TIDMPNN
RNS Number : 1680Z
Pennon Group PLC
10 January 2024
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPIX 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, JAPAN, SOUTH
AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A
VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION.
PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED
UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU NO. 596/2014) AS IT FORMS
PART OF UK LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT
2018, AS AMED.
10 January 2024
Pennon Group plc ("Pennon", the "Group" or the "Company")
Proposed EQUITY CAPITAL RAISE
Pennon today announces its intention to raise gross proceeds of
up to GBP180 million by way of an equity capital raise (the "Equity
Capital Raise"). The Equity Capital Raise will include a
non-pre-emptive placing of new ordinary shares of 61.05 pence each
in the capital of the Company ("New Ordinary Shares") (the "Placing
Shares") to both existing institutional shareholders and new
institutional investors (the "Placing").
In conjunction with the Placing, the Company intends to make an
offer of New Ordinary Shares (the "Retail Offer Shares") via the
PrimaryBid platform at the Offer Price (as defined below), to
provide retail investors with an opportunity to participate in the
Equity Capital Raise (the "Retail Offer"). A separate announcement
will be made shortly regarding the Retail Offer and its associated
terms. In addition to the Placing and Retail Offer, certain
directors and executives of the Company intend to subscribe for New
Ordinary Shares at the Offer Price (the "Subscription Shares") to
contribute approximately GBP150,000 in aggregate to the Equity
Capital Raise (the "Subscription").
Barclays Bank PLC ("Barclays") and Morgan Stanley & Co.
International plc ("Morgan Stanley") are acting as Joint Global
Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners (together, the "Bookrunners") in
connection with the Placing.
Rationale for the Equity Capital Raise
As announced separately today, Pennon has acquired 100% of the
issued share capital of Sumisho Osaka Gas Water UK Limited
("SOGWUK"), the holding company of Sutton and East Surrey Water plc
("SES Water") and certain other ancillary businesses, for GBP89
million from Sumitomo Corporation and Osaka Gas, with a total
enterprise value of GBP380 million (the "Acquisition"). Further
information can be found in the acquisition announcement released
separately by the Company today. Pennon is launching an Equity
Capital Raise of up to GBP180 million in connection with the
Acquisition, in order to ensure that the pro forma leverage and
capital structure for the enlarged Group following the Acquisition
remains consistent with Pennon's well-established water business
gearing range of 55-65%(1) .
Prior to launch of the Placing, the Company consulted with a
significant number of its shareholders to assess their feedback as
to the purpose of the Placing. Feedback from this consultation was
supportive and as a result the board has concluded that the Placing
is in the best interests of shareholders and wider stakeholders and
will promote the long-term success of the Company. Accordingly, the
Company has chosen to proceed with the Placing. The board intends
to apply the principles of pre-emption when allocating Placing
Shares to those shareholders that participate in the Placing.
Details of the Equity Capital Raise
The Placing is subject to the terms and conditions set out in
the Appendix to this announcement (which forms part of this
Announcement, together being this "Announcement"). Members of the
public are not entitled to participate in the Placing. The Retail
Offer is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the
separate announcement regarding the Retail Offer released by the
Company today. The Subscription is subject to the terms and
conditions set out in subscription letters that have been entered
into between the subscribing Directors, executives and the
Company.
In accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the
Appendix to this announcement, the allotment of the New Ordinary
Shares is expected to be carried out pursuant to Pennon's existing
shareholder authorities in relation to the authority of the
directors of the Company to allot ordinary shares on a non
pre-emptive basis in connection with an acquisition, as granted at
the Company's most recent Annual General Meeting on 20 July 2023
and, which at that date, represented up to 20% of the issued share
capital.
The placing will be conducted through an accelerated
bookbuilding process (the "Bookbuild"). The Bookrunners will
commence the Bookbuild process immediately following the release of
this Announcement in respect of the Placing. The price at which the
Placing Shares are to be placed (the "Offer Price") will be
determined at the close of the Bookbuild process. The timing of the
closing of the book, determination of the Offer Price and
allocations of New Ordinary Shares are at the absolute discretion
of the Company and, as applicable, the Bookrunners. Details of the
Offer Price and the New Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to
the Equity Capital Raise will be announced as soon as practicable
after the close of the Bookbuild process. The Retail Offer Shares
and the Subscription Shares will be issued at the Offer Price.
The New Ordinary Shares, when issued, will be fully paid and
will rank pari passu in all respects with each other and with the
existing ordinary shares of 61.05 pence each in the capital of the
Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive all
dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the
date of issue.
Applications will be made (i) to the Financial Conduct Authority
(the "FCA") for admission of the New Ordinary Shares to the premium
listing segment of the Official List; and (ii) to London Stock
Exchange plc for admission of the New Ordinary Shares to trading on
its main market for listed securities (together, "Admission").
Admission and settlement of the New Ordinary Shares are expected
to take place on or before 8.00 a.m. on 12 January 2024. The Equity
Capital Raise is conditional upon, among other things, Admission
becoming effective by such time and date (or such later time as the
Company and the Bookrunners may agree).
The Placing is conditional upon, among other things, the placing
agreement between the Company and the Bookrunners (the "Placing
Agreement") having become unconditional and not being terminated in
accordance with its terms. A description of the Placing Agreement
can be found in the Appendix to this Announcement.
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. Investors who
have chosen to participate in the Placing, by making an oral or
written offer to acquire Placing Shares, will be deemed to have
read and understood this Announcement in its entirety 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
terms and conditions in this Announcement.
Market soundings, as defined in MAR, were taken in respect of
the Placing, with the result that certain persons became aware of
inside information relating to the Company and its securities, as
permitted by MAR. That inside information is contained in this
Announcement. Therefore, those persons that received inside
information in a market sounding are no longer in possession of
inside information relating to the Company and its securities.
The person responsible for releasing this announcement on behalf
of the Company is Andrew Garard, Group General Counsel and Company
Secretary.
For further information, please contact:
Pennon Group PLC
Steve Buck Group Chief Financial Officer
+44 (0)1392 44 3168
Jennifer Cooke Group Head of Investor Relations
Media Enquiries
James Murgatroyd FGS Global
+44 (0)207 251 3801
Harry Worthington
Barclays Bank PLC
Joint Global Coordinator and Joint Bookrunner
+44 (0) 20 7623 2323
Alisdair Gayne, Iain Smedley, Richard Bassingthwaighte, Chris
Madderson
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc
Joint Global Coordinator and Joint Bookrunner
+44 (0) 20 7425 8000
Andrew Foster, Francesco Puletti, Emma Whitehouse
Notes: All GBPm and % numbers shown to 0 decimal places.
Potential differences due to rounding.
(1) Gearing at the regulated water business level, defined as
net debt / RCV
IMPORTANT NOTICES
The distribution of this Announcement in jurisdictions other
than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore
persons coming into possession of this Announcement and/or any
related communications should inform themselves about and observe
such restrictions. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may
constitute a violation of the securities law of any such
jurisdiction.
No offering document or prospectus will be made available in
connection with the matters contained in this Announcement and no
such prospectus is required to be published in accordance with
Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the " EU Prospectus
Regulation ") or the EU Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of
UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as
amended) (the " UK Prospectus Regulation ").
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, IS NOT INTED
TO AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF ANY OFFER OR INVITATION
TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR, UNDERWRITE, SELL OR ISSUE OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE, SELL, ACQUIRE,
DISPOSE OF THE PLACING SHARES OR ANY OTHER SECURITY IN THE UNITED
STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE
UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, COLLECTIVELY THE "
UNITED STATES "), AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, OR THE REPUBLIC OF
SOUTH AFRICA (" SOUTH AFRICA ") OR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH, OR
TO ANY PERSONS TO WHOM, SUCH OFFERING, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD
BE UNLAWFUL.
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 under the securities laws of any state or
other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered,
sold, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, in
or into the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or
in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of
the Securities Act and in accordance with any applicable securities
laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. There
will be no public offering of the Placing Shares in the United
States, the United Kingdom or elsewhere.
The Placing Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission, any state
securities commission or any 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.
A prospectus qualifying the Placing Shares for distribution has
not been, and will not be, filed with any securities commission or
similar regulatory authority of any jurisdiction of Canada. No such
authority has reviewed, expressed an opinion about or in any way
passed upon the Placing or the Placing Shares, and it is an offence
to claim otherwise. Any offering of the Placing Shares in Canada
will be made on a private placement basis only in the provinces of
British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, in reliance on
exemptions from the requirements under applicable Canadian
securities laws that the Company file and obtain a receipt for a
prospectus for any distribution of securities. No offer of
securities is made in Canada except to a person who has represented
to the Company and each of the Bookrunners that such person (i) is
purchasing as principal for its own account, or is deemed under
applicable Canadian securities laws to be purchasing as principal,
for investment only and not with a view to resale or distribution;
(ii) is both an "accredited investor" as defined in section 1.1 of
National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions of the Canadian
Securities Administrators (or, in Ontario, as defined in section
73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), as applicable) and also a
"permitted client" as defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument
31-103 - Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing
Registrant Obligations of the Canadian Securities Administrators;
and (iii) was not created, and is not used, solely to purchase or
hold securities as an accredited investor. Any resale of Placing
Shares into Canada or acquired by a Canadian investor in the
Placing must be made in accordance with applicable Canadian
securities laws, which may vary depending on the relevant
jurisdiction (both of the investor and the person to whom the
Placing Shares are being resold), and may require that resales be
made in accordance with Canadian prospectus requirements or
pursuant to an available exemption therefrom. These resale
restrictions may under certain circumstances apply to resales of
Placing Shares outside of Canada.
This Announcement and the Placing of the Placing Shares as set
out in this Announcement does not constitute, advertise or relate
to an offer to the public (as defined in the South African
Companies Act, No 71 of 2008, as amended (the " SA Companies Act
")) for the sale of or subscription for, or the solicitation of an
offer to buy or subscribe for, securities or an opportunity to
invest in a collective investment scheme in South Africa (as
contemplated in the South African Collective Investment Scheme
Control Act, No 45 of 2002). In South Africa, the Placing Shares
will only be offered to financial institutions and other persons
who are referred to in section 96(1)(a) of the SA Companies Act, or
persons who subscribe, as principal, for the Placing Shares at a
total acquisition cost of ZAR1 000 000 or more, as contemplated in
section 96(1)(b) of the SA Companies Act (" SA Qualifying Investor
"). Any person who is not a SA Qualifying Investor will not be
entitled to acquire any securities offered for sale or subscription
as described in this Announcement or otherwise act thereon. This
Announcement does not, nor is it intended to, constitute a
prospectus registered under the SA Companies Act and accordingly,
does not comply with the substance and form requirements for
prospectuses set out in the SA Companies Act and the South African
Companies Regulations of 2011. No prospectus has been lodged with,
or registered by, the South African Companies and Intellectual
Property Commission. Nothing in this Announcement should be viewed,
or construed, as "advice" as that term is used in the South African
Financial Markets Act, No 19 of 2012, as amended (" FMA ") or
"advice" and/or an "intermediary service" as those terms are used
in the South African Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services
Act, No 37 of 2002, as amended (the " SA FAIS Act ") and nothing in
this Announcement should be construed as constituting the
canvassing for, or marketing or advertising of, financial services
in South Africa. It is the responsibility of any SA Qualifying
Investor to ensure they or it have obtained all required approvals
in terms of the financial surveillance or "exchange control"
regulations promulgated under the South African Currency and
Exchanges Act, No 9 of 1933, and any rulings issued pursuant
thereto.
This Announcement does not constitute, or purport to include the
information required of, a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of
the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (" Corporations Act ")
and will not be lodged with the Australian Securities and
Investments Commission. No offer of shares is or will be made in
Australia pursuant to this Announcement, except to a person who is
a "sophisticated investor" within the meaning of section 708(8) of
the Corporations Act or a "professional investor" within the
meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act. If any shares
are issued, they may not be offered for sale (or transferred,
assigned or otherwise alienated) to investors in Australia for at
least 12 months after their issue, except in circumstances where
disclosure to investors is not required under Part 6D.2 of the
Corporations Act.
This Announcement and the offering of the Placing Shares has not
been approved or licensed by the United Arab Emirates (" UAE ")
Central bank, the SCA, the Dubai Financial Services Authority or
any other relevant licensing authorities or governmental agencies
in the UAE (the " UAE Authorities ") and accordingly does not
constitute a public offering of the Placing Shares in the UAE in
accordance with the Federal Law No.32 of 2021 Concerning Commercial
Companies (as amended), the UAE Securities and Commodities
Authority's (the " SCA ") Board of Directors Resolution Number 13
B.C of 2021 on the Regulations Manual of the Financial Activities
and Status Regularization Mechanisms (as amended) (" SCA Rulebook
"), or otherwise. Any offering to be made in the UAE is to be made
only to certain persons who are "professional investors" as defined
in the SCA Rulebook and have confirmed the same. This Announcement
and the information referred to herein must therefore not be
delivered to, or relied on by, any other person in the UAE. The UAE
Authorities assume no liability for any investment that the
original recipient makes as a professional investor.
This Announcement and the offering of the Placing Shares relates
to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Financial Services
Regulatory Authority's (" FSRA ") Financial Services and Markets
Regulations and the FSRA's Market Rules. It does not constitute a
public offering of the Placing Shares in the Abu Dhabi Global
Market (the " ADGM "). This Announcement is intended for
distribution only to persons who meet the Professional Client
criteria set out in Rule 2.4 of the FSRA's Conduct of Business
Rulebook (COBS). It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any
other person in the ADGM. The FSRA has no responsibility for
reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with an Exempt
Offer. The FSRA has not approved this Announcement or taken steps
to verify the information set out in it and has no responsibility
for it. The Placing Shares may be illiquid and/or subject to
restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the Placing
Shares should conduct their own due diligence on the Placing
Shares. If you do not understand the contents of this Announcement,
you should consult an authorised financial adviser.
No prospectus has been lodged or filed with, or registered by,
the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, any
securities commission or similar regulatory authority of any
Canadian jurisdiction, the Japanese Ministry of Finance or the
South African Companies and Intellectual Property Commission; and
the Placing Shares have not been, and nor will they be, registered
or qualified for public distribution under the securities laws of
any state, province or territory of Australia, Canada, Japan or
South Africa. 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, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or any other
jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom or to, or for the account
or benefit of any national, resident or citizen of Australia,
Canada, Japan or South Africa.
The distribution of this Announcement and the Placing and/or the
offer or sale of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be
restricted by law. No action has been taken which 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 distributing any part of this
Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so.
Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who
have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of
this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any
such action. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes
are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such
restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may
constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction.
This communication is directed only at: (a) persons in the
United Kingdom who are "qualified investors" (within the meaning of
the UK Prospectus Regulation) (i) who have professional experience
in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition
of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the
" Order ") or (ii) who are high net worth entities or other persons
falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order; (b) persons in
a member state of the European Economic Area who are "qualified
investors" (within the meaning of the EU Prospectus Regulation),
(c) persons in the United States, who are certain qualified
institutional buyers (" QIBs ") (as defined in Rule 144A under the
Securities Act; (d) persons in Canada who are both "accredited
investors" within the meaning of National Instrument 45-106 (or, in
Ontario, section 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), as
applicable) and "permitted clients" within the meaning of National
Instrument 31-103; (e) persons in Australia who are "sophisticated
investors" or "professional investors" (within the meaning of
sections 708(8), and 708(11), respectively, of the Corporations
Act)), being persons to whom an offer of securities can be made
without a disclosure document under chapter 6D of the Corporations
Act; (f) persons in South Africa who fall within the exemptions set
out in sections 96(1)(a) or 96(1)(b) of the SA Companies Act; (g)
in the UAE, persons who are "professional investors" as defined in
the SCA Rulebook; (h) in the ADGM, persons who meet the
professional client criteria set out in Rule 2.4 of the Conduct of
Business Rulebook (COBS) of the FSRA of the ADGM; (i) in
Switzerland, persons who are purchasing, or are deemed to be
purchasing, as principal and who are "professional clients" within
the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act; and (j) persons to
whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (all such persons
referred to above being " Relevant Persons "). 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. Any investment in connection with the Placing will only be
available to, and will only be engaged with, Relevant Persons. Any
person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this
Announcement or any of its contents.
Each of Barclays and Morgan Stanley is authorised in the United
Kingdom by the Prudential Regulation Authority (the " PRA ") and
regulated in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the Financial
Conduct Authority (the " FCA "). Each of the Bookrunners is acting
exclusively for the Company and no-one else in connection with the
Placing and will not regard any other person (whether or not a
recipient of this Announcement) as its client in relation to the
Placing or any other matter referred to in this Announcement, and
will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Barclays or its
affiliates or of Morgan Stanley or its affiliates, or for providing
advice in relation to the Placing or any other matter referred to
in this Announcement. Neither of the Bookrunners or any of their
respective affiliates is acting for the Company with respect to the
Retail Offer or the Subscription.
This Announcement is being issued by, and is the sole
responsibility of, the Company. 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 either
of the Bookrunners or any of their respective affiliates or agents
(or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or
advisers) for the contents of the information contained in this
Announcement, or any other written or oral information made
available to or publicly available to any interested party or its
advisers, or any other statement made or purported to be made by or
on behalf of either of the Bookrunners or any of their respective
affiliates in connection with the Company, the Placing Shares or
the Placing and any responsibility and liability whether arising in
tort, contract or otherwise therefore is expressly disclaimed. No
representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by either
of the Bookrunners or any of their respective affiliates as to the
accuracy, fairness, verification, completeness or sufficiency of
the information contained in this Announcement and nothing in this
Announcement is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or
representation in this respect, whether as to the past or
future.
This Announcement does not identify or suggest, or purport to
identify or suggest, the risks (direct or indirect) that may be
associated with an investment in the Placing Shares. Any investment
decision to buy Placing Shares in the Placing must be made solely
on the basis of publicly available information, which has not been
independently verified by either of the Bookrunners.
This Announcement contains (or may contain) certain
forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions, with respect to
certain of the Company's current expectations and projections about
future performance, anticipated events or trends and other matters
that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements,
which sometimes use words such as "aim", "anticipate", "believe",
"intend", "plan" "estimate", "expect" and words of similar meaning
or the negative thereof, include all matters that are not
historical facts and reflect the Company's directors' beliefs and
expectations and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that could cause actual results and performance to
differ materially from any expected future results or performance
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statement. These
statements are subject to unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Statements contained in this Announcement regarding past trends or
activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends
or activities will continue in the future. The information
contained in this Announcement is subject to change without notice
and, except as required by applicable law, none of the Company, the
Bookrunners or any of such persons' respective directors, officers,
employees, agents, affiliates or advisers assume any responsibility
or obligation to update, amend or revise publicly or review any of
the forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement. You
should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date of this Announcement. Any
indication in this Announcement of the price at which the Company's
shares have been bought or sold in the past cannot be relied upon
as a guide to future performance. No statement in this Announcement
is or is intended to be a profit forecast or profit estimate or to
imply that the earnings of the Company for the current or future
financial years will necessarily match or exceed the historical or
published earnings of the Company. The price and value of
securities can go down as well as up. Past performance of the
Company cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.
Persons reading this Announcement are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on such forward-looking statements.
In connection with the Placing, each of the Bookrunners and any
of their respective affiliates, acting as investors for their own
account, may take up a portion of the shares in the Placing as a
principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell,
offer to sell for their own accounts such shares and other
securities of the Company or related investments in connection with
the Placing or otherwise. Accordingly, references to Placing Shares
being offered, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be
read as including any issue or offer to, or acquisition, placing or
dealing by, the Bookrunners and any of their respective affiliates
acting in such capacity. In addition, the Bookrunners and any of
their respective affiliates may enter into financing arrangements
(including swaps, warrants and contracts for difference) with
investors in connection with which the Bookrunners and any of their
respective affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or
dispose of shares. Neither of the Bookrunners intends to disclose
the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in
accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.
Each of the Bookrunners and their respective affiliates may have
engaged in transactions with, and provided various commercial
banking, investment banking, financial advisory transactions and
services in the ordinary course of their business with the Company
and/or its affiliates for which they would have received customary
fees and commissions. Each of the Bookrunners and their respective
affiliates may provide such services to the Company and/or its
affiliates in the future.
The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will not
be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the London
Stock Exchange.
Neither the content of the Company's website (or any other
website) nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's
website (or any other website) is incorporated in, or forms part
of, this Announcement.
This Announcement does not constitute a recommendation
concerning any investor's options with respect to the Placing.
Investors and prospective investors should conduct their own
investigation, analysis and evaluation of the business and data
described in this Announcement. The contents of this Announcement
are not to be construed as legal, business, financial or tax
advice. Each investor or prospective investor should consult his,
her or its own legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser
or tax adviser for legal, financial, business or tax advice.
UK Product Governance Requirements
Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements
of 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 Placing Shares have been subject to a product
approval process, which has determined that the Placing Shares are:
(i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and
investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and
eligible counterparties, each defined in Chapter 3 of the FCA
Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; and (ii) eligible for
distribution through all permitted distribution channels (the " UK
Target Market Assessment "). Notwithstanding the UK Target Market
Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing
Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their
investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no
capital protection; and an investment in the Placing 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 UK Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to any
contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation
to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the
UK Target Market Assessment, the Bookrunners will only procure
investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and
eligible counterparties.
For the avoidance of doubt, the UK Target Market Assessment does
not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness
for the purposes of Chapters 9A or 10A respectively of the FCA
Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; or (b) a recommendation to
any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or
take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing
Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own
target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and
determining appropriate distribution channels.
APPIX: TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING
Terms and Conditions - Important Information for Placees Only
Regarding the Placing
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THIS APPIX (TOGETHER, THE
"ANNOUNCEMENT") AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED
AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE, TRANSMISSION, FORWARDING OR
DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR
INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND
POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA, COLLECTIVELY, THE "UNITED STATES"), AUSTRALIA, CANADA,
JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ("SOUTH AFRICA") OR ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION
WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
This announcement is not a public offer of securities for sale
in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not
been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), or under the securities laws of
any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not
be offered or sold directly or indirectly in or into the United
States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction
not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act
and in compliance with the securities laws of any state or any
other jurisdiction of the United States.
This Announcement is for information only and does not itself
constitute or form part of an offer to sell or issue or the
solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities
referred to herein in any jurisdiction including, without
limitation, the United States.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE PLACING FOR INVITED PLACEES
ONLY.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE
PLACING.
ALL OFFERS OF PLACING SHARES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WILL BE MADE
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION UNDER THE UK PROSPECTUS REGULATION (AS
DEFINED BELOW) FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO PRODUCE A PROSPECTUS. ALL
OFFERS OF PLACING SHARES IN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA") WILL
BE MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION UNDER THE EU PROSPECTUS REGULATION
(AS DEFINED BELOW) FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO PRODUCE A
PROSPECTUS.
THIS APPIX AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN ARE FOR
INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND 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: (A) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM,
PERSONS WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE
2(E) OF THE PROSPECTUS REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 (AS AMED) (THE "EU
PROSPECTUS REGULATION") AS IT FORMS PART OF ENGLISH LAW PURSUANT TO
THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMED (THE "UK
PROSPECTUS REGULATION") ("UK QUALIFIED INVESTORS") AND WHO ARE: (i)
"INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 19(5) OF
THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION)
ORDER 2005 AS AMED (THE "ORDER"); OR (ii) PERSONS FALLING WITHIN
ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) ("HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED
ASSOCIATIONS, ETC") OF THE ORDER; (B) IN A MEMBER STATE OF THE EEA,
PERSONS WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE
2(E) OF THE EU PROSPECTUS REGULATION, INCLUDING ANY RELEVANT
IMPLEMENTING MEASURE IN ANY MEMBER STATE ("EU QUALIFIED
INVESTORS"); (C) IN THE UNITED STATES, PERSONS WHO ARE QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT) (EACH A "QIB")); (D) IN CANADA, PERSONS WHO ARE BOTH
"ACCREDITED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENT
45-106 (OR, IN ONTARIO, SECTION 73.3(1) OF THE SECURITIES ACT
(ONTARIO), AS APPLICABLE) AND "PERMITTED CLIENTS" WITHIN THE
MEANING OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 31-103; (E) IN AUSTRALIA, PERSONS
WHO ARE: (i) EITHER "SOPHISTICATED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SECTION 708(8) OF THE AUSTRALIAN CORPORATIONS ACT 2001 (CTH) (THE
"CORPORATIONS ACT")) OR "PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING
OF SECTION 9 AND SECTION 708(11) OF THE CORPORATIONS ACT; AND (ii)
A "WHOLESALE CLIENT" FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 761G(7) OF THE
CORPORATIONS ACT (AND RELATED REGULATIONS) WHO HAS COMPLIED WITH
ALL RELEVANT REQUIREMENTS IN THIS RESPECT; (F) IN SOUTH AFRICA,
PERSONS WHO FALL WITHIN THE EXEMPTIONS SET OUT IN SECTIONS 96(1)(A)
OR 96(1)(B) OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANIES ACT, NO 71 OF 2008 ("SA
COMPANIES ACT"); (G) IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (THE "UAE"),
PERSONS WHO ARE PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN THE UAE
SECURITIES AND COMMODITIES AUTHORITY'S (THE "SCA") BOARD OF
DIRECTORS RESOLUTION NUMBER 13 B.C OF 2021 ON THE REGULATIONS
MANUAL OF THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AND STATUS REGULARIZATION
MECHANISMS (AS AMED) ("SCA RULEBOOK"); (H) IN THE ABU DHABI GLOBAL
MARKET (THE "ADGM"), PERSONS WHO MEET THE PROFESSIONAL CLIENT
CRITERIA SET OUT IN RULE 2.4 OF THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS RULEBOOK
(COBS) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATORY AUTHORITY (THE "FSRA")
OF THE ADGM; (I) IN SWITZERLAND, PERSONS WHO ARE PURCHASING, OR ARE
DEEMED TO BE PURCHASING, AS PRINCIPAL AND
WHO ARE "PROFESSIONAL CLIENTS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE SWISS
FINANCIAL SERVICES ACT ("FinSA"); AND (J) PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY
OTHERWISE BE LAWFULLY COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING
REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS
WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS AND BY ACCEPTING THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, YOU REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT YOU
ARE A RELEVANT PERSON. 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 CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR
SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY. PERSONS INTO WHOSE
POSSESSION THIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMES ARE REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY AND
THE BOOKRUNNERS TO INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT AND TO OBSERVE ANY SUCH
RESTRICTIONS.
THE CONTENTS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REVIEWED BY ANY
REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OR ELSEWHERE. YOU ARE
ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION IN RELATION TO THE PLACING. EACH PLACEE
SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND
RELATED ASPECTS OF AN ACQUISITION OF PLACING SHARES.
The Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered
under the Securities Act, or under the securities laws of any state
or other jurisdiction of the United States. Accordingly, the
Placing Shares may not be offered, sold, taken up, resold,
transferred or delivered directly or indirectly in, into or within
the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the
Securities Act and in accordance with applicable securities laws of
any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. There will be
no public offering of the Placing Shares in the United States. The
Placing Shares are being offered and sold outside the United States
in offshore transactions in accordance with Regulation S under the
Securities Act ("Regulation S"). Any offering to be made in the
United States is to be made only to certain QIBs pursuant to an
exemption from registration under the Securities Act in a
transaction not involving any public offering. The Placing Shares
have not been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and
Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United
States or any US regulatory authority, nor have any of the
foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of any
proposed offering of Placing Shares, or the accuracy or adequacy of
this Announcement. Any representation to the contrary is
unlawful.
A prospectus qualifying the Placing Shares for distribution has
not been, and will not be, filed with any securities commission or
similar regulatory authority of any jurisdiction of Canada. No such
authority has reviewed, expressed an opinion about or in any way
passed upon the Placing or the Placing Shares, and it is an offence
to claim otherwise. Any offering of the Placing Shares in Canada
will be made on a private placement basis only in the provinces of
British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, in reliance on
exemptions from the requirements under applicable Canadian
securities laws that the Company file and obtain a receipt for a
prospectus for any distribution of securities. No offer of
securities is made pursuant to this Announcement in Canada except
to a person who has represented to the Company and the Bookrunners
that such person (i) is purchasing as principal for its own
account, or is deemed under applicable Canadian securities laws to
be purchasing as principal, for investment only and not with a view
to resale or distribution; (ii) is both an "accredited investor" as
defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus
Exemptions of the Canadian Securities Administrators (or, in
Ontario, as defined in section 73.3(1) of the Securities Act
(Ontario), as applicable) and also a "permitted client" as defined
in section 1.1 of National Instrument 31-103 - Registration
Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations of the
Canadian Securities Administrators; and (iii) was not created, and
is not used, solely to purchase or hold securities as an accredited
investor. Any resale of Placing Shares into Canada or acquired by a
Canadian investor in the Placing must be made in accordance with
applicable Canadian securities laws, which may vary depending on
the relevant jurisdiction (both of the investor and the person to
whom the Placing Shares are being resold), and may require that
resales be made in accordance with Canadian prospectus requirements
or pursuant to an available exemption therefrom or transaction not
subject thereto. These resale restrictions may under certain
circumstances apply to resales of Placing Shares outside of Canada.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of
Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or
damages if this offering memorandum (including any amendment
thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies
for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the
time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the
purchaser's province or territory. The purchaser should refer to
any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the
purchaser's province or territory for particulars of these rights
or consult with a legal adviser. Pursuant to section 3A.3 of
National Instrument 33-105 - Underwriting Conflicts of the Canadian
Securities Administrators, the Global Joint Co-ordinators are not
required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105
regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this
offering.
This Announcement does not constitute, or purport to include the
information required of, a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of
the Corporations Act or a product disclosure statement under
Chapter 7 of the Corporations Act and will not be lodged with the
Australian Securities and Investments Commission. No offer of
securities is made pursuant to this Announcement in Australia
except to a person who is (i) either a "sophisticated investor"
within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act or a
"professional investor" within the meaning of section 9 and section
708(11) of the Corporations Act; and (ii) a "wholesale client" for
the purposes of section 761G(7) of the Corporations Act (and
related regulations) who has complied with all relevant
requirements in this respect. No Placing Shares may be offered for
sale (or transferred, assigned or otherwise alienated) to investors
in Australia for at least 12 months after their issue, except in
circumstances where disclosure to investors is not required under
Part 6D.2 of the Corporations Act.
In Switzerland, the Placing Shares may be sold only to
purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal and
who are "professional clients" within the meaning of FinSA. This
Announcement does not constitute a prospectus pursuant to FinSA,
and no such prospectus has been or will be prepared for or in
connection with the offering of the Placing Shares. The Placing
Shares will not be admitted to trading on any trading venue
(exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland.
The Placing of the Placing Shares as set out in this
Announcement does not constitute, advertise or relate to an offer
to the public (as defined in the SA Companies Act) for the sale of
or subscription for, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or
subscribe for, securities or an opportunity to invest in a
collective investment scheme in South Africa (as contemplated in
the South African Collective Investment Scheme Control Act, 2002).
In South Africa, the Placing Shares will not be offered to any
person in any manner which could be construed as an offer to the
public in terms of the SA Companies Act and is only directed at
financial institutions and other persons who are referred to in
section 96(1)(a) of the SA Companies Act, or persons who subscribe,
as principal, for the Placing Shares at a total acquisition cost of
ZAR1 000 000 or more, as contemplated in section 96(1)(b) of the SA
Companies Act ("SA Qualifying Investor"). Any person who is not a
SA Qualifying Investor will not be entitled to acquire any
securities offered for sale or subscription as described in this
Announcement or otherwise act thereon. The offering of the Placing
Shares to SA Qualifying Investors is exempt from the requirement
that the Company prepare and file a prospectus with the relevant
securities regulatory authorities in South Africa. This
Announcement and the terms and conditions set out in this appendix
do not, nor are they intended to, constitute a prospectus
registered under the SA Companies Act and accordingly, do not
comply with the substance and form requirements for prospectuses
set out in the SA Companies Act and the South African Companies
Regulations of 2011. No prospectus has been lodged with, or
registered by, the South African Companies and Intellectual
Property Commission. Nothing in this Announcement should be viewed,
or construed, as "advice" as that term is used in the FMA and/or
the SA FAIS Act and nothing in this Announcement or pursuant to the
Placing should be construed as constituting the canvassing for, or
marketing or advertising of, financial services in South
Africa.
This Announcement and the offering of the Placing Shares has not
been approved or licensed by the UAE Central Bank, the SCA, the
Dubai Financial Services Authority, or any other relevant licensing
authorities or governmental agencies in the UAE (the "UAE
Authorities") and accordingly does not constitute a public offering
of the Placing Shares in the UAE in accordance with the Federal Law
No. 32 of 2021 Concerning Commercial Companies (as amended), the
SCA Rulebook or otherwise. Any offering to be made in the UAE is to
be made only to certain persons who are Professional Investors as
defined in the SCA Rulebook and have confirmed the same. This
Announcement and the information referred to herein must therefore
not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person in the UAE.
The UAE Authorities assume no liability for any investment that the
original recipient makes as a professional investor.
This Announcement and the offering of the Placing Shares relates
to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the FSRA's Financial Services
and Markets Regulations and the FSRA's Market Rules. It does not
constitute a public offering of the Placing Shares in the ADGM.
This Announcement is intended for distribution only to persons who
meet the Professional Client criteria set out in Rule 2.4 of the
FSRA's Conduct of Business Rulebook (COBS). It must not be
delivered to, or relied on by, any other person in the ADGM. The
FSRA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents
in connection with an Exempt Offer. The FSRA has not approved this
Announcement or taken steps to verify the information set out in it
and has no responsibility for it. The Placing Shares may be
illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale.
Prospective purchasers of the Placing Shares should conduct their
own due diligence on the Placing Shares. If you do not understand
the contents of this Announcement, you should consult an authorised
financial adviser. No prospectus has been lodged or filed with, or
registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission, any securities commission or similar regulatory
authority of any Canadian jurisdiction, the Japanese Ministry of
Finance or the South African Companies and Intellectual Property
Commission; and the Placing Shares have not been, and nor will they
be, registered or qualified for distribution under the securities
laws of any state, province or territory of Australia, Canada,
Japan or South Africa. 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 Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or
any other jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom or to, or for the
account or benefit of any national, resident or citizen of
Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa.
This Announcement, and the information contained herein, is
restricted and is not for publication, release, transmission,
forwarding or distribution, directly or indirectly, in whole or in
part, to persons in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or
South Africa or in or into any jurisdiction in which such
publication or distribution is unlawful (each a "Restricted
Territory"). The distribution of this Announcement and the Placing
and/or the offer or sale of the Placing Shares in certain
jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by
the Company or the Bookrunners or any of its or their respective
affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees which would,
or is intended to, 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 any such action for that purpose is
required. Persons distributing any part of this Announcement must
satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. Persons (including,
without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual
or other legal obligation to forward a copy of this Announcement
should seek appropriate advice before taking any such action.
Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required
by the Company and the Bookrunners to inform themselves about, and
to observe, any such restrictions.
Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to in
this Announcement may not be offered or sold in any Restricted
Territory or to, or for the account or benefit of, a citizen or
resident, or a corporation, partnership or other entity created or
organised in or under the laws of a Restricted Territory.
All offers of the Placing Shares will be made pursuant to an
exemption under the UK Prospectus Regulation or the EU Prospectus
Regulation (as applicable) from the requirement to produce a
prospectus. This Announcement is being distributed and communicated
to persons in the UK only in circumstances to which section 21(1)
of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA")
does not apply.
Each of the Bookrunners is acting exclusively for the Company
and no-one else in connection with the Placing and will not regard
any other person (whether or not a recipient of this Announcement)
as its client in relation to the Placing or any other matter
referred to in this Announcement, and will not be responsible to
anyone other than the Company for providing the protections
afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the
Placing or any other matter referred to in this Announcement.
This Announcement is being issued by, and is the sole
responsibility of, the Company. 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 either
of the Bookrunners or any of their respective affiliates or agents
(or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or
advisers) for the contents of the information contained in this
Announcement, or any other written or oral information made
available to or publicly available to any interested party or its
advisers, or any other statement made or purported to be made by or
on behalf of either of the Bookrunners or any of their respective
affiliates in connection with the Company, the Placing Shares or
the Placing and any responsibility and liability whether arising in
tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) is
therefore expressly disclaimed. No representation or warranty,
express or implied, is made by either of the Bookrunners or any of
their respective affiliates as to the accuracy, fairness,
verification, completeness or sufficiency of the information
contained in this Announcement and nothing in this Announcement is,
or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation in this
respect, whether as to the past or future.
None of the Company, the Bookrunners or their respective
affiliates or agents makes any representation or warranty, express
or implied, to any Placees regarding any investment in the
securities referred to in this Announcement under the laws
applicable to such Placees. Each Placee should consult its own
advisers as to the legal, tax, business, financial and related
aspects of an investment in the Placing Shares.
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.
By participating in the Placing, Placees will be deemed to have
read and understood this Announcement in its entirety and to be
participating, making an offer for and acquiring Placing Shares on
the terms and conditions contained herein, and to be providing (and
shall only be permitted to participate in the Placing on the basis
that they have provided) the representations, warranties,
indemnities, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings
contained herein. In particular, each such Placee represents,
warrants, undertakes, agrees and acknowledges, without limitation,
that:
(1) it is a Relevant Person (as defined above) 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;
(2) it is and, at the time the Placing Shares are acquired, will
be either: (i) outside the United States and acquiring the Placing
Shares in an "offshore transaction" in accordance with Regulation
S; or (ii) a QIB who has duly executed a US investor letter in a
form satisfactory to the relevant Bookrunner;
(3) if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is used in
Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation: (i) any 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 or to which the UK Prospectus Regulation otherwise applies
other than UK Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the
prior consent of the Bookrunners have 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 UK 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;
(4) if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is used in
Article 5(1) of the EU Prospectus Regulation: (i) any 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 any member
state of the EEA or to which the EU Prospectus Regulation otherwise
applies other than EU Qualified Investors or in circumstances in
which the prior consent of the Bookrunners have been given to the
offer or resale; or (ii) where Placing Shares have been acquired by
it on behalf of persons in any member state of the EEA other than
EU 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.
The Company and each of the Bookrunners will rely upon the truth
and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties,
undertakings, agreements and acknowledgements in addition to those
described elsewhere in this Announcement.
Bookbuild
Following this Announcement, the Bookrunners will commence the
Bookbuild to determine demand for participation in the Placing by
Placees and to establish the Offer Price. No commissions will be
paid to Placees or by Placees in respect of any Placing Shares. The
book will open with immediate effect and will close at the
discretion of the Bookrunners. The Bookrunners and the Company
shall be entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method
to the Bookbuild as they may, in their absolute discretion,
determine. Members of the public are not entitled to participate in
the Placing. This Appendix gives details of the terms and
conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the
Placing.
Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing Shares
The Company and the Bookrunners have today entered into the
Placing Agreement, under which, subject to the terms and conditions
set out therein, each of the Bookrunners has agreed to use
reasonable endeavours, as agents of the Company, to procure
subscribers for the Placing Shares and, to the extent that any
Placee defaults in paying the Offer Price in respect of any of the
Placing Shares allocated to it, each of the Bookrunners has agreed,
severally and not jointly or jointly and severally, to subscribe
for such defaulted Placing Shares at the Offer Price.
The final number of Placing Shares and the Offer Price will be
agreed between the Company and the Bookrunners at the close of the
Bookbuild and will be recorded in the terms of sale to be executed
by the Company and the Bookrunners (the "Terms of Sale").
Bookrunners Details of the number of Placing Shares and the Offer
Price will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of
the Bookbuild.
The Placing is conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming
unconditional in all respects, including, inter alia, Admission (as
defined below) occurring not later than 8.00 a.m. (London time) on
12 January 2024 (or such later time and/or date as may be agreed
between the Company and the Bookrunners), the execution of the
Terms of Sale and the warranties in the Placing Agreement not being
untrue or inaccurate or misleading when made nor becoming untrue or
inaccurate or misleading by reference to the facts and
circumstances existing at the time. The Placing Agreement is also
subject to other customary conditions and termination rights.
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 Company (the "Ordinary Shares"), including the right to
receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or
paid in respect of such Ordinary Shares after the date of issue of
the Placing Shares.
Applications for Admission
Applications will be made to the Financial Conduct Authority
(the "FCA") for admission of the Placing Shares to the premium
listing segment of the Official List of the FCA (the "Official
List") and to the London Stock Exchange plc (the "London Stock
Exchange") for admission of the Placing Shares to trading on its
main market for listed securities (together, "Admission"). It is
expected that Admission will become effective on or before 8.00
a.m. (London time) on 12 January 2024 (or such later time and/or
date as may be agreed between the Company and the Bookrunners) and
that dealings in the Placing Shares will commence at that time.
Participation in, and principal terms of, the Placing
1. Each of the Bookrunners is acting as joint global
co-ordinator, joint bookrunner and agent of the Company in
connection with the Placing.
2. Participation in the Placing will only be available to
persons who are Relevant Persons or who may lawfully be, and are,
invited to participate by the Bookrunners.
3. The Bookrunners and their respective affiliates and/or their
agents are each entitled to participate in the Placing as
principal.
4. The Placing Shares, if issued, will be issued to Placees at
the Offer Price (a single price which will be established by the
Bookbuild) and the Offer Price and the number of Placing Shares
will be determined by the Company in consultation with the
Bookrunners following completion of the Bookbuild. Any discount to
the market price of the Ordinary Shares will be determined in
accordance with the Listing Rules of the FCA. The Offer Price and
the final number of Placing Shares to be issued will be announced
via a Regulatory Information Service ("RIS") following the
completion of the Bookbuild.
5. To bid in the Bookbuild, Placees should communicate their bid
by telephone and/or in writing to their usual sales contact at the
relevant Bookrunner. Each bid should state the number of Placing
Shares which the prospective Placee wishes to subscribe for at
either the Offer Price, which is ultimately established by the
Company in consultation with the Bookrunners, or at prices up to a
price limit specified in its bid. Each Bookrunner reserves the
right not to accept a bid (either in whole or in part) from a
potential Placee. Bids may also be scaled back by the Bookrunners
on the basis referred to in paragraph 7 below.
6. A bid in the Bookbuild will be made on the terms and subject
to the conditions in this Announcement and will be legally binding
on the Placee on behalf of which it is made and, except with the
Bookrunners' consent, will not be capable of variation or
revocation after the time at which it is submitted. Each Placee
will have an immediate, separate, irrevocable and binding
obligation, owed to each of the Bookrunners, as agent for and on
behalf of the Company, to pay in cleared funds immediately on the
settlement date, in accordance with the registration and settlement
requirements set out below, an amount equal to the product of the
Offer Price and the number of Placing Shares such Placee has agreed
to subscribe for and the Company has agreed to allot.
7. The Bookbuild will open with immediate effect. The Bookbuild
is expected to close no later than 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 10
January 2024 but may be closed earlier or later at the discretion
of the Company and the Bookrunners. The Bookrunners may, in
agreement with the Company, accept bids that are received after the
Bookbuild has closed. The Bookrunners reserve the right to scale
back the number of Placing Shares to be subscribed for by any
Placee in the event of an oversubscription under the Placing. The
Bookrunners also reserve the right not to accept offers for Placing
Shares or to accept such offers in part rather than in whole.
8. Each prospective Placee's allocation in the Bookbuild
("Placing Participation") will be determined by the Company in
consultation with the Bookrunners and their Placing Participation
will be confirmed orally and/or via written correspondence by the
relevant Bookrunner as agent of the Company following the close of
the Bookbuild, and a trade confirmation/contract note will be
dispatched thereafter. This oral and/or written confirmation from
either of the Bookrunners constitutes an irrevocable legally
binding commitment upon that person (who will at that point become
a Placee) in favour of the Bookrunners and the Company to subscribe
for the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Offer Price
on the terms and conditions set out in this Appendix and in
accordance with the articles of association of the Company. The
terms and conditions of this Announcement will be deemed to be
incorporated in that trade confirmation, contract note or such
other (oral or written) confirmation and will be legally binding on
the Placee on behalf of which it is made.
9. The allocation of Placing Shares to Placees located in the
United States or Canada shall be conditional on the execution by
each Placee of an investor representation letter in the form
provided to it by the relevant Bookrunner.
10. Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's Placing
Participation is confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares to be
acquired pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made on the
same day, on the basis explained below under "Registration and
Settlement".
11. Completion of the Placing will be subject to the 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 Agreement". In
the event that the Placing Agreement does not become unconditional
in any respect or is terminated, the Placing will not proceed.
12. By participating in the Placing, 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 and is not subject to
any further conditions or requirements other than those set out in
this Announcement or the Placing Agreement.
13. To the fullest extent permissible by law, neither the
Bookrunners nor the Company nor any of their affiliates, agents,
directors, officers, consultants or employees shall have any
liability to Placees (or to any other person whether acting on
behalf of a Placee or otherwise). In particular, neither the
Bookrunners nor any of their affiliates, agents, directors,
officers, consultants or employees shall have any liability
(including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties)
in respect of the Bookrunners' conduct of the Bookbuild (including
the Bookrunners entering or not entering into the Terms of Sale) or
of such alternative method of effecting the Placing as the
Bookrunners and the Company may agree.
Conditions of the Placing
The Placing is conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming
unconditional and not having been terminated in accordance with its
terms prior to Admission. The Placing Agreement is conditional on,
inter alia:
(a) the Bookrunners and the Company entering into the Terms of
Sale, which requires agreement being reached between the Company
and the Bookrunners on the Offer Price and the final number of
Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing;
(b) none of the warranties in the Placing Agreement being
untrue, inaccurate or misleading in any respect when made or
becoming, inaccurate or misleading in any respect by reference to
the facts and circumstances existing at the time;
(c) the sale and purchase agreement in respect of the
Acquisition (the "Acquisition Agreement") having been duly executed
and delivered by the parties thereto, having been performed to the
extent required prior to Admission in accordance with its terms and
not being varied (in any respect), modified (in any respect),
supplemented, rescinded or terminated (in whole or in part);
(d) the Company having complied, in all material respects, with
its obligations under the Placing Agreement (to the extent such
obligations fall to be performed prior to Admission);
(e) in the opinion of either of the Bookrunners, there not
having occurred a material adverse change, whether or not
foreseeable at the date of the Placing Agreement;
(f) the Company allotting and issuing the Placing Shares, prior
to and conditional only on Admission, in accordance with the terms
of the Placing Agreement; and
(g) Admission taking place not later than 8.00 a.m. (London
time) on 12 January 2024 or such later time and/or date as the
Company and the Bookrunners may otherwise agree.
The Bookrunners may, in their absolute discretion and upon such
terms as they think fit, waive fulfilment, in whole or in part, of
any or all of the conditions in the Placing Agreement, other than
that relating to, inter alia, Admission (to the extent permitted by
law or regulations), by giving notice in writing to the Company.
Any such waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in
this Announcement.
If (i) any of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement
have not been fulfilled or waived by the Bookrunners by the
applicable time or date where specified (or such later time and/or
date as the Company and the Bookrunners may agree), (ii) any of the
conditions contained in the Placing Agreement becomes incapable of
being satisfied or (iii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in
accordance with its terms (as summarised below), the Placing will
lapse and the Placees' rights and obligations hereunder in relation
to the Placing Shares shall cease and terminate at such time and
each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by the Placee in
respect thereof.
None of the Bookrunners, the Company, nor any of their or its
respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers, consultants or
employees, nor any other person, shall have any liability, whether
in contract, tort or otherwise, to any Placee (or to any other
person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in
respect of any decision they may make as to whether or not to waive
or to extend the time and/or the date for the satisfaction of any
condition to the Placing nor for any decision they may make as to
the satisfaction of any condition or in respect of the Placing
generally or for entering or not entering into the Terms of Sale
and by participating in the Bookbuild and the Placing each Placee
agrees that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of
the Bookrunners and the Company. Placees will have no rights
against either of the Bookrunners, the Company or any of their or
its respective members, directors or employees under the Placing
Agreement pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act
1999 (as amended) or otherwise.
Termination of the Placing Agreement
Either of the Bookrunners is entitled, at any time before
Admission and in accordance with its terms, to terminate the
Placing Agreement by giving notice to the Company if, inter
alia:
(a) any of the conditions under the Placing Agreement have
become incapable of satisfaction before the latest time provided in
the Placing Agreement, or any of such conditions has not been
satisfied before the latest time provided in the Placing Agreement
and (if capable of waiver) has not been waived by the Bookrunners;
or
(b) there has been: (i) the suspension of trading in securities
generally on the London Stock Exchange or the New York Stock
Exchange or Nasdaq, or trading is limited or minimum prices
established on any such exchange; (ii) the declaration of a banking
moratorium in London or by the US federal or New York State
authorities or by any EEA member state or any material disruption
to commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance
services in the US or the UK or the EEA; (iii) an adverse change or
a prospective adverse change since the date of the Placing
Agreement in UK taxation affecting the Ordinary Shares or the
transfer thereof; or (iv) any change, or development involving a
prospective change, in national UK, United States, European or
international financial, economic, political, industrial or market
conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls, or any
incident of terrorism or outbreak or escalation of hostilities or
any declaration by the UK, any member state of the EEA or the US of
a national emergency or war or any other calamity or crisis and
whether or not foreseeable at the date of the Placing Agreement, in
the case of each of (i) to (iv) above, which either of the
Bookrunners considers to be likely to have an adverse effect on the
financial or trading position or the business or prospects of the
Company's group (the "Group") as a whole or the Group as enlarged
by the Acquisition (the "Enlarged Group") which is material in the
context of the Group as a whole or the Enlarged Group as a whole or
which renders the Placing, the Acquisition and/or Admission
impracticable or inadvisable in any material respect.
Upon such termination, the parties to the Placing Agreement
shall be released and discharged (except for any liability arising
before or in relation to such termination) from their respective
obligations under or pursuant to the Placing Agreement and the
Placing will not proceed.
By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise
by either Bookrunner of any right of termination or by either
Bookrunner of any other discretion under the Placing Agreement,
shall be within the absolute discretion of the relevant Bookrunner
and that it need not make any reference to Placees and that it
shall have no liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with
any such exercise or failure so to exercise.
Lock-up
The Company has undertaken to the Bookrunners that, between the
date of the Placing Agreement and 150 calendar days from the date
of Admission, it will not issue Ordinary Shares or enter into
certain transactions involving or relating to the Ordinary Shares
(other than relevant securities to be issued in respect of options
or rights pursuant to share option or incentive plans operated by
the Company or any member of its group and in existence as at the
date of the Placing Agreement, the grant of options to shares to
employees in the ordinary course of business or relevant securities
to be issued under the WaterShare+ scheme) in each case without the
prior written consent of the Bookrunners.
By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise
by the Bookrunners of any power to grant consent to waive the
undertaking by the Company of a transaction which would otherwise
be subject to the lock-up under the Placing Agreement shall be
within the absolute discretion of the Bookrunners and that they
need not make any reference to, or consultation with, Placees and
that they shall have no liability to Placees whatsoever in
connection with any such exercise of the power to grant
consent.
No Prospectus
No offering document or prospectus has been or will be submitted
to be approved by the FCA or submitted to the London Stock Exchange
in relation to the Bookbuild or the Placing and no such prospectus
is required (in accordance with the UK Prospectus Regulation or the
EU Prospectus Regulation) to be published. Placees' commitments
will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in
this Announcement released by the Company today and any information
publicly announced to a RIS by or on behalf of the Company
simultaneously with or prior to the date of this Announcement and
subject to the further terms set forth in the contract note or
trade confirmation to be provided to individual prospective
Placees.
Each Placee, by accepting a participation in the Bookbuild and
the Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement
(including this Appendix) is exclusively the responsibility of the
Company and confirms that it has neither received nor relied on any
other information, representation, warranty, or statement made by
or on behalf of the Company (other than publicly available
information) or the Bookrunners or any other person and none of the
Company nor the Bookrunners nor any person acting on its or their
behalf nor any of its or their affiliates is or will be liable for
any Placee's decision to participate in the Bookbuild and the
Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or
statement which the Placees may have obtained or received. Each
Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own
investigation of the business, financial or other position of the
Company in participating in the Placing. Nothing in this paragraph
shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent
misrepresentation by that person.
Registration and Settlement
Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN:
GB00BNNTLN49) following Admission will take place within the CREST
system, subject to certain exceptions. 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 the Bookrunners may agree that the Placing Shares should be
issued in certificated form.
The Bookrunners and the Company reserve the right to require
settlement for the Placing Shares (or a portion thereof), and to
deliver the Placing Shares (or a portion thereof) to Placees, by
such other means as they deem necessary or in certificated form if
delivery or settlement to Placees is not practicable within the
CREST system or would not be consistent with regulatory
requirements in a Placee's jurisdiction.
Following the closing of the Bookbuild, each Placee allocated
Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a contract note or trade
confirmation stating the number of Placing Shares to be allocated
to it at the Offer Price, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee
to the relevant Bookrunner and settlement instructions. Each such
Placee agrees that it will do all things necessary to ensure that
delivery and payment is completed in accordance with the standing
CREST or certificated settlement instructions as set out in the
contract note or trade confirmation. It is expected that such
contract note or trade confirmation will be despatched on or around
10 January 2024 and that this will also be the trade date.
It is expected that settlement will be on 12 January 2024 on a
delivery versus payment basis in accordance with the instructions
set out in the contract note or trade confirmation unless otherwise
notified by the relevant Bookrunner. Interest is chargeable daily
on payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance
with the arrangements set out above at the rate of two percentage
points above SONIA as determined by the Bookrunners.
Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does not comply with
these obligations, the Bookrunners (as agents for and on behalf of
the Company) may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to
that Placee on such Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds,
an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee for the
Placing Shares sold plus any interest due. The relevant Placee
will, however, remain liable for any shortfall below the aggregate
amount owed by it for the Placing Shares and may be required to
bear any capital duty or stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or
other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary
or other duties or taxes (together with any interest, fines or
penalties) which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares on
such Placee's behalf. Each Placee confers on the Bookrunners all
such authorities and powers necessary to carry out any such sale
and agrees to ratify and confirm all actions which either of the
Bookrunners lawfully undertakes in pursuance of such sale. Legal
and/or beneficial title in and to any Placing Shares shall not pass
to the relevant Placee until it has fully complied with its
obligations hereunder.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or
settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the electronic
contract note or trade confirmation is forwarded 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 issued, allotted, delivered and
registered free from any liability to United Kingdom stamp duty or
United Kingdom stamp duty reserve tax. If there are any
circumstances in which any other capital duty or stamp duty or
stamp duty reserve tax or other stamp, issue, securities, transfer,
registration, documentary or other duties or taxes (together with
interest, fines and penalties) is payable in respect of the Placing
Shares, none of the Bookrunners or the Company shall be responsible
for the payment thereof. Placees will not be entitled to receive
any fee or commission in connection with the Bookbuild or the
Placing.
Representations and warranties and further terms
By submitting a bid and/or participating in the Placing, each
prospective Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf)
irrevocably represents, warrants, undertakes, acknowledges,
confirms and agrees with the Company and each of the Bookrunners,
in each case as a fundamental term of its participation, that:
1. it has carefully read and understood this Announcement,
including this Appendix, in its entirety and that its participation
in the Bookbuild and the Placing and its subscription for and
purchase of 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 undertakes not to redistribute or duplicate
this Announcement and it has not relied on, and will not rely on,
any other information given or any representations, warranties or
statements made at any time by any person in connection with
Admission, the Bookbuild, the Placing, the Company, the Placing
Shares or otherwise, other than those contained in this
Announcement. It further agrees that these terms and conditions
represent the whole and only agreement between each Placee, the
Company and the Bookrunners in relation to each Placing
Participation and supersede any previous agreement between any of
these parties in relation to such Placing Participation.
Accordingly, all other terms, conditions, representations,
warranties and other statements which would otherwise be implied
(by law or otherwise) shall not form part of these terms and
conditions. Each Placee agrees that neither the Company nor the
Bookrunners, nor any of its or their respective officers or
directors, will have any liability for any such other information
or representation and irrevocably and unconditionally waives any
rights it may have in respect of any such other information or
representation;
2. (i) it has made its own assessment of the Company, the
Placing Shares and the terms of the Placing based on this
Announcement (including this Appendix) and any information publicly
announced to a RIS by or on behalf of the Company simultaneously
with or prior to the publication of this Announcement, including,
inter alia, the announcement released by the Company in respect of
the Acquisition (the "Publicly Available Information") and the
Exchange Information as defined and referred to below; (ii) the
Ordinary Shares are admitted to the premium listing segment of the
Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main
market for listed securities and the Company is therefore required
to publish certain business and financial information in accordance
with the market abuse regulation (EU No. 596/2014) as it forms part
of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
("UK MAR"), and the rules and practices of the FCA and the London
Stock Exchange (collectively and together with the Publicly
Available Information, the "Exchange Information"), which includes
a description of the nature of the Company's business, most recent
balance sheet and profit and loss account, and similar statements
for preceding years, and it has reviewed such Exchange Information
as it has deemed necessary and that it is able to obtain or access
the Exchange Information without undue difficulty; and (iii) it has
had access to such financial and other information (including the
business, financial condition, prospects, creditworthiness, status
and affairs of the Company, the Placing and the Placing Shares, as
well as the opportunity to ask questions) concerning the Company,
the Placing and the Placing Shares as it has deemed necessary in
connection with its own investment decision to acquire any of the
Placing Shares and has satisfied itself that the information is
still current and relied on that investigation for the purposes of
its decision to participate in the Placing;
3. no offering document or prospectus has been, or will be,
prepared in connection with the Placing and represents and warrants
that it has not received a prospectus or other offering document in
connection therewith;
4. the content of this Announcement is exclusively the
responsibility of the Company and that neither of the Bookrunners
nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors,
officers, consultants or employees nor any person acting on their
behalf has or shall have any liability, in contract, tort or
otherwise for any information, representation or statement
contained in this Announcement or any information previously
published by or on behalf of the Company and will not be liable for
any Placee's decision to participate in the Bookbuild and the
Placing based on any information, representation or statement
contained in this Announcement or otherwise. Each Placee further
represents, warrants and agrees that the only information on which
it is entitled to rely and on which such Placee has relied in
committing itself to subscribe for the Placing Shares is contained
in this Announcement and any information previously or
contemporaneously published by the Company by notification to a
RIS, such information being all that it deems necessary to make an
investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares and that it
has neither received nor relied on any other information given or
representations, warranties or statements made by either of the
Bookrunners or the Company and neither of the Bookrunners nor the
Company will be liable for any Placee's decision to accept an
invitation to participate in the Placing based on any other
information, representation, warranty or statement. Each Placee
further acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own
investigation of the business, financial or other position of the
Company in deciding to
participate in the Placing and that neither of the Bookrunners
or any of their respective affiliates have made any representations
to it, express or implied, with respect to the Company, the
Bookbuild, the Placing and the Placing Shares or the accuracy,
completeness or adequacy of the Exchange Information, and each of
them expressly disclaims any liability in respect thereof. Nothing
in this paragraph or otherwise in this Announcement excludes the
liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made by
that person;
5. none of the Bookrunners nor the Company nor any of their
respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers, consultants or
employees or any person acting on behalf of any of them has
provided, nor will they provide, it with any material regarding the
Placing Shares or the Company or any other person other than the
information contained in this Announcement; nor has it requested
any of the Bookrunners or the Company, any of their affiliates or
any person acting on behalf of any of them to provide it with any
such material or information;
6. (i) either (A) it is outside the United States, will be
outside the United States at the time that any buy order for
Placing Shares is originated by it and is acquiring the Placing
Shares in an "offshore transaction" within the meaning of and
pursuant to Regulation S; or (B) it is a QIB that will deliver to
the relevant Bookrunner an investor representation letter in the
form provided to it and it is acquiring the Placing Shares for its
own account or for one or more accounts as to each of which it
exercises sole investment discretion and each of which is a QIB, it
is acquiring the Placing Shares for investment purposes only and
not with a view to any distribution or for resale in connection
with the distribution thereof in whole or in part, in the United
States and it has the full power to make the acknowledgements,
representations and agreements herein on behalf of each such
account; and (ii) that it is not acquiring any of the Placing
Shares as a result of any form of general solicitation or general
advertising (within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D
under the Securities Act) or any form of "directed selling efforts"
(as defined in Regulation S);
7. the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered
under the Securities Act or under the securities law of any state
or other jurisdiction of the United States, nor approved or
disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state
securities commission in the United States or any other US
regulatory authority;
8. the Placing Shares offered and sold in the United States are
"restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under
the Securities Act and, so long as the Placing Shares are
"restricted securities", it will not deposit the Placing Shares
into any unrestricted depositary receipt facility maintained by any
depositary bank in respect of the Company's shares. It will not
reoffer, sell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Placing Shares
except: (i) in an offshore transaction in accordance with
Regulation S under the Securities Act; (ii) in the United States to
QIBs pursuant to Rule 144A; or (iii) pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act (if available) or another exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, in each case in compliance with all applicable
securities laws of the United States or any state or other
jurisdiction of the United States;
9. that it will not distribute, transfer or otherwise transmit
this Announcement or any part of it, or any other presentation or
other materials concerning the Placing, in or into 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;
10. unless otherwise specifically agreed with the Bookrunners,
it is not, and at the time the Placing Shares are acquired, neither
it nor the beneficial owner of the Placing Shares will be, a
resident of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or any other
jurisdiction in which it would be unlawful to make or accept an
offer to acquire the Placing Shares and it further acknowledges
that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered or
qualified for public distribution under the securities legislation
of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa and, subject to certain
exceptions, may not be offered, sold, transferred, delivered or
distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into those jurisdictions
or in any other jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose
is required;
11. it has neither received nor relied upon any inside
information (as defined under UK MAR) about the Company in
accepting an invitation to participate in the Placing. For the
avoidance of doubt, market soundings (as defined in UK MAR) were
taken in respect of the matters contained in this Announcement,
with the result that certain persons became aware of such inside
information as permitted by UK MAR. That inside information is set
out in this Announcement and has been disclosed as soon as possible
in accordance with paragraph 7 of article 17 of UK MAR. Upon the
publication of this Announcement, the inside information is now
considered to be in the public domain and such persons shall
therefore cease to be in possession of inside information in
relation to the Company and its securities. Each prospective Placee
undertakes that, in advance of the Placing, it has not: (i) dealt
in the securities of the Company; (ii) encouraged or required
another person to deal in the securities of the Company; or (iii)
disclosed such information to any person except as permitted by the
UK MAR, prior to the information being made publicly available;
12. it has complied with its obligations under the Criminal
Justice Act 1993, UK MAR and in connection with money laundering
and terrorist financing under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (as
amended), the Terrorism Act 2000, the Anti-Terrorism Crime and
Security Act 2001, the Terrorism Act 2006, and the Money
Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information
on the Payer) Regulations 2017 and the Money Laundering Sourcebook
of the FCA and any related or similar rules, regulations or
guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any government
agency having jurisdiction in respect thereof (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. If within a reasonable time after a request for
verification of identity, the Bookrunners have not received such
satisfactory evidence, the Bookrunners may, in their absolute
discretion, terminate the Placee's Placing Participation in which
event all funds delivered by the Placee to the Bookrunners will be
returned without interest to the account of the drawee bank or
CREST account from which they were originally debited;
13. it is a Relevant Person and undertakes that it will
subscribe for, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that
are allocated to it for the purposes of its business;
14. in particular, (i) if in the United Kingdom, it is a UK
Qualified Investor and is a person (A) having professional
experience in matters relating to investments and who falls within
the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of
the Order or (B) who is a high net worth entity or other person
falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (C) to whom
this Announcement may otherwise lawfully be communicated and (ii)
if in a member state of the EEA, it is an EEA Qualified
Investor;
15. if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is used in
Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation: (i) any Placing
Shares acquired by it in the Placing will not be acquired on behalf
of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale
to, persons in the United Kingdom or to which the UK Prospectus
Regulation otherwise applies other than UK Qualified Investors or
in circumstances in which the prior consent of the Bookrunners 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 UK 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;
16. if it is 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 will not be acquired on behalf
of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale
to, persons in any member state of the EEA or to which the EU
Prospectus Regulation otherwise applies other than EU Qualified
Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the
Bookrunners has been given to the offer or resale; or (ii) where
Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any
member state of the EEA other than EU 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;
17. that any offer of Placing Shares may only be directed at
persons in the UK who are UK Qualified Investors and it represents,
warrants and undertakes that it has not offered or sold and will
not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the United
Kingdom, except to UK Qualified Persons 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 FSMA;
18. that any offer of Placing Shares may only be directed at
persons in member states of the EEA who are EU Qualified Investors
and it represents, warrants and undertakes that it has not offered
or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in
the EEA except to EU Qualified Investors or otherwise in
circumstances which have not resulted in and which will not result
in an offer to the public in any member state of the EEA within the
meaning of the EU Prospectus Regulation;
19. it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and
will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or
inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of
section 21 of FSMA) relating to the Placing Shares in circumstances
in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not require approval of the
communication by an authorised person and agrees that this
Announcement has not been approved by either of the Bookrunners in
their respective capacity as an authorised person under section 21
of 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;
20. it has complied and will comply with all applicable laws
(including all relevant provisions of FSMA) with respect to
anything done by it in relation to the Placing Shares in, from or
otherwise involving, the United Kingdom;
21. if in Australia, it is: (i) a person who is either a
"sophisticated investor" within the meaning of section 708(8) of
the Corporations Act or a "professional investor" within the
meaning of section 9 and 708(11) of the Corporations Act; and (ii)
a "wholesale client" as defined in section 761G of the Corporations
Act, and it will not offer for sale (or transfer, assign or
otherwise alienate) Placing Shares to investors in Australia for at
least 12 months after their issue, except in circumstances where
disclosure to investors is not required under Part 6D.2 of the
Corporations Act, and the issue of the Placing Shares to it does
not require a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other
form of disclosure document under the Corporations Act;
22. if in Canada, it: (i) is purchasing as principal for its own
account, or is deemed under applicable Canadian securities laws to
be purchasing as principal, for investment only and not with a view
to resale or distribution; (ii) is both an "accredited investor" as
defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus
Exemptions of the Canadian Securities Administrators (or, in
Ontario, as defined in section 73.3(1) of the Securities Act
(Ontario), as applicable) and also a "permitted client" as defined
in section 1.1 of National Instrument 31-103 Registration
Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations of the
Canadian Securities Administrators; (iii) was not created, and is
not used, solely to purchase or hold securities as an accredited
investor; and (iv) will provide such information regarding the
Placee as may be required to enable the Company and/or the
Bookrunners to comply with any filing obligations under applicable
Canadian securities laws in respect of a sale to the Placee of any
Placing Shares;
23. if in Switzerland, it is a "professional client" within the
meaning of FinSA;
24. if in South Africa, it is a financial institution or other
person who is referred to in section 96(1)(a) of the SA Companies
Act, or a person who has subscribed, as principal, for the Placing
Shares at a total acquisition cost of ZAR1 000 000 or more, as
contemplated in section 96(1)(b) of the SA Companies Act;
25. if in the UAE, it is a "professional investor" as defined in
the SCA Rulebook and understands that this Announcement and the
offering of the Placing Shares has not been approved or licensed by
or registered with any of the UAE Authorities;
26. if in the ADGM, it meets the "Professional Client" criteria
set out in Rule 2.4 of the FSRA's Conduct of Business Rulebook
(COBS);
27. if it is an institutional investor for the purposes of the
Currency and Exchanges Act 9 of 1933 ("Exchange Control
Restrictions"), specifically: (i) a retirement fund or a long-term
insurer, then the aggregate value of its Placing participation at
the Offer Price does not and will not exceed 25% of the aggregate
value of its retail assets, calculated in accordance with the
Exchange Control Restrictions; or (ii) a collective investment
scheme management company, or investment manager registered as an
institutional investor with the Financial Surveillance Department,
then the aggregate value of its Placing participation at the Offer
Price does not and will not exceed 35% of the aggregate value of
its retail assets, calculated in accordance with the Exchange
Control Restrictions; and (iii) it has complied in all respects
with the prudential regulations administered by the Financial
Sector Conduct Authority of South Africa;
28. if resident in or registered under the laws of South Africa:
(i) it accepts and acknowledges that this Announcement is not a
registered prospectus (as that term is defined in the South African
Companies Act) and will not be filed or registered with the South
African Companies and Intellectual Property Commission or any other
regulator in South Africa; (ii) it is one or more of the persons or
entities referred to in section 96(1) of the South African
Companies Act; and (iii) the Company will not be a registered
collective investment scheme under the South African Collective
Investment Scheme Control Act No. 45 of 2002 ("CISCA"), and nothing
in this Announcement should be construed as constituting an
opportunity to invest in a collective investment scheme in South
Africa;
29. no action has been or will be taken by either the Company or
either of the Bookrunners or any of its or their affiliates,
agents, directors, officers or employees that would, or is intended
to, permit a public 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 country
or jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is
required;
30. neither it, nor the person specified by it for registration
as holder of Placing Shares is, or is acting as nominee or agent
for, and the Placing Shares will not be allotted, allotted, issued
or delivered to, a person who is mentioned in any of sections
67,70, 93 and 96 of the Finance Act 1986 (depository receipts and
clearance services) and the Placing Shares are not being acquired
in connection with arrangements to issue depository receipts or to
issue or transfer Placing Shares into a clearance system;
31. (i) it is acting as principal only in respect of the Placing
and has the power and authority to carry on the activities in which
it is engaged, to subscribe for Placing Shares and to execute and
deliver all documents necessary for such subscription; and/or (ii)
if it is acting for any other person (A) it is duly authorised to
do so and has full power to make the acknowledgments,
representations and agreements herein on behalf of each such
person; (B) it exercises sole investment discretion as to each such
person's account; and (C) it is and will remain liable to the
Company and each of the Bookrunners 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). Each Placee agrees
that the provisions of this paragraph shall survive the resale of
the Placing Shares by or on behalf of any person for whom it is
acting;
32. (i) it and any person acting on its behalf has the funds
available to pay for and is entitled to subscribe for the Placing
Shares under the laws of all relevant jurisdictions which apply to
it; (ii) it has paid any issue, transfer or other taxes due in
connection with its participation in any territory; (iii) it has
fully observed such laws and obtained all such governmental and
other guarantees, permits, authorisations, approvals and consents
which may be required thereunder and complied with all necessary
formalities and that it has not taken any action or omitted to take
any action which will or may result in either of the Bookrunners,
the Company or any of their respective affiliates, directors,
officers, agents, employees or advisers acting in breach of the
legal and/or regulatory requirements and/or any anti-money
laundering requirements of any jurisdiction in connection with the
Placing; and (iv) the subscription for and purchase of the Placing
Shares by it or any person acting on its behalf will be in
compliance with applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdiction
of its residence, the residence of the Company, or otherwise;
33. it has all necessary capacity and has obtained all necessary
consents and authorities to enable it to commit to its
participation in the Placing and to perform its obligations in
relation thereto (including, without limitation, in the case of any
person on whose behalf it is acting, all necessary consents and
authorities to agree to the terms set out or referred to in this
Announcement) and will honour such obligations;
34. it (and any person acting on its behalf) will make payment
for the Placing Shares allocated to it in accordance with the terms
and conditions of this Announcement, including this Appendix, on
the due time and date set out herein, failing which the relevant
Placing Shares may be placed with other persons or sold as the
Bookrunners may in their absolute discretion determine and without
liability to such Placee. It will, however, remain liable for any
shortfall below the net proceeds of such sale of the Placing Shares
and the placing proceeds of such Placing Shares and may be required
to bear any capital duty or stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or
other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary
or other duties or taxes (together with any interest, fines 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. It confers on the Bookrunners all such
authorities and powers necessary to carry out any such sale and
agrees to ratify and confirm all actions which either of the
Bookrunners lawfully undertakes in pursuance of such sale. It
acknowledges that legal and/or beneficial title in and to any
Placing Shares shall not pass to the it until it has fully complied
with its obligations hereunder ;
35. its allocation (if any) of Placing Shares will represent a
maximum number of Placing Shares which it will be entitled, and
required, to acquire, and that either of the Bookrunners or the
Company may call upon it to acquire a lower number of Placing
Shares (if any), but in no event in aggregate more than the
aforementioned maximum;
36. the person whom it specifies for registration as holder of
the Placing Shares will be (i) itself or (ii) its nominee, as the
case may be. None of the Bookrunners or the Company, any of its or
their respective affiliates or any person acting on behalf of it or
them will be responsible for any liability to capital duty or stamp
duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other stamp, issue, securities,
transfer, registration, documentary or other duties or taxes
(together with any interest, fines or penalties) resulting from a
failure to observe this requirement. Each Placee and any person
acting on behalf of such Placee agrees to indemnify the Company and
each of the Bookrunners in respect of the same (together with any
and all costs, losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest,
fines and expenses (including legal fees and expenses)) on an
after-tax basis on the basis that the Placing Shares will be
allotted to the CREST stock account of a Bookrunner who will hold
them as nominee on behalf of such Placee until settlement in
accordance with its standing settlement instructions;
37. the Placing does not constitute a recommendation or
financial product advice and neither of the Bookrunners has had
regard to its particular objectives, financial situation and
needs;
38. the Placing does not constitute "advice" as that term is
used in the FMA and/or the SA FAIS Act and should not be construed
as constituting the canvassing for, or marketing or advertising of,
financial services in South Africa;
39. none of the Bookrunners, any of their respective affiliates,
agents, directors, officers or employees, or 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 or providing advice in
relation to the Placing and that participation in the Placing is on
the basis that it is not and will not be a client of either of the
Bookrunners and that neither of the Bookrunners has any duties or
responsibilities to it for providing the protections afforded to
the Bookrunners' respective clients or customers 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 or
other discretion;
40. that in making any decision to acquire the Placing Shares
(i) it has sufficient knowledge, sophistication and experience in
financial, business and international investment matters as is
required to evaluate the merits and risks of subscribing for or
purchasing the Placing Shares, (ii) it is experienced in investing
in securities of this nature in this sector and is aware that it
may be required to bear, and is able to bear, the economic risk of
participating in, and is able to sustain a complete loss in
connection with, the Placing, (iii) it has relied on its own
examination, due diligence and analysis of the Company and its
affiliates taken as a whole, including the markets in which the
Group operates, and the terms of the Placing, including the merits
and risks involved and not upon any view expressed or information
provided by or on behalf of either of the Bookrunners, (iv) it has
had sufficient time and access to information to consider and
conduct its own investigation with respect to the offer and
purchase of the Placing Shares, including the legal, regulatory,
tax, business, currency and other economic and financial
considerations relevant to such investment and has so conducted its
own investigation to the extent it deems necessary for the purposes
of its investigation, and (v) it will not look to the Company,
either of the Bookrunners, any of their respective affiliates or
any person acting on behalf of any of them for all or part of any
such loss or losses it or they may suffer;
41. in connection with the Placing, each of the Bookrunners and
their respective affiliates acting as an investor for its own
account may take up Placing Shares in the Company and in that
capacity may retain, purchase or sell for its own account such
Placing Shares in the Company and any securities of the Company or
related investments and may offer or sell such securities or other
investments otherwise than in connection with the Placing.
Accordingly, references in this Announcement to shares being
issued, offered or placed should be read as including any issue,
offering or placement of such shares in the Company to any of the
Bookrunners or their respective affiliates acting in such capacity.
In addition, each of the Bookrunners may enter into financing
arrangements (including swaps, warrants and contracts for
difference) with investors in connection with which the Bookrunners
or their respective affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold
or dispose of such securities of the Company, including the Placing
Shares. Neither of the Bookrunners intends to disclose the extent
of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance
with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so;
42. that a communication that the transaction or the book is
"covered" (i.e. indicated demand from investors in the book equals
or exceeds the amount of the securities being offered) is not any
indication or assurance that the book will remain covered or that
the transaction and securities will be fully distributed;
43. its commitment to acquire the Placing Shares on the terms
set out herein and in the contract note or trade confirmation will
continue notwithstanding any amendment that may in future be made
to the terms of the Placing and Placees will have no right to be
consulted or require that their consents be obtained with respect
to the Company's or the Bookrunners' conduct of the Placing;
44. the exercise by the Bookrunners of any right of termination
or any right of waiver exercisable by the Bookrunners contained in
the Placing Agreement including, without limitation, the right to
terminate the Placing Agreement and/or to enter into or refrain
from entering into the Terms of Sale, is within the absolute
discretion of the Bookrunners and the Bookrunners will not have any
liability to any Placee whatsoever in connection with any decision
to exercise or not exercise any such rights. In particular, if (i)
any of the conditions in the Placing Agreement are not satisfied
(or, where relevant, waived), or (ii) the Placing Agreement is
terminated, or (iii) the Terms of Sale is not executed by the
Bookrunners and the Company, or (iv) the Placing Agreement does not
otherwise become unconditional in all respects, the Placing will
lapse and its rights (save as to return of funds) and obligations
hereunder shall cease and determine at such time and no claim shall
be made by any Placee in respect thereof;
45. terms and conditions and any agreements entered into by it
pursuant to these terms and conditions and any non-contractual
obligations arising out of or in connection with such agreements
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
England and Wales and it submits (on behalf of itself and on behalf
of any person on whose behalf it is acting) to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the English courts as regards any claim, dispute or
matter arising out of any such contract and waives any objection to
proceedings in any such court on the ground of venue or on the
ground that proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Enforcement proceedings in respect of the obligation to make
payment for the Placing Shares (together with any interest
chargeable thereon) may be taken by the Company or either of the
Bookrunners 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;
46. the Company, each of the Bookrunners and their respective
affiliates and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the
representations, warranties and acknowledgements set forth herein
and which are given to each of the Bookrunners on its own behalf
and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable and it irrevocably
authorises the Company and each of the Bookrunners to produce this
Announcement, pursuant to, in connection with, or as may be
required by any applicable law or regulation, administrative or
legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters
set forth herein. It agrees that if any of the acknowledgements,
representations, warranties and agreements made in connection with
its subscribing and/or acquiring of Placing Shares is no longer
accurate, it shall promptly notify the Company and the
Bookrunners;
47. it will indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold the Company
and each of the Bookrunners and their respective affiliates
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 in this Appendix and
further agrees that the provisions of this Appendix shall survive
after completion of the Placing;
48. none of the Company or the Bookrunners owes any fiduciary or
other duties to any Placee in respect of any acknowledgements,
confirmations, undertakings, representations, warranties or
indemnities in the Placing Agreement;
49. where it is acquiring the Placing Shares for one or more
managed accounts, it represents, warrants and undertakes that it is
authorised in writing by each managed account to acquire the
Placing Shares for each managed account and it has full power to
make the acknowledgements, representations and agreements herein on
behalf of each such account;
50. it acknowledges and agrees that information provided by it
to the Company or the Company's registrar may be stored on the
registrar's computer system and in hard copy. It acknowledges and
agrees that for the purposes of applicable data protection
legislation and regulations ("Data Protection Law") the registrar
is required to specify the purposes for which it may hold personal
data. The registrar will only use such information for the purposes
set out below (collectively, the "Purposes"), being to:
a. process a Placee's personal data (including sensitive
personal data) as required by or in connection with its holding of
the Placing Shares, including processing personal data in
connection with credit and money laundering checks on it;
b. communicate with a relevant Placee as necessary in connection
with its affairs and generally in connection with its holding of
Placing Shares;
c. provide personal data to such third parties as the registrar
may consider necessary in connection with its affairs and generally
in connection with a relevant Placee's holding of Placing Shares or
as the Data Protection Law may require, including to third parties
outside the United Kingdom or the EEA; and
d. without limitation, provide such personal data to the
Company, the Global Joint Co-ordinators and their respective
associates for processing, notwithstanding that any such party may
be outside the United Kingdom or the EEA;
51. in providing the Company and the registrar with information,
it hereby represents and warrants to the Company and the registrar
that it has obtained the consent of any data subjects to the
Company and the registrar and its associates holding and using
their personal data for the Purposes (including the explicit
consent of the data subjects for the processing of any sensitive
personal data for the purpose set out in paragraph 45(a) above);
and
52. if it is a pension fund or investment company, its
acquisition of Placing Shares is in full compliance with applicable
laws and regulations.
The foregoing acknowledgements, confirmations, undertakings,
representations and warranties are given for the benefit of each of
the Company and the Bookrunners (for their own benefit and, where
relevant, the benefit of their respective affiliates and any person
acting on behalf of any of them) and are irrevocable.
No claim shall be made against the Company, the Bookrunners or
any of their respective affiliates or any person acting on behalf
of any of them by a Placee to recover any damage, cost, charge or
expense which it may suffer or incur by reason of or arising from
the carrying out by it of the work to be done by it pursuant to
this Announcement or the performance of its obligations pursuant to
this Announcement or otherwise in connection with the Placing.
Please also note that the agreement to allot and issue Placing
Shares to Placees (or the persons for whom Placees are contracting
as agent) free of United Kingdom stamp duty and United Kingdom
stamp duty reserve tax relates only to their allotment and issue to
Placees, or such persons as they nominate as their agents, direct
from the Company for the Placing Shares in question. Such agreement
is subject to the representations, warranties, indemnities and
further terms above and assumes and is based on the warranty from
each Placee that the Placing Shares are not being subscribed for in
connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to
issue or transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance service. If
there are any such arrangements (or if any such arrangements arise
subsequent to the acquisition by Placees of the Placing Shares), or
the settlement relates to any other dealing in the Placing Shares,
or any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom imposes duties or
taxes, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or capital duty or
other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary
or other duties or taxes may be payable, for which none of the
Company or either of the Bookrunners will be responsible and the
Placees shall indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold harmless the
Company and each of the Bookrunners and their respective
affiliates, agents, directors, officers and employees for any such
stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or capital duty or other
stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or
other duties or taxes (including interest, fines and penalties
relating thereto) paid by them in respect of any such arrangements
or dealings. If this is the case, each Placee should seek its own
advice and notify the Bookrunners accordingly.
None of the Company or the Bookrunners is liable to bear any
capital duty, stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax and all other
stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or
other duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or penalties
relating thereto) payable in or outside the United Kingdom by any
Placee or any other person on a Placee's acquisition of any Placing
Shares or the agreement by a Placee to acquire any Placing Shares.
Each Placee agrees to indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold
harmless the Company, each of the Bookrunners and their respective
affiliates, agents, directors, officers and employees from any and
all such capital, stamp, stamp duty reserve tax, issue, securities,
transfer, registration, documentary or other duties or taxes
(including interest, fines or penalties relating thereto).
In this Announcement, "after-tax basis" means in relation to any
payment made to the Company, either of the Bookrunners or their
respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers and employees
pursuant to this Announcement where the payment (or any part
thereof) is chargeable to any tax, a basis such that the amount so
payable shall be increased so as to ensure that after taking into
account any tax chargeable (or which would be chargeable but for
the availability of any relief unrelated to the loss, damage, cost,
charge, expense or liability against which the indemnity is given
on such amount (including on the increased amount)) there shall
remain a sum equal to the amount that would otherwise have been so
payable.
When a Placee or person acting on behalf of the Placee is
dealing with the Bookrunners, any money held in an account with a
Bookrunner 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 rules and regulations of the FCA made under 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 the Bookrunners' money in
accordance with the client money rules and will be used by the
Bookrunners in the course of their own business and the Placee will
rank only as a general creditor of the Bookrunners.
All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to
amendment by the Bookrunners (in their absolute discretion). The
Bookrunners shall notify the Placees and any person acting on
behalf of the Placees of any changes.
Past performance is no guide to future performance and persons
needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser. The
rights and remedies of the Bookrunners 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 of one will not prevent the exercise of
others.
Time is of the essence as regards each Placee's obligations
under this Announcement.
Each Placee may be asked to disclose in writing or orally to the
Bookrunners (inter alia):
(a) if he or she is an individual, his or her nationality;
or
(b) if he or she is a discretionary fund manager, the
jurisdiction in which the funds are managed or owned.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms
and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information
contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an
anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services.
For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange
use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy
Policy.
END
IOELKLLBZFLEBBB
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