THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR
DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO
OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH
AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE,
PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. PLEASE SEE THE
IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT.
THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE OR CONTAIN ANY INVITATION, SOLICITATION, RECOMMENDATION,
OFFER OR ADVICE TO ANY PERSON TO PURCHASE AND/OR SUBSCRIBE FOR,
OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR DISPOSE OF ANY SECURITIES IN KITWAVE GROUP PLC
OR ANY OTHER ENTITY IN ANY JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
NOR THE FACT OF ITS DISTRIBUTION, SHALL FORM THE BASIS OF, OR BE
RELIED ON IN CONNECTION WITH ANY INVESTMENT DECISION IN RESPECT OF
KITWAVE GROUP PLC.
THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION.
For immediate release
24 September 2024
Kitwave Group
plc
Acquisition of
Creed Catering
Supplies Limited
Proposed Placing to raise £31
million
Retail Offer of up to £0.5
million
Kitwave Group plc (AIM: KITW)
("Kitwave", the
"Company" and, together with
its subsidiary undertakings, the "Group"), the delivered
wholesale business, is pleased to announce that Kitwave Limited, a
subsidiary of the Company, has agreed to acquire the entire issued
share capital of Creed Catering Supplies
Limited ("Creed") from the shareholders
of Creed, a leading independent food wholesaler in the South of
England (the "Acquisition"). The initial
consideration payable for the Acquisition is £60.0 million in cash,
with up to a further £10.0 million in cash payable over two years
dependent on certain performance targets being achieved. The
consideration is payable in cash with the initial consideration
being financed from an increase in the Company's banking facilities
and from the Capital Raising (as defined below). The Acquisition is
conditional upon the Capital Raising (as defined below) and the
Company will make a separate announcement, in due course, to
confirm the Acquisition status. Completion
of the Acquisition ("Completion"), is expected to occur on
or around 27 September 2024, following settlement of the Capital
Raising and conditions being met under the banking
facilities.
In order to part finance the initial
consideration payable under the Acquisition, the Company proposes
to place 10,163,934 new ordinary shares of one penny each
("Ordinary Shares") in the
capital of the Company (the "Placing Shares") at a
price of 305 pence per Placing Share
(the "Issue
Price") with certain institutional and
other investors to raise approximately £31.0 million (before
expenses) (the "Placing").
The Placing is not conditional upon the completion of the
Acquisition.
Canaccord Genuity Limited
("Canaccord Genuity") is
acting as nominated adviser, sole bookrunner and sole broker in
connection with the Capital Raising. Canaccord Genuity will
commence a bookbuilding process in respect of the Placing
immediately following the publication of this Announcement (the
"Bookbuilding Process").
The Placing is being underwritten as to settlement risk only by
Canaccord Genuity.
The Placing will be effected pursuant
to the Company's existing shareholder authorities and therefore is
not conditional upon approval by the Company's shareholders.
However, the Board is supportive of the Pre-Emption Group guidance
that encourages companies to consider the inclusion of retail
shareholders when issuing shares non-pre-emptively. The Company
therefore intends to carry out a separate offer (the "Retail Offer") of up to 163,934 new
Ordinary Shares (the "Retail Offer
Shares" and, together with the Placing Shares, the
"New Ordinary Shares") at
the Issue Price to be conducted by PrimaryBid Limited ("PrimaryBid") on its behalf. A separate
announcement will be made in due course regarding the Retail Offer
and its terms. For the avoidance of doubt, the Retail Offer is not
part of the Placing.
It is intended that the Placing and
the Retail Offer (together, the "Capital Raising") will result in the
Company raising total gross proceeds of up to approximately £31.5
million.
A placing agreement has been entered
into today between the Company and the Canaccord Genuity in
connection with the Placing (the "Placing Agreement"). The terms
and conditions of the Placing are set out in the Appendix (the
"Appendix") to this
announcement (such announcement and the Appendix together being
this "Announcement"). The
Retail Offer is not subject to the terms and conditions set out in
the Appendix, and instead a separate announcement will be made
shortly regarding the Retail Offer and its terms.
Acquisition highlights
●
Creed is a leading independent family-owned
Foodservice Wholesaler, with a range of customers within the
leisure, hospitality, education and the care sectors.
●
The Acquisition has an enterprise value of £70.0
million, representing an EV/LTM1 EBITDA (pre IFRS16)
multiple of approximately 6.9x (approximately 6.4x ex cash
acquired). The initial consideration is £60.0 million, plus a two
year earn out structure with maximum annual payments of £5.0
million.
●
Additional consideration of £1.16 million is
expected to be payable under a locked-box mechanism to account for
current levels of working capital in Creed. Accordingly, the
maximum consideration payable for the Acquisition is £71.16
million.
●
Creed recorded LTM May 2024 revenues of £130.2
million, EBITDA of £10.2 million and adjusted operating profit of
£8.3 million2. Creed reported an audited revenue of
£124.2 million, operating profit of £7.8 million, profit before tax
of £7.8 million and net assets of £13.4 million for the financial
year ended 31 December 2023 (being the date of the last filed
audited accounts of Creed).
●
The Company has agreed to guarantee the
obligations of Kitwave Limited in connection with the
Acquisition.
●
The Directors believe that the Acquisition has
compelling strategic rationale for the Group, including:
o expected delivery of a significant earnings
enhancement;
o a
significant increase in the financial scale, with the enlarged
Group expected to achieve pro forma3 revenue of over
£800 million, adjusted EBITDA of £55 million and adjusted operating
profit of £42 million;
o geographic expansion, with tangible buying, operational and
financial synergies; and
o the
creation of a fully integrated national
delivery network enabling future organic
and acquisitive growth opportunities.
Capital Raising highlights
●
Placing to raise £31.0 million (before expenses)
through the issue of 10,163,934 Placing Shares at 305 pence per new
Ordinary Share.
●
Retail Offer to raise up to £0.5 million (before
expenses) through the issue of up to 163,934 Retail Offer Shares at
305 pence per new Ordinary Share.
●
The Issue Price represents a discount of
approximately 3.9 per cent. to the closing middle market price of
317.5 pence per Ordinary Share on 23 September 2024, being the
latest practicable date prior to the publication of this
Announcement.
●
The New Ordinary Shares (assuming full take up of
the New Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Capital Raising) will
represent approximately 14.7 per cent. of the existing issued share
capital of the Company (the "Existing Ordinary Shares").
●
The final number of Placing Shares to be placed
will be determined by Canaccord Genuity, in consultation with the
Company, at the close of the Bookbuilding Process and the result
will be announced as soon as practicable thereafter. The timing for
the close of the Bookbuilding Process and the allocation of the
Placing Shares will be determined together by Canaccord Genuity and
the Company.
●
The Capital Raising is not conditional on approval
by the Company's shareholders ("Shareholders").
●
The Placing is subject to the terms and conditions
set out in the Appendix to this Announcement. The Appendix forms
part of this Announcement.
1.
Last twelve months to May 2024 ("LTM")
2.
Based on Creed management accounts (pre IFRS adjustments) for the
last 12 months to May 2024, including vendor due diligence
adjustment for non-recurring shareholder costs and run rate of
current expenses.
3.
Pro forma 12 months to October 2024 based on consensus market
expectations for Kitwave for the 12 months ending October 2024,
plus the LTM as set out in note 2 above. The current consensus
market expectations for Kitwave for the 12 months ending October
2024 are £673.4 million of revenue, £44.7 million of adjusted
EBITDA and £33.8 million of adjusted operating profit. Adjusted for
exceptional (income) / expenses and share based payment
expenses.
Ben
Maxted, Chief Executive Officer of Kitwave,
commented:
"Creed has an exceptional heritage and is one of the UK's
leading foodservice wholesalers, so we are delighted to have
reached this agreement which will extend our Foodservice
division.
"Strategically, Creed will significantly expand our
geographical presence, bridging our operations in the North and
South and creating a fully integrated national delivery network. In
line with our buy and build strategy, Creed is also expected to
significantly enhance the Group's earnings along with providing
material buying, operational and financial
synergies.
"We are looking forward to working with Creed's dedicated and
experienced team and excited to see our Foodservice division
continue to go from strength to strength."
For further information please
contact:
Kitwave Group plc
Ben Maxted, Chief Executive
Officer
David Brind, Chief Financial
Officer
www.kitwave.co.uk
|
Tel: +44 (0) 191 259 2277
|
Canaccord Genuity
Limited
(NOMAD, Sole Broker and Sole Bookrunner)
Bobbie Hilliam
Harry Pardoe
Alex Aylen
Sam Lucas
|
Tel: +44
(0) 20 7523 8150
|
Yellow Jersey
PR
(Financial media and PR)
Charles Goodwin
Shivantha Thambirajah
Bessie Elliot
|
Tel: +44
(0) 20 3004 9512
|
Acquisition of
Creed Catering
Supplies Limited and proposed Capital
Raising
Information on Creed
Founded in 1972, Creed is one of the
UK's leading foodservice wholesalers. The business is headquartered in
Cheltenham with operations in Gloucestershire, Buckinghamshire and
Derbyshire.
Creed has
built up a loyal customer base across a variety of sectors
including destination leisure and hospitality, care and education,
many of which Creed has held decade-long relationships. In the
financial year ended December 2023, the top five customers of Creed
accounted for approximately 43 per cent. of revenue.
Creed is a founding member of the
Country Range buying group, of which Kitwave is also a member, from
which it sources approximately 50 per cent. of its products, with
the remaining products sourced from national manufacturers, craft
producers and its own butchers and produce range.
Creed recorded LTM May 2024 revenues
of £130.2 million, EBITDA of £10.2 million and adjusted operating
profit of £8.3 million4. Creed reported an audited
revenue of £124.2 million, operating profit of £7.8 million, profit
before tax of £7.8 million and net assets of £13.4 million for the
financial year ended 31 December 2023 (being the date of the last
filed audited accounts of Creed). As at 31 May 2024, Creed had
unaudited net assets of £15.8 million including freehold land and
buildings of £3.4 million and net cash of £1.5 million.
Strategic rationale for the
Acquisition
The Directors believe that the
Acquisition has strong strategic rationale for the Group due to the
following reasons:
High-quality management
Creed has long serving
entrepreneurial management who share Kitwave's ambition to grow a
national foodservice business of scale.
Geographic expansion
Creed's delivery network footprint
compliments Kitwave's existing foodservice and wider tri
temperature network. The Acquisition allows Kitwave to create a
fully integrated national delivery network, while creating
further opportunities to organically grow the enlarged foodservice
business.
Financial synergies and opportunities
The Acquisition is expected to
deliver financial synergies of not less than £1.0 million through
logistical synergies, improved purchasing power and identified cost
savings.
Enhance further organic growth opportunities
The enlarged national
infrastructure, with integrated delivery model, that Creed brings
to Kitwave is expected to bring further organic revenue
opportunities to the enlarged Group.
Financial scale
The enlarged Group based on the LTM
Creed management accounts to 31 May 2024 (pre IFRS
adjustments)4 and the financial expectations for Kitwave
for the year ending 31 October 20245 would have a
combined revenue of over £800 million and adjusted operating profit
of over £42 million. Creed will significantly increase the scale of
Kitwave's food service division, therefore moving forwards the
enlarged Group is expected to achieve enhanced operating margins
compared to the past performance of Kitwave on a standalone
basis.
Principal terms of the Acquisition
On 24 September 2024, the Group
entered into a sale and purchase agreement to acquire the entire
issued share capital of Creed (the "Sale Agreement"). The consideration
for sale comprises £60.0 million in cash, with up to a further
£10.0 million in cash payable over two years dependent on certain
performance targets being achieved. Additional consideration of
£1.16 million is expected to be payable under a locked-box
mechanism to account for current levels of working capital in
Creed. Accordingly, the maximum consideration payable for the
Acquisition is £71.16 million.
The Sale Agreement is conditional
upon the Company being in receipt of the net proceeds of the
Capital Raising and having met certain conditions precedent under
the Group's banking facilities. The Sale Agreement provides for
certain circumstances whereby the Group may terminate it prior to
Completion.
The Sale Agreement contains customary
warranties, undertakings and restrictive covenants for a
transaction of this nature.
Completion is expected to occur on or
around 27 September 2024, following settlement of the Capital
Raising and the conditions within the Sale Agreement being
met.
In the unlikely event that the Sale
Agreement is terminated before Completion, the Company will retain
the net proceeds of the Capital Raising for the Group's general
working capital purposes and/or to finance other acquisition and
investment opportunities that may arise.
Financing of the Acquisition
The initial cash consideration
payable under the Acquisition is being financed by £29.0 million
from the Group's banking facilities, with the balance via the
Capital Raising. The Group has in place a
Revolving Credit Facility (the "RCF") and a Confidential Invoice
Discounting Facility (the "CID" and together with the RCF, the
"Facilities"). Current
drawdown limits on the RCF and the CID are £20.0 million and £38.0
million respectively.
As part of the Acquisition, the Group
will be increasing the draw down limit on the RCF to £40.0 million
and the CID to £55.0 million. The RCF will be fully drawn on
Completion. The CID facility will be drawn as required with the
Group's debtor book being available to draw as part of
Completion.
The covenants in the Facilities will
remain unchanged as follows:
·
Adjusted leverage: net debt (including IFRS 16 lease
liabilities) not to exceed three times the LTM EBITDA. It should be
noted that this covenant allows for the inclusion of pro forma
profitability for any acquired Group companies during the
period.
·
Interest cover: EBITDA to net finance charges shall not be
less than four times.
Both Facilities will have a four year
term, with an ability to extend for one year thereafter.
The enlarged Group is expected to
have average leverage below 2.5x on a pro forma basis in the
financial year ending 31 October 2025, falling to less than 2.0x as
at 31 October 2025 (under 1.5x leverage on an ex IFRS16
basis).
Current trading
As announced by the Company on 3
September 2024, the Group remains confident of delivering financial
results in line with consensus market expectations for the full
year ending 31 October 20245.
The Company's board of directors
(the "Directors" or the
"Board") has a progressive
dividend policy that has the intention to pay a total annual
dividend of between 40 per cent. and 50 per cent. of profit after
tax. The Company has historically stated that in years where the
Group incurs higher cash outflows through its investment activity
in merger and acquisitions or infrastructure capital expenditure,
the aggregate annual dividend is likely to be at the lower end of
the range. For those years where there is no investment the annual
dividend is likely to be at the higher end of the range.
Due to the Acquisition occurring at
the end of the Group's financial year, Creed's contribution to the
enlarged Group's performance for the 12 month period ending 31
October 2024 will be limited on a reported basis. Further, the
Group will have to recognise the costs of the Acquisition which
will impact the reported profit after tax during the current
financial year.
The Board is committed to a
progressive dividend and believes it is valued by both retail and
institutional investors. As a consequence the Board recognises that
for the financial year ending 31 October 2024 the Group may pay a
total annual dividend marginally above 50 per cent. of its reported
profit after tax for the financial year in order to maintain the
Company's track record since its IPO of paying a progressive
dividend. Further details on the dividend for the current financial
year will be contained in the final financial results of the Group
for the 12 month period ending 31 October 2024 upon
publication.
Details of the Capital Raising
Placing
The Company is proposing to raise up to £31.0 million (before commissions,
fees and expenses) by means of the Placing. The Placing Shares will
represent approximately 14.5 per cent. of the Existing Ordinary
Shares. The aggregate net proceeds after costs related to the
Placing are expected to be approximately £29.5 million.
The Appendix sets out further
information relating to the Bookbuilding Process and the terms and
conditions of the Placing. Persons who have chosen to participate
in the Placing, by making an oral, electronic or written offer to
acquire Placing Shares, will be deemed to have read and understood
this Announcement in its entirety (including the Appendix) and to
be making such offer on the terms and subject to the conditions
herein, and to be providing the representations, warranties,
agreements, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in the
Appendix.
Canaccord Genuity will commence the
Bookbuilding Process immediately following the publication of this
Announcement. The number of Placing Shares to be issued will be
determined at the close of the Bookbuilding Process.
The Company acknowledges that it is
seeking to issue new Ordinary Shares in excess of 10 per cent. of
its existing issued ordinary share capital on a non-pre-emptive
basis, in line with its existing authorities. The Board has chosen
this structure to minimise costs and reduce the time to completion
of the Placing, as well as incorporating a Retail Offer alongside
the non-pre-emptive issue to broaden participation in the Capital
Raising as a whole.
The book will open with immediate
effect following this Announcement. The timing of the closing of
the Bookbuilding Process and allocations are at the absolute
discretion of Canaccord Genuity and the Company. Details of the
number of Placing Shares will be announced as soon as practicable
after the close of the Bookbuilding Process. The Placing is being
underwritten as to settlement risk only by Canaccord
Genuity.
Stephen Smith, Non-Executive
Chairman, and Gerard Murray, Non-Executive Director, intend to
participate in the Placing.
Retail Offer (to be conducted via
PrimaryBid)
In addition to the Placing, the Board
is supportive of the Pre-Emption Group guidance that encourages
companies to consider the inclusion of retail shareholders when
issuing shares non-pre-emptively, the Company therefore intends to
undertake an offer of up to £0.5 million, to be made via the
PrimaryBid platform.
The Company intends to carry out the
Retail Offer on the terms to be set out in a separate announcement
to be made by the Company in due course.
The Retail Offer is conditional upon, amongst other things,
Admission becoming effective on or before 8.00 a.m. on 27 September
2024 (or such later time and/or date as Canaccord Genuity may agree
with the Company, being not later than 8.00 a.m. on 14 October
2024). The Retail Offer may not be fully subscribed and is not
being underwritten. For the avoidance of doubt, the Retail Offer is
not part of the Placing.
Admission, settlement and CREST
Application will be made to London
Stock Exchange plc (the "London
Stock Exchange") for admission of the New Ordinary Shares to
trading on the AIM market ("AIM") of the London Stock Exchange
("Admission"). It is
expected that Admission will take place on or before 8.00 a.m. on
27 September 2024 and that dealings in the New Ordinary Shares on
AIM will commence at the same time.
The Placing is conditional upon
Admission becoming effective and upon the Placing Agreement between
the Company and Canaccord Genuity not being terminated in
accordance with its terms.
The New Ordinary Shares, when issued,
will be fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the
existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive all
dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the
date of issue.
Following Admission, assuming the
full take up of the New Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Capital
Raising, the Company will have 80,438,979 Ordinary Shares in issue,
which would represent an increase of approximately 14.7 per cent.
of the existing issued ordinary share capital of the
Company.
This
Announcement should be read in its entirety. In particular, you
should read and understand the information provided in the
"Important Notices" section of this Announcement.
The person responsible for arranging
the release of this Announcement on behalf of the Company is David Brind, Chief
Financial Officer of the Company.
4.
Based on Creed management accounts (pre IFRS adjustments) for the
last 12 months ("LTM") to
May 2024, including vendor due diligence adjustment for
non-recurring shareholder costs and run rate of current
expenses.
5.
The current consensus market expectations for Kitwave for the 12
months ending October 2024 are £673.4 million of revenue, £44.7
million of adjusted EBITDA and £33.8 million of adjusted operating
profit.
IMPORTANT
NOTICES
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING
THE APPENDIX) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN
(TOGETHER, THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT
PERSONS WHOSE ORDINARY ACTIVITIES INVOLVE THEM IN ACQUIRING,
HOLDING, MANAGING AND DISPOSING OF INVESTMENTS (AS PRINCIPAL OR
AGENT) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THEIR BUSINESS AND WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND ARE: (1) IF IN A
MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA"), QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED
IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 (THE "EU PROSPECTUS REGULATION"); (2) IF IN
THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E)
OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 AS IT FORMS PART OF UNITED KINGDOM
DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018
(THE "UK PROSPECTUS
REGULATION") WHO (A) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER
2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER") (INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS) OR
(B) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES,
UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.) OF THE ORDER; AND (3) OTHERWISE,
PERSONS TO WHOM IT IS OTHERWISE LAWFUL TO COMMUNICATE IT TO (ALL
SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION
IN IT MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT
RELEVANT PERSONS. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST
SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY INVESTMENT OR
INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE
ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT
PERSONS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR
SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN KITWAVE GROUP
PLC.
THE NEW ORDINARY SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN
AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR WITH ANY
SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION OF THE
UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR TRANSFERRED,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS
TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) (THE "UNITED
STATES" OR THE "US")
EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT
SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND
IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE UNITED
STATES. THE NEW ORDINARY SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD ONLY
OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES IN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS" WITHIN THE
MEANING OF, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, REGULATION S UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT AND OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. NO
PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE NEW ORDINARY SHARES IS BEING MADE IN THE
UNITED STATES OR ELSEWHERE.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE
APPENDIX) AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES,
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY
OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR
DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR
PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR
FROM THE UNITED STATES. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF
SECURITIES FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE
SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD
IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION
FROM REGISTRATION. NO PUBLIC OFFERING IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
The distribution of this Announcement
and/or the Placing and/or issue of the New Ordinary Shares in
certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been
taken by the Company, Canaccord Genuity or any of their respective
affiliates, agents, directors, officers, consultants, partners or
employees ("Representatives") that would permit an
offer of the New Ordinary Shares or possession or distribution of
this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material
relating to such New Ordinary Shares in any jurisdiction where
action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession
this Announcement comes are required by the Company and Canaccord
Genuity to inform themselves about and to observe any such
restrictions.
This Announcement or any part of it
is for information purposes only and does not constitute or form
part of any offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of an offer
to acquire, purchase or subscribe for, any securities in the United
States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or
any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No
public offering of the New Ordinary Shares is being made in any
such jurisdiction.
All offers of the New Ordinary Shares
in the United Kingdom or the EEA will be made pursuant to an
exemption from the requirement to produce a prospectus under the UK
Prospectus Regulation or the EU Prospectus Regulation, as
appropriate. In the United Kingdom, this Announcement is being
directed solely at persons in circumstances in which section 21(1)
of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) does
not require the approval of the relevant communication by an
authorised person.
The New Ordinary Shares have not been
approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange
Commission, any state securities commission or other regulatory
authority in the United States, nor have any of the foregoing
authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Placing or
the accuracy or adequacy of this Announcement. Any representation
to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States. The
relevant clearances have not been, nor will they be, obtained from
the securities commission of any province or territory of Canada,
no prospectus has been lodged with, or registered by, the
Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Japanese
Ministry of Finance; the relevant clearances have not been, and
will not be, obtained from the South African Reserve Bank or any
other applicable body in the Republic of South Africa in relation
to the New Ordinary Shares; and the New Ordinary Shares have not
been, nor will they be, registered under or offered in compliance
with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of the
United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or
Japan. Accordingly, the New Ordinary Shares may not (unless an
exemption under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be
offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or
into the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South
Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction outside the United
Kingdom or the EEA.
Persons (including, without
limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual right or
other legal obligations to forward a copy of this Announcement
should seek appropriate advice before taking any such
action.
By participating in the Bookbuilding
Process and the Placing, each person who is invited to and who
chooses to participate in the Placing (a "Placee") by making an oral, electronic
or written and legally binding offer to acquire Placing Shares will
be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its
entirety, to be participating, making an offer and acquiring
Placing Shares on the terms and conditions contained herein and to
be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities,
acknowledgements and undertakings contained in the Appendix.
Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing
and no public offering of Placing Shares is being or will be
made.
This Announcement may contain, or may
be deemed to contain, "forward-looking statements" with respect to
certain of the Company's plans and its current goals and
expectations relating to its future financial condition,
performance, strategic initiatives, objectives and results.
Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as "aim",
"anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan",
"goal", "believe", "seek", "may", "could", "outlook" or other words
of similar meaning. By their nature, all forward-looking statements
involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events
and circumstances which are beyond the control of the Company,
including amongst other things, United Kingdom domestic and global
economic business conditions, market-related risks such as
fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates, the policies and
actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, the effect of
competition, inflation, deflation, the timing effect and other
uncertainties of future acquisitions or combinations within
relevant industries, the effect of tax and other legislation and
other regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Company and its
affiliates operate, the effect of volatility in the equity, capital
and credit markets on the Company's profitability and ability to
access capital and credit, a decline in the Company's credit
ratings; the effect of operational risks; and the loss of key
personnel. As a result, the actual future financial condition,
performance and results of the Company may differ materially from
the plans, goals and expectations set forth in any forward-looking
statements. Any forward-looking statements made in this
Announcement by or on behalf of the Company speak only as of the
date they are made. Except as required by applicable law or
regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or
undertaking to publish any updates or revisions to any
forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement to
reflect any changes in the Company's expectations with regard
thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on
which any such statement is based.
Canaccord Genuity Limited is
authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the
"FCA") in the United
Kingdom and is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else
in connection with the Bookbuilding Process and the Capital
Raising, and Canaccord Genuity will not be responsible to anyone
(including any Placees) other than the Company for providing the
protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the Bookbuilding Process or the Capital Raising or any
other matters referred to in this Announcement.
Canaccord Genuity's responsibilities
as the Company's nominated adviser under the AIM Rules for
Nominated Advisers are owed solely to the Exchange and are not owed
to the Company or to any director of the Company or to any other
person.
No representation or warranty,
express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to,
and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by
Canaccord Genuity or by any of its Representatives as to, or in
relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or
any other written or oral information made available to or publicly
available to any interested party or its advisers, and any
liability therefor is expressly disclaimed.
No statement in this Announcement is
intended to be a profit forecast or estimate, and no statement in
this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per
share of the Company for the current or future financial years
would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings
per share of the Company.
The price of shares and any income
expected from them may go down as well as up and investors may not
get back the full amount invested upon disposal of the shares. Past
performance is no guide to future performance, and persons needing
advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
The Placing Shares to be issued
pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any
stock exchange other than the AIM market of the London Stock
Exchange.
Neither the content of the Company's
website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's
website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this
Announcement.
Information to Distributors
UK product
governance
Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements
contained within Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Product Intervention
and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK Product Governance
Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether
arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer"
(for the purposes of the UK Product Governance Requirements) may
otherwise have with respect thereto, the New Ordinary Shares have
been subject to a product approval process, which has determined
that such securities are: (i) compatible with an end target market
of investors who meet the criteria of retail investors and
investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and
eligible counterparties, each as defined in paragraph 3 of the FCA
Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; and (ii) eligible for
distribution through all distribution channels (the "Target Market
Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment,
distributors (for the purposes of UK Product Governance
Requirements) should note that: (a) the price of the New Ordinary
Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their
investment; (b) the New Ordinary Shares offer no guaranteed income
and no capital protection; and (c) an investment in the New
Ordinary Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a
guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in
conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are
capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment
and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses
that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without
prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or
regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing.
Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market
Assessment, Canaccord Genuity will only procure investors who meet
the criteria of professional clients and eligible
counterparties.
For
the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not
constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for
the purposes of Chapter 9A or 10A respectively of the FCA Handbook
Conduct of Business Sourcebook; or (b) a recommendation to any
investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take
any other action whatsoever with respect to the New Ordinary
Shares.
Each
distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market
assessment in respect of the New Ordinary Shares and determining
appropriate distribution channels.
EEA product
governance
Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements
contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in
financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and
10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing
MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures in the European
Economic Area (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance
Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether
arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer"
(for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements)
may otherwise have with respect thereto, the New Ordinary Shares
have been subject to a product approval process, which has
determined that the New Ordinary Shares are: (i) compatible with an
end target market of (a) retail investors, (b) investors who meet
the criteria of professional clients and (c) eligible
counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for
distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by
MiFID II (the "EU Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the
EU Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the
price of the New Ordinary Shares may decline and investors could
lose all or part of their investment; the New Ordinary Shares offer
no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment
in the New Ordinary Shares is compatible only with investors who do
not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either
alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other
adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an
investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any
losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is
without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or
regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing.
Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the EU Target Market
Assessment, Canaccord Genuity will only procure investors who meet
the criteria of professional clients and eligible
counterparties.
For
the avoidance of doubt, the EU Target Market Assessment does not
constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for
the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor
or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other
action whatsoever with respect to the New Ordinary
Shares.
Each distributor is
responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in
respect of the New Ordinary Shares and determining appropriate
distribution channels.
APPENDIX - TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF
THE PLACING
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVITED
PLACEES ONLY REGARDING THE PLACING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING
THIS APPENDIX) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN
(TOGETHER, THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT
PERSONS WHOSE ORDINARY ACTIVITIES INVOLVE THEM IN ACQUIRING,
HOLDING, MANAGING AND DISPOSING OF INVESTMENTS (AS PRINCIPAL OR
AGENT) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THEIR BUSINESS AND WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND ARE (1) IF IN A
MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA"), QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED
IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 (THE "EU PROSPECTUS REGULATION"); (2) IF IN
THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E)
OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 AS IT FORMS PART OF UNITED KINGDOM
DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018
(THE "UK PROSPECTUS
REGULATION") WHO (A) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER
2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER") (INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS) OR
(B) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES,
UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.) OF THE ORDER; AND (3) OTHERWISE,
PERSONS TO WHOM IT IS OTHERWISE LAWFUL TO COMMUNICATE IT TO (ALL
SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION
IN IT MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT
RELEVANT PERSONS. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST
SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY INVESTMENT OR
INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE
ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT
PERSONS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR
SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN KITWAVE GROUP
PLC.
THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND
WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES
ACT") OR WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY
STATE OR JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED,
SOLD OR TRANSFERRED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES
(INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED
STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) (THE "UNITED STATES" OR THE "US") EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION
FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF
THE UNITED STATES. THE PLACING SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD
ONLY OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES IN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS" WITHIN THE
MEANING OF, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, REGULATION S UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT AND OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. NO
PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED
STATES OR ELSEWHERE.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THIS
APPENDIX) AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES,
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY
OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR
DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR
PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE
UNITED STATES. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR
SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES
REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED
STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION. NO PUBLIC OFFERING IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
The distribution of this Announcement
and/or the Placing and/or issue of the Placing Shares in certain
jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by
the Company, Canaccord Genuity or any of its Representatives that
would permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or
distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or
publicity material relating to such Placing Shares in any
jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons
into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the
Company and Canaccord Genuity to inform themselves about and to
observe any such restrictions.
This Announcement or any part of it
is for information purposes only and does not constitute or form
part of any offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of an offer
to acquire, purchase or subscribe for, any securities in the United
States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or
any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No
public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in any such
jurisdiction.
All offers of the Placing Shares in
the United Kingdom or the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption
from the requirement to produce a prospectus under the UK
Prospectus Regulation or the EU Prospectus Regulation, as
appropriate. In the United Kingdom, this Announcement is being
directed solely at persons in circumstances in which section 21(1)
of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the
"FSMA") does not require
the approval of the relevant communication by an authorised
person.
The Placing Shares have not been
approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange
Commission, any state securities commission or other regulatory
authority in the United States, nor have any of the foregoing
authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Placing or
the accuracy or adequacy of this Announcement. Any representation
to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States. The
relevant clearances have not been, nor will they be, obtained from
the securities commission of any province or territory of Canada,
no prospectus has been lodged with, or registered by, the
Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Japanese
Ministry of Finance; the relevant clearances have not been, and
will not be, obtained from the South African Reserve Bank or any
other applicable body in the Republic of South Africa in relation
to the Placing Shares and the Placing Shares have not been, nor
will they be, registered under or offered in compliance with the
securities laws of any state, province or territory of the United
States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan.
Accordingly, the Placing Shares may not (unless an exemption under
the relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold,
resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United
States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or
any other jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom or the
EEA.
Persons (including, without
limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual right or
other legal obligations to forward a copy of this Announcement
should seek appropriate advice before taking any such
action.
This Announcement should be read in
its entirety. In particular, you should read and understand the
information provided in the "Important Notices" section of this
Announcement.
By participating in the Bookbuilding
Process and the Placing, each Placee will be deemed to have read
and understood this Announcement in its entirety, to be
participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on the
terms and conditions contained herein and to be providing the
representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and
undertakings contained in this Appendix.
EACH
PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL,
REGULATORY, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF A SUBSCRIPTION FOR
THE PLACING SHARES.
In particular, each such Placee
represents, warrants, undertakes, agrees and acknowledges (amongst
other things) to Canaccord Genuity and the Company that:
1.
it is a Relevant Person and undertakes that it
will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that
are allocated to it for the purposes of its business;
and
2.
in the case of a Relevant Person in the United
Kingdom who acquires any Placing Shares pursuant to the
Placing:
(a)
it is a Qualified Investor within the meaning of
Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation; and
(b)
in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it
as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1)
of the UK Prospectus Regulation:
(i)
the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing
have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired
with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in the United
Kingdom other than Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which
the prior consent of Canaccord Genuity has been given to the offer
or resale; or
(ii)
where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on
behalf of persons in the United Kingdom other than Qualified
Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated
under the UK Prospectus Regulation as having been made to such
persons; and
3.
in the case of a Relevant Person in a member state
of the EEA (each a "Relevant
State") who
acquires any Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing:
(a)
it is a Qualified Investor within the meaning of
Article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation; and
(b)
in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it
as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1)
of the EU Prospectus Regulation:
(i)
the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing
have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired
with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in a Relevant
State other than Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which
the prior consent of Canaccord Genuity has been given to the offer
or resale; or
(ii)
where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on
behalf of persons in a Relevant State other than Qualified
Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated
under the EU Prospectus Regulation as having been made to such
persons; and
4.
it is acquiring the Placing Shares for its own
account or is acquiring the Placing Shares for an account with
respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and has
the authority to make and does make the representations,
warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements, undertakings and
agreements contained in this Announcement; and
5.
it understands (or if acting for the account of
another person, such person has confirmed that such person
understands) the resale and transfer restrictions set out in this
Appendix; and
6.
except as otherwise permitted by
the Company and subject to any available
exemptions from applicable securities laws, it (and any account
referred to in paragraph 4 above) is outside of the United States
acquiring the Placing Shares in offshore transactions as defined in
and in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act;
and
7.
the Company and Canaccord Genuity will rely upon
the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations,
warranties, acknowledgements and agreements.
No
prospectus
The Placing Shares are being offered
to a limited number of specifically invited persons only and will
not be offered in such a way as to require any prospectus or other
offering document to be published. No prospectus or other offering
document has been or will be submitted to be approved by the FCA in
relation to the Placing or the Placing Shares and Placees'
commitments will be made solely on the basis of (i) the information
contained in this Announcement, (ii) any information publicly
announced through a Regulatory Information Service (as defined in
the AIM Rules for Companies (the "AIM Rules")) by or on behalf of the
Company on or prior to the date of this Announcement and (iii) the
business and financial information that the Company is required to
publish in accordance with the AIM Rules and the Market Abuse
Regulation (EU Regulation No. 596/2014 as it forms part of United
Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal)
Act 2018 (the "UK MAR")
(together, the "Publicly Available
Information") and subject to any further terms set out in
the contract note, electronic trade confirmation or other (oral or
written) confirmation to be sent to individual Placees.
Each Placee, by participating in the
Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement is
exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms that it
has neither received nor relied on any information (other than the
Publicly Available Information), representation, warranty or
statement made by or on behalf of Canaccord Genuity or the Company
or any other person and none of Canaccord Genuity, the Company nor
any other person acting on such person's behalf nor any of their
respective Representatives has or shall have any liability for any
Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other
information, representation, warranty or statement. Each Placee
acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation
of the business, financial or other position of the Company in
accepting a participation in the Placing. No Placee should consider
any information in this Announcement to be legal, tax or business
advice. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of
any person for fraudulent misrepresentation.
Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing
Shares
Canaccord Genuity has today entered
into a Placing agreement (the "Placing Agreement") with the Company
under which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in
the Placing Agreement, Canaccord Genuity, as agent for and on
behalf of the Company, has agreed to use its reasonable endeavours
to procure Placees for the Placing Shares. In accordance with the
terms of the Placing Agreement, subject to the execution of the
Results Agreement (as defined in the Placing Agreement) setting out
the final number of Placing Shares, if Placees fail to take up
their allocation of Placing Shares at the Issue Price, Canaccord
Genuity agrees to take up such shares and the Company agrees to
allot and issue such shares to Canaccord Genuity, at the Issue
Price and on the terms set out in the Placing Agreement.
The Placing Shares will, when issued,
be subject to the articles of association of the Company, be
credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the
Existing Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company, including
the right to receive all dividends and other distributions
declared, made or paid in respect of such Existing Ordinary Shares
after the date of issue of the Placing Shares.
Lock-up
As part of the Placing, the Company
has agreed that it will not for a period of 90 days after (but
including) Admission, directly or indirectly, issue, offer, sell,
lend, pledge, contract to sell or issue, grant any option, right or
warrant to purchase or otherwise dispose of any Ordinary Shares (or
any interest therein or in respect thereof) or other securities of
the Company exchangeable for, convertible into or representing the
right to receive Ordinary Shares or any substantially similar
securities or otherwise enter into any transaction (including
derivative transaction) directly or indirectly, permanently or
temporarily, to dispose of any Ordinary Shares or undertake any
other transaction with the same economic effect as any of the
foregoing or announce an offering of Ordinary Shares or any
interest therein or to announce publicly any intention to enter
into any transaction described above. This agreement is subject to
certain customary exceptions and does not prevent the grant or
exercise of options under any of the Company's existing share
incentives and share option schemes, or following Admission the
issue by the Company of any Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of
any right or option or the conversion of a security already in
existence.
Application for admission to trading
Application will be made to the
London Stock Exchange for admission of the Placing Shares to
trading on AIM.
It is expected that Admission will
take place on or before 8.00 a.m. on 27 September 2024 and that
dealings in the Placing Shares on AIM will commence at the same
time.
The
Bookbuilding Process
Canaccord Genuity will commence the
Bookbuilding Process to determine demand for participation in the
Placing by Placees immediately following the publication of this
Announcement. This Appendix gives details of the terms and
conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Placing.
No commissions will be paid to Placees or by Placees in respect of
any Placing Shares.
Canaccord Genuity and the Company
shall be entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method
to the Bookbuilding Process as they may, in their sole discretion,
determine.
Principal terms of the Bookbuilding Process and
Placing
1.
Canaccord Genuity is acting as bookrunner to the
Placing, as agent for and on behalf of the Company.
2.
Participation in the Placing will only be
available to persons who may lawfully be, and are, invited by
Canaccord Genuity to participate. Canaccord Genuity and any of its
affiliates are entitled to enter bids in the Bookbuilding
Process.
3.
The price per Placing Share (the "Issue
Price") is fixed at 305 pence and is
payable to Canaccord Genuity (as agent for the Company) by all Placees whose bids are successful. The
number of Placing Shares will be agreed between Canaccord Genuity
and the Company following completion of the Bookbuilding Process.
The number of Placing Shares will be announced by the Company (such
announcement being the "Placing
Results Announcement") following the completion of the
Bookbuilding Process and the entry into the Placing Agreement by
the Company and Canaccord Genuity.
4.
To bid in the Bookbuilding Process, Placees should
communicate their bid by telephone or email to their usual sales
contact at Canaccord Genuity. Each bid should state the number of
Placing Shares which a Placee wishes to acquire at the Issue Price.
Bids may be scaled down by Canaccord Genuity on the basis referred
to in paragraph 9 below. Canaccord Genuity is arranging the Placing
as agent of the Company.
5.
The Bookbuilding Process is expected to close on
24 September 2024 subject to the agreement of Canaccord Genuity
and the Company. Canaccord Genuity may, in
agreement with the Company, accept bids that are received after the
Bookbuilding Process has closed. The Company reserves the right
(upon agreement of Canaccord Genuity) to reduce or seek to increase
the amount to be raised pursuant to the Placing, in its
discretion.
6.
Each Placee's allocation will be determined by
Canaccord Genuity in its discretion following consultation
with the Company and will be confirmed to
Placees either orally or by email by Canaccord Genuity. Canaccord
Genuity may choose to accept bids, either in whole or in part, on
the basis of allocations determined at its absolute discretion, in
consultation with the Company, and may scale down any bids for this
purpose on the basis referred to in paragraph 9 below.
7.
The Company will release the Placing Results
Announcement following the close of the Bookbuilding Process
detailing the aggregate number of the Placing Shares to be
issued.
8.
Each Placee's allocation and commitment will be
evidenced by a contract note, electronic trade confirmation or
other (oral or written) confirmation issued to such Placee by
Canaccord Genuity. The terms of this Appendix will be deemed
incorporated in that contract note, electronic trade confirmation
or other (oral or written) confirmation.
9.
Subject to paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 above, Canaccord
Genuity may choose to accept bids, either in whole or in part, on
the basis of allocations determined at its discretion and may scale
down any bids for this purpose on such basis as it may determine or
be directed. Canaccord Genuity may also, notwithstanding paragraphs
4, 5 and 6 above, subject to the prior consent of
the Company:
(a)
allocate Placing Shares after the time of any
initial allocation to any person submitting a bid after that time;
and
(b)
allocate Placing Shares after the Bookbuilding
Process has closed to any person submitting a bid after that
time.
10.
A bid in the Bookbuilding Process will be made on
the terms and subject to the conditions in this Appendix and will
be legally binding on the Placee on behalf of which it is made and
except with Canaccord Genuity's consent will not be capable of
variation or revocation after the time at which it is submitted.
Following Canaccord Genuity's oral or written confirmation of each
Placee's allocation and commitment to acquire Placing Shares, each
Placee will have an immediate, separate, irrevocable and binding
obligation, owed to Canaccord Genuity (as agent for
the Company), to pay to it (or as it may direct)
in cleared funds an amount equal to the product of Issue Price and
the number of Placing Shares such Placee has agreed to acquire and
the Company has agreed to allot and issue to that
Placee.
11.
Except as required by law or regulation, no press
release or other announcement will be made by Canaccord Genuity
or the Company using the name of any Placee
(or its agent), in its capacity as Placee (or agent), other than
with such Placee's prior written consent.
12.
Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's
allocation(s) pursuant to the Placing is/are confirmed, settlement
for all Placing Shares to be acquired pursuant to the Placing will
be required to be made at the same time, on the basis explained
below under "Registration and
Settlement".
13.
All obligations under the Bookbuilding Process and
Placing will be subject to fulfilment of the conditions referred to
below under "Conditions of the
Placing" and to the Placing not being terminated on the
basis referred to below under "Termination of the
Placing".
14.
By participating in the Bookbuilding Process, each
Placee will agree that its rights and obligations in respect of the
Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described below
and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the
Placee.
15.
To the fullest extent permissible by law and
applicable FCA rules and regulations, neither:
(a)
Canaccord Genuity;
(b)
any of its Representatives; nor
(c)
to the extent not contained within (a) or (b), any
person connected with Canaccord Genuity as defined in the FSMA ((b)
and (c) being together "affiliates" and individually an
"affiliate" of Canaccord
Genuity),
shall have any liability (including
to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) to Placees
or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or
otherwise. In particular, neither Canaccord Genuity nor any of its
affiliates shall have any liability (including, to the extent
permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of Canaccord
Genuity's conduct of the Bookbuilding Process or of such
alternative method of effecting the Placing as Canaccord Genuity
and the Company may agree. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that
the Company is responsible for the allotment of the Placing Shares
to the Placees and Canaccord Genuity shall have no liability to the
Placees for any failure by the Company to fulfil those
obligations.
Registration and Settlement
If Placees are allocated any Placing
Shares in the Placing they will be sent a contract note, electronic
trade confirmation or other (oral or written) confirmation which
will confirm the number of Placing Shares allocated to them, the
Issue Price and the aggregate amount owed by them to Canaccord
Genuity.
Each Placee will be deemed to agree
that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and
payment is completed as directed by Canaccord Genuity in accordance
with either the standing CREST or certificated settlement
instructions which they have in place with Canaccord
Genuity.
Settlement of transactions in the
Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00BNYKB709) following Admission will take
place within the CREST system, subject to certain exceptions.
Settlement through CREST is expected to occur on 27 September 2024
(the "Settlement Date") in
accordance with the contract note, electronic trade confirmation or
other (oral or written) confirmation. Settlement will be on a
delivery versus payment basis. However, in the event of any
difficulties or delays in the admission of the Placing Shares to
CREST or the use of CREST in relation to the Placing, the Company
and Canaccord Genuity may agree that the Placing Shares should be
issued in certificated form. Canaccord Genuity reserves the right
to require settlement for the Placing Shares, and to deliver the
Placing Shares to Placees, by such other means as it deems
necessary if delivery or settlement to Placees is not practicable
within the CREST system or would not be consistent with regulatory
requirements in the jurisdiction in which a Placee is
located.
Interest is chargeable daily on
payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance
with the arrangements set out above, in respect of either CREST or
certificated deliveries, at the rate of 3 percentage points above
the prevailing base rate of Barclays Bank plc as determined by
Canaccord Genuity.
Subject to the conditions set out
above, payment in respect of the Placees' allocations is due as set
out below. Each Placee should provide its settlement details in
order to enable instructions to be successfully matched in
CREST.
The relevant settlement details for
the Placing Shares are as follows:
CREST Participant ID of Canaccord
Genuity:
|
805
|
Expected trade date:
|
25
September 2024
|
Settlement date:
|
27
September 2024
|
ISIN code for the Placing
Shares:
|
GB00BNYKB709
|
Deadline for Placees to input
instructions into CREST:
|
12.00 p.m.
on 26 September 2024
|
Each Placee is deemed to agree that,
if it does not comply with these obligations, Canaccord Genuity may
sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on
their behalf and retain from the proceeds, for Canaccord Genuity's
own account and benefit, an amount equal to the aggregate amount
owed by the Placee plus any interest due. The relevant Placee will,
however, remain liable for any shortfall below the Issue Price and
for any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any
interest or penalties) imposed in any jurisdiction which may arise
upon the sale of such Placing Shares on its behalf. By
communicating a bid for Placing Shares, such Placee confers on
Canaccord Genuity all such authorities and powers necessary to
carry out such sale and agrees to ratify and confirm all actions
which Canaccord Genuity lawfully takes in pursuance of such
sale.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered
to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees must ensure that, upon
receipt, the conditional contract note, electronic trade
confirmation or other (oral or written) confirmation is copied and
delivered immediately to the relevant person within that
organisation. Insofar as Placing Shares are registered in a
Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the name of any person
for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or that of a nominee for
such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below,
be so registered free from any liability to United Kingdom stamp
duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If there are any circumstances in
which any United Kingdom stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or
other similar taxes or duties (including any interest and penalties
relating thereto) is payable in respect of the allocation,
allotment, issue, sale, transfer or delivery of the Placing Shares
(or, for the avoidance of doubt, if any stamp duty or stamp duty
reserve tax is payable in connection with any subsequent transfer
or agreement to transfer Placing Shares), the Company shall not be
responsible for payment thereof. Placees will not be entitled to
receive any fee or commission in connection with the
Placing.
Conditions of the Placing
The Placing is conditional upon the
Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been
terminated in accordance with its terms.
The obligations of Canaccord Genuity
under the Placing Agreement are, and the Placing is, conditional
upon, inter
alia:
(a)
none of the representations, warranties and
undertakings on the part of the Company contained in the Placing
Agreement being untrue, inaccurate or misleading at the applicable
time (being the date on which the Placing Agreement is signed and
Admission), by reference to the facts and circumstances then
subsisting;
(b)
the Company complying with its obligations under
the Placing Agreement to the extent that they fall to be performed
on or before Admission;
(c)
the Company and Canaccord Genuity agreeing the
final number of Placing Shares and executing the Results Agreement
no later than 5.00 p.m. on the date of this Announcement (or such
later time and/or date as Canaccord Genuity may agree with the
Company);
(d)
the Company having allotted, subject only to
Admission, the Placing Shares in accordance with the Placing
Agreement; and
(e)
Admission having become effective at or before
8.00 a.m. on 27 September 2024 or such later time as Canaccord
Genuity may agree with the Company (not being later than 8.00 a.m.
on 14 October 2024),
(all conditions to the obligations of
Canaccord Genuity included in the Placing Agreement being together,
the "Conditions").
If any of the Conditions are not
fulfilled or, where permitted, waived by Canaccord Genuity in
accordance with the Placing Agreement within the stated time
periods (or such later time and/or date as the Company and
Canaccord Genuity may agree), or the Placing Agreement is
terminated in accordance with its terms, the Placing will lapse and
the Placees' rights and obligations shall cease and terminate at
such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by or on
behalf of the Placee (or any person on whose behalf the Placee is
acting) in respect thereof.
By participating in the Bookbuilding
Process, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations cease
and terminate only in the circumstances described above and under
"Termination of the
Placing" below and will not be capable of rescission or
termination by it.
Canaccord Genuity may, in its
absolute discretion and upon such terms as it thinks fit, waive
fulfilment of all or any of the Conditions in whole or in part, or
extend the time provided for fulfilment of one or more Conditions,
save that certain Conditions including the condition relating to
Admission referred to above may not be waived. Any such extension
or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this
Appendix.
Canaccord Genuity may terminate the
Placing Agreement in certain circumstances, details of which are
set out below.
Neither Canaccord Genuity nor any of
its affiliates nor the Company shall have any liability to any
Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee
or otherwise) in respect of any decision any of them may make as to
whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or date for the
satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision
any of them may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in
respect of the Placing generally and by participating in the
Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is within the
absolute discretion of Canaccord Genuity.
Termination of the Placing
Canaccord Genuity may, in its
absolute discretion, by notice to the Company, terminate the
Placing Agreement at any time up to Admission if, inter alia, in
the opinion of Canaccord Genuity:
(a)
there has been a breach of the warranties given to
it;
(b)
there has, been a material adverse
change;
(c)
any statement contained in this Announcement, the
Placing Results Announcement or any other document or announcement
issued or published by or on behalf of the Company in connection
with the Placing is or has become or has been discovered to be
untrue or inaccurate in any respect or misleading in any respect;
or
(d)
there has been a force majeure event.
If the Placing Agreement is
terminated in accordance with its terms, the rights and obligations
of each Placee in respect of the Placing as described in this
Announcement shall cease and terminate at such time and no claim
can be made by any Placee in respect thereof.
By participating in the Bookbuilding
Process, each Placee agrees with the Company and Canaccord Genuity
that the exercise by the Company or Canaccord Genuity of any right
of termination or any other right or other discretion under the
Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the
Company or Canaccord Genuity or for agreement between the Company
and Canaccord Genuity (as the case may be) and that neither the
Company nor Canaccord Genuity need make any reference to such
Placee and that none of the Company, Canaccord Genuity nor any of
their respective Representatives shall have any liability to such
Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee
or otherwise) whatsoever in connection with any such exercise. Each
Placee further agrees that they will have no rights against
Canaccord Genuity, the Company or any of their respective directors
or employees under the Placing Agreement pursuant to the Contracts
(Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (as amended).
By participating in the Placing, each
Placee agrees that its rights and obligations terminate only in the
circumstances described above and under the "Conditions of the Placing" section
above and will not be capable of rescission or termination by it
after the issue by Canaccord Genuity of a contract note, electronic
trade confirmation or other (oral or written) confirmation
confirming each Placee's allocation and commitment in the
Placing.
Representations, warranties and further
terms
By submitting a bid in the
Bookbuilding Process, each Placee (and any person acting on such
Placee's behalf) irrevocably confirms, represents, warrants,
acknowledges and agrees (for itself and for any such prospective
Placee) with the Company and Canaccord Genuity (in its capacity as
bookrunner and Placing agent of the Company in respect of the
Placing) that (save where Canaccord Genuity expressly agrees in
writing to the contrary):
1.
it has read and understood this Announcement in
its entirety and that its acquisition of the Placing Shares is
subject to and based upon all the terms, conditions,
representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements,
agreements and undertakings and other information contained herein
and that it has not relied on, and will not rely on, any
information given or any representations, warranties or statements
made at any time by any person in connection with Admission, the
Placing, the Company, the Placing Shares or otherwise, other than
the information contained in this Announcement and the Publicly
Available Information;
2.
it has not received and will not receive a
prospectus or other offering document in connection with the
Placing and acknowledges that no prospectus or other offering
document:
(a)
is required under the UK Prospectus Regulation or
other applicable law; and
(b)
has been or will be prepared in connection with
the Placing;
3.
the Ordinary Shares are admitted to trading on
AIM, and that the Company is therefore
required to publish certain business and financial information in
accordance with the AIM Rules for the Companies (the "AIM Rules") and the Market Abuse
Regulation (EU Regulation No. 596/2014 as it applies in the United
Kingdom as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue
of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "UK MAR")), which includes a
description of the nature of the Company's business and the
Company's most recent balance sheet and profit and loss account and
that it is able to obtain or access such information without undue
difficulty, and is able to obtain access to such information or
comparable information concerning any other publicly traded
company, without undue difficulty;
4.
it has made its own assessment of the Placing
Shares and has relied on its own investigation of the business,
financial or other position of the Company
in accepting a participation in the Placing and neither Canaccord
Genuity nor the Company nor any of their respective Representatives
nor any person acting on behalf of any of them has provided, and
will not provide, it with any material regarding the Placing Shares
or the Company or any other person other than the information in
this Announcement or the Publicly Available Information; nor has it
requested Canaccord Genuity, the Company, any of their respective
Representatives or any person acting on behalf of any of them to
provide it with any such information;
5.
neither Canaccord Genuity nor any person acting on
behalf of it nor any of its Representatives has or shall have any
liability for any Publicly Available Information, or any
representation relating to the Company,
provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of
any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made by that
person;
6.
(a)
the only information on which it is entitled to
rely on and on which it has relied in committing to acquire the
Placing Shares is contained in this Announcement and the Publicly
Available Information, such information being all that it deems
necessary to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing
Shares and it has made its own assessment of the Company, the
Placing Shares and the terms of the Placing based on the
information in this Announcement and the Publicly Available
Information;
(b)
neither Canaccord Genuity, nor the Company (nor
any of their respective Representatives) have made any
representation or warranty to it, express or implied, with respect
to the Company, the Placing or the Placing Shares or the accuracy,
completeness or adequacy of the Publicly Available Information, nor
will it provide any material or information regarding the Company,
the Placing or the Placing Shares;
(c)
it has conducted its own investigation of the
Company, the Placing (including its terms and conditions) and the
Placing Shares, satisfied itself that the information is still
current and relied on that investigation for the purposes of its
decision to participate in the Placing; and
(d)
it has not relied on any investigation that
Canaccord Genuity or any person acting on its behalf may have
conducted with respect to the Company, the Placing or the Placing
Shares;
7.
the content of this Announcement and the Publicly
Available Information has been prepared by and is exclusively the
responsibility of the Company and that
neither Canaccord Genuity nor any persons acting on its behalf nor
any of their respective Representatives is responsible for or has
or shall have any liability for any information, representation,
warranty or statement relating to the Company contained in this
Announcement or the Publicly Available Information nor will they be
liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing
based on any information, representation, warranty or statement
contained in this Announcement, the Publicly Available Information
or otherwise. Nothing in this Appendix shall exclude any liability
of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation;
8.
neither it nor the beneficial owner of the Placing
Shares is, nor will, at the time the Placing Shares are acquired,
be a resident of the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic
of South Africa or Japan;
9.
the Placing Shares have not been registered or
otherwise qualified, and will not be registered or otherwise
qualified, for offer and sale nor will a prospectus be cleared or
approved in respect of any of the Placing Shares under the
securities laws of the United States, or any state or other
jurisdiction of the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic
of South Africa or Japan and, subject to certain exceptions, may
not be offered, sold, taken up, renounced or delivered or
transferred, directly or indirectly, within the United States,
Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or in any
country or jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is
required;
10.
it may be asked to disclose in writing or orally
to Canaccord Genuity: (i) if he or she is an individual, his or her
nationality; or (ii) if he or she is a discretionary fund manager,
the jurisdiction in which the funds are managed or
owned;
11.
it has the funds available to pay for the Placing
Shares for which it has agreed to acquire and acknowledges and
agrees that it will pay the total amount in accordance with the
terms of this Announcement on the due time and date set out herein,
failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with other
Placees or sold at such price as Canaccord Genuity
determines;
12.
it and/or each person on whose behalf it is
participating:
(a)
is entitled to acquire Placing Shares pursuant to
the Placing under the laws and regulations of all relevant
jurisdictions;
(b)
has fully observed such laws and
regulations;
(c)
has the capacity and authority and is entitled to
enter into and perform its obligations as an acquirer of Placing
Shares and will honour such obligations; and
(d)
has obtained all necessary consents and
authorities (including, without limitation, in the case of a person
acting on behalf of a Placee, all necessary consents and
authorities to agree to the terms set out or referred to in this
Appendix) under those laws or otherwise and complied with all
necessary formalities to enable it to enter into the transactions
contemplated hereby and to perform its obligations in relation
thereto and, in particular, if it is a pension fund or investment
company it is aware of and acknowledges it is required to comply
with all applicable laws and regulations with respect to its
acquisition of Placing Shares;
13.
it is not, and any person who it is acting on
behalf of is not, and at the time the Placing Shares are acquired
will not be, a resident of, or with an address in, or subject to
the laws of, the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of
South Africa or Japan, and it acknowledges and agrees that the
Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered or
otherwise qualified under the securities legislation of the United
States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan
and may not be offered, sold, or acquired, directly or indirectly,
within those jurisdictions;
14.
it and the beneficial owner of the Placing Shares
is, and at the time the Placing Shares are acquired will be,
outside the United States and acquiring the Placing Shares in an
"offshore transaction" as defined in, and in accordance with,
Regulation S under the Securities Act;
15.
it understands that the Placing Shares have not
been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act and may
not be offered, sold or resold in or into or from the United States
except pursuant to an effective registration under the Securities
Act, or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not
subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and
in accordance with applicable state securities laws; and no
representation is being made as to the availability of any
exemption under the Securities Act for the reoffer, resale, pledge
or transfer of the Placing Shares;
16.
it (and any account for which it is purchasing) is
not acquiring the Placing Shares with a view to any offer, sale or
distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities
Act;
17.
it understands that:
(a)
the Placing Shares are "restricted securities"
within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) of the Securities Act and will
be subject to restrictions on resale and transfer subject to
certain exceptions under US law;
(b)
no representation is made as to the availability
of the exemption provided by Rule 144 of the Securities Act for
resales or transfers of Placing Shares; and
(c)
it will not deposit the Placing Shares in an
unrestricted depositary receipt programme in the United States or
for US persons (as defined in the Securities Act);
18.
it will not offer, sell, transfer, pledge or
otherwise dispose of any Placing Shares except:
(a)
in an offshore transaction in accordance with
Rules 903 or 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act;
or
(b)
pursuant to another exemption from registration
under the Securities Act, if available,
and in each case in accordance with
all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States
and other jurisdictions;
19.
no representation has been made as to the
availability of the exemption provided by Rule 144, Rule 144A or
any other exemption under the Securities Act for the reoffer,
resale, pledge or transfer of the Placing Shares;
20.
it understands that the Placing Shares are
expected to be issued to it through CREST but may be issued to it
in certificated, definitive form and acknowledges and agrees that
the Placing Shares may, to the extent they are delivered in
certificated form, bear a legend to the following effect unless
agreed otherwise with the
Company:
"THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN AND
WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES
ACT"), OR UNDER THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OR WITH ANY
SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION
OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION
STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT, (B) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR
RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) PURSUANT
TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF
THE UNITED STATES. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY IN THE
FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE DEPOSITED INTO ANY
UNRESTRICTED DEPOSITARY RECEIPT FACILITY IN RESPECT OF THE
COMPANY'S SECURITIES ESTABLISHED OR MAINTAINED BY A DEPOSITARY
BANK. EACH HOLDER, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THESE SHARES, REPRESENTS
THAT IT UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.";
21.
it is not taking up the Placing Shares as a result
of any "general solicitation" or "general advertising" efforts (as
those terms are defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act)
or any "directed selling efforts" (as such term is defined in
Regulation S under the Securities Act);
22.
it understands that there may be certain
consequences under United States and other tax laws resulting from
an investment in the Placing and it has made such investigation and
has consulted its own independent advisers or otherwise has
satisfied itself concerning, without limitation, the effects of
United States federal, state and local income tax laws and foreign
tax laws generally;
23.
it will not distribute, forward, transfer or
otherwise transmit this Announcement or any part of it, or any
other presentational or other materials concerning the Placing in
or into or from the United States (including electronic copies
thereof) to any person, and it has not distributed, forwarded,
transferred or otherwise transmitted any such materials to any
person;
24.
none of Canaccord Genuity, the Company nor any of their respective Representatives nor
any person acting on behalf of any of them is making any
recommendations to it or advising it regarding the suitability of
any transactions it may enter into in connection with the Placing
and that participation in the Placing is on the basis that it is
not and will not be a client of Canaccord Genuity and that
Canaccord Genuity has no duties or responsibilities to it for
providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing
advice in relation to the Placing nor in respect of any
representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities contained
in the Placing Agreement nor for the exercise or performance of any
of its rights and obligations thereunder including any rights to
waive or vary any Conditions or exercise any termination
right;
25.
it will make payment to Canaccord Genuity for the
Placing Shares allocated to it in accordance with the terms and
conditions of this Announcement on the due times and dates set out
in this Announcement, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may
be placed with others on such terms as Canaccord Genuity determines
in its absolute discretion without liability to the Placee and it
will remain liable for any shortfall below the net proceeds of such
sale and the Placing proceeds of such Placing Shares and may be
required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together
with any interest or penalties due pursuant to the terms set out or
referred to in this Announcement) which may arise upon the sale of
such Placee's Placing Shares on its behalf;
26.
its allocation (if any) of Placing Shares will
represent a maximum number of Placing Shares which it will be
entitled, and required, to subscribe for, and that
the Company may call upon it to subscribe for a
lower number of Placing Shares (if any), but in no event in
aggregate more than the aforementioned maximum;
27.
no action has been or will be taken by any
of the Company, Canaccord Genuity or any
person acting on behalf of the Company or Canaccord Genuity that
would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing
Shares in the United States or in any country or jurisdiction where
any such action for that purpose is required;
28.
the person who it specifies for registration as
holder of the Placing Shares will be:
(a)
the Placee; or
(b)
a nominee of the Placee, as the case may
be,
and that Canaccord Genuity and the
Company will not be responsible for any liability to stamp duty or
stamp duty reserve tax resulting from a failure to observe this
requirement. Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of such
Placee agrees to acquire Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing and
agrees to indemnify the Company and Canaccord Genuity in respect of
the same on the basis that the Placing Shares will be allotted to a
CREST stock account of Canaccord Genuity or transferred to a CREST
stock account of Canaccord Genuity who will hold them as nominee on
behalf of the Placee until settlement in accordance with its
standing settlement instructions with it;
29.
the allocation, allotment, issue and delivery to
it, or the person specified by it for registration as holder, of
Placing Shares will not give rise to a stamp duty or stamp duty
reserve tax liability under (or at a rate determined under) any of
sections 67, 70, 93 or 96 of the Finance Act 1986 (depository
receipts and clearance services) and that it is not participating
in the Placing as nominee or agent for any person or persons to
whom the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares
would give rise to such a liability;
30.
if it is within the United Kingdom, it and any
person acting on its behalf (if within the United Kingdom) falls
within Article 19(5) and/or 49(2) of the Order and undertakes that
it will acquire, hold, manage and (if applicable) dispose of any
Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the purposes of its
business only;
31.
it has not offered or sold and will not offer or
sell any Placing Shares to persons in the United Kingdom or a
Relevant State prior to the expiry of a period of six months from
Admission except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them
in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as
principal or agent) for the purposes of their business or otherwise
in circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result
in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning
of section 85(1) of the FSMA or within the meaning of the UK
Prospectus Regulation, or an offer to the public in any member
state of the EEA within the meaning of the EU Prospectus
Regulation;
32.
if it is within the United Kingdom, it is a
Qualified Investor as defined in Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus
Regulation and if it is within a Relevant State, it is a Qualified
Investor as defined in Article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus
Regulation;
33.
it has only communicated or caused to be
communicated and it will only communicate or cause to be
communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment
activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) relating to
Placing Shares in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA
does not require approval of the communication by an authorised
person and it acknowledges and agrees that this Announcement has
not been approved by Canaccord Genuity in its capacity as an
authorised person under section 21 of the FSMA and it may not
therefore be subject to the controls which would apply if it was
made or approved as financial promotion by an authorised
person;
34.
it has complied and it will comply with all
applicable laws with respect to anything done by it or on its
behalf in relation to the Placing Shares (including all relevant
provisions of the FSMA and the UK MAR in respect of anything done
in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom);
35.
if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is
used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, the Placing
Shares acquired by it in the Placing will not be acquired on a
non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be acquired
with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in the United
Kingdom other than Qualified Investors, or in circumstances in
which the express prior written consent of Canaccord Genuity has
been given to each proposed offer or resale;
36.
if in the United Kingdom, unless otherwise agreed
by Canaccord Genuity, it is a "professional client" or an "eligible
counterparty" within the meaning of Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook
Conduct of Business Sourcebook ("COBS") and it is acquiring
Placing Shares for investment only and not with a view to resale or
distribution;
37.
if it has received any inside information (for the
purposes of the UK MAR and section 56 of the Criminal Justice Act
1993 or other applicable law) about the
Company in advance of the Placing, it warrants that it has received
such information within the market soundings regime provided for in
Article 11 of UK MAR and has not:
(a)
dealt (or attempted to deal) in the securities of
the Company or cancelled or amended a dealing in the securities of
the Company;
(b)
encouraged, recommended or induced another person
to deal in the securities of the Company or to cancel or amend an
order concerning the Company's securities; or
(c)
unlawfully disclosed such information to any
person, prior to the information being made publicly
available;
38.
Canaccord Genuity and its affiliates, acting as an
investor for its or their own account(s), may bid or subscribe for
and/or purchase Placing Shares and, in that capacity, may retain,
purchase, offer to sell or otherwise deal for its or their own
account(s) in the Placing Shares, any other securities of
the Company or other related investments in
connection with the Placing or otherwise. Accordingly, references
in this Announcement to the Placing Shares being offered,
subscribed, acquired or otherwise dealt with should be read as
including any offer to, or subscription, acquisition or dealing by,
Canaccord Genuity and/or any of its affiliates acting as an
investor for its or their own account(s). Neither Canaccord Genuity
nor the Company intend to disclose the extent of any such
investment or transaction otherwise than in accordance with any
legal or regulatory obligation to do so;
39.
it:
(a)
has complied with its obligations in connection
with money laundering and terrorist financing under the Proceeds of
Crime Act 2002 (as amended), the Terrorism Act 2000 (as amended),
the Terrorism Act 2006, the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing
and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017
(as amended) and all related or similar rules, regulations or
guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any government
agency having jurisdiction in respect thereof and the Money
Laundering Sourcebook of the FCA (together, the "Money Laundering
Regulations");
(b)
is not a person:
(i)
with whom transactions are prohibited under the US
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or any economic sanction
programmes administered by, or regulations promulgated by, the
Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the
Treasury;
(ii)
named on the Consolidated List of Financial
Sanctions Targets maintained by HM Treasury of the United Kingdom;
or
(iii)
subject to financial sanctions imposed pursuant to
a regulation of the European Union or a regulation adopted by the
United Nations or other applicable law,
(together with the Money Laundering
Regulations, the "Regulations") and if making payment on
behalf of a third party, that satisfactory evidence has been
obtained and recorded by it to verify the identity of the third
party as required by the Regulations and has obtained all
governmental and other consents (if any) which may be required for
the purpose of, or as a consequence of, such purchase, and it will
provide promptly to Canaccord Genuity such evidence, if any, as to
the identity or location or legal status of any person which it may
request from it in connection with the Placing (for the purpose of
complying with the Regulations or ascertaining the nationality of
any person or the jurisdiction(s) to which any person is subject or
otherwise) in the form and manner requested by Canaccord Genuity on
the basis that any failure by it to do so may result in the number
of Placing Shares that are to be acquired by it or at its direction
pursuant to the Placing being reduced to such number, or to nil, as
Canaccord Genuity may decide at its sole discretion;
40.
in order to ensure compliance with the
Regulations, Canaccord Genuity (for itself and as agent on behalf
of the Company) or the Company's registrars
may, in their absolute discretion, require verification of its
identity. Pending the provision to Canaccord Genuity or the
Company's registrars, as applicable, of evidence of identity,
definitive certificates in respect of the Placing Shares may be
retained at Canaccord Genuity's absolute discretion or, where
appropriate, delivery of the Placing Shares to it in uncertificated
form may be delayed at Canaccord Genuity's or the Company's
registrars', as the case may be, absolute discretion. If within a
reasonable time after a request for verification of identity
Canaccord Genuity (for itself and as agent on behalf of the
Company) or the Company's registrars have not received evidence
satisfactory to them, either Canaccord Genuity and/or the Company
may, at its absolute discretion, terminate its commitment in
respect of the Placing, in which event the monies payable on
acceptance of allotment will, if already paid, be returned without
interest to the account of the drawee's bank from which they were
originally debited;
41.
its participation in the Placing would not give
rise to an offer being required to be made by it, or any person
with whom it is acting in concert, pursuant to Rule 9 of the City
Code on Takeovers and Mergers;
42.
any money held in an account with Canaccord
Genuity on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf
of the Placee will not be treated as client money within the
meaning of the relevant rules and regulations of the FCA made under
the FSMA. The Placee acknowledges that the money will not be
subject to the protections conferred by the client money rules; as
a consequence, this money will not be segregated from Canaccord
Genuity's money in accordance with the client money rules and will
be used by Canaccord Genuity's in the course of its business; and
the Placee will rank only as a general creditor of Canaccord
Genuity;
43.
Canaccord Genuity may choose to invoke the CASS
Delivery Versus Payment exemption (under CASS 7.11.14R within the
FCA Handbook Client Assets Sourcebook) with regard to settlement of
funds, in connection with the Placing, should it see
fit;
44.
neither it nor, as the case may be, its clients
expect Canaccord Genuity to have any duties or responsibilities to
such persons similar or comparable to the duties of "best
execution" and "suitability" imposed by the COBS, and that
Canaccord Genuity is not acting for it or its clients, and that
Canaccord Genuity will not be responsible for providing the
protections afforded to clients of Canaccord Genuity or for
providing advice in respect of the transactions described in this
Announcement;
45.
it acknowledges that its commitment to acquire
Placing Shares on the terms set out in this Announcement and in the
contract note, the electronic trade confirmation or other (oral or
written) confirmation will continue notwithstanding any amendment
that may in future be made to the terms and conditions of the
Placing and that Placees will have no right to be consulted or
require that their consent be obtained with respect to
the Company's or Canaccord Genuity's conduct of
the Placing;
46.
it has knowledge and experience in financial,
business and international investment matters as is required to
evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring the Placing Shares. It
further acknowledges that it is experienced in investing in
securities of this nature and is aware that it may be required to
bear, and is able to bear, the economic risk of, and is able to
sustain, a complete loss in connection with the Placing. It has
relied upon its own examination and due diligence of
the Company and its affiliates taken as a whole,
and the terms of the Placing, including the merits and risks
involved;
47.
it irrevocably appoints any duly authorised
officer of Canaccord Genuity as its agent for the purpose of
executing and delivering to the Company
and/or its registrars any documents on its behalf necessary to
enable it to be registered as the holder of any of the Placing
Shares for which it agrees to acquire upon the terms of this
Announcement;
48.
the Company, Canaccord Genuity and others
(including each of their respective Representatives) will rely upon
the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations,
warranties, acknowledgements and agreements, which are given to
Canaccord Genuity on its own behalf and on behalf of the Company
and are irrevocable;
49.
it is acting as principal only in respect of the
Placing or, if it is acquiring the Placing Shares as a fiduciary or
agent for one or more investor accounts, it:
(a)
is duly authorised to do so and it has full power
and authority to make, and does make, the foregoing
representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and
undertakings on behalf of each such accounts; and
(b)
will remain liable to the
Company and Canaccord Genuity for the performance of all its
obligations as a Placee in respect of the Placing (regardless of
the fact that it is acting for another person);
50.
subject to acquiring any Placing Shares, it will
be bound by the terms of the articles of association of
the Company;
51.
time is of the essence as regards its obligations
under this Appendix;
52.
any document that is to be sent to it in
connection with the Placing will be sent at its risk and may be
sent to it at any address provided by it to Canaccord
Genuity;
53.
the Placing Shares will be issued subject to the
terms and conditions of this Appendix; and
54.
the terms and conditions contained in this
Appendix and all documents into which this Appendix is incorporated
by reference or otherwise validly forms a part and/or any
agreements entered into pursuant to these terms and conditions and
all agreements to acquire Placing Shares pursuant to the
Bookbuilding Process and/or the Placing and all non-contractual or
other obligations arising out of or in connection with them, will
be governed by and construed in accordance with English law and it
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts in
relation to any claim, dispute or matter arising out of such
contract (including any dispute regarding the existence, validity
or termination or such contract or relating to any non-contractual
or other obligation arising out of or in connection with such
contract), except that enforcement proceedings in respect of the
obligation to make payment for the Placing Shares (together with
interest chargeable thereon) may be taken by the Company or Canaccord Genuity in any jurisdiction in which
the relevant Placee is incorporated or in which any of its
securities have a quotation on a recognised stock
exchange.
By participating in the Placing, each
Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) agrees to
indemnify and hold the Company, Canaccord Genuity and each of their
respective Representatives harmless from any and all costs, claims,
liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses)
arising out of or in connection with any breach of the
representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and
undertakings given by the Placee (and any person acting on such
Placee's behalf) in this Appendix or incurred by Canaccord Genuity,
the Company or each of their respective Representatives arising
from the performance of the Placee's obligations as set out in this
Announcement, and further agrees that the provisions of this
Appendix shall survive after the completion of the
Placing.
The rights and remedies of Canaccord
Genuity and the Company under these terms and conditions are in
addition to any rights and remedies which would otherwise be
available to each of them and the exercise or partial exercise or
partial exercise of one will not prevent the exercise of
others.
The agreement to allot and issue
Placing Shares to Placees (or the persons for whom Placees are
contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax
in the United Kingdom relates only to their allotment and issue to
Placees, or such persons as they nominate as their agents, direct
by the Company. Such agreement assumes that the Placing Shares are
not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue
depositary receipts or to transfer the Placing Shares into a
clearance service. If there are any such arrangements, or the
settlement related to any other dealings in the Placing Shares,
stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax may be payable. In that event,
the Placee agrees that it shall be responsible for such stamp duty
or stamp duty reserve tax and neither the Company nor Canaccord
Genuity shall be responsible for such stamp duty or stamp duty
reserve tax. If this is the case, each Placee should seek its own
advice and they should notify Canaccord Genuity accordingly. In
addition, Placees should note that they will be liable for any
capital duty, stamp duty and all other stamp, issue, securities,
transfer, registration, documentary or other duties or taxes
(including any interest, fines or penalties relating thereto)
payable outside the United Kingdom by them or any other person on
the acquisition by them of any Placing Shares or the agreement by
them to acquire any Placing Shares and each Placee, or the Placee's
nominee, in respect of whom (or in respect of the person for whom
it is participating in the Placing as an agent or nominee) the
allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares has
given rise to such non-United Kingdom stamp, registration,
documentary, transfer or similar taxes or duties undertakes to pay
such taxes and duties, including any interest and penalties (if
applicable), forthwith and to indemnify on an after-tax basis and
to hold harmless the Company and Canaccord Genuity in the event
that either the Company and/or Canaccord Genuity have incurred any
such liability to such taxes or duties.
The representations, warranties,
acknowledgements and undertakings contained in this Appendix are
given to Canaccord Genuity for itself and on behalf of the Company
and are irrevocable.
Canaccord Genuity Limited is
authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the
"FCA") in the United
Kingdom and is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else
in connection with the Bookbuilding Process and the Capital
Raising, and Canaccord Genuity will not be responsible to anyone
(including any Placees) other than the Company for providing the
protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the Bookbuilding Process or the Capital Raising or any
other matters referred to in this Announcement.
Each Placee and any person acting on
behalf of the Placee acknowledges that Canaccord Genuity does not
owe any fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any
representations, warranties, undertakings, acknowledgements,
agreements or indemnities in the Placing Agreement.
Each Placee and any person acting on
behalf of the Placee acknowledges and agrees that Canaccord Genuity
may (at its absolute discretion) satisfy its obligations to procure
Placees by itself agreeing to become a Placee in respect of some or
all of the Placing Shares or by nominating any connected or
associated person to do so.
When a Placee or any person acting on
behalf of the Placee is dealing with Canaccord Genuity, any money
held in an account with Canaccord Genuity on behalf of the Placee
and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee will not be
treated as client money within the meaning of the relevant rules
and regulations of the FCA made under the FSMA. Each Placee
acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections
conferred by the client money rules; as a consequence this money
will not be segregated from Canaccord Genuity's money in accordance
with the client money rules and will be held by it under a banking
relationship and not as trustee.
References to time in this
Announcement are to London time, unless otherwise
stated.
All times and dates in this
Announcement may be subject to amendment. Placees will be notified
of any changes.
No statement in this Announcement is
intended to be a profit forecast or estimate, and no statement in
this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per
share of the Company for the current or future financial years
would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings
per share of the Company.
The price of shares and any income
expected from them may go down as well as up and investors may not
get back the full amount invested upon disposal of the shares. Past
performance is no guide to future performance, and persons needing
advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
The Placing Shares to be issued
pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any
stock exchange other than the AIM market of the London Stock
Exchange.
Neither the content of the Company's
website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's
website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this
Announcement.