TIDMHYC TIDMTTM
RNS Number : 6198O
Nippon Koei UK Topco Limited
08 August 2014
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF
THAT JURISDICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8 August 2014
RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER
FOR HYDER CONSULTING PLC
by
NIPPON KOEI UK TOPCO LIMITED
a wholly-owned subsidiary of
NIPPON KOEI CO., LTD
to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
Summary
-- The boards of Nippon Koei Co., Ltd ("Nippon Koei") and Hyder
Consulting PLC ("Hyder") are pleased to announce they have reached
agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer, to be made by
Nippon Koei UK Topco Limited ("Bidco"), a wholly--owned subsidiary
of Nippon Koei, for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary
share capital of Hyder. The Offer is intended to be effected by
means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of
the 2006 Act.
-- Under the terms of the Offer, Hyder Shareholders will be entitled to receive:
680 pence in cash for each Hyder Share
-- The Offer values the entire issued and to be issued ordinary
share capital of Hyder at approximately GBP268.1 million.
-- The Offer represents a premium of:
- approximately 44.9 per cent. to the Closing Price of 469 pence
per Hyder Share on 30 July 2014 (being the latest practicable date
prior to the commencement of the Offer Period);
- approximately 46.7 per cent. to the Volume Weighted Average
Price per Hyder Share of 464 pence during the 3 month period to 30
July 2014 (being the latest practicable date prior to the
commencement of the Offer Period);
- approximately 5.4 per cent. to the Closing Price of 645 pence
per Hyder Share on 7 August 2014 (being the latest practicable date
prior to the date of this announcement); and
- approximately 4.6 per cent. to the 650 pence per Hyder Share
offer announced by ARCADIS UK Investments B.V. on 31 July 2014;
- an Enterprise Value to EBITDA multiple of 11.7 times Hyder's
2014 EBITDA of GBP23.6 million.
-- The Hyder Directors, who have been so advised by Investec,
consider the terms of the Offer to be fair and reasonable. In
providing advice to the Hyder Directors, Investec has taken into
account the commercial assessments of the Hyder Directors.
Accordingly, the Hyder Directors intend unanimously to recommend
that Hyder Shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions relating
to the Offer at the Shareholder Meetings (or, in the event that the
Offer is implemented as a Takeover Offer, that Hyder Shareholders
accept the Offer). As a result, the Hyder Directors no longer
intend to recommend that Hyder Shareholders vote in favour of or
accept the ARCADIS Offer.
-- Bidco, a company incorporated under the laws of England, is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Nippon Koei. Established in 1946, Nippon
Koei is a market leading engineering consultant in Japan, serving a
wide range of sectors including energy, water, transportation,
urban development and environment across operations in Japan, Asia,
Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Nippon Koei is listed on
the Tokyo Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of
approximately Yen44,975 million (approximately GBP261.7 million) as
at 7 August 2014. For the year ended 31 March 2013, Nippon Koei
generated revenues of Yen72,412 million (approximately GBP421.4
million) and EBITDA of Yen5,842 million (approximately GBP34.0
million).
-- The board of Nippon Koei has a strategic vision to become a
top tier global engineering consultancy. It believes that a
combination of Nippon Koei's business with that of Hyder represents
the opportunity to accelerate significantly this intent by forming
a group with a breadth of technical capabilities across a range of
complementary geographies.
-- Nippon Koei anticipates that Hyder will continue to operate
as a standalone division of the combined business within an
operating structure designed to exploit the growth opportunities
for both businesses. As such, the Offer is not predicated upon cost
synergies.
-- The cash consideration payable under the Offer to Hyder
Shareholders will be financed by a new acquisition facility
provided by The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
Commenting on the Offer, Noriaki Hirose, President of Nippon
Koei, said:
"This merger represents a truly transformational step for Nippon
Koei, fulfilling founder Yutaka Kubota's long term strategic vision
of broadening the client base and geographic footprint of Nippon
Koei, whilst continuing to focus on our core sectors of
transportation, utilities and property. Both Nippon Koei and Hyder
operate in the same part of the design and engineering consulting
value chain. In short, our Chairman (Yoshihiko Tsonoda) and I could
not envisage a better business for us to merge with.
I regret that the confidential nature of our interest has meant
that we have not yet had the opportunity to meet many of the
employees of Hyder and begin planning our combined journey
together. We recognise the value of collaboration and so I look
forward to addressing this as soon as possible. A key element of
our due diligence has been understanding the depth of Hyder's
engineering capability and the skills of its people, and we have
been most impressed with what we have learned.
Like Hyder, Nippon Koei is a longstanding company with a rich
heritage in engineering. We are conservatively run, with the same
focus on clients and quality. We rarely make acquisitions but,
having studied Hyder carefully, we are clear how important and
strategic this merger is for us.
Given the success of both organisations, we intend to make
minimal changes to the existing operating structures of either
organisation and are excited about the prospect of capturing cross
selling and other revenue generating opportunities as a combined
business."
Commenting on the Offer, Ivor Catto, Chief Executive of Hyder,
said:
"The cash offer from Nippon Koei announced today represents a 30
pence premium to ARCADIS' offer announced on 31 July 2014 and
accordingly the Hyder Board is now recommending the cash offer from
Nippon Koei. The Hyder Board considers that Nippon Koei's cash
offer substantially recognises Hyder's growth prospects, and
provides certainty, in cash, to our shareholders today. The merged
group should also provide further opportunities for our highly
valued employees and clients."
This summary should be read in conjunction with, and is subject
to, the full text of this announcement and the Appendices. The
Offer will be subject to the conditions and certain further terms
set out in Appendix 1 and to the full terms and conditions to be
set out in the Scheme Document. The bases and sources for certain
information contained in this announcement are set out in Appendix
2. Certain definitions and terms used in this announcement are set
out in Appendix 3.
Enquiries:
Nippon Koei Co., Ltd Hyder Consulting PLC
Tel: +44 (0)207 466 5057 Tel: +44 (0)203 014 9000
Ivor Catto, Chief Executive
Russell Down, Group Finance Director
Akira Mizukoshi, Director, Managing Executive Officer,
Director General of Business Planning
& Development Administration
Tatsuhiko Yasukochi, Deputy Director General of Business
Planning & Development Administration
with Executive Officer Status
Investec Bank plc (financial adviser and Rule 3 adviser
to Hyder)
Tel: +44 (0)207 597 4000
Christopher Baird
James Ireland
Josh Levy
KPMG LLP (financial adviser to Nippon Koei) Numis Securities Limited (broker to Hyder) Tel: +44
Tel: +44 (0)207 311 1000 (0)207 260 1000
Andy Hales David Poutney
Christian Mayo James Serjeant
Khush Purewal Stuart Skinner
Helen Roxburgh
Buchanan (PR adviser to Nippon Koei) Citigate Dewe Rogerson (PR adviser to Hyder)
Tel: +44 (0)207 466 5057 Tel: +44 (0)207 282 2945
Richard Darby Tom Baldock
Charles Ryland Ginny Pulbrook
Helen Chan
Further information
KPMG LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the United
Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority for investment business
activities, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Nippon
Koei and Bidco and no one else in connection with the matters set
out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone
other than Nippon Koei and Bidco for providing the protections
afforded to clients of KPMG LLP or for providing advice in relation
to the matters referred to in this announcement. Neither KPMG LLP
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 KPMG LLP in connection with any matters referred to
in this announcement or otherwise.
Investec Bank plc, which is authorised in the United Kingdom by
the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial
Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, is
acting as financial adviser to Hyder and no-one else in connection
with the subject matter of this announcement and will not be
responsible to anyone other than Hyder for providing the
protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
connection with the subject matter of this announcement.
Numis Securities Limited, which is authorised and regulated in
the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as
broker to Hyder and no-one else in connection with the subject
matter of this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone
other than Hyder for providing the protections afforded to its
clients or for providing broking advice in connection with the
subject matter of this announcement.
This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute
or form part of any offer or invitation 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 Offer or otherwise. The Offer will be
made solely through the Scheme Document, which will contain the
full terms and conditions of the Offer, including details of how to
vote in respect of the Scheme. Any acceptance or other response to
the Offer should be made only on the basis of the information in
the Scheme Document.
Hyder will prepare the Scheme Document to be distributed to
Hyder Shareholders. Hyder, Nippon Koei and Bidco urge Hyder
Shareholders to read the Scheme Document when it becomes available
because it will contain important information relating to the
Offer. It is expected that the Scheme Document (including notices
of the Shareholder Meetings) together with the relevant Forms of
Proxy, will be posted to Hyder Shareholders as soon as is
reasonably practicable and in any event within 28 days of this
announcement, unless otherwise agreed with the Panel.
Overseas Shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement or
availability of the Offer in jurisdictions other than the United
Kingdom may be restricted by law. Persons who are not resident in
the United Kingdom or who are subject to the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should therefore inform
themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements. In
particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the
United Kingdom to vote their Hyder Shares with respect to the
Scheme at the Court Meeting, or to execute and deliver Forms of
Proxy appointing another to vote at the Court Meeting on their
behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in
which they are located. Any failure to comply with the restrictions
may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction.
This announcement has been prepared for the purposes of
complying with the laws of England and Wales and the Takeover Code
and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which
would have been disclosed if this document had been prepared in
accordance with the laws of any jurisdiction outside the United
Kingdom.
The Offer relates to shares of an English public limited company
and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement
under the laws of England and Wales. Accordingly, the Scheme is
subject to the disclosure requirements, rules and practices
applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement, which
differ from the requirements of tender offer rules or the laws of
other jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom.
However, if Bidco elects to implement the Offer by means of a
Takeover Offer, such Takeover Offer will be made in compliance with
all applicable laws and regulations to the extent applicable.
Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Takeover
Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Offer
will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or
from a Restricted Jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of
the Offer by any such use, means, instrumentality or from within a
Restricted Jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement
and all documents relating to the Offer are not being, and must not
be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded,
distributed or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction,
and persons receiving this announcement or any documents relating
to the Offer (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not
mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in, into or from
any such jurisdictions. If the Offer is implemented by way of a
Takeover Offer, the Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by
applicable law and regulation) will and may not be made, directly
or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of the mails, or by any
means of instrumentality (including, without limitation,
telephonically or electronically) of interstate or foreign commerce
of, or any facilities of a national, state or other securities
exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction, and the Takeover Offer
will not be capable of acceptance from or within any Restricted
Jurisdiction or by any such use, means, instrumentality or
facilities.
Notice to US investors in Hyder
The Offer relates to the shares of an English public limited
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 Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Accordingly, the Offer 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, Bidco exercises the right to implement
the Offer by way of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend the
Offer into the United States, the Offer will be made in compliance
with applicable United States laws and regulations. Financial
information included in this announcement and which may be included
in the Scheme Document (or Takeover Offer Document, as the case may
be) has been or will have been prepared in accordance with
accounting standards applicable in territories outside the United
States 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 Hyder Shares to enforce
their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal laws,
since Nippon Koei, Bidco and Hyder are each 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 Hyder 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.
Forward looking statements
This announcement, including information included or
incorporated by reference in this announcement, may contain certain
"forward looking statements" regarding the financial position,
business strategy or plans for future operations of the Wider
Nippon Koei Group and the Wider Hyder Group. All statements other
than statements of historical fact included in any document may be
forward looking statements. Forward looking statements also often
use words such as "believe", "expect", "estimate", "intend",
"anticipate" and words of a similar meaning. By their nature,
forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by
them. Much of the risk and uncertainty relates to factors that are
beyond the companies' abilities to control or estimate precisely,
such as future market conditions and the behaviours of other market
participants, and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on
such statements which speak only as at the date of this
announcement. Neither the Wider Nippon Koei Group nor the Wider
Hyder Group assume any obligation to, and do not intend to, revise
or update these forward looking statements, except as required
pursuant to applicable law.
No profit forecasts or estimates
Nothing in this announcement is intended, or is to be construed,
as a profit forecast or to be interpreted to mean that earnings per
Nippon Koei share or Hyder Share for the current or future
financial years, or those of the combined group, will necessarily
match or exceed the historical published earnings per Nippon Koei
share or Hyder Share.
Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is
interested in 1% 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 Takeover Code, any person who is, or
becomes, interested in 1% 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.
Publication of this announcement and availability of hard
copies
This announcement and the documents required to be published
pursuant to Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code will be available free
of charge, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons
resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Nippon Koei's and Hyder's
website at
http://www.n-koei.co.jp/english/news/2014/august-1.html(English
language) and
http://www.n-koei.co.jp/news/2014/140808.html(Japanese language)
and www.hyderconsulting.com, respectively, by no later than 12 noon
on 11 August 2014. Nippon Koei will also make a separate formal
announcement of the Offer in Tokyo, shortly following the
publication of this announcement, which will also be made available
on Nippon Koei's website. The contents of Nippon Koei's and Hyder's
websites are not incorporated into and do not form part of this
announcement.
Any person who is required to be sent this announcement under
the Takeover Code may request a hard copy of this announcement (and
any information incorporated by reference in this announcement) by
writing to Capita Registrars of The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road,
Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU or by calling 0871 664 0300 (or, if calling
from outside the UK, on +44 20 8638 3399). Calls cost 10 pence per
minute plus network extras, lines are open 9.00 a.m. - 5.30 p.m.
Monday to Friday. It is important that you note that unless you
make such a request, a hard copy of this announcement and any such
information incorporated by reference in it will not be sent to
you. You may also request that all future documents, announcements
and information to be sent to you in relation to the Offer should
be in hard copy form.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF
THAT JURISDICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8 August 2014
RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER
FOR HYDER CONSULTING PLC
by
NIPPON KOEI UK TOPCO LIMITED
a wholly-owned subsidiary of
NIPPON KOEI CO., LTD
to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
1. Introduction
The boards of Nippon Koei Co., Ltd ("Nippon Koei") and Hyder
Consulting PLC ("Hyder") are pleased to announce they have reached
agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer, to be made by
Nippon Koei UK Topco Limited ("Bidco"), a wholly owned subsidiary
of Nippon Koei, for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary
share capital of Hyder. The Offer is intended to be effected by
means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of
the 2006 Act.
2. The Offer
The Offer, which will be on the terms and subject to the
conditions set out below and in Appendix 1, and to be set out in
the Scheme Document, will be made on the following basis:
for each Hyder ordinary share 680 pence in cash
The Offer values the entire issued and to be issued ordinary
share capital of Hyder at approximately GBP268.1 million.
The Offer represents a premium of:
-- approximately 44.9 per cent. to the Closing Price of 469
pence per Hyder Share on 30 July 2014 (being the latest practicable
date prior to the commencement of the Offer Period);
-- approximately 46.7 per cent. to the Volume Weighted Average
Price per Hyder Share of 464 pence during the 3 month period to 30
July 2014 (being the latest practicable date prior to the
commencement of the Offer Period);
-- approximately 5.4 per cent. to the Closing Price of 645 pence
per Hyder Share on 7 August 2014 (being the latest practicable date
prior to the date of this announcement); and
-- approximately 4.6 per cent. to the 650 pence per Hyder Share
offer announced by ARCADIS UK Investments B.V. on 31 July 2014;
-- an Enterprise Value to EBITDA multiple of 11.7 times Hyder's
2014 EBITDA of GBP23.6 million.
Hyder Shareholders on the register of members of Hyder at 11
July 2014 will also remain entitled to receive and retain the Hyder
Final Dividend of 8.5 pence per Hyder Share, which is expected to
be paid on or around the date of this announcement. Save for the
Hyder Final Dividend, no further dividend or other distribution
will be recommended, proposed, declared, made, paid or is payable
by Hyder before the earlier of the Scheme becoming effective,
lapsing, terminating or being withdrawn.
3. Background to and reasons for the Offer
The board of Nippon Koei has a strategic vision to become a top
tier global engineering consultancy. It believes a combination of
Nippon Koei's business with that of Hyder represents the
opportunity to accelerate significantly this intent by forming a
group with a breadth of technical capabilities across a range of
complementary geographies. The proposed merger of Nippon Koei and
Hyder, to be achieved through the Offer, would create significant
opportunities for enhancing the growth of the combined
business.
Both Hyder and Nippon Koei have deep-seated technical
engineering and design skills and strong existing client
relationships from which Nippon Koei anticipates being able to
generate significant revenue synergies. Hyder has established a
successful model of utilising its design excellence centres in the
Philippines and India to deliver projects globally and Nippon Koei
believes this expertise can be further leveraged to capitalise on
existing opportunities with its clients. Nippon Koei has developed
a number of proprietary engineering technologies through its
R&D centre in Japan, which it believes will be of benefit to
Hyder in its existing markets.
The board of Nippon Koei believes that there is a strong
alignment between the sectors where Hyder has particular strength
and in which Nippon Koei has chosen to focus its growth strategy.
Hyder's expertise in transport, utilities and property will enable
Nippon Koei to capitalise on significant opportunities arising from
its existing customer relationships driven by increasing urban
development in emerging markets.
Nippon Koei has a strong track record for delivering Japanese
Government ODA funded projects in emerging markets, particularly in
Asia. The board of Nippon Koei believes a combination with Hyder
will enable Nippon Koei to diversify from this traditional revenue
source into non-ODA funded projects in these regions, utilising
Hyder's strong track record in such projects and Nippon Koei's
relationships in these markets.
4. Management, employees and locations
Nippon Koei anticipates that Hyder will continue to operate as a
standalone division of the combined business within an operating
structure designed to exploit the growth opportunities for both
businesses. As such, the Offer is not predicated upon cost
synergies.
The board of Nippon Koei does not currently anticipate any
restructuring of the operations of Hyder, any employee
redundancies, the closure of any locations of Hyder's places of
business or any redeployment of Hyder's fixed assets.
The board of Nippon Koei believes that the combination of the
two businesses will create opportunities for the employees of both
businesses, who will benefit from an increasing and diverse project
workload of the combined business, sharing of technologies between
businesses and enhanced overseas opportunities.
Nippon Koei is fully supportive of the existing senior
management team of Hyder and recognises their success in creating a
multi-national design and engineering consultancy renowned for
working on some of the world's most iconic buildings and
structures. Nippon Koei considers the Hyder management team to be
important in achieving its aspirations for the future of the
combined business.
Nippon Koei has given assurances to the Hyder Directors that the
existing employment rights of all Hyder Group employees will be
fully safeguarded following the Scheme becoming effective in
accordance with contractual and statutory requirements and that
Nippon Koei intends, following completion of the transaction, to
comply with all pensions obligations in respect of Hyder Group
employees and members of the Acer Group Pension Scheme.
5. Recommendation
The Hyder Directors, who have been so advised by Investec
consider the terms of the Offer to be fair and reasonable. In
providing advice to the Hyder Directors, Investec has taken into
account the commercial assessments of the Hyder Directors.
Accordingly, the Hyder Directors intend unanimously to recommend
that Hyder Shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions relating
to the Offer at the Shareholder Meetings (or, in the event that the
Offer is implemented as a Takeover Offer, to accept the Offer).
As a result, the Hyder Directors no longer intend to recommend
Hyder Shareholders to vote in favour of or accept the ARCADIS
Offer.
6. Background to and reasons for the recommendation
Hyder is one of the world's longest established engineering
consultancies, with a heritage that spans over two centuries. Hyder
has been involved with many landmark designs across the globe
including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Cairo wastewater scheme
and London's Tower Bridge. In recent years Hyder designed the
world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, Australia's Go Between
Bridge, Qatar's Capital Market Tower, Frankfurt Airport's new
runway and Taiwan's high speed rail network and is currently
undertaking the design upgrade of London Bridge Station. Hyder
listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2002.
Ivor Catto was appointed as Chief Executive of Hyder in December
2008 and has led the transformation and execution of the group's
strategy. This has been to offer core services to key clients;
operating in geographies where market dynamics, Hyder's long
established track record, and Hyder's professional expertise
differentiates it from its competitors. The current senior
management team, led by Ivor Catto and Russell Down, have
implemented common business systems throughout the Hyder Group and
initiated and then rapidly expanded the global design excellence
centres to support Hyder's client facing operations. These centres
now account for almost 20 per cent. of Hyder's headcount.
Hyder's results for the year ended 31 March 2014 were affected
by delays in new contract awards in Australia due to the federal
elections and a poor year in Germany. As a result, it was the first
time since 2005 that Hyder did not increase its group adjusted
operating profit. Although the results for the year ended 31 March
2014 were below original expectations, trading in the UK and the
Middle East was strong, Hyder has good bidding opportunities in
Australia and the year-end order book was GBP440 million, the
highest to date. Overall, Hyder has a strong technical skill base
and a diversified business while the flexibility offered by its
global design excellence centres allows it to mobilise resources
quickly in areas of growing demand.
The Hyder Board previously announced on 31 July 2014 that it had
recently received an unsolicited approach from ARCADIS and that,
after a period of negotiation between ARCADIS and Hyder, agreement
had been reached on a 650 pence per Hyder Share cash offer price as
being capable of recommendation by the Hyder Board.
The Hyder Board also received in recent weeks a separate and
also unsolicited approach from Nippon Koei. Having provided Nippon
Koei with similar access to information on Hyder as was provided to
ARCADIS, Nippon Koei has made an offer of 680 pence per share in
cash. The cash offer from Nippon Koei announced today represents a
30 pence premium to ARCADIS' cash offer announced on 31 July 2014
and accordingly the Hyder Board is now recommending the cash offer
from Nippon Koei. The Hyder Board considers that Nippon Koei's cash
offer substantially recognises Hyder's growth prospects, and
provides certainty, in cash, to the Hyder Shareholders today. The
merged group should also provide further opportunities for Hyder's
highly valued employees and clients.
7. Financing of the Offer
The cash consideration payable under the Offer to Hyder
Shareholders will be financed by a new acquisition facility
provided by The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
Under the terms of the facility agreement, Nippon Koei has
agreed that it shall not waive or cause to be waived, amend, vary,
accept or declare or treat as satisfied in whole or in part, or
decide not to enforce, any term or condition of the Offer, to the
extent it is not actually satisfied or has not been complied with
and to the extent that such action would be materially prejudicial
to the interests of the lender, other than as required by the Panel
and (if relevant) the Court.
As soon as reasonably practicable following completion of the
Offer, Nippon Koei intends to refinance this acquisition facility
by way of a term loan and to significantly reduce the net level of
debt of the combined business by utilising proceeds from the sale
of a proportion of Nippon Koei's significant property and
securities investments. Further information on the financing of the
Offer will be set out in the Scheme Document.
KPMG, financial adviser to Nippon Koei and Bidco, is satisfied
that sufficient resources are available to Bidco to satisfy in full
the cash consideration payable to Hyder Shareholders under the
terms of the Offer.
8. Information relating to Nippon Koei
Established in 1946, Nippon Koei is a market leading engineering
consultant in Japan. It provides its clients with high quality,
multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy services throughout the
entire project life cycle utilising its industry leading
engineering technology and resource of experienced engineers.
Nippon Koei is a well diversified consulting firm serving a wide
range of sectors including energy, water, transportation, urban
development and environment across operations in Japan, Asia,
Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
Nippon Koei has an excellent track record of profitable growth,
underpinned by its long standing and strong client relationships.
Its clients are public sector organisations and large private
sector infrastructure/utility companies in Japan. Nippon Koei is
listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of
approximately Yen44,975 million (approximately GBP261.7 million) as
at 7 August 2014.
For the year ended 31 March 2013, Nippon Koei generated revenues
of Yen72,412 million (approximately GBP421.4 million) and EBITDA of
Yen5,842 million (approximately GBP34.0 million).
9. Information relating to Bidco
Bidco is a company newly incorporated in England and Wales and
formed by Nippon Koei for the purpose of making the Offer. Bidco
has not traded since incorporation, nor has it entered into any
obligations, other than in connection with the Offer and financing
of the Offer.
The current directors of Bidco are Noriaki Hirose and Ryuichi
Arimoto, who are each current directors of Nippon Koei.
10. Information relating to Hyder
Hyder is one of the world's longest established engineering
consultancies, with a heritage that spans over two centuries.
Headquartered in the UK, Hyder operates in Asia, Australia, the
Middle East, Germany and the United Kingdom. Hyder employs
approximately 4,500 people and applies global expertise coupled
with local knowledge to create award winning solutions for the
transport, property, utilities and environment sectors. Hyder has
been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2002.
Hyder reported revenue and EBITDA for the year ended 31 March
2014 of GBP296.8 million and GBP23.6 million respectively.
11. Offer-related arrangements
Nippon Koei and Hyder have entered into a confidentiality
agreement dated 18 July 2014 pursuant to which Nippon Koei has
undertaken to keep confidential information relating to Hyder and
not to disclose it to third parties (other than to permitted
disclosees) unless required by law or regulation. The
confidentiality agreement also contains provisions pursuant to
which Nippon Koei has agreed not to solicit certain senior
managerial or technical employees of Hyder, subject to customary
carve-outs, prior to 18 July 2015. The confidentiality agreement's
standstill provisions have now ceased to apply.
Nippon Koei, Bidco and Hyder have also entered into a bid
conduct agreement dated 8 August 2014 pursuant to which Nippon
Koei, Bidco and Hyder have agreed: (i) certain matters relating to
the treatment of the Hyder Share Incentive Plans and the scope of
the proposal to be made by Bidco to participants in such schemes;
and (ii) certain provisions relating to the Offer if it proceeds by
way of a Takeover Offer.
12. Opening Position Disclosure
Since neither Nippon Koei nor Bidco has any interest in relevant
securities in Hyder, no Opening Position Disclosure has been made
under Rule 8.1(a) of the Takeover Code.
In order to maintain secrecy, it has not been practicable in
advance of releasing this announcement for Bidco to make enquiries
of all of the parties deemed to be acting in concert with Bidco for
the purposes of the Offer. Bidco confirms that a further disclosure
in accordance with Rule 8.1(a) and Note 2(a)(i) on Rule 8 of the
Takeover Code will be made as soon as possible, if required.
13. Hyder Share Incentive Plans
The Offer will extend to any Hyder Shares unconditionally
allotted or issued under the Hyder Share Incentive Plans on or
before the Reduction Record Time. Details of the proposals to be
made to participants in the Hyder Share Incentive Plans will be
provided in due course.
The Hyder Directors have confirmed that a maximum of 503,764 new
Hyder Shares will be allotted and issued to satisfy options that
are exercised under the Hyder Share Incentive Plans on or before
the Long Stop Date. This figure has been calculated on the
assumption that all options that are currently exercisable and all
unvested options which become exercisable on completion of the
Offer will be exercised. The rules of the LTIP will determine the
proportion of options granted under the LTIP that may become
exercisable on completion of the Offer, including the rule which
provides for a reduction, on a time pro rata basis, of the number
of awards that can vest under each unvested option.
14. Management incentivisation arrangements
Nippon Koei intends to put in place appropriate incentivisation
arrangements for the current management of Hyder following
completion of the Offer. Discussions have not taken place to date
between Hyder and Nippon Koei in relation to such arrangements, no
agreements or arrangements have been entered into, and there will
be no further discussions in relation to any such agreements or
arrangements for the remainder of the Offer Period.
15. Scheme process
It is currently envisaged that the Offer will be implemented by
way of a court sanctioned scheme of arrangement of Hyder (although
Bidco reserves the right to effect the Offer by way of a Takeover
Offer).
The scheme of arrangement will involve an application by Bidco
to the Court to sanction the Scheme and confirm the cancellation of
the Scheme Shares in consideration for which Scheme Shareholders
will receive cash. To become effective, the Scheme requires, among
other things, the approval of a majority in number of the relevant
Scheme Shareholders present and voting in person or by proxy,
representing not less than 75 per cent. in value of the Scheme
Shares that are voted, at the Court Meeting, which is convened by
order of the Court, and the passing of the resolutions necessary to
implement the Offer at the General Meeting. The Scheme must also be
sanctioned by the Court and the associated Capital Reduction must
be confirmed by the Court.
The Scheme will lapse if:
-- the Scheme is not duly approved by Scheme Shareholders (or
the relevant class or classes thereof, if applicable) 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 Bidco and Hyder may agree and the Court may allow);
-- all resolutions necessary to approve and implement the Scheme
and the Capital Reduction have not been duly passed at the General
Meeting or at any adjournment of that meeting on or before the 22nd
day after the expected date of the General Meeting to be set out in
the Scheme Document in due course (or such later date, if any, as
Bidco and Hyder may agree and the Court may allow);
-- the Scheme has not been sanctioned (with or without
modification acceptable to Bidco and Hyder), and the Capital
Reduction has not been confirmed, 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 Bidco and Hyder may agree and the Court may allow);
or
-- the Scheme does not become effective by the Long Stop Date.
Once the necessary approvals from Scheme Shareholders have been
obtained and the other conditions have been satisfied or (where
applicable) waived and the Scheme and associated Capital Reduction
have been approved by the Court, the Scheme will become effective
upon delivery (and, if ordered by the Court, registration) of the
Court Orders and requisite statement of capital to the Registrar of
Companies.
Upon the Scheme becoming effective, it will be binding on all
Hyder Shareholders, irrespective of whether or not they attended or
voted at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting (and, if they
attended and voted, whether or not they voted in favour) and the
cash consideration will be despatched by or on behalf of Bidco to
Scheme Shareholders no later than 14 days after the Effective
Date.
It is expected that the Scheme Document will be published as
soon as reasonably practicable. The Scheme Document will include an
expected timetable of principal events and will specify the action
to be taken by Scheme Shareholders.
16. Delisting and cancellation of trading
It is intended that the London Stock Exchange and the FCA will
be requested respectively to cancel trading in Hyder Shares on the
London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities and the
listing of the Hyder Shares from the Official List on the Effective
Date. It is intended that Hyder be re-registered as a private
limited company on or as soon as possible after the Effective
Date.
If the Offer is effected by way of a Takeover Offer and such
Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional in all respects
and sufficient acceptances are received in respect of such Takeover
Offer, Bidco intends to: (i) procure the making of an application
to the UKLA to cancel listing of the Hyder Shares on the Official
List and to the London Stock Exchange for cancelling of trading of
Hyder Shares on its main market for listed securities; and (ii)
exercise its rights (to the extent such rights are available) to
apply the provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the 2006 Act to
acquire compulsorily the remaining Hyder Shares in respect of which
such Takeover Offer has not been accepted.
17. Documents
Copies of the following documents will be available on Nippon
Koei's website at
http://www.n-koei.co.jp/english/news/2014/august-1.html (English
language) and http://www.n-koei.co.jp/news/2014/140808.html
(Japanese language) and Hyder's website at www.hyderconsulting.com
respectively by no later than noon on 11 August 2014 until the end
of the Offer Period:
(a) the acquisition facility agreement referred to in paragraph 7;
(b) the confidentiality agreement referred to in paragraph 11;
(c) the bid conduct agreement referred to in paragraph 11; and
(d) a copy of this announcement.
18. General
The Offer will be subject to the conditions and certain further
terms set out in Appendix 1 and to the full terms and conditions to
be set out in the Scheme Document.
Enquiries:
Nippon Koei Co., Ltd Hyder Consulting PLC
Tel: +44 (0)207 466 5057 Tel: +44 (0)203 014 9000
Ivor Catto, Chief Executive
Russell Down, Group Finance Director
Akira Mizukoshi, Director, Managing Executive Officer,
Director General of Business Planning
& Development Administration
Tatsuhiko Yasukochi, Deputy Director General of Business
Planning & Development Administration
with Executive Officer Status
Investec Bank plc (financial adviser and Rule 3 adviser
to Hyder)
Tel: +44 (0)207 597 4000
Christopher Baird
James Ireland
Josh Levy
KPMG LLP (financial adviser to Nippon Koei) Numis Securities Limited (broker to Hyder) Tel: +44
Tel: +44 (0)207 311 1000 (0)207 260 1000
Andy Hales David Poutney
Christian Mayo James Serjeant
Khush Purewal Stuart Skinner
Helen Roxburgh
Buchanan (PR adviser to Nippon Koei) Citigate Dewe Rogerson (PR adviser to Hyder)
Tel: +44 (0)207 466 5057 Tel: +44 (0)207 282 2945
Richard Darby Tom Baldock
Charles Ryland Ginny Pulbrook
Helen Chan
Further information
KPMG LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the United
Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority for investment business
activities, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Nippon
Koei and Bidco and no one else in connection with the matters set
out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone
other than Nippon Koei and Bidco for providing the protections
afforded to clients of KPMG LLP or for providing advice in relation
to the matters referred to in this announcement. Neither KPMG LLP
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 KPMG LLP in connection with any matters referred to
in this announcement or otherwise.
Investec Bank plc, which is authorised in the United Kingdom by
the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial
Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, is
acting as financial adviser to Hyder and no-one else in connection
with the subject matter of this announcement and will not be
responsible to anyone other than Hyder for providing the
protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
connection with the subject matter of this announcement.
Numis Securities Limited, which is authorised and regulated in
the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as
broker to Hyder and no-one else in connection with the subject
matter of this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone
other than Hyder for providing the protections afforded to its
clients or for providing broking advice in connection with the
subject matter of this announcement.
This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute
or form part of any offer or invitation 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 Offer or otherwise. The Offer will be
made solely through the Scheme Document, which will contain the
full terms and conditions of the Offer, including details of how to
vote in respect of the Scheme. Any acceptance or other response to
the Offer should be made only on the basis of the information in
the Scheme Document.
Hyder will prepare the Scheme Document to be distributed to
Hyder Shareholders. Hyder, Nippon Koei and Bidco urge Hyder
Shareholders to read the Scheme Document when it becomes available
because it will contain important information relating to the
Offer. It is expected that the Scheme Document (including notices
of the Shareholder Meetings) together with the relevant Forms of
Proxy, will be posted to Hyder Shareholders as soon as is
reasonably practicable and in any event within 28 days of this
announcement, unless otherwise agreed with the Panel.
Overseas Shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement or
availability of the Offer in jurisdictions other than the United
Kingdom may be restricted by law. Persons who are not resident in
the United Kingdom or who are subject to the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should therefore inform
themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements. In
particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the
United Kingdom to vote their Hyder Shares with respect to the
Scheme at the Court Meeting, or to execute and deliver Forms of
Proxy appointing another to vote at the Court Meeting on their
behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in
which they are located. Any failure to comply with the restrictions
may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction.
This announcement has been prepared for the purposes of
complying with the laws of England and Wales and the Takeover Code
and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which
would have been disclosed if this document had been prepared in
accordance with the laws of any jurisdiction outside the United
Kingdom.
The Offer relates to shares of an English public limited company
and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement
under the laws of England and Wales. Accordingly, the Scheme is
subject to the disclosure requirements, rules and practices
applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement, which
differ from the requirements of tender offer rules or the laws of
other jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom.
However, if Bidco elects to implement the Offer by means of a
Takeover Offer, such Takeover Offer will be made in compliance with
all applicable laws and regulations to the extent applicable.
Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Takeover
Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Offer
will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or
from a Restricted Jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of
the Offer by any such use, means, instrumentality or from within a
Restricted Jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement
and all documents relating to the Offer are not being, and must not
be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded,
distributed or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction,
and persons receiving this announcement or any documents relating
to the Offer (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not
mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in, into or from
any such jurisdictions. If the Offer is implemented by way of a
Takeover Offer, the Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by
applicable law and regulation) will and may not be made, directly
or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of the mails, or by any
means of instrumentality (including, without limitation,
telephonically or electronically) of interstate or foreign commerce
of, or any facilities of a national, state or other securities
exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction, and the Takeover Offer
will not be capable of acceptance from or within any Restricted
Jurisdiction or by any such use, means, instrumentality or
facilities.
Notice to US investors in Hyder
The Offer relates to the shares of an English public limited
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 Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Accordingly, the Offer 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, Bidco exercises the right to implement
the Offer by way of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend the
Offer into the United States, the Offer will be made in compliance
with applicable United States laws and regulations. Financial
information included in this announcement and which may be included
in the Scheme Document (or Takeover Offer Document, as the case may
be) has been or will have been prepared in accordance with
accounting standards applicable in territories outside the United
States 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 Hyder Shares to enforce
their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal laws,
since Nippon Koei, Bidco and Hyder are each 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 Hyder 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.
Forward looking statements
This announcement, including information included or
incorporated by reference in this announcement, may contain certain
"forward looking statements" regarding the financial position,
business strategy or plans for future operations of the Wider
Nippon Koei Group and the Wider Hyder Group. All statements other
than statements of historical fact included in any document may be
forward looking statements. Forward looking statements also often
use words such as "believe", "expect", "estimate", "intend",
"anticipate" and words of a similar meaning. By their nature,
forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by
them. Much of the risk and uncertainty relates to factors that are
beyond the companies' abilities to control or estimate precisely,
such as future market conditions and the behaviours of other market
participants, and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on
such statements which speak only as at the date of this
announcement. Neither the Wider Nippon Koei Group nor the Wider
Hyder Group assume any obligation to, and do not intend to, revise
or update these forward looking statements, except as required
pursuant to applicable law.
No profit forecasts or estimates
Nothing in this announcement is intended, or is to be construed,
as a profit forecast or to be interpreted to mean that earnings per
Nippon Koei share or Hyder Share for the current or future
financial years, or those of the combined group, will necessarily
match or exceed the historical published earnings per Nippon Koei
share or Hyder Share.
Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is
interested in 1% 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 Takeover Code, any person who is, or
becomes, interested in 1% 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.
Publication of this announcement and availability of hard
copies
This announcement and the documents required to be published
pursuant to Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code will be available free
of charge, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons
resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Nippon Koei's and Hyder's
websites at
http://www.n-koei.co.jp/english/news/2014/august-1.html(English
language) and
http://www.n-koei.co.jp/news/2014/140808.html(Japanese language)
and www.hyderconsulting.comby no later than 12 noon on 11 August
2014. Nippon Koei will also make a separate formal announcement of
the Offer in Tokyo, shortly following the publication of this
announcement, which will also be made available on Nippon Koei's
website. The contents of Nippon Koei's and Hyder's websites are not
incorporated into and do not form part of this announcement.
Any person who is required to be sent this announcement under
the Takeover Code may request a hard copy of this announcement (and
any information incorporated by reference in this announcement) by
writing to Capita Registrars of The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road,
Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU or by calling 0871 664 0300 (or, if calling
from outside the UK, on +44 20 8638 3399). Calls cost 10 pence per
minute plus network extras, lines are open 9.00 a.m. - 5.30 p.m.
Monday to Friday. It is important that you note that unless you
make such a request, a hard copy of this announcement and any such
information incorporated by reference in it will not be sent to
you. You may also request that all future documents, announcements
and information to be sent to you in relation to the Offer should
be in hard copy form.
Appendix 1
CONDITIONS AND FURTHER TERMS OF THE OFFER
Part A: Scheme conditions
The Offer will be conditional upon the Scheme becoming
unconditional and effective by no later than the Long Stop
Date.
1. The Scheme will be conditional upon:
(a) its approval by a majority in number of the Scheme
Shareholders (or the relevant class or classes thereof, if
applicable) representing not less than three-fourths in value of
the Scheme Shares, who are on the register of members of Hyder at
the Scheme Voting Record Time and who are 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 Bidco and
Hyder may agree and the Court may allow);
(b) all resolutions necessary to implement the Scheme and
approve the Capital Reduction being duly passed by the requisite
majority or majorities at the General Meeting or at any adjournment
of that meeting on or before the 22nd day after the expected date
of the General Meeting to be set out in the Scheme Document in due
course (or such later date, if any, as Bidco and Hyder may agree
and the Court may allow); and
(c) the sanction of the Scheme and the confirmation of the
Capital Reduction by the Court with or without modification (but
subject to any such modification being acceptable to Bidco and
Hyder) 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 Bidco and Hyder may agree
and the Court may allow) and:
(i) the delivery of office copies of each of the Court Orders
and of the requisite statement of capital to the Registrar of
Companies; and
(ii) if the Court so orders for it to become effective, the
registration of the Reduction Court Order and the statement of
capital by the Registrar of Companies.
2. In addition to the conditions set out above, Bidco and Hyder
have agreed that, subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, the
Offer 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 have been
satisfied or waived:
Confirmation of absence of adverse circumstances
(a) save as Disclosed, there being no provision of any
agreement, arrangement, licence, permit or other instrument to
which any member of the Wider Hyder Group is a party or by or to
which any such member or any of its assets is or may be bound,
entitled or subject, which in consequence of the Offer or the
proposed acquisition of any shares or other securities in Hyder or
because of a change in the control or management of Hyder, would or
might reasonably be expected to result in (in each case to an
extent which is material in the context of the Wider Hyder Group
taken as a whole):
(i) any moneys borrowed by or any other indebtedness (actual or
contingent) of, or grant available to, any such member of the Wider
Hyder Group, 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 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 (other than trade creditors in the ordinary and
usual course of business),
and no event having occurred which, under any provision of any
agreement, arrangement, licence, permit or other instrument to
which any member of the Wider Hyder Group is a party or by or to
which any such member or any of its assets is or may be bound,
entitled or subject, would 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 an extent which is material in the
context of the Wider Hyder Group taken as a whole);
Third Party clearances
(b) no government or governmental, quasi-governmental, supranational, statutory, regulatory, environmental or investigative body, court, trade agency, association, institution or any other body or person whatsoever in any jurisdiction (each a "Third Party") having taken, instituted, implemented or threatened in writing any action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference (and, in each case, not having formally and irrevocably withdrawn the same), or enacted, made or proposed any statute, regulation, decision or order or having taken any other steps (and, in each case, not having formally and irrevocably withdrawn the same) which would:
(i) require, prevent or materially delay the divestiture, or
materially alter the terms envisaged for any proposed divestiture,
by any member of the Wider Nippon Koei Group or any member of the
Wider Hyder Group of all or a material portion of its business,
assets or property or impose any material limitation on its ability
to conduct its business or to own any material proportion of its
assets or properties;
(ii) require, prevent or materially delay the divestiture by any
member of the Wider Nippon Koei Group of any shares or other
securities in Hyder;
(iii) impose any material limitation on, or result in a material
delay in, the ability of any member of the Wider Nippon Koei Group
directly or indirectly to acquire or to hold or to exercise
effectively any rights of ownership in respect of shares or
securities convertible into shares or any other securities (or the
equivalent) in any member of the Wider Hyder Group or to exercise
management control over any such member;
(iv) make the Offer or its implementation or the acquisition or
proposed acquisition by Bidco or by any member of the Wider Nippon
Koei Group of any shares or other securities in, or control of,
Hyder void, illegal, and/or unenforceable under the laws of any
jurisdiction, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, prohibit or
materially restrain, materially restrict, materially delay or
otherwise materially interfere with the same, or impose material
additional conditions or obligations with respect thereto, or
otherwise materially challenge or interfere therewith;
(v) require any member of the Wider Nippon Koei Group or the
Wider Hyder Group to offer to acquire any shares or other
securities (or the equivalent) or interest in any member of the
Wider Hyder Group or the Wider Nippon Koei Group owned by any third
party (other than in respect of the 'squeeze-out' procedure in
accordance with the provisions of Part 28 of the 2006 Act);
(vi) impose any material limitation on the ability of any member
of the Wider Hyder Group to co-ordinate its business, or any
material part of it, with the businesses of any other members;
(vii) result in any member of the Wider Hyder Group ceasing to
be able to carry on business under any name under which it
presently does so; or
(viii) otherwise materially adversely affect the business,
assets, profits or financial or trading position or prospects of
any member of the Wider Hyder Group,
and all applicable waiting and other time periods (including any
extensions thereof) during which any such Third Party could
institute, implement or threaten any action, proceeding, suit,
investigation, enquiry or reference under the laws of any
jurisdiction in respect of the Offer or the acquisition or proposed
acquisition of any Hyder Shares having expired, lapsed or been
terminated;
(c) all material filings or applications which are necessary
under any applicable legislation or regulation of any relevant
jurisdiction having been made in connection with the Offer and all
material statutory or regulatory obligations in any jurisdiction
having been complied with in connection with the Offer or the
acquisition by any member of the Wider Nippon Koei Group of any
shares or other securities in, or control of, Hyder and all
authorisations, orders, recognitions, grants, consents, licences,
confirmations, clearances, permissions and approvals (together
"authorisations") necessary for or in respect of the Offer or the
proposed acquisition of any shares or other securities in, or
control of, Hyder by any member of the Wider Nippon Koei Group
having been obtained in terms and in a form reasonably satisfactory
to Bidco from all appropriate Third Parties or persons with whom
any member of the Wider Hyder Group has entered into contractual
arrangements and all such authorisations together with all
authorisations necessary to carry on the business of any member of
the Wider Hyder Group remaining in full force and effect and all
material 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 Offer becomes
otherwise unconditional in all respects and all necessary statutory
or regulatory obligations in any jurisdiction having been complied
with in all material respects;
No material transactions, claims or changes in the conduct of
the business of the Hyder Group
(d) save as Disclosed, no member of the Wider Hyder Group having, since 31 March 2014:
(i) save as between Hyder and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Hyder
or for Hyder Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of options
granted or awards made under the Hyder Share Incentive Plans,
issued, authorised or proposed the issue of additional shares of
any class;
(ii) save as between Hyder and wholly-owned subsidiaries of
Hyder or for the grant of options or the making of awards under the
Hyder Share Incentive Plans, issued or agreed to issue, authorised
or proposed the issue of securities convertible or exchangeable
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 Hyder Group,
recommended, declared, paid or made or proposed to recommend,
declare, pay or make any bonus issue, dividend or other
distribution, whether payable in cash or otherwise, save for the
Hyder Final Dividend;
(iv) save for intra-Hyder 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 of the aforementioned
actions, in each case, other than in the ordinary course of
business and to an extent which is material in the context of the
Wider Hyder Group taken as a whole;
(v) save for intra-Hyder Group transactions, made or authorised
or proposed or announced an intention to propose any change in its
loan capital;
(vi) issued, authorised or proposed the issue of any debentures
or (save for intra-Hyder Group transactions or in the ordinary
course of business) incurred or increased any indebtedness or
become subject to any contingent liability to an extent which is
material in the context of the Wider Hyder Group taken as a
whole;
(vii) save for intra-Hyder Group transactions, 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 of the matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) above,
made any other change to any part of its share capital;
(viii) implemented, or authorised, proposed or announced its
intention to implement, any reconstruction, amalgamation, scheme,
commitment or other transaction or arrangement otherwise than in
the ordinary course of business or entered into or changed the
terms of any contract with any director or senior executive of the
Wider Hyder Group;
(ix) 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 business of any member of
the Wider Hyder Group or the Wider Nippon Koei Group or which
involves or could reasonably be expected to involve an obligation
of such a nature or magnitude;
(x) other than in respect of a member of the Wider Hyder Group
which was and remains dormant and was solvent at the relevant time,
taken any corporate action or had any legal proceedings started or
threatened in writing 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, in each case to an
extent which is material in the context of the Wider Hyder Group
taken as a whole;
(xi) other than of a nature and to an extent which is normal in
the context of the business concerned, entered into any contract,
transaction or arrangement which would be restrictive on the
business of any member of the Wider Hyder Group or the Wider Nippon
Koei Group and in each case to an extent which is material in the
context of the Wider Hyder Group or the Wider Nippon Koei Group (as
applicable) taken as a whole;
(xii) waived or compromised any claim otherwise than in the
ordinary course of business and in each case to an extent which is
material in the context of the Wider Hyder Group taken as a
whole;
(xiii) entered into any contract, commitment, arrangement or
agreement otherwise than in the ordinary course of business 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;
(xiv) having made or agreed or consented to any change to:
(I) the terms of the trust deeds constituting the pension
scheme(s) established by any member of the Wider Hyder Group for
its directors, employees or their dependents;
(II) the contributions payable to any such scheme(s) or to the
benefits which accrue or to the pensions which are payable
thereunder;
(III) the basis on which qualification for, or accrual or
entitlement to, such benefits or pensions are calculated or
determined; or
(IV) the basis upon which the liabilities (including pensions)
of such pension schemes are funded, valued or made;
(xv) proposed, agreed to provide or modified the terms of any
share option scheme, incentive scheme, pension arrangements or
other benefit relating to the employment or termination of
employment of any person employed by the Wider Hyder Group; or
(xvi) having taken (or agreed or proposed to take) any action
which requires, or would require, the consent of the Panel or the
approval of Hyder Shareholders in general meeting in accordance
with, or as contemplated by, Rule 21.1 of the City Code,
and, for the purposes of paragraphs (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and
(vii) of this condition, the term "Hyder Group" shall mean Hyder
and its wholly-owned subsidiaries;
No material adverse change
(e) save as Disclosed, since 31 March 2014:
(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 Hyder Group to an extent which
is material in the context of the Wider Hyder Group taken as a
whole;
(ii) no litigation, arbitration proceedings, prosecution or
other legal proceedings to which any member of the Wider Hyder
Group is or may become a party (whether as a claimant, defendant or
otherwise) and no investigation by any Third Party against or in
respect of any member of the Wider Hyder Group having been
instituted, announced or threatened in writing by or against, or
remaining outstanding in respect of, any member of the Wider Hyder
Group which in any such case might reasonably be expected to
adversely affect any member of the Wider Hyder Group to an extent
which is material in the context of the Wider Hyder Group taken as
a whole;
(iii) no contingent or other liability (other than trade
creditors arising in the ordinary and usual course of business)
having arisen which would reasonably be expected to adversely
affect any member of the Wider Hyder Group to an extent which is
material in the context of the Wider Hyder Group taken as a whole;
and
(iv) no steps having been taken which are reasonably likely to
result in the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification
of any licence held by any member of the Wider Hyder Group which is
necessary for the proper carrying on of its business and the
absence of which would be material in the context of the Wider
Hyder Group taken as a whole;
(f) save as Disclosed, Bidco not having discovered:
(i) that any financial, business or other information concerning
the Wider Hyder Group contained in the information Publicly
Announced at any time by or on behalf of any member of the Wider
Hyder Group is misleading, contains a misrepresentation of fact or
omits to state a fact necessary to make that information not
misleading which misrepresentation or omission is material in the
context of the Wider Hyder Group taken as a whole;
(ii) that any member of the Wider Hyder Group or any partnership
in which any member of the Wider Hyder Group has a significant
economic interest is subject to any liability (contingent or
otherwise) which is not disclosed in the annual report and accounts
of Hyder for the year ended 31 March 2014 and which is material in
the context of the Wider Hyder Group taken as a whole; and
Environmental liabilities
(g) save as Disclosed, Bidco not having discovered that:
(i) any past or present member of the Wider Hyder Group has
failed to comply with any and/or all applicable legislation or
regulation, of any jurisdiction with regard to, or has any actual,
contingent, prospective or potential liability in respect of, the
disposal, spillage, release, discharge, leak or emission of any
waste or hazardous substance or any substance likely to impair the
environment or harm human health or animal health or otherwise
relating to environmental matters, or that there has otherwise been
any such disposal, spillage, release, discharge, leak or emission
(whether or not the same constituted a non-compliance by any person
with any such legislation or regulations, and wherever the same may
have taken place) any of which disposal, spillage, release,
discharge, leak or emission would be reasonably expected to give
rise to any liability (actual or contingent) on the part of any
member of the Wider Hyder Group which is material in the context of
the Wider Hyder Group taken as a whole; or
(ii) there is, or is reasonably likely to be, for that or any
other reason whatsoever, any liability (actual or contingent) which
is material in the context of the Wider Hyder Group taken as a
whole of any past or present member of the Wider Hyder Group to
make good, repair, reinstate, decommission or clean up any property
or any controlled waters now or previously owned, occupied,
operated or made use of or controlled by any such past or present
member of the Wider Hyder Group, under any environmental
legislation, regulation, notice, circular or order of any
government, governmental, quasi-governmental, state or local
government, supranational, statutory or other regulatory body,
agency, court, association or any other person or body in any
jurisdiction.
3. Subject to the requirements of the Panel, Bidco reserves the
right to waive, in whole or in part, all or any of the above
conditions, save for condition 1 which cannot be waived.
4. Conditions 2(a) to 2(g) (inclusive) must be fulfilled or
waived by Bidco, no later than 11.59 p.m. (London time) on the date
immediately preceding the date of the Scheme Court Hearing, failing
which the Scheme will lapse.
5. Bidco shall be under no obligation to waive or treat as
satisfied any of conditions 2(a) to 2(g) (inclusive) by a date
earlier than the latest date specified above for the fulfilment or
waiver thereof, notwithstanding that the other conditions of the
Offer 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.
6. If Bidco is required by the Panel to make an offer for Hyder
Shares under the provisions of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, Bidco
may make such alterations to any of the above conditions as are
necessary to comply with the provisions of that Rule.
7. Unless the Panel otherwise consents, the Offer will lapse and
the Scheme will not proceed if there is a Phase 2 CMA reference in
respect of the Offer (a) before the Court Meeting and the General
Meeting or (b) (if Bidco elects to implement the Offer by way of
Takeover Offer) before 1.00 p.m. (London time) on the first closing
date of the Takeover Offer or the date on which the Takeover Offer
becomes or is declared unconditional as to acceptances, whichever
is the later.
Part B: Further terms of the Offer
8. Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the
Takeover Code and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the
Offer is not being, and 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, telex, 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 Offer will not be
capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or
facility or from within any Restricted Jurisdiction. The
availability of the Offer to persons not resident in the United
Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions.
Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform
themselves about and observe any applicable requirements.
9. Hyder Shares which will be acquired under the Offer will be
acquired fully paid and free from all liens, equities, charges,
encumbrances, options, rights of pre-emption and any other third
party rights and interests of any nature and together with all
rights now or hereafter attaching or accruing to them, including
voting rights and the right to receive and retain in full all
dividends and other distributions (if any) declared, made or paid
on or after the date of this announcement, save for the Hyder Final
Dividend.
10. Bidco reserves the right to elect (with the consent of the
Panel) to implement the Offer by way of a Takeover Offer. In such
event, such Takeover Offer will be implemented on the same terms,
so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the Scheme,
subject to appropriate amendments to reflect the change in method
of effecting the Offer, including (without limitation and subject
to the consent of the Panel) an acceptance condition that is set at
90 per cent. (or such lesser percentage, as Bidco may decide) (i)
in nominal value of the shares to which such Takeover Offer
relates; and (ii) of the voting rights attached to those shares,
and that is subject to Bidco and/or (with the consent of the Panel)
any members of the Nippon Koei Group having acquired or agreed to
acquire, whether pursuant to the offer or otherwise, shares
carrying more than 50 per cent. of the voting rights normally
exercisable at a general meeting of Hyder, including, for this
purpose, any such voting rights attaching to Hyder Shares that are
unconditionally allotted or issued before the Takeover Offer
becomes or is declared unconditional as to acceptances, whether
pursuant to the exercise of any outstanding subscription or
conversion rights or otherwise.
11. Under Rule 13.5 of the Code, Bidco may not invoke a
condition so as to cause the Offer not to proceed, to lapse or any
offer to be withdrawn unless the circumstances which give rise to
the right to invoke the condition are of material significance to
Bidco in the context of the Offer. Condition 1 and, if applicable,
the acceptance condition in any Takeover Offer implemented by Bidco
on the basis described in the preceding paragraph, is not subject
to this provision of the Takeover Code.
12. The Offer will be governed by English law and be subject to
the jurisdiction of the English courts, to the conditions set out
above and in the formal Scheme Document and related Forms of Proxy.
The Offer will be subject to the applicable requirements of the
Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the UK
Listing Authority.
13. Each of the conditions shall be regarded as a separate
condition and shall not be limited by reference to any other
condition.
Appendix 2
SOURCES AND BASES OF INFORMATION
Unless otherwise stated in this announcement:
1. the value attributed to the fully diluted issued share
capital of Hyder is based on 38,919,164 Hyder Shares in issue and
503,764 Hyder Shares to be issued to satisfy the exercise of
options or vesting of awards under the Hyder Share Incentive Plans,
in each case as at 7 August 2014 being the last practicable dealing
date prior to the publication of this announcement;
2. all prices for Hyder Shares have been derived from the Daily
Official List and represent Closing Prices on the relevant
date(s);
3. the market capitalisation of Nippon Koei is derived from data provided by Bloomberg;
4. all share prices expressed in pence have been rounded to the
nearest penny and all percentages have been rounded to one decimal
place;
5. where amounts are translated from Japanese Yen to sterling in
this document, an exchange rate of Yen171.85:GBP1 has been used, as
sourced from Bloomberg on 7 August 2014;
6. unless otherwise stated, the financial information relating
to Hyder is extracted or derived from the audited consolidated
financial statements of Hyder for the relevant years, prepared in
accordance with IFRS;
7. unless otherwise stated, the financial information relating
to Nippon Koei is extracted or derived from the audited
consolidated financial statements of Nippon Koei for the relevant
years (original Japanese versions), prepared in accordance with
Japanese GAAP and subject to the exchange rate listed above;
8. the Enterprise Value of Hyder is calculated as diluted equity
value (based on the fully diluted share capital as set out in
paragraph 1 above) plus Hyder's financial net cash of GBP13.2
million and the Acer Group Pension Scheme deficit of GBP21.8
million as at 31 March 2014; and
9. the EBITDA of Hyder excludes acquisition costs, contingent
consideration adjustments and exceptional items.
Appendix 3
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions apply throughout this announcement
unless the context otherwise requires:
"2006 Act" the Companies Act 2006, as amended from time to time
"Acer Group Pension Scheme" Hyder's principal UK defined benefit scheme, for which
the sponsoring employer is Hyder Consulting
(UK) Limited
"Annual Report and Accounts of Hyder" the annual report and audited accounts of Hyder for the
year ended 31 March 2014
"ARCADIS" ARCADIS N.V., a public company with limited liability
incorporated in the Netherlands, registered
with the Dutch Chambers of Commerce under number
09051284, and its subsidiary and subsidiary
undertakings
"ARCADIS Offer" the offer for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary
share capital of Hyder announced
on 31 July 2014 by ARCADIS UK Investments B.V., a wholly
owned subsidiary of ARCADIS N.V.,
and to be implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the 2006 Act
"associated undertaking" shall be construed in accordance with paragraph 19 of
Schedule 6 to The Large and Medium--sized
Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations
2008 (SI 2008/410) but for this purpose
ignoring paragraph 19(1)(b) of Schedule 6 to those
regulations)
"Authorisations" authorisations, orders, grants, recognitions,
confirmations, consents, licences, clearances,
certificates, permissions or approvals
"Bidco" Nippon Koei UK Topco Limited
"Business Day" a day, not being a public holiday, Saturday or Sunday, on
which clearing banks in London are
open for normal business
"Capital Reduction" the proposed reduction of Hyder's share capital provided
for by the Scheme
"Closing Price" the closing middle market price of a Hyder Share as
derived from the Daily Official List
"Court" the High Court of Justice in England and Wales
"Court Meeting" the meeting of Hyder Shareholders to be convened pursuant
to an order of the Court under the
2006 Act for the purpose of considering and, if thought
fit, approving the Scheme (with or
without amendment), including any adjournment thereof
"Court Orders" the Scheme Court Order and the Reduction Court Order and
"Court Order" means either of them
"Daily Official List" means the daily official list of the London Stock
Exchange
"Disclosed" information:
(a) which has been fairly disclosed in writing by or on
behalf of Hyder to Bidco or its advisers
prior to the date of this announcement in connection with
this announcement;
(b) which has been Publicly Announced;
(c) which is set out in Hyder's interim management
statement issued on 31 July 2014; or
(d) set out in this announcement
"EBITDA" earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and
amortisation
"Effective Date" the date on which the Scheme becomes effective in
accordance with its terms
"Enterprise Value" calculated as diluted equity value plus financial net
debt / (cash) and pension deficit
"FCA" Financial Conduct Authority or its successor from time to
time
"FCA Handbook" the FCA's Handbook of rules and guidance as amended from
time to time
"Forms of Proxy" the forms of proxy for use at the Court Meeting and the
General Meeting which will accompany
the Scheme Document
"General Meeting" the general meeting of Hyder Shareholders (including any
adjournment thereof) to be convened
in connection with the Scheme
"Hyder" Hyder Consulting PLC
"Hyder Directors" or "Hyder Board" the directors of Hyder
"Hyder Final Dividend" the final dividend of 8.5 pence per Hyder Share proposed
by the Hyder Directors in Hyder's
final results announcement dated 11 June 2014 for the
financial year ended 31 March 2014 and
which is expected to be paid on or about the date of this
announcement to Hyder Shareholders
on the register of members of Hyder at 11 July 2014
"Hyder Group" Hyder and its subsidiary undertakings and where the
context permits, each of them
"Hyder Shareholder(s)" holders of Hyder Shares
"Hyder Share Incentive Plans" (a) the Hyder Consulting PLC Executive Share Option
Scheme (2002); and
(b) the LTIP
"Hyder Share(s)" the fully paid ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the
capital of Hyder
"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
"Investec" Investec Bank plc
"Japanese GAAP" the provisions set forth in the Japanese Financial
Instruments and Exchange Act and its related
accounting regulations and in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in
Japan
"KPMG" KPMG LLP
"London Stock Exchange" the London Stock Exchange plc or its successor
"Long Stop Date" 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 31 January 2015 (or such later
time and/or date as may be agreed,
with the consent of the Panel, by Bidco and Hyder and the
Court may allow)
"LTIP" Hyder Consulting PLC 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan (as
amended)
"Nippon Koei" Nippon Koei Co., Ltd
"Nippon Koei Group" Nippon Koei and its subsidiary undertakings and where the
context permits, each of them
"ODA" Official Development Assistance
"Offer" the recommended cash offer made by Bidco to acquire the
entire issued and to be issued ordinary
share capital of Hyder to be effected by means of the
Scheme (including, where the context
so requires, any subsequent revision, variation,
extension or renewal thereof) or by the Takeover
Offer under certain circumstances described in this
announcement
"Offer Period" the offer period (as defined by the Takeover Code)
relating to Hyder, which commenced on 31
July 2014
"Official List" the Official List of the FCA
"Panel" the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
"Phase 2 CMA reference" has the same meaning as set out in the Takeover Code
"Pounds", "GBP", "sterling", "pence" or "p" the lawful currency of the United Kingdom
"PRA" Prudential Regulation Authority or its successor from
time to time
"Publicly Announced" disclosed:
(a) in any public announcement by or on behalf of Hyder
to any Regulatory Information Service
on or before 5.00 p.m. (London time) on the Business Day
immediately before the date of this
announcement; or
(b) in the Annual Report and Accounts of Hyder
"Reduction Court Order" the order of the Court under section 648 of the 2006 Act
confirming the Capital Reduction
"Reduction Record Time" the time and date specified as such in the Scheme
Document, expected to be 6.00 p.m. (London
time) on the Business Day immediately preceding the date
on which the Reduction Court Order
is made
"Registrar of Companies" the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales
"Regulatory Information Service" a regulatory information service as defined in the FCA
Handbook
"relevant securities" Hyder Shares, other Hyder share capital and any
securities convertible into or exchangeable
for, and rights to subscribe for, any of the foregoing
"Restricted Jurisdiction" any jurisdiction where local laws or regulations may
result in a significant risk of civil,
regulatory or criminal exposure if information concerning
the Offer is sent or made available
to Hyder Shareholders in that jurisdiction
"Scheme" the proposed scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the
2006 Act between Hyder and the Hyder
Shareholders in connection with the Offer, with or
subject to any modification, addition or
condition approved or imposed by the Court and agreed to
by Hyder and Bidco
"Scheme Court Hearing" the hearing of the Court to sanction the Scheme under
Part 26 of the 2006 Act
"Scheme Court Order" the order of the Court sanctioning the Scheme under Part
26 of the 2006 Act
"Scheme Document" the document to be sent to Hyder Shareholders containing,
amongst other things, the Scheme
and the notices convening the Court Meeting and the
General Meeting
"Scheme Shareholders" holders of Scheme Shares
"Scheme Shares" the Hyder Shares:
(a) in issue at the date of the Scheme Document;
(b) (if any) issued after the date of the Scheme Document
and prior to the Scheme Voting Record
Time; and
(c) (if any) issued at or after the Scheme Voting Record
Time but on or before the Reduction
Record Time, either on terms that the original or any
subsequent holders of such shares are
to be bound by the Scheme or in respect of which their
holders are, or shall have agreed in
writing to be, bound by the Scheme,
in each case, other than Hyder Shares (if any) legally or
beneficially owned by any member
of the Nippon Koei Group
"Scheme Voting Record Time" the time and date specified in the Scheme Document by
reference to which entitlement to vote
on the Scheme will be determined, expected to be 6.00
p.m. (London time) on the day which
is two days before the Court Meeting or, if the Court
Meeting is adjourned, 6.00 p.m. (London
time) on the day which is two days before the date of
such adjourned Court Meeting
"Shareholder Meetings" the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, and
"Shareholder Meeting" means either of them
"subsidiary" , "subsidiary undertaking" and "undertaking" shall be construed in accordance with the 2006 Act
"Takeover Code" the Takeover Code issued by the Panel on Takeovers and
Mergers, as amended from time to time
"Takeover Offer" should the Offer be implemented by way of a takeover
offer as defined in Chapter 3 of Part
28 of the 2006 Act, the takeover offer to be made by or
on behalf of Bidco to acquire for
cash the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share
capital of Hyder including, where the
context so requires, any subsequent revision, variation,
extension or renewal thereof
"Takeover Offer Document" should the Offer be implemented by means of a Takeover
Offer, the document to be sent to Hyder
Shareholders which will contain, inter alia, the terms
and conditions of the Takeover Offer
"UK" or "United Kingdom" United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
"Volume Weighted Average Price" the volume weighted average of the per share trading
prices of Hyder Shares on the London
Stock Exchange as reported through Bloomberg
"Wider Hyder Group" Hyder and associated undertakings and any other body
corporate, partnership, joint venture
or person in which the Hyder and such undertakings
(aggregating their interests) have an interest
of more than 20 per cent. of the voting or equity capital
or the equivalent
"Wider Nippon Koei Group" Nippon Koei Group and associated undertakings and any
other body corporate, partnership, joint
venture or person in which Nippon Koei and such
undertakings (aggregating their interests)
have an interest of more than 20 per cent. of the voting
or equity capital or the equivalent
"Yen" or "Yen" the lawful currency of Japan
All times referred to are London time unless otherwise
stated.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
OFFKMGGRKRLGDZG
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