LEI:
254900VC23329JCBR9G82
21 May 2024
Asian Energy Impact Trust
plc
(the "Company" or
"AEIT")
Notice of a general meeting
to consider a proposal for the winding-up of the
Company
introduction
The Company announced on 11 April
2024 that the Board had concluded its strategic review of the
options for the Company's future (the "Strategic Review") and that, following
careful consideration of the options available to the Company after
consultation with its advisers and taking into account feedback
from investors, it had concluded that it is in the best interests
of shareholders as a whole to put forward a proposal for the
realisation of the Company's investments in a manner that seeks to
achieve a balance between optimising the value returned to
shareholders and progressively returning cash to shareholders in a
timely manner (the "Realisation
Strategy").
The Strategic Review was launched in
August 2023 after shareholders, in line with the Board's voting
recommendation, voted against a resolution to continue the Company
in its present form. As many shareholders had expressed an interest
in a potential relaunch of the Company, the Strategic Review
initially involved, alongside options for a Realisation Strategy,
detailed consideration of relaunch proposals received from a range
of potential investment manager candidates, including the Company's
current investment manager, Octopus Energy Generation
("OEGen"). In reviewing the
prospects for a successful relaunch of the Company, the Board was
cognisant of, in particular, the current relatively small size of
the Company, the high level of the Company's operating costs as a
percentage of its net assets, the prospective relatively low
shareholder returns in the early years following a relaunch and the
need to raise significant further capital in due course in order to
support the Company's long-term future. The Board believes that
such factors, in addition to the current adverse macroeconomic
conditions, would be likely to weigh heavily on the Company's share
price, resulting in the shares continuing to trade at a price
significantly below their net asset value and impeding the
prospects for a successful capital raising in the foreseeable
future.
Having consulted with shareholders
representing a significant proportion of the Company's issued share
capital, the Board concluded that a relaunch of the Company was not
in the best interests of shareholders as a whole. Accordingly,
since the announcement on 11 April 2024 the Board's focus has been
on assessing the relative risks and merits of different proposals
for implementing the Realisation Strategy. The key focus of the
Board has been to put forward the proposal which it considers will
best achieve a balance between optimising the value returned to
shareholders and progressively returning cash to shareholders in a
timely manner.
The Board, together with OEGen and
the Company's financial, tax and legal advisers, has undertaken a
detailed review of the relative benefits of either (i) an immediate
members' voluntary liquidation of the Company (an "immediate winding-up") or (ii) a change
of investment policy to permit a managed wind-down and realisation
process (during which time the listing of the Company's shares
would be maintained) followed by a members' voluntary liquidation
(a "managed wind-down").
The review has included assessing whether the approach to realising
the Company's investments pursuant to the Realisation Strategy
would be the same for each option. The review has also included
consideration of different mechanisms and certain potential tax
implications for returning cash to shareholders and performing a
detailed analysis of the estimated costs associated with each
option. The results of the review are that the Board is now
recommending shareholders vote in favour of a proposal for the
immediate winding-up of the Company by way of a members' voluntary
liquidation and the appointment of liquidators (the "Proposal"). Details of the key reasons
driving this recommendation (based on the outcome of the Strategic
Review and the review of the relative benefits of an immediate
winding-up versus a managed wind-down, including feedback from
shareholders during the consultation stages) are set out below
under the heading 'Reasons why
the Board recommends you vote in favour of the
Resolution'.
The Company will hold a general
meeting at the offices of Stephenson Harwood LLP, 1 Finsbury
Circus, London EC2M 7SH on Friday, 14 June 2024 at 10.45 a.m. (or,
if later, immediately after the conclusion or adjournment of the
annual general meeting of the Company to be held on the same day)
(the "General Meeting") at
which shareholders will be asked to vote on a resolution to wind-up
the Company (the "Resolution"). If the Resolution is
passed, liquidators will be appointed to realise the Company's
investments and return cash to shareholders from time to time (with
OEGen appointed to continue to manage the Company's investments
through the realisation process) and the listing of the Company's
shares will be cancelled. The notice of the General Meeting (the
"Notice of General
Meeting") will be posted to shareholders today, and copies
will shortly be available on the Company's website,
https://www.asianenergyimpact.com/,
and at the National Storage Mechanism, which is located
at
https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.
reasons why the board recommends you
vote in favour of the resolution
Strategy for optimising value
returned to shareholders is the same under both
options
In the event of a managed wind-down,
the Board would have overseen the realisation of AEIT's investments
in a manner that sought to achieve a balance between optimising the
value returned to shareholders and progressively returning cash to
shareholders in a timely manner. As part of that strategy, the
Board would have continued to investigate the Company's right to
seek compensation for the material asset value loss that it has
suffered and the additional professional fees that it has incurred
over the last 12 months. The Board has been working closely with
the liquidators who will be appointed if the Resolution is passed
to ensure an orderly transfer of responsibilities in the event of
the Resolution being passed. Following its discussions with OEGen
and the liquidators, the Board is satisfied that, on an immediate
winding-up, OEGen and the liquidators will adopt a similar approach
to the implementation of the Realisation Strategy. Recognising the
Board's knowledge of the Company and past events affecting the
Company, to assist the liquidators in implementing the Realisation
Strategy, including completing the Company's investigations to seek
compensation as referred to above, the Directors have agreed to
make their services available to the liquidators as required (for
which the Directors will be compensated on a time-incurred
basis).
To effect optimal and
cost-efficient distributions to shareholders
If the Resolution is passed, given
the significant amount of cash held by the Company, the liquidators
would expect to make an initial distribution of cash to
shareholders by the end of July 2024, with further payments to
follow when the Company's investments are sold, income or capital
payments are received from its investments or its requirement to
retain cash for contingencies reduces. Based on the cash balance of
US$42 million as at 17 May 2024, and after taking into account the
Company's liabilities and capital commitments as at 20 May 2024 and
providing for the Company's working capital requirements during
liquidation and a retention for contingencies (including the
possibility of further delays in completing the 200 MW solar
project that forms part of the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Park (the
"RUMS project")), the
initial distribution of cash to shareholders is currently estimated
to be in the region of US$20 million (equivalent to 11.4 cents per
share), with the actual amount to be determined at the time of the
initial distribution to shareholders. Minimal costs will be
incurred in making distributions in liquidation.
Prior to liquidation in a managed
wind-down, the most likely mechanism for returning cash to
shareholders would be via one or more tender offers. Distributions
in a managed wind-down are subject to Companies Act considerations
which, amongst other things, regulate how net assets and
distributable reserves are calculated for the purpose of
determining whether or not a public company can make a distribution
to shareholders. By way of illustration, if the Company had
undertaken a tender offer on 31 March 2024 approximately US$15
million would have been available for return to shareholders.
Whilst, in a managed wind-down, it would be possible to complete a
tender offer by the end of July 2024, the aggregate value of an
initial tender offer would be determined by the Company's net
assets at that time and, accordingly, such amount could be higher
or lower than US$15 million and any subsequent tender offer could
be subject to a court-approved reduction in capital (and there is
no guarantee that such approval would be granted). The costs
incurred in implementing a tender offer would be higher than a
distribution in a liquidation and include stamp duty (at the rate
of 0.5% of the aggregate tender offer value), professional fees and
document costs. To participate in a tender offer, shareholders
would be required to take action by tendering their shares and, if
they failed to do so, they would not participate in the return of
cash (and their pro rata
interest in the Company's remaining assets would
increase).
As an alternative to a tender offer,
consideration was given to the possibility of returning funds in a
managed wind-down scenario by way of a so-called 'B share scheme'
(a mechanism that would require a bonus issue of redeemable shares
which would then be redeemed). However, as well as involving
additional complexity compared to a tender offer, it was considered
that a B share scheme could give rise to material adverse tax
consequences for certain shareholders.
The Board considers that, in the
case of the Company, a cash distribution as part of a liquidation
offers material advantages compared with a tender offer as the
Companies Act considerations referred to above do not apply to
distributions in liquidation, and shareholders will benefit from
lower costs being incurred in making distributions in liquidation
relative to tender offer costs. In addition, a distribution in
liquidation is made pro
rata to all shareholders, without any action required by
shareholders.
Shareholders are also referred to
the information below under the heading 'Taxation' for a summary of certain
limited aspects of the tax treatment of cash distributions made to
shareholders in connection with a members' voluntary liquidation of
the Company.
To minimise costs during the
realisation process and therefore maximise value for
shareholders
As noted above, a key focus in
reviewing the alternative options for implementing the Realisation
Strategy has been the relative costs associated with an immediate
winding-up versus a managed wind-down. On liquidation, there are
immediate cost savings for the Company resulting from the
cancellation of its listing and consequential reduced adviser and
service provider costs. In particular, the Company would no longer
pay listing fees, fees and other costs associated with regular
portfolio valuations, annual non-executive director fees, AIFM
fees, broker fees, PR fees, audit fees or (after a short handover
period to the liquidators) company secretarial and administration
fees during the liquidation. The costs associated with reporting
and other administrative matters would also be lower during
liquidation. A detailed analysis of the relative annualised
recurring operating costs of the Company (including the estimated
liquidators' costs in the event of an immediate winding-up but
excluding investment management fees in both scenarios) has shown
that cost savings of approximately US$1.0 million could be achieved
in an immediate winding-up relative to a managed wind-down (prior
to liquidation).
OEGen will be retained to
manage the Company's investments throughout the liquidation
process
OEGen was appointed, with effect
from 1 November 2023, to act as the Company's transitional
investment manager for an initial period of six months to 30 April
2024, with the appointment thereafter rolling forward until
terminated by any of the parties to the investment management
agreement giving to the others not less than one month's notice.
OEGen's immediate priorities were to assist with finalising the 31
December 2022, 30 June 2023 and 30 September 2023 valuations, 2022
audit and accounts and 2023 interim report and lifting the
suspension of admission to listing and trading of the Company's
shares as soon as possible, as well as overseeing the construction
of the RUMS project, developing a relationship with each of the
local asset managers responsible for the Company's investments and
undertaking a deep dive of the underlying assets. Those
workstreams, with the exception of construction of the RUMS project
are now complete.
On an immediate winding-up, the
Company will still require an investment manager to manage its
investments and the realisation thereof in an orderly and
financially efficient manner. Accordingly, if the Resolution is
passed, during the liquidation process the Company (acting through
the liquidators) will retain OEGen as the Company's investment
manager, enabling the Company to continue to benefit from OEGen's
recent experience in the management of, and knowledge of, the
Company's portfolio. The team at OEGen will focus on assisting and
advising the liquidators in realising, on behalf of all
shareholders, the Company's investments, taking into account the
objective of achieving a balance between optimising the value
returned to shareholders and progressively returning cash to
shareholders in a timely manner.
New investment management fee
arrangements appropriate to the Realisation
Strategy
During the period from 1 October
2023 to 30 April 2024, OEGen earned fees equivalent to US$316,667
per month. The fee arrangements were structured for a transitional
investment management role in very difficult circumstances and not
with management of a Realisation Strategy in contemplation. The
existing investment management agreement with OEGen is currently
rolling forward on a month-to-month basis with a management fee of
US$193,000 per calendar month. If the Resolution is passed, the
existing investment management agreement will terminate with effect
from 30 June 2024 and the Company, acting by its liquidators, will
enter into a new investment management agreement with OEGen with
effect from 1 July 2024 which will cater for the services required
to be provided by a professional investment manager during the
liquidation process.
The fee structure under the new
investment management agreement will be as follows:
§ in respect of services relating to the management of the
Company's investments, a fee of US$115,000 per calendar month,
which will reduce as the Company's investments are sold, subject to
a minimum fee of US$50,000 per calendar month until the completion
of all sales;
§ in respect of services relating to the sale processes for the
Company's investments, a fee of US$90,000 per calendar month for
the nine-month period from 1 July 2024 to 31 March 2025;
and
§ while the new investment management agreement remains in
force, incentive fees comprising:
§ 7.5% of the amount by which the realised gross equity
valuation (on an entire portfolio basis) of the Company's
investments less local transaction fees exceeds the 31 March 2024
portfolio valuation (being US$41.9 million) adjusted upwards as
appropriate by capital injections made by the Company into its
underlying investments, and taking into consideration any capital
received by the Company from its underlying investments, after 31
March 2024; and
US$250,000, payable if
legally binding sale agreements have been entered into in respect
of all investments in the Company's portfolio prior to 31 December
2025.
The new investment management
agreement shall be terminable on three months' notice by the
Company (acting by its liquidators) or OEGen, with such notice not
to expire prior to 31 March 2025, unless all asset sales have been
completed before this date in which case the agreement shall expire
at the end of the calendar month in which the last asset sale
completes.
The Board and its advisers have
compared the new fee arrangement with other comparable investment
trusts in the sector, including trusts in wind-down, in the context
of the Company's net asset value, gross asset value (noting that
its gearing level is significantly higher than its peers) and total
MW capacity under management; the new fee arrangement is at the
high end of the range based on gross asset value but at the low end
of the range based on total MW capacity.
The Board and its advisers have also
considered the new fee arrangement in light of proposals received
from other investment manager candidates and a fee proposal from a
managed wind-down specialist who could also act as liquidator; the
Board and its advisers believe that the new fee arrangement
compares favourably with that proposal.
In the particular circumstances in
which the Company finds itself, the Board does not believe that any
cost savings potentially attainable from alternative investment
management options would outweigh the benefits of continuing with
OEGen, including giving consideration to the in-depth work on the
Company's investments which OEGen has undertaken in recent months
and the level of expertise it has in the portfolio, which would not
be possible to replace in the short term. If alternative investment
management arrangements were sought, commencing implementation of
the Realisation Strategy would most likely have to be
delayed.
The Board and its advisers believe
that the new fee structure incentivises the realisation of the
Company's investments in a manner that seeks to achieve an
appropriate balance between value realised and timing of
realisations, while fairly remunerating OEGen for its services, and
that OEGen remains the best candidate to deliver the optimum result
for shareholders.
Conclusion
For
the reasons set out above, the Directors believe that an immediate
winding-up, rather than a managed wind-down, is the best strategy
for optimising the value returned to shareholders and progressively
returning cash to shareholders in a timely manner. Accordingly, the
Directors unanimously recommend shareholders vote
in favour of the Resolution to be proposed at the General
Meeting.
SUSPENSION AND CANCELLATION OF LISTING AND TRADING OF THE
ORDINARY SHARES
The Company's register of members
will be closed at 6.00 p.m. on 13 June 2024. Applications will be
made to the FCA for the suspension of the listing of the Company's
shares on the Official List and to the London Stock Exchange for
suspension of trading in the Company's shares, both at 7.30 a.m. on
14 June 2024.
The last day for dealings in the
Company's shares on the London Stock Exchange on a normal rolling
two-day settlement basis will be 11 June 2024. After 11 June 2024,
dealings should be for cash settlement only and will be registered
in the normal way if the transfer, accompanied by the documents of
title, is received by the Company's Registrars, Computershare
Investor Services PLC, by close of business on 13 June 2024.
Transfers received after that time will be returned to the person
lodging them and, if the Resolution is passed, the original holder
will receive any proceeds from distributions made by the
liquidators.
If the Resolution is passed, the
Company (acting through its liquidators) will make an application
for the cancellation of the admission of its shares to listing on
the Official List and to trading on the main market of the London
Stock Exchange immediately following the General Meeting with the
cancellation expected to take effect at 8.00 a.m. on 17 June 2024.
After the liquidation of the Company and the making of the final
distribution (if any) to shareholders, existing certificates in
respect of the Company's shares will cease to be of value and any
existing credit of the shares in any stock account in CREST will be
redundant.
Considerations associated with the proposal
Shareholders should take into
account the following when considering the Proposal (most of which
considerations would also apply in the event the Company were to
enter into managed wind-down followed by liquidation):
§ Although the Company's running costs during an immediate
winding-up are expected to be materially lower than during a
managed wind-down, the Company will still incur running costs,
asset realisation costs and other costs associated with winding-up
the Company's affairs and these will reduce the cash available for
distribution to shareholders. The actual amount ultimately
available for distribution to shareholders will depend largely on
the value realised on the sale of the Company's investments during
the liquidation process.
§ Following the initial distribution to shareholders shortly
after the passing of the Resolution, the Company's net assets will
be reduced, with a consequential increase in its gearing. By way of
illustration, based on the Company's net assets of US$80.2 million
as at 31 March 2024 and an estimated initial distribution of US$20
million (and assuming all other variables remain constant), the
Company's net assets will be reduced to US$60.2 million and its
gearing will increase from 64.3% to 70.7% (or 72.4% once the RUMS
project finance facility has been fully drawn down). Substantially
all of the debt is within the Indian (SolarArise) portfolio and,
accordingly, any change in the enterprise value of that investment
following the initial distribution will have a greater impact,
which may be positive or negative, on the Company's remaining
assets (and the NAV per share).
§ OEGen has identified strategies to optimise the values of
certain of the Company's investments, some of which are reflected
in the valuation of those investments and which may no longer be
appropriate to pursue when the Company is no longer going to be the
long-term holder of those investments.
§ Whilst the Company holds its investments at fair value, the
final value realised on disposal of each investment (net of
transaction costs) may be materially different to its fair
value.
§ The Company will be reliant on OEGen's ability to dispose of
its investments in an orderly and financially efficient manner to
realise value for shareholders.
§ Following the suspension of trading in the Company's shares in
April 2023, the Board suspended all new investment activity. The
suspension of new investment activity will become permanent if the
Resolution is passed. Further investment or capital expenditure
into existing assets will be permitted in order to meet existing
commitments, preserve or enhance the value of such investments or
facilitate an orderly disposal. Any such investment or expenditure
may delay distributions to shareholders.
§ It is currently anticipated that, in order to optimise their
value, OEGen will seek to realise the Company's investments on a
country portfolio by country portfolio basis (rather than selling
individual underlying assets), although any offers for the
Company's entire portfolio will be considered. It is expected that
sales processes will commence shortly after the Resolution being
passed and that the processes for the sale of each country
portfolio are likely to progress on different timelines. In
assessing offers for the Company's investments, OEGen and the
liquidators will be cognisant of seeking to achieve
a balance between optimising the value returned to
shareholders and progressively returning cash to shareholders in a
timely manner and may determine that this balance is best achieved
by retaining some or all of the investments for a longer period of
time and selling them at a later date. Accordingly, there can be no
guarantee as to how long it will take until full realisation of the
Company's portfolio is achieved and any final distribution made by
the liquidators.
§ On entering voluntary liquidation, the Company will cease to
maintain its listing and shareholders will no longer be able to buy
and sell their shares through the London Stock Exchange.
§ The Company's reporting and other disclosure obligations under
the FCA's rules applicable to listed investment companies will
cease on the cancellation of the listing of its shares. Information
concerning the value of the Company's remaining investments, the
split between cash and investments remaining to be realised and the
timings and likely amounts of any distributions will be less
frequently available than would be the case in a managed wind-down
(prior to liquidation). However, an annual information update will
be provided by the liquidators, with additional updates being
provided on the occurrence of material events (for example, the
disposal of an investment).
§ The liquidators and OEGen will seek to ensure that the
Company's tax status as an investment trust is maintained until the
final dissolution of the Company, although this cannot be
guaranteed.
§ The Company will not under any circumstances be marketed or
made available to investors following the passing of the
Resolution. For the avoidance of doubt, whilst the Company still
holds sustainable assets (pending realisation) the Company will no
longer seek new sustainable investment opportunities following the
passing of the Resolution.
taxation
UK taxation
The
following paragraphs, which are intended as a general guide only,
are not exhaustive, and do not constitute legal or tax advice. They
are based on the Company's understanding of current UK legislation
and published HMRC practice, both of which are subject to change
possibly with retrospective effect. They summarise certain limited
aspects of the UK tax treatment of cash distributions made by the
Company to shareholders in connection with the proposed members'
voluntary liquidation of the Company. They relate only to the
position of individual and corporate shareholders who hold their
ordinary shares beneficially as an investment and (except in so far
as express reference is made to the treatment of non-UK residents)
who are at all relevant times resident (and, in the case of
individuals, domiciled) solely in the UK for UK tax
purposes.
Shareholders are advised to take independent advice in
relation to the tax implications of any matters set out in the
Notice of General Meeting and to consult an appropriate
professional tax adviser.
A shareholder who receives a
distribution of cash in the course of the members' voluntary
liquidation should generally be treated as making a disposal or
part disposal of their ordinary shares for the purposes of UK
taxation of chargeable gains which may, depending on such
shareholder's individual circumstances (including the availability
of exemption, allowance or relief), give rise to a chargeable gain
or loss for the purposes of UK taxation of chargeable
gains.
Shareholders who are not resident in
the UK for UK tax purposes should not generally be subject to UK
tax on chargeable gains on a disposal, or part disposal, of their
ordinary shares unless such ordinary shares are used, held or
acquired for the purposes of a trade, profession or vocation
carried on in the UK through a branch or agency or, in the case of
a corporate shareholder, through a permanent establishment. It
should however be noted that, in certain circumstances, an
individual shareholder who is only temporarily non-UK resident may,
on re-establishing UK tax residence, be subject to capital gains
tax in respect of disposals which occurred in the period of
temporary non-residence.
The UK tax code contains provisions
which permit HMRC to counteract tax advantages arising from certain
transactions in securities by (among other things) treating some or
all of the proceeds of capital disposals as distributions of
income. Generally speaking, these provisions should not apply where
it can be shown that the transactions in question were entered into
for genuine commercial reasons and did not involve as one of their
main objects or purposes the obtaining of a tax advantage.
Shareholders are advised to take independent advice as to the
potential application of these and other anti-avoidance provisions
in the light of their own particular circumstances. Application has
not been made to HMRC for clearance as to these matters.
Indian
taxation
The
following paragraphs, which are intended as a general guide only,
are not exhaustive and do not constitute legal or tax advice. They
are based on the Company's understanding of current Indian tax law.
It should be noted that tax law may change, possibly with
retrospective effect. The paragraphs below summarise certain
limited aspects of the anticipated Indian tax treatment of cash
distributions made by the Company to shareholders in connection
with the proposed members' voluntary liquidation of the Company.
They relate only to the position of individual and corporate
shareholders who hold their ordinary shares beneficially as an
investment, who are not resident for tax purposes in India and who
do not hold their shares in connection with or forming part of any
permanent establishment in India. Shareholders should note that
there can be no guarantee that the tax authorities in India will
agree with the comments in the following
paragraphs.
Shareholders are advised to take independent advice in
relation to the tax implications of any matters set out in the
Notice of General Meeting and to consult an appropriate
professional tax adviser. Furthermore, it should be noted that the
paragraphs below deal only with the position under domestic Indian
tax law and do not consider any tax treaties that may be in place
between India and the country/state of which the shareholders are
tax residents. Where relevant, shareholders should seek
professional advice as to the applicability and relevance for them
of any tax treaties with India.
Indirect transfer of Indian assets - general
India levies tax on capital gains
arising from the indirect transfer of a capital asset situated in
India. Under the Indian tax law, a transfer of shares in a foreign
(i.e. non-Indian) company may be considered to be an indirect
transfer of Indian assets if the foreign company derives its value
substantially from assets located in India. A foreign company is
deemed to derive its value substantially from assets located in
India if the value of such Indian assets: (i) exceeds INR 100
million; and (ii) represents at least 50% of the value of all the
assets owned by such foreign company.
Therefore, if the value of the
Indian assets of the Company exceeds 50% of the value of all the
assets of the Company (determined as per the methodology specified
under the Indian tax laws), there is a possibility that
shareholders of the Company may be liable to pay capital gains
taxes in India on any gain arising from the transfer of their
shares in the Company. The rate of taxation depends on the nature
of the shareholder making the transfer and the period for which the
shares have been held by the shareholder before the transfer, and
ranges from 10% to 40% together with applicable surcharge and cess.
However, shareholders holding less than 5% of the Company's shares
in the 12 months preceding the date of transfer of shares and who
do not hold any rights of management or control in the Company
would not be subject to said capital gains tax in India from an
indirect transfer of shares.
Proposed members' voluntary liquidation
The Company has been advised that
the liquidation of the Company pursuant to the proposed members'
voluntary liquidation, and the receipt of distributions by the
shareholders from the Company in the course of the liquidation,
should not be treated as involving a transfer by the shareholders
of their shares in the Company for the purposes of the Indian tax
provisions described above relating to indirect transfers of Indian
assets. Accordingly, the Company has been advised that shareholders
in the Company who are not resident for tax purposes in India (and
who do not hold their shares in connection with or forming part of
any permanent establishment in India) should not be subject to
Indian capital gains tax under those provisions.
The Company has also been advised
that any cash distributions received pursuant to the proposed
members' voluntary liquidation by shareholders of the Company who
are not resident for tax purposes in India (and who do not hold
their shares in connection with or forming part of any permanent
establishment in India) should not be treated as dividends or any
other form of income accruing, arising or received in India or
deemed to accrue, arise or be received in India and, accordingly,
such distributions should not be subject to Indian income tax in
the hands of such shareholders.
The
paragraphs above are intended as a general summary only and do not
constitute tax advice. Shareholders should seek their own tax
advice where necessary.
RECOMMENDATION
For
the reasons set out above, the Directors, who have been advised by
Smith Square Partners LLP, unanimously recommend shareholders
vote in favour of the Resolution to be
proposed at the General Meeting. The Directors intend to vote in
favour of the Resolution in respect of their holdings of ordinary
shares, amounting to 131,000 ordinary shares in aggregate
(representing approximately 0.07% of the issued share capital of
the Company as at the date of the Notice of General
Meeting).
Sue
Inglis, Chair of Asian Energy Impact Trust plc
said: "The Board recognises
that placing the Company into liquidation at the beginning of its
orderly realisation process is highly unusual. However,
having taken into account the Company's reduced size,
and the greater
flexibility for returning cash to shareholders in a timely manner
and material reduction in recurring operating costs that can be
achieved if the Company is in liquidation, the Board believes that
this is the best option for optimising value returned to
shareholders. Based on its discussions with the investment manager
and proposed liquidators, the Board is satisfied that the approach
to realising the Company's investments will be the same as it would
have been had the Board recommended a managed wind down and
subsequent liquidation. In view of our in-depth knowledge of the
Company, the Directors have agreed to make their services
available as required to assist the liquidators in implementing the
realisation strategy."
Expected timetable of principal
events
|
2024
|
Last day of dealing in the ordinary
shares for settlement through CREST on a normal rolling two-day
settlement basis in order to enable settlement prior to close of
register of members
|
11
June
|
Deadline for receipt of proxy
appointments for the General Meeting
|
10.45 a.m.
on 12 June
|
Close of register of members and
CREST disablement
|
6.00 p.m.
on 13 June
|
Suspension of ordinary shares from
listing on the Official List and from trading on the London Stock
Exchange
|
7.30 a.m.
on 14 June
|
General Meeting
|
10.45 a.m.
on 14 June
|
Appointment of
liquidators
|
14
June
|
Cancellation of the listing of the
ordinary shares on the Official List and of the trading of the
ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange
|
8.00 a.m.
on 17 June
|
Initial distribution to
shareholders
|
By end
July
|
Enquiries:
Asian Energy Impact Trust
plc
Sue Inglis, Chair
|
Tel:
+44 (0)20 3757 1892
|
Octopus Energy Generation
Press
Office
|
Tel: +44
(0)20 4530 8369
|
Shore Capital (Joint Corporate
Broker)
Mark Percy / Gillian Martin / Rose
Ramsden (Corporate)
|
Tel: +44
(0)20 7408 4050
|
Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Corporate
Broker)
Luke Simpson / Huw Jeremy (Investment
Banking Division)
|
Tel: +44
(0)20 7418 8900
|
Smith Square Partners LLP
(Financial Adviser to the
Company)
John Craven / Douglas
Gilmour
|
Tel: +44
(0)20 3696 7260
|
Camarco (PR
Adviser)
Louise Dolan / Eddie Livingstone-Learmonth /
Phoebe Pugh
|
Tel: +44
(0)20 3757 4982
asianenergyimpacttrust@camarco.co.uk
|