THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (AND THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN) IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION,
DISTRIBUTION OR FORWARDING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO, THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH
AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A
VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH
JURISDICTION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A
PROSPECTUS BUT AN ADVERTISEMENT AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A
PROSPECTUS EQUIVALENT DOCUMENT. IT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES
FOR SALE TO U.S. PERSONS OR IN ANY JURISDICTION, INCLUDING THE
UNITED STATES, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL TO DO SO. INVESTORS
SHOULD NOT SUBSCRIBE FOR THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO IN THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT EXCEPT ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
THE PROSPECTUS
(AS DEFINED
BELOW).
PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT
NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
13 June 2024
Great Portland Estates plc
(the "Company" or "GPE")
Successful placing of Rights
Issue Rump
Following the announcement regarding
acceptances under the Rights Issue announced by the Company on 23
May 2024, the Company confirms that BofA Securities,
Deutsche Numis and J.P. Morgan
Cazenove as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint
Bookrunners, and Santander as Co-lead Manager (together with the
Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners, the
'Underwriters') have procured subscribers for all of the 9,280,331
New Ordinary Shares not validly taken up in the Rights Issue, at a
price of 340 pence per New Ordinary Share.
The net proceeds from the placing of
such New Ordinary Shares (after the deduction of the Rights Issue
Price of 230 pence per New Ordinary Share and the expenses of
procuring subscribers including any applicable brokerage and
commissions and amounts in respect of VAT which are not
recoverable) will be paid (without interest) to those persons whose
rights have lapsed in accordance with the terms of the Rights
Issue, pro rata to the entitlements not taken up, save that no
payment will be made of amounts of less than £5.00 per
holding, which amounts will be aggregated and ultimately accrue for
the benefit of the Company.
Funds and accounts under management
by direct and indirect investment management subsidiaries of
BlackRock Inc. ("BlackRock") hold more than 10 per cent of the
issued ordinary share capital in the Company. Blackrock is
therefore a "substantial shareholder" in the Company and is
considered to be a 'related party' for the purposes of Listing
Rules. The Company notes that BlackRock has agreed to subscribe for
1,200,000 New Ordinary Shares in the placing at the placing price
for a total consideration of approximately £4.08 million. This
transaction constitutes a 'smaller' related party transaction under
Listing Rule 11.1.10 R(1).
Capitalised terms used in this
announcement have the meanings given to them in the prospectus
dated 24 May 2024 (the "Prospectus"), which is available on the
Company's website (www.gpe.co.uk/investors).
For further information, please
contact:
Enquiries
Great Portland Estates plc
|
+44 (0) 20
7647 3000
|
Toby Courtauld, Chief
Executive
|
|
Nick Sanderson, Chief Financial &
Operating Officer
|
|
Stephen Burrows, Director of Investor
Relations and Joint Director of Finance
|
|
|
BofA
Securities (Joint Global Coordinator, Joint Bookrunner, Joint
Broker and Sole Sponsor)
|
+44 (0) 20
7628 1000
|
Edward Peel
|
|
David Lloyd
|
|
Lucrezia Lazzari
Stephen Little
|
|
|
|
Deutsche Numis (Joint Global Coordinator, Joint Bookrunner and
Joint Broker)
|
+44 (0) 20
7260 1000
|
Ben Stoop
|
|
Hannah Boros
|
|
Jamie Loughborough
|
|
Jonny Abbott
|
|
|
|
J.P.
Morgan Cazenove (Joint Global Coordinator,
Joint Bookrunner and Joint Broker)
|
+44 (0) 20
7742 4000
|
Matt Smith
|
|
Paul Pulze
|
|
Jessica Murray
|
|
Saul Leisegang
|
|
|
|
Santander (Co-Lead Manager)
|
+34 91 289
00 00
|
Javier Mata
|
|
Pablo Mateo
|
|
Andre Stairmand
|
|
Mikel Palacios
|
|
|
|
Lazard (Financial Advisor)
|
+44 (0) 20
7187 2000
|
Cyrus Kapadia
Patrick Long
Simon Chambers
Caitlin Martin
|
|
|
|
FGS
Global
|
+44 (0) 20
7251 3801
|
James Murgatroyd
|
|
Gordon Simpson
|
|
LEI Number:
213800JMEDD2Q4N1MC42
IMPORTANT
NOTICES
This announcement has been issued by and is the sole
responsibility of the Company. This announcement is not a
prospectus but an advertisement and investors should not acquire
any Nil-Paid Rights, Fully Paid Rights or New Ordinary Shares
referred to in this announcement except on the basis of the
information contained in the prospectus approved by the Financial
Conduct Authority in the UK and published by the Company in
connection with the Rights Issue. The information contained in this
announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport
to be full or complete. Copies of the Prospectus are available on
the Company's website, provided that the Prospectus is not, subject
to certain exceptions, available to certain shareholders in certain
restricted or excluded territories. The Prospectus gives further
details of the Rights Issue.
Any decision to participate in the Rights Issue must be made
solely on the basis of the Prospectus published by the Company. The
information contained in this announcement is for background
purposes only and no reliance may or should be placed by any person
for any purpose whatsoever on the information contained in this
announcement or on its completeness, accuracy or fairness.
Recipients of this announcement should conduct their own
investigation, evaluation and analysis of the business, data and
property described in this announcement. This announcement does not
constitute a recommendation concerning any investor's decision or
options with respect to the Rights Issue. The information in this
announcement is subject to change.
This announcement is for information purposes only and shall
not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or the
solicitation of any offer to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise
acquire, any securities of the Company in the United States
(including its territories and possessions, any state of the United
States and the District of Columbia) (the "United States" or "US"), Canada, Japan, South Africa or
any other jurisdiction where such offer or sale would be unlawful.
The securities referred to herein (the "Securities") have not been and will not
be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"US Securities Act") or
with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other
jurisdiction of the United States or under applicable securities
laws of Canada, Japan, or South Africa, and may not be offered,
sold, taken up, exercised, resold, pledged, renounced, transferred,
distributed or delivered, directly or indirectly, into or within
the United States, except to qualified institutional buyers
("QIBs") as defined in, and
in reliance on, Rule 144A under the US Securities Act, or pursuant
to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject
to, the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and in
compliance with any applicable securities laws of any relevant
state or other jurisdiction of the United States. Subject to
certain exceptions the Securities referred to herein may not be
offered or sold in Canada, Japan, South Africa or to, or for the
account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Canada,
Japan or South Africa. There will be no public offering of the
Securities in the United States.
Neither this announcement or any other document connected with
the Rights Issue has been or will be approved or disapproved by the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission, any state
securities commission in the United States or any other US
regulatory authority, nor have any of the foregoing authorities
passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the
Securities or the accuracy or adequacy of this announcement or any
other document connected with the Rights Issue. Any representation
to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United
States.
Each of Merrill Lynch International ("BofA Securities") and J.P. Morgan
Securities plc (which conducts its UK investment banking business
as J.P. Morgan Cazenove) ("J.P.
Morgan Cazenove") is authorised in the United Kingdom by the
Prudential Regulation Authority (the "PRA") and regulated in the United
Kingdom by the PRA and the FCA. Numis Securities Limited (trading
as Deutsche Numis) ("Deutsche
Numis") is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by
the FCA. Banco Santander S.A. is authorised by the Bank of Spain
and subject to supervision by the Bank of Spain and by the European
Central Bank and to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct
Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority ("Santander", and together with BofA
Securities, J.P. Morgan Cazenove and Deutsche Numis, the
"Underwriters"). Each of
the Underwriters is acting exclusively for the Company and no one
else in connection with the Rights Issue, and will not regard any
other person (whether or not a recipient of this document) as their
respective clients in relation to the Rights Issue and will not be
responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the
protections afforded to their respective clients, nor for providing
advice, in relation to the Rights Issue, the contents of this
announcement or any other transaction, arrangement or matter
referred to in this announcement.
Lazard & Co., Limited ("Lazard"), which is authorised and
regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting exclusively
as financial adviser to the Company and no one else in connection
with the Rights Issue and will not be responsible to anyone other
than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients
of Lazard nor for providing advice in relation to the Rights Issue
or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither
Lazard 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 Lazard in connection with this
document, any statement contained herein or
otherwise.
The distribution of this announcement and any proposed
offering and/or issue of securities referred to herein in certain
jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by
the Company or any of the Underwriters that would permit an offer
of securities or possession or distribution of this announcement or
publicity material relating to securities in any jurisdiction where
action for that purpose is required, other than in the United
Kingdom. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are
required by the Company and the Underwriters to inform themselves
about and to observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply
with any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the
securities laws of such jurisdiction.
The Underwriters, in accordance with applicable legal and
regulatory provisions, may engage in transactions in relation to
the Securities and/or related instruments for their own account for
the purpose of hedging their underwriting exposure or otherwise. In
connection with the Rights Issue, the Underwriters and any of their
respective affiliates, acting as investors for their own accounts
may acquire New Ordinary Shares as a principal position and in that
capacity may retain, acquire, subscribe for, purchase, sell, offer
to sell or otherwise deal for their own accounts in such New
Ordinary Shares and other securities of the Company or related
investments in connection with the Rights Issue or otherwise.
Accordingly, references in this document to the New Ordinary Shares
being issued, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise
dealt in should be read as including any issue, offer,
subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by each of the
Underwriters and any of their respective affiliates acting as
investors for their own accounts. In addition, certain of the
Underwriters or their respective affiliates may enter into
financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for
difference) with investors in connection with which such
Underwriters (or their respective affiliates) may from time to time
acquire, hold or dispose of New Ordinary Shares. Except as required
by applicable law or regulation, the Underwriters and their
respective affiliates do not propose to make any public disclosure
in relation to such transactions.
In
the event that the Underwriters acquire New Ordinary Shares which
are not taken up by Qualifying Shareholders (as defined in the
Prospectus), the Underwriters may co-ordinate disposals of such
shares in accordance with applicable law and regulation. Except as
required by applicable law or regulation, the Underwriters and
their respective affiliates do not propose to make any public
disclosure in relation to such transactions.
Neither the contents of the Company's website nor any website
accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated
in, or forms part of, this announcement.
This announcement does not constitute a recommendation
concerning any investor's options with respect to the Rights Issue.
The price of shares and any income expected from them may go down
as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount
invested upon disposal of the shares. Past performance is no guide
to future performance. The contents of this announcement are not to
be construed as legal, business, financial or tax advice. Each
investor or prospective investor should consult his, her or its own
legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser
for legal, financial, business or tax advice.
None of the Underwriters nor any of their respective
affiliates, directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents
accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any
representation or warranty, express or implied, as to this
announcement, including the truth, accuracy, fairness, sufficiency
or completeness of the information (or whether any information has
been omitted from the announcement) or the opinions or beliefs
contained in this announcement (or any part hereof). None of the
information in this announcement has been independently verified or
approved by the Underwriters or any of their respective affiliates.
Save in the case of fraud, no liability is accepted by the
Underwriters or any of their respective affiliates for any errors,
omissions or inaccuracies in such information or opinions or for
any loss, cost or damage suffered or incurred howsoever arising,
directly or indirectly, from any use of this announcement or its
contents or otherwise in connection with this
announcement.
No
person has been authorised to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this announcement
and, if given or made, such announcements must not be relied on as
having been authorised by the Company, the Underwriters or any of
their respective affiliates. Subject to the Listing Rules, the
Prospectus Regulation Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and
Transparency Rules and MAR (each as defined in the Prospectus), the
issue of this announcement and any subsequent announcement shall
not, in any circumstances, create any implication that there has
been no change in the affairs of the Company since the date of this
announcement or that the information contained in it is correct as
at any subsequent date.
This announcement contains "forward-looking statements" which
includes all statements other than statements of historical fact,
including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's
financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of
management for future operations, or any statements preceded
by, followed by or that include the words "targets",
"believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may",
"anticipates", "would", "could" or similar expressions or negatives
thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the
Company's control that could cause the actual results, performance
or achievements of the Company to be materially different from
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements
are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's present
and future business strategies and the environment in which the
Company will operate in the future. These forward-looking
statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. None of
the Company, the Underwriters or their respective affiliates
undertakes or is under any duty to update, review or revise any forward-looking statement contained in
this announcement or to correct any inaccuracies in any such
information which may become apparent or to provide you with any
additional information as a result of new
information, future developments or otherwise, other than any
requirements that the Company may have under applicable law or the
Listing Rules, the Prospectus Regulation Rules, the Disclosure
Guidance and Transparency Rules or MAR. To the fullest extent
permissible by law, such persons disclaim all and any
responsibility or liability, whether arising in tort, contract or
otherwise, which they might otherwise have in respect of this
announcement. The information in this announcement is subject to
change without notice.
Information to
Distributors
Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements
of Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product
Governance Sourcebook (the "UK
MiFIR Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all
and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise,
which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK MiFIR Product
Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto,
the New Ordinary Shares have been subject to a product approval
process, which has determined that such securities are: (i)
compatible with an end target market of retail investors and
investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and
eligible counterparties, as respectively defined in paragraphs 3.5
and 3.6 of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; and
(ii) eligible for distribution through all permitted distribution
channels (the "Target Market
Assessment").
Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors
(such term to have the same meaning as in the UK MiFIR Product
Governance Requirements) should note that: the price of the New
Ordinary Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of
their investment and the New Ordinary Shares offer no guaranteed
income and no capital protection; and an investment in the New
Ordinary Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a
guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in
conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are
capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment
and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses
that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without
prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or
regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the sale of the New
Ordinary Shares. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the
Target Market Assessment, the Underwriters will only procure
investors (in connection with the Rights Issue) who meet the
criteria of professional clients and eligible
counterparties.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does
not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness
for the purposes of Chapters 9A or 10A respectively of the FCA
Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; or (b) a recommendation to
any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or
take any other action whatsoever with respect to the New Ordinary
Shares.
Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own Target
Market Assessment in respect of the New Ordinary Shares and
determining appropriate distribution channels.