in this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Forward Partners for providing the protections afforded to clients of Liberum, nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matter or arrangement referred to in this Announcement. Neither Liberum nor any of its affiliates (nor their respective directors, officers, employees or agents) owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Liberum in connection with the Acquisition, this Announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Liberum as to the contents of this Announcement.

Overseas Shareholders

This Announcement has been prepared in accordance with, and for the purpose of complying with, the laws of England and Wales, the Takeover Code and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom. Nothing in this Announcement should be relied on for any other purpose.

The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in or into jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by the laws and/or regulations of those jurisdictions and therefore persons into whose possession this Announcement comes who are subject to the laws and/or regulations of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves about and observe any such applicable laws and/or regulations in their jurisdiction. Any failure to comply with any such 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 Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.

Unless otherwise determined by Molten or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition will not be made available, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this Announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. If the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into or by use of the mails or any other means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile, email or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities or from or within any Restricted Jurisdiction.

The Acquisition will be subject to the applicable requirements of the Companies Act, the Court, the Takeover Code, the Panel, the Listing Rules, the Irish Listing Rules, the AIM Rules, the FCA, the Central Bank of Ireland, the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Dublin.

Additional information for US investors in Forward Partners

Forward Shareholders in the United States should note that the Acquisition relates to the securities of an English company and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under, and governed by, 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 Acquisition is subject to the procedural and disclosure requirements and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement, which differ from the procedural and disclosure requirements of the United States tender offer and proxy solicitation rules. However, if, in the future, Molten exercises the right to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend the offer into the United States, the Takeover Offer will be made in compliance with applicable United States laws and regulations, to the extent any exemptions thereunder are not applicable. Such Takeover Offer would be made by Molten and no one else.

The financial information that is included in this Announcement or included in the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document), or any other documents relating to the Acquisition, has been or will have been prepared in accordance with IFRS and thus may not be comparable to the financial information of companies in the United States or other companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles.

The New Molten Shares to be issued under the Scheme have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act or under any laws or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may only be offered or sold in the United States in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and applicable US state securities laws. The New Molten Shares are expected to be issued in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act provided by Section 3(a)(10) thereof.

For the purposes of qualifying for the exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act afforded by Section 3(a)(10) thereunder, Forward Partners will advise the Court that its sanctioning of the Scheme will be relied on by Molten as an approval of the Scheme following a hearing on the fairness of the terms and conditions of the Scheme to Forward Shareholders, at which Court hearing all Forward Shareholders are entitled to attend in person or through counsel to support or oppose the sanctioning of the Scheme and with respect to which notification will be given to all such holders.

None of the securities referred to in this announcement have been approved or disapproved by the Securities Exchange Commission or any US state securities commission, nor have any such authorities passed judgment upon the fairness or the merits of the Acquisition or determined if this Announcement is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

US holders of Forward Shares should also be aware that the transaction contemplated herein may have tax consequences for US federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws and that such consequences, if any, are not described herein. US holders of Forward Shares are therefore urged to consult with independent professional advisors regarding the legal, tax and financial consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them.

It may be difficult for US holders of Forward Shares to enforce their rights and any claims arising out of US federal securities laws, since each of Molten and Forward Partners is incorporated outside the United States, and some or all of their respective officers and directors may be residents of, and some or all of their respective assets may be located in, countries other than the United States. US holders of Forward Shares may have difficulty effecting service of process within the United States upon those persons or recovering against judgments of US courts, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the US federal securities laws. US holders may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgment.

In accordance with normal practice in the UK and consistent with Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, Molten, certain affiliated companies and their nominees or brokers (acting as agents) may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares in Forward Partners outside the United States, other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date on which the Acquisition and/or Scheme becomes Effective, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be made they would occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices and comply with applicable law, including the US Exchange Act. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase will be disclosed as required in the United Kingdom, will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.

Further details in relation to US investors in Forward Partners are contained in the Scheme Document.

Forward-looking statements

This Announcement (including information incorporated by reference into this Announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by Molten or Forward Partners contain statements about Molten, Forward Partners and/or the Enlarged Molten Group that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of Molten and Forward Partners 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.

The forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement include statements relating to the expected effects of the Acquisition on Molten and Forward Partners, the expected timing and scope of the Acquisition and other statements other than historical facts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "targets", "plans", "expects", "aims", "budget", "scheduled", "continue", "estimates", "forecasts", "projects", "hopes" "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of such words or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. 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; (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of Molten's or Forward Partners' or the Enlarged Molten Group's operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; (iii) macroeconomic conditions and the prevailing environment for venture capital investing; and (iv) the effects of government regulation on Molten's or Forward Partners' or the Enlarged Molten Group's business.

Although Molten and Forward Partners believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, neither Molten nor Forward Partners can give assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future.

There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the ability to complete the Acquisition; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory and shareholder approvals and the satisfaction of other Conditions on the proposed terms; changes in the global political, economic, business and competitive environments and in market and regulatory forces; changes in future exchange and interest rates; changes in tax rates; future business combinations or disposals; changes in general economic and business conditions; changes in the behaviour of other market participants; general investor sentiment; the anticipated benefits from the Acquisition not being realised as a result of changes in general economic and market conditions in the countries in which Molten and Forward Partners operate; weak, volatile or illiquid capital and/or credit markets; changes in the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which Molten and Forward Partners operate; and changes in laws or in supervisory expectations or requirements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected in the forward-looking statements. If any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialises or if any one or more of the assumptions proves incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors. Statements of estimated cost savings and synergies related to future actions and circumstances, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies. As a result, any cost savings or synergies referred to may not be achieved, may be achieved later or sooner than estimated, or those achieved could be materially different from those estimated.

Neither Molten or Forward Partners, nor any of their respective associates or 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. Given the uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Announcement. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to Molten or Forward Partners or any of their respective members, directors, officers, employees or advisers or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. Molten and Forward Partners disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements contained in this Announcement, except as required by applicable law or regulation, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover 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 p.m. (London time) on the 10th Business Day (as defined in the Takeover Code) following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th Business Day (as defined in the Takeover Code) 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 Takeover 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(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4 of the Takeover Code).

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.

Publication of this Announcement on websites and availability of hard copies

A copy of this Announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rules 26.1 and 26.2 of the Takeover Code will be available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Forward Partners' website at www.forwardpartners.com/theoffer and Molten's website at https://investors.moltenventures.com/investor-relations/plc by no later than 12.00 p.m. on the Business Day following the date of this Announcement.

For the avoidance of doubt, neither the contents of these websites nor the contents of any websites accessible from any hyperlinks is incorporated into or forms part of this Announcement.

In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, Forward Shareholders and participants in the Forward LTIP may request a hard copy of this Announcement by contacting Forward Partners' registrar, Equiniti, between 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (except public holidays in England and Wales) on +44 (0)371384 2050 (calls to this number are charged at the standard national or international rate and will vary by provider) or by submitting a request in writing to Equiniti at Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, United Kingdom, BN99 6DA. Please note that Equiniti cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.

For persons who receive a copy of this Announcement in electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this Announcement will not be sent unless so requested. Such persons may also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent to them in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy form.

Information relating to Forward Shareholders

Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain information provided by Forward Shareholders and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Forward Partners may be provided to Molten during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover Code.