NOT
FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO
DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR
REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
AS STIPULATED
UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO. 596/2014 (AS INCORPORATED
INTO UK LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018
AS AMENDED BY VIRTUE OF THE MARKET ABUSE (AMENDMENT) (EU EXIT)
REGULATIONS 2019). UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A
REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW
CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
11
February 2025
Recommended
Merger
of
Crimson Tide
plc ("Crimson
Tide") with Checkit plc ("Checkit")
to be effected by way of a
scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
Summary
The boards of Checkit and Crimson
Tide are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on
the terms of a recommended all-share merger (the "Merger") pursuant
to which Checkit will acquire the entire issued and to be issued
share capital of Crimson Tide. The Merger
is to be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of
arrangement between Crimson Tide and Crimson Tide Scheme
Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006.
Under the terms of the Merger, each
Crimson Tide Scheme Shareholder would receive:
For each Crimson Tide Share: 6 Checkit
Shares
Under the terms of the Merger,
Crimson Tide Scheme Shareholders will receive six new
Checkit Shares (the "Exchange Ratio"). Immediately following
Completion, Crimson Tide Scheme Shareholders will own approximately
26.8 per cent. of the issued share capital of Checkit (based on the
existing issued share capital of Checkit and the fully diluted
share capital of Crimson Tide as at 10 February 2025, being the
latest practicable date prior to the publication of this
Announcement).
The Exchange Ratio has been based in
all material respects on the ratio of Checkit's current annual
recurring revenues ("ARR") relative to Crimson Tide's. Based on
Checkit's middle market closing price of 16.5 pence per Checkit
Share on 10 February 2025 (being the last practicable date prior to
publication of this Announcement), the Exchange Ratio represents an
implied value of 99 pence per Crimson Tide Share and values the
entire issued share capital of Crimson Tide at approximately £6.5
million.
Checkit reserves the right to reduce the
Exchange Ratio by the amount of any dividend (or any distribution)
which is paid or becomes payable by Crimson Tide to its
shareholders following this Announcement.
The directors of Checkit and Crimson Tide
believe that combining the two companies will create a strong,
scaled business, with the platform to accelerate delivery of their
strategic objectives and an opportunity for both sets of
shareholders to share in the benefits accruing to the Combined
Group via the expected realisation of cost and revenue
synergies.
1. Background to and reasons for the
Merger
Background to the
Merger
The Checkit Board has for a long
time considered there to be compelling strategic and financial
reasons for a business combination of Checkit with Crimson Tide and
at various times over the last four years engaged in discussions
with the Crimson Tide Board.
In January 2024, the Checkit Board
submitted an indicative non-binding proposal to the Crimson Tide
Board regarding an all-share merger. As a result of the Crimson
Tide Board's rejection of such proposal, the Checkit Board
published the Possible Offer Announcement on 4 June 2024 to
facilitate direct discussions with shareholders of both Crimson
Tide and Checkit.
On 21 June 2024 the Crimson Tide
Board announced that it had received a conditional and non-binding
proposal from Ideagen Limited regarding a possible cash offer for
Crimson Tide. Consequently, on 26 June 2024 the Checkit Board
announced that it no longer intended to make an offer to acquire
Crimson Tide.
On 11 July 2024 the Crimson Tide
Board announced that Ideagen Limited no longer intended to make an
offer for Crimson Tide. Following Ideagen Limited's withdrawal of
interest, the Boards of Crimson Tide and Checkit re-engaged in
discussions regarding the possible benefits of combining the two
businesses and have since been engaged in constructive mutual due
diligence ahead of this Announcement.
In agreeing the terms of the Merger,
the Boards of Crimson Tide and Checkit have calculated the Exchange
Ratio based in all material respects on the ratio of Checkit's
current ARR relative to Crimson Tide's.
Reasons for the Merger and
strategic rationale
The Boards of Checkit and Crimson
Tide believe that the combination of their companies presents a
compelling strategic opportunity to create a market leader in
workflow software solutions, also providing a boost to Checkit's
own strategic objectives and a range of benefits to all
shareholders of the Combined Group. The key aspects of their
rationale for the combination of the two businesses are set out in
further detail below.
Strong Checkit management
team with a track record of delivery to be enhanced by members of
Crimson Tide management
Checkit's management team has proven
its ability to deliver against its growth strategy:
· Accelerating US market growth;
· Scaling existing customers by upselling and
cross-selling;
· Expanding its presence in the existing verticals it operates
in and into new growth markets;
· Growing recurring subscription revenues;
· Driving operating efficiency to accelerate path to
profitability; and
· Investing in R&D to drive value creation
opportunities.
Checkit's revenue for the year ended
31 January 2025 ("FY25") was £14.0 million (31 January 2024: £12.0
million), representing a year-on-year increase of 17%, as Checkit
continues to see strong growth opportunities in the US, where
revenues increased by approximately 21%. New booking momentum was
strong in the year with £2.1 million of sales booked in the twelve
months to 31 January 2025, a 39% year-on-year increase. ARR as at
31 January 2025 was £14.4 million and cash was approximately £5.1
million.
Checkit believes that its management
team will be enhanced by the addition of members of the Crimson
Tide management team and further details are set out
below.
Provision of enhanced
product offering to customers of the Combined
Group
The Boards of Checkit and Crimson
Tide believe that the combination of Crimson Tide and Checkit's
product sets will, in due course, provide an enhanced offering that
will benefit both companies' customers. By
leveraging Checkit's enhanced research and development and
recognised go-to-market capabilities, the Combined Group will be
able to benefit from the integration of Crimson Tide's solutions
while also expanding the product set available to sell to both new
and existing customers. Crimson Tide has stated its ambition to
expand its IoT sensor offering and there is an opportunity to
leverage Checkit's significant expertise in this area to accelerate
these expansion plans, providing a technological edge and
streamlining the integration process.
Checkit's strategy has been to focus
on increasing market share and driving profitable growth. Its
successful land and expand strategy has enhanced its customer base
and delivered year on year revenue growth. The success of its long
term growth strategy, focusing on expanding verticals and
geographies, is demonstrated by the growth in revenues that it has
achieved in the key US market. In addition, Checkit has delivered a
36% compound annual growth rate ("CAGR") in ARR since 2020,
providing good visibility over future revenues and accelerating its
path to net cash generation.
Checkit has demonstrated that its
products are essential for daily workflow and operations and boost
productivity, reduce costs and ensure compliance for its clients.
In FY25, Checkit significantly enhanced its product offering by
launching Asset Intelligence, its AI/ML analytics platform that
provides data insights that will enhance the return on investment
on its products.
The Boards of Checkit and Crimson
Tide believe that Checkit's successful land and expand strategy can
be applied to Crimson Tide's existing customer base to accelerate
profitable cash generative growth for the Combined Group. Checkit's
go-to-market approach of securing blue chip customers with entry
size deals, which are then expanded over time providing additional
sales and innovative services, can be applied to Crimson Tide's
business model to fuel growth. This will enable the Combined Group
to better cultivate mid to large size deals within its existing
customer base and generate new organic growth opportunities in
focussed verticals.
By implementing a rigorous and
systematic approach to pipeline generation, the Combined Group
would benefit from a more efficient sales cycle, enabling faster
revenue generation. Checkit's unique ability to harness customer
data enables deeper insights into customer productivity challenges
and will allow customers of the Combined Group to benefit from the
development of targeted machine learning and artificial
intelligence modules that can complement the core product
set.
The benefits of this approach are
clear. By offering Crimson Tide's range of bespoke solutions along
with Checkit's scalable products, the Combined Group will
differentiate itself in the market and meet specific customer needs
more effectively. This tailored approach can lead to higher
customer satisfaction and loyalty, as well as open new revenue
streams. Overall, the combination of Crimson Tide and Checkit's
product sets, enhanced by Checkit's strategic initiatives, will
create a more robust and competitive company with greater growth
potential and long-term stability.
Substantial cross-selling
and upselling opportunities to customers from a combination of the
two businesses, thereby enhancing competitive standing of the
Combined Group in a fragmented workflow management systems market
over $17 billion in size
The combination of Checkit and
Crimson Tide would present substantial opportunities for
cross-selling and upselling Checkit's product suite to Crimson
Tide's customer base and vice versa. Crimson Tide's established
presence in sectors such as logistics, transportation, healthcare,
and retail align well with Checkit's market focus and growth
strategy. This alignment not only expands the verticals for the
Combined Group but also supports a unified approach to scaling in
the US, where Checkit is already well established with a direct
sales team delivering 27% of group ARR.
The ability to offer a broader range
of products to customers will allow the Combined Group to position
itself as a one-stop shop in a large market, offering integrated
solutions that enable inherent efficiency benefits to existing
customers whilst opening up further opportunities in new verticals
and geographies. This approach, combined with Checkit's innovative
use of customer data, will enable the acceleration of growth, and
enhance the long-term prospects of the Combined Group.
The combination would enhance the
enlarged entity's position in the workflow software solutions
market, thereby leveraging the strengths of both organisations for
an enhanced competitive advantage.
The market for workflow management
systems was valued at US$17.1 billion in 2024 and is expected to
generate a CAGR of 33.5% between 2024 and 2034[1]. Growth in the sector will be driven by
innovation and the exploitation of data for management information.
With the launch of Asset intelligence, Checkit is well positioned
to benefit from this market trend and applying these insights to
Crimson Tide's more bespoke product offering will bring further
benefits and growth opportunities to the Combined Group.
Opportunity to realise
synergies from a combination of the two
businesses
Under the leadership of the Checkit
management team with support from Crimson Tide management, the
Combined Group is expected to benefit from significant synergies,
efficiencies and growth opportunities:
·
Revenue
Synergies: The integration of
Checkit and Crimson Tide is expected to unlock revenue synergies
from cross-selling and upselling opportunities. By leveraging
Checkit's product suite within Crimson Tide's established sectors
such as logistics, transportation, healthcare and retail and vice
versa, there is the opportunity to drive additional revenue.
Offering more comprehensive solutions to existing customers where
there is currently no significant degree of overlap between the two
companies such as Tesco, Morrisons, Bookers and the NHS should
enhance the value proposition and increase the sales opportunity.
It will also open further opportunities to expand the addressable
market via new verticals and geographies.
·
Cost
Synergies: In order to unlock the
significant potential upside from a combination of the two
businesses, Checkit management has identified staff and non-staff
cost savings in the Combined Group. Elimination of duplicate costs
associated with two listings on the London Stock Exchange will
provide savings alongside the consolidation of some staff and
non-staff functions in sales and marketing, product development,
administration and operations which will streamline operations over
time and lead to a more efficient and cost-effective organisational
structure.
·
Accelerated
Growth for Crimson Tide: Applying
Checkit's proven go-to-market strategies, which include both land
and expand tactics, and organic growth initiatives, is expected to
accelerate Crimson Tide's growth. Checkit's higher ARR growth rate
demonstrates its capability to drive revenue expansion effectively.
Implementing these strategies within Crimson Tide provides an
opportunity to increase Crimson Tide's market penetration and rate
of revenue growth.
·
Enhanced
Financial Standing: The Combined
Group would, immediately following Completion, boast an ARR of
increased scale and a pro forma cash balance (before deal costs) of
approximately £7.2 million with the potential for significant
future net cash generation. Once profitable, the Combined Group is
also expected to grow its profitability faster than either company
could as standalone businesses. This enhanced financial position
would not only provide stability but also enable strategic
investments in innovation and expansion, further reinforcing the
Combined Group's financial standing. The robust financial health of
the Combined Group should increase investor confidence and provide
a solid foundation for sustained long-term profitable
growth.
The Combined Group should be
a more attractive investment proposition to existing and potential
new shareholders
The Boards of Checkit and Crimson
Tide believe that the Combined Group with its increased scale and
enhanced financial standing would present a more attractive
investment opportunity for existing and potential shareholders than
either business remaining as standalone entities. The Boards of
Checkit and Crimson Tide believe that this, along with the
significant potential revenue and cost synergies identified, could
result in the Combined Group attracting a wider pool of investors
and consequently being attributed higher valuation multiples by the
market than either standalone company could reasonably expect to
command. A broader investor base could also reasonably be expected
to increase liquidity for existing and potential
investors.
For
the reasons set out above, the Boards of Checkit and Crimson Tide
believe that the strategic and financial rationale for the Merger
is compelling, in the best interests of both companies' respective
shareholders and provides significant opportunities for enhanced
value for both sets of shareholders.
2. Board and management of the Combined
Group
Subject to Completion, it is proposed that,
following the Effective Date, the Checkit Board will
comprise:
·
Keith Daley, currently Non-Executive Chairman of Checkit, who
will remain Non-Executive Chairman of Checkit;
· Kit
Kyte, currently Chief Executive Officer of Checkit, who will remain
Chief Executive Officer of Checkit;
·
Kris Shaw, currently Chief Financial Officer of Checkit, who
will remain Chief Financial Officer of Checkit;
·
Alex Curran, currently Non-Executive Director of Checkit, who
will remain Non-Executive Director of Checkit; and
·
Jacqueline Daniell, currently Non-Executive Chairman of
Crimson Tide, who will join the Checkit Board as a Non-Executive
Director.
Upon completion of the Merger, the other
Non-Executive Directors of Crimson Tide would be expected to resign
and from that point cease to be directors of Crimson Tide. The
executive directors of Crimson Tide are expected to resign from
their roles as directors of Crimson Tide but will be appointed to
the following senior management roles within the Combined
Group:
·
Phil Meyers, currently Chief Executive Officer of Crimson
Tide, will be appointed as global Chief Operating Officer of the
Combined Group;
·
Luke Jeffrey, currently Chief Technology Officer of Crimson
Tide, will be appointed as Chief Technology Officer of the Combined
Group; and
·
Peter Hurter, currently Chief Financial Officer of Crimson
Tide, will be appointed as head of the integration process of
Crimson Tide into Checkit and will be employed by the Combined
Group for a period to be agreed from Completion.
3. Current trading
Current trading of
Checkit
Checkit's revenue for the year ended
31 January 2025 ("FY25") was £14.0 million (31 January 2024: £12.0
million), representing a year-on-year increase of 17%, as Checkit
continues to see strong growth opportunities in the US, where
revenues increased by approximately 21%.
New booking momentum was strong in
the year with £2.1 million of sales booked in the twelve months to
31 January 2025, a 39% year-on-year increase. Expansion revenue
from existing customers continues to drive the majority of revenue
growth, complemented by several key new customer wins that are
expected to provide further expansion opportunities in the coming
years. New customer signings in both the UK and US have
strengthened Checkit's growing care home use case, while additional
wins in Checkit's core blood plasma and hospitality verticals offer
further land and expand opportunities. As noted in its interim
results to 31 July 2024, Checkit's sales performance in FY25 was
partly impacted by the non-renewal of low margin and non-core
business, but taking into account the growth in sales bookings, ARR
as at 31 January 2025 was £14.4 million and cash was approximately
£5.1 million.
By increasing revenue whilst maintaining gross
margin and cost control, strong progress towards the Company's
longer-term financial objectives including its path to
profitability using its existing financial resources has been
maintained in FY25, with overall trading and year end cash in line
with Board expectations.
Current trading of Crimson
Tide
Crimson Tide was pleased in its
interim results for the six months to 30 June 2024 ("Crimson Tide
FY24 Interims") to report revenue up 3.3% to £3.14m (H1 2023:
£3.04m), EBITDA up c209% at £0.33m (H1 2023: £0.11m) and gross
margins of 88.2%, up nearly 4 percentage points on the prior
year. Crimson Tide has at the same time increased ARR to
£5.94m (FY2023: £5.75m) with cash reserves healthy at £2.5m (H1
2023: £2.9m). Crimson Tide has and will continue to develop
and invest in the core mpro5 product such that the product is in
the best shape possible, and the Board is confident in its
competitive advantage and market readiness.
Crimson Tide further referred to
these achievements coming despite the impact of two key client
losses in the prior year, both occasioned by factors beyond its
control, and the distraction of two unsolicited takeover bids.
Crimson Tide also indicated execution risks arising from the
limitations of capacity in sales areas, against which investment
was being made, and a market-wide pattern of opportunities going to
competitive tender and sales cycles generally becoming extended, a
feature which has persisted during the second half of
FY24.
The Company has continued to trade
in line with the Board's expectations since the date of the Crimson
Tide FY24 Interims with the second half of the year unfolding as
envisaged, with ARR at the year-end of approximately £5.2m and cash
of approximately £2.1m. As predicted Crimson Tide experienced
further ARR churn in the second half as certain covid-era deals
came to an end, though the Crimson Tide Board has taken action to
adjust Crimson Tide's cost base in response to changes in its sales
cycle and customer requirements, incurring some exceptional costs
in doing so, but has been disciplined to ensure that the Company's
commitment to ongoing investment in capacity or product was not
prejudiced.
Notwithstanding the performance of
the business since the FY24 interims the Crimson Tide Board
believes that in the current economic climate client buying
behaviour is unlikely to improve in the short term, with sales
cycles only likely to become more protracted, however well invested
the mpro5 platform may be. With that in mind the Crimson Tide
Board sees little scope to make top-line progress during the
current financial year, with any growth not now anticipated until
FY26.
4.
Recommendations
Crimson
Tide
The Crimson Tide Directors, who have been so advised
by Cavendish as to the financial terms of the Merger, unanimously
consider the terms of the Merger to be fair and reasonable. In
providing advice to the Crimson Tide Directors, Cavendish has taken
into account the commercial assessments of the Crimson Tide
Directors. Cavendish is providing independent financial advice to
the Crimson Tide Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the
Takeover Code.
Accordingly, the Crimson Tide Directors intend to
recommend unanimously that Crimson Tide Scheme Shareholders vote in
favour of the Scheme at the Crimson Tide Court Meeting and that
Crimson Tide Shareholders vote in favour of the Crimson Tide
Resolution to be proposed at the Crimson Tide General Meeting.
Checkit
In order to implement the Merger, Checkit will
require the approval of the Checkit Shareholders to allot the New
Checkit Shares at the Checkit General Meeting. The Merger is
accordingly conditional on such approval being obtained.
The Checkit Directors consider the Merger to be in
the best interests of Checkit Shareholders as a whole and
accordingly intend to recommend unanimously that Checkit
Shareholders vote in favour of the Checkit Resolution to be
proposed at the Checkit General Meeting.
5. Irrevocable
Undertakings & Letters of Intent
In respect of the Crimson
Tide Shareholder Meetings
The Crimson Tide Directors who are interested
in Crimson Tide Shares have irrevocably undertaken to vote (or
procure votes) in favour of the Scheme at the Crimson Tide Court
Meeting and in favour of the Crimson Tide Resolution to be proposed
at the Crimson Tide General Meeting, in respect of their own
beneficial holdings (or the holdings of certain persons connected
with them) of 90,858 Crimson Tide Shares representing, in
aggregate, approximately 1.38 per cent. of Crimson Tide's issued
ordinary share capital as at the close of business on the Latest
Practicable Date.
In addition, Checkit has received an
Irrevocable Undertaking to vote in favour of the Scheme at the
Crimson Tide Court Meeting and to vote in favour of the Crimson
Tide Resolution to be proposed at the Crimson Tide General Meeting
in respect of 347,666 Crimson Tide Shares, being approximately 5.29
per cent. of Crimson Tide Shares in issue as at 10 February 2025
(being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this
Announcement).
Checkit has also received non-binding letters
of support to vote in favour of the Crimson Tide Resolution to be
proposed at the Crimson Tide General Meeting, in respect of
1,358,333 Crimson Tide Shares representing, in aggregate,
approximately 20.66 per cent. of Crimson Tide's issued ordinary
share capital as at the close of business on the Latest Practicable
Date.
Checkit has therefore received Irrevocable
Undertakings and letters of intent to vote in favour of the Crimson
Tide Resolution in respect of a total number of 1,796,857 Crimson
Tide Shares representing, in aggregate, approximately 27.33 per
cent. of Crimson Tide's issued ordinary share capital as at the
close of business on the Latest Practicable Date.
The Irrevocable Undertakings summarised above,
inter alia, prohibit the Shareholders concerned from selling all or
any part of their holdings of Crimson Tide Shares to anyone other
than Checkit and, in the case of the Irrevocable Undertakings given
by Crimson Tide Directors, remain binding in the event of any
competing offer. All of the Irrevocable Undertakings will cease to
be binding if the Merger lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. The
Irrevocable Undertaking from a shareholder which is not a Crimson
Tide Director will also lapse if, within ten business days after
the despatch of the Scheme Document, a third party announces a firm
intention to make an offer to acquire all the issued and to be
issued equity share capital of Crimson Tide for a consideration per
share which represents at least 10 per cent. greater than the value
of the consideration per share available under the Merger as at the
date of such announcement and Checkit does not within 14 business
days of such announcement increase the consideration payable under
the Merger to an amount which is equal to or exceeds the value of
such third party offer.
In respect of the Checkit
General Meeting
The Checkit Directors intend to give Irrevocable
Undertakings to vote (or procure votes) in favour of the Checkit
Resolution to be proposed at the Checkit General Meeting in respect
of their own beneficial holdings (or the holdings of certain
persons connected with them) of 21,966,976 Checkit Shares
representing, in aggregate, approximately 20.34 per cent. of
Checkit's issued ordinary share capital as at the close of business
on the Latest Practicable Date.
Further details of these Irrevocable
Undertakings and letters of intent are set out in Appendix III of
this Announcement.
6. Merger Structure
& Conditions
The Merger is expected to be
effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement
between Crimson Tide and Crimson Tide Scheme Shareholders under
Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006, further details of which are
contained in the full text of this Announcement (and will be
included in the Scheme Document). Checkit also reserves the right
to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer, subject to the
Panel's consent.
The Merger will also be subject to
the conditions and further terms set out in Appendix I to this
Announcement and to be set out in the Scheme Document. The
Conditions include:
(i)
the approval by the requisite majorities of, respectively, the
Crimson Tide Scheme Shareholders and Crimson Tide Shareholders of
(A) the Scheme at the Court Meeting and (B) the Crimson Tide
Resolution at the Crimson Tide General Meeting;
(ii)
the sanction of the Scheme by the Court;
(iii)
an ordinary resolution granting the Checkit Directors' authority to
issue the New Checkit Shares to be issued in connection with the
Merger being proposed at the Checkit General Meeting and passed
(without amendment); and
(iv)
the London Stock Exchange having acknowledged to Checkit or its
agent (and such acknowledgement not having been withdrawn) that the
New Checkit Shares will be admitted to trading on AIM;
Further details relating to these
conditions are set out in paragraph 9 of the second part of this
Announcement.
It is expected that the Scheme
Document (including notices of the Crimson Tide Shareholder
Meetings) together with the relevant Crimson Tide Forms of Proxy
will be sent to Crimson Tide Shareholders within 28 days of the
date of this Announcement (or on such later date as may be agreed
by Checkit and Crimson Tide with the consent of the
Panel).
It is expected that the Checkit
Circular, which will contain a notice of the Checkit General
Meeting, will be published and mailed to Checkit Shareholders at or
around the same time as the Scheme Document is posted to Crimson
Tide Shareholders.
The Scheme Document and the Checkit
Circular will each be made available by Checkit on its website at
www.checkit.net and by Crimson Tide on its website at
www.crimsontide.co.uk.
The Scheme Document and Checkit
Circular will contain details of the dates, times and locations of
the Crimson Tide Shareholder Meetings and Checkit General Meeting.
The Scheme is expected to be Effective in the second quarter of
2025, subject to satisfaction or (where applicable) waiver of the
Conditions and certain further terms set out in Appendix I to this
Announcement.
Listing & Trading of
Crimson Tide Shares and Checkit Shares
Crimson Tide Shares are admitted to trading on
the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. Subject to Completion, it
is intended that application will be made for the cancellation of
trading of the Crimson Tide Shares on the London Stock Exchange's
AIM market to take effect on or shortly after the Effective Date.
Crimson Tide is also expected to be re-registered as a private
company after Completion.
Checkit will seek approval for the New Checkit
Shares to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's AIM
market alongside the existing Checkit Shares.
7. About Crimson Tide
Crimson Tide is the provider of mpro5, the
process management app. mpro5 is delivered on all modern devices
and enables organisations to digitally transform their business
with a view to improving customer experience, safety and compliance
and operational efficiency. In doing so Crimson Tide is able
to help customers overcome inefficiencies, unlocking substantial
cost savings and productivity gains whilst strengthening customer
workforces with smart mobile working. Integrating with IoT
sensors (such as temperature, or humidity) mpro5 provides customers
with a strong data foundation enabling them to make informed and
actionable decisions about their day to day operations.
Crimson Tide is trusted by businesses across a
wide variety of verticals including facilities management,
transportation, catering, retail and healthcare estates and is
currently deployed in over 260,000 sites in 11 countries.
mpro5 offers Crimson Tide's customers a highly
scalable and secure solution and is typically provided on a long
term contracted monthly subscription basis, whilst the Crimson Tide
team is able to provide maintenance and customer specific
adaptations of the solution, allowing organisations to further
refine, automate and adapt their processes to maximise efficiency
and return on their investment in mpro5.
8. About Checkit
Checkit is the augmented workflow solution for
frontline workers and smart sensor automation, enabling large
multinational and complex organisations to operate more safely,
efficiently and sustainably - driving them towards achieving
intelligent operations.
Checkit has hundreds of customers across the
globe, including Global Fortune 500 and public health
organisations. Checkit's customers are digitising their manual
processes through Checkit's highly customisable workflow software
and top-of-the-line Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, increasingly
aided by Machine Learning and AI. More than 12 billion sensor
readings and millions of completed workflows per year are sent
through Checkit's platform enabling customers to become more
efficient, ensure safety and deliver complete operational
visibility.
This summary
should be read in conjunction with, and is subject to, the full
text of this Announcement and the Appendices. The Merger will be
subject to the satisfaction or, where applicable, waiver of the
Conditions and certain further terms set out in Appendix I to this
announcement and to the full terms and conditions to be set out in
the Scheme Document. Appendix II to this announcement contains
sources of information and bases of calculations of certain
information contained in this Announcement. A summary of the
Irrevocable Undertakings and letters of intent received by Checkit
in relation to the Merger is set out in Appendix III to this
announcement. Further details of the FY25 Checkit Profit Estimate
and the FY24 Crimson Tide Profit Estimate are set out in Appendix
IV to this Announcement. Certain terms used in this summary and
this Announcement are defined in Appendix V to this
Announcement.
The individual responsible for releasing this
announcement is Kit Kyte, Chief Executive Officer of
Checkit.
Enquiries:
Checkit plc
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+44
(0) 1223 643313
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www.Checkit.net
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Kit Kyte (Chief Executive Officer)
|
|
|
Kris Shaw (Chief Financial and Operations Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Singer Capital Markets (Financial Adviser, Nominated Adviser
& Broker to Checkit)
|
|
+44
(0) 20 7496 3000
|
Shaun Dobson / Peter Steel / James
Fischer
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yellowstone Advisory (Investor Relations)
|
|
+44
(0) 203 951 8907
|
Alex Schlich
|
|
alex@yellowstoneadvisory.com
|
|
|
|
Crimson Tide plc
|
|
+44
1892 542444
|
www.Crimson Tide.com
|
|
|
Jacqueline Daniell
(Chair)
Phil Meyers (Chief Executive Officer)
|
|
|
Peter Hurter (Chief Financial Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cavendish Capital Markets (Financial Adviser, Nominated
Adviser, Rule 3 Adviser and Corporate Broker to Crimson
Tide)
|
|
+44
(0) 20 7220 0500
|
Julian Blunt / Henrik Persson / Dan
Hodkinson - Corporate Finance
|
|
|
Andrew Burdis / Harriet Ward -
Corporate Broking
|
|
|
Alma PR (Financial PR)
|
|
+44
(0) 7780 901979
|
Josh Royston
|
|
|
Important notices relating to
financial advisers
Singer Capital Markets Advisory LLP, which is authorised and
regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority,
is acting as Financial Adviser, Nominated Adviser and Broker
exclusively for Checkit and no-one else in connection with the
matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other
person as their client in relation to such matters and will not be
responsible to anyone other than Checkit for providing the
protections afforded to clients of Singer Capital Markets nor for
providing advice in relation to the Merger or any matter referred
to in this announcement.
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited, which is authorised and
regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom,
is acting exclusively for Crimson Tide and for no one else in
connection with the subject matter of this Announcement and will
not be responsible to anyone other than Crimson Tide for providing
the protections afforded to clients of Cavendish or for providing
advice in relation to the contents of this Announcement or any
matters referred to in this Announcement.
Further
information
This Announcement is for information purposes only. It is not
intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer,
invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise
acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any
securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any
jurisdiction, pursuant to the Merger or otherwise, nor shall there
be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of Crimson Tide
pursuant to the Merger or otherwise in any jurisdiction in
contravention of applicable law. The Merger will be implemented
solely by means of the Scheme Document (or, in the event that the
Merger is to be implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, the offer
document) which will contain the full terms and conditions of the
Merger, including details of how to vote in respect of the Merger
(or, in the case of a Takeover Offer, to accept the
offer).
Crimson Tide will prepare the Scheme Document to be
distributed to Crimson Tide Shareholders. Crimson Tide and Checkit
urge Crimson Tide Shareholders to read the Scheme Document
carefully as it will contain important information relating to the
Merger, the New Checkit Shares and the Combined Group. Any decision
to vote in respect of resolutions to be proposed at the Crimson
Tide Shareholder Meetings to approve the Merger, the Scheme or
related matters, should be made only on the basis of the
information contained in the Scheme Document.
It
is expected that the Scheme Document (including notices of the
Crimson Tide Shareholder Meetings) together with the relevant
Crimson Tide Forms of Proxy will be sent to Crimson Tide
Shareholders within 28 days of the date of this Announcement (or on
such later date as may be agreed by Checkit and Crimson Tide with
the consent of the Panel).
Checkit will prepare the Checkit Circular to be distributed to
Checkit Shareholders and which will be available on Checkit's
website at www.checkit.net and Crimson Tide's website at
www.crimsontide.co.uk. Checkit urges Checkit Shareholders to read
the Checkit Circular when it becomes available. Any decision to
vote in respect of the Checkit Resolution should be made only on
the basis of the information in the Checkit Circular. It is
expected that the Checkit Circular (including the notice of the
Checkit General Meeting) together with the Checkit Form of Proxy,
will be posted to Checkit Shareholders as soon as is reasonably
practicable and in any event within 28 days of this Announcement,
unless otherwise agreed with the Panel.
The statements contained in this Announcement are made as at
the date of this Announcement, unless some other time is specified
in relation to them.
This Announcement does not constitute a prospectus or
prospectus equivalent document. The New Checkit Shares to be issued
pursuant to the Merger are not being offered to the public by means
of this Announcement. The Merger will be subject to the applicable
requirements of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock
Exchange, the AIM Rules for Companies and the
FCA.
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and
certain other information provided by Crimson Tide Shareholders,
persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the
receipt of communication by Crimson Tide may be provided to Checkit
during the Offer Period as required by section 4 of Appendix 4 to
the Takeover Code.
Overseas
Shareholders
This Announcement has been prepared for the purpose of
complying with English law, the Takeover Code, the Market Abuse
Regulation, the AIM Rules and the Disclosure Guidance and
Transparency Rules and the information disclosed may not be the
same as that which would have been disclosed if this Announcement
had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions
outside of the United Kingdom.
The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement
in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by
law and/or regulation. Persons who are not resident in the United
Kingdom, or who are subject to the laws of other jurisdictions
should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or
regulatory requirements. In particular, the ability of persons who
are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to the
laws of another jurisdiction to participate in the Merger or to
vote their Crimson Tide Shares in respect of the Scheme at the
Crimson Tide Court Meeting, or to execute and deliver Crimson Tide
Forms of Proxy appointing another to vote at the Crimson Tide Court
Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the
relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or to which they
are subject. Any failure to comply with the applicable requirements
may constitute a violation of the laws and/or regulations of any
such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, the companies and persons involved in the Merger disclaim any
responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions
by any person.
Unless otherwise determined by Checkit or required by the
Takeover Code and permitted by applicable law and regulation,
participation in the Merger will not be made available, directly or
indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do
so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may
vote in favour of the Merger by any such use, means,
instrumentality or form within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any
other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the
laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this Announcement
and all documentation relating to the Merger are not being, and
must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded,
distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction
where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction, and
persons receiving this Announcement and all documents relating to
the Merger (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not
mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such
jurisdictions as doing so may invalidate any purported vote in
respect of the Merger.
If
the Merger is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless
otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover
Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into or by use
of the mails or any other means or instrumentality (including,
without limitation, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic
transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce
of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities
exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer will
not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means,
instrumentality or facilities or from within any Restricted
Jurisdiction.
The availability of the New Checkit Shares under the Merger to
Crimson Tide Shareholders who are not resident in the United
Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions
in which they are resident or to which they are subject. Persons
who are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to
the laws of other jurisdictions should inform themselves of, and
observe, any applicable legal or regulatory
requirements.
Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be
contained in the Scheme Document.
Profit forecasts, estimates
or quantified financial benefits statements
Checkit
The FY25
Checkit Profit Estimate is a profit estimate within the meaning of
Rule 28.1 of the Takeover Code. The FY25 Checkit Profit Estimate,
the assumptions and basis of preparation on which it is based and
the Checkit Directors' confirmation as required by Rule 28 of the
Takeover Code, are set out in Appendix IV of this
Announcement.
Other than
the FY25 Checkit Profit Estimate, no statement in this Announcement
is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any period or a
quantified financial benefits statement and no statement in this
Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or
earnings per share for Checkit for the current or future financial
years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published
earnings or earnings per share for Checkit.
Crimson Tide
The FY24
Crimson Tide Profit Estimate is a profit estimate within the
meaning of Rule 28.1 of the Takeover Code. The FY24 Crimson Tide
Profit Estimate, the assumptions and basis of preparation on which
it is based and the Crimson Tide Directors' confirmation as
required by Rule 28 of the Takeover Code, are set out in Appendix
IV of this Announcement.
Other than
the FY24 Crimson Tide Profit Estimate, no statement in this
Announcement is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any
period or a quantified financial benefits statement and no
statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that
earnings or earnings per share for Crimson Tide for the current or
future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the
historical published earnings or earnings per share for Crimson
Tide.
Disclosure requirements of
the Code:
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in
1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree or of
any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an
offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer
is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening
Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period
and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities
exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position
Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short
positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities
of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange
offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule
8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London
time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the
offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m.
(London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement
in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified.
Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree
company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline
for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a
Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes,
interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the
offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a
Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities
of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A
Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned
and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to
subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree
company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the
extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule
8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies
must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the
business day following the date of the relevant
dealing.
If
two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an
interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a
securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single
person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by Crimson Tide
and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by
Crimson Tide, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert
with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of
whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing
Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on
the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk,
including details of the number of relevant securities in issue,
when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first
identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit
on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you
are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing
Disclosure.
The defined terms used in this section "Disclosure
requirements of the Code" are defined in the Code which can be
found on the Takeover Panel's website.
Publication on a
website
In
accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement
will be made available (subject to certain restrictions relating to
persons resident in restricted jurisdictions) on Checkit's website
at www.Checkit.net by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the
business day following the date of this announcement. For the
avoidance of doubt, the content of the website referred to in this
announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of
this announcement.
Forward Looking
Statements
This announcement may contain "forward-looking statements"
relating to each of Checkit, Crimson Tide and/or the Combined Group
and the business sectors in which they operate. Generally, the
words "will", "may", "should", "continue", "believes", "expects",
"intends", "anticipates", "forecast", "plan" and "project" or
similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such
statements reflect Checkit's current views with respect to future
events and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that
could cause the actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Many of
these risks, assumptions and uncertainties relate to factors that
are beyond Checkit's abilities to control or estimate precisely,
such as future market conditions, changes in general economic and
business conditions and the behaviour of other market participants.
Checkit cannot give any assurance that the forward-looking
statements will prove to have been correct. The reader should not,
therefore, place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement.
Checkit does not undertake any obligation to update or revise
publicly any of the forward-looking statements set out in this
announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, except to the extent legally
required.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this announcement have been
subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for
the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly
and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an
arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede
them.
NOT
FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO
DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR
REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
AS STIPULATED
UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO. 596/2014 (AS INCORPORATED
INTO UK LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018
AS AMENDED BY VIRTUE OF THE MARKET ABUSE (AMENDMENT) (EU EXIT)
REGULATIONS 2019). UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A
REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW
CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
11
February 2025
Recommended
Merger
of
Crimson Tide
plc ("Crimson
Tide") with Checkit plc ("Checkit")
to be effected by way of a
scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
1. Introduction
The boards of Checkit and Crimson
Tide are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on
the terms of a recommended all-share merger pursuant to which
Checkit will acquire the entire issued and to be issued share
capital of Crimson Tide. The Merger is to be effected by means of a
Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement between Crimson Tide and
Crimson Tide Scheme Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act
2006.
2. The Merger
Under the terms of the Merger, each
Crimson Tide shareholder would receive:
For each Crimson Tide Share: 6 Checkit
Shares
Under the terms of the Merger, Crimson Tide
Scheme Shareholders will receive six new Checkit Shares (the
"Exchange Ratio"). Immediately following Completion, Crimson Tide
Scheme Shareholders will own approximately 26.8 per cent. of the
issued share capital of Checkit (based on the existing issued share
capital of Checkit and the fully diluted share capital of Crimson
Tide as at 10 February 2025, being the latest practicable date
prior to the publication of this Announcement).
The Exchange Ratio has been based in all
material respects on the ratio of Checkit's current annual
recurring revenues ("ARR") relative to Crimson Tide's. Based on
Checkit's middle market closing price of 16.5 pence per Checkit
Share on 10 February 2025 (being the last practicable date prior to
publication of this Announcement), the Exchange Ratio represents an
implied value of 99 pence per Crimson Tide Share and values the
entire issued share capital of Crimson Tide at approximately £6.5
million.
Checkit reserves the right to reduce the
Exchange Ratio by the amount of any dividend (or any distribution)
which is paid or becomes payable by Crimson Tide to its
shareholders following this Announcement.
The New Checkit Shares will be issued credited
as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the
Checkit Shares in issue at the time the New Checkit Shares are
issued pursuant to the Merger, including the right to receive and
retain dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid by
reference to a record date falling after the Effective Date.
Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the New
Checkit Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM.
In the event that the Merger is to be
implemented instead by way of a Takeover Offer, the Crimson Tide
Shares will be acquired pursuant to such Merger fully paid and free
from all liens, charges, equitable interests, encumbrances and
rights of pre-emption and any other interests of any nature
whatsoever and together with all rights attaching to
them.
3. Background to and reasons for the
Merger
Background to the
Merger
The Checkit Board has for a long
time considered there to be compelling strategic and financial
reasons for a business combination of Checkit with Crimson Tide and
at various times over the last four years engaged in discussions
with the Crimson Tide Board.
In January 2024, the Checkit Board
submitted an indicative non-binding proposal to the Crimson Tide
Board regarding an all-share merger. As a result of Crimson Tide's
rejection of such proposal, the Checkit Board published the
Possible Offer Announcement on 4 June 2024 to facilitate direct
discussions with shareholders of both Crimson Tide and
Checkit.
On 21 June 2024 the Crimson Tide
Board announced that it had received a conditional and non-binding
proposal from Ideagen Limited regarding a possible cash offer for
Crimson Tide. Consequently, on 26 June 2024 the Checkit Board
announced that it no longer intended to make an offer to acquire
Crimson Tide.
On 11 July 2024 the Crimson Tide
Board announced that Ideagen Limited no longer intended to make an
offer for Crimson Tide. Following Ideagen Limited's withdrawal of
interest, the Board's of Crimson Tide and Checkit re-engaged in
discussions regarding the possible benefits of combining the two
businesses and have since been engaged in constructive mutual due
diligence ahead of this Announcement.
In agreeing the terms of the Merger,
the Boards of Crimson Tide and Checkit have calculated the Exchange
Ratio based in all material respects on the ratio of Checkit's
current ARR relative to Crimson Tide's.
Reasons for the Merger and
strategic rationale
The Boards of Checkit and Crimson
Tide believe that the combination of their companies presents a
compelling strategic opportunity to create a market leader in
workflow software solutions also providing a boost to Checkit's own
strategic objectives and a range of benefits to all shareholders of
the Combined Group. The key aspects of their rationale for the
combination of the two businesses set are out in further detail
below.
Strong Checkit management
team with a track record of delivery to be enhanced by members of
Crimson Tide management
Checkit's management team has proven
its ability to deliver against its growth strategy:
· Accelerating US market growth;
· Scaling existing customers by upselling and
cross-selling;
· Expanding its presence in the existing verticals it operates
in and into new growth markets;
· Growing recurring subscription revenues;
· Driving operating efficiency to accelerate path to
profitability; and
· Investing in R&D to drive value creation
opportunities.
Checkit's revenue for the year ended
31 January 2025 ("FY25") was £14.0 million (31 January 2024: £12.0
million), representing a year-on-year increase of 17%, as Checkit
continues to see strong growth opportunities in the US, where
revenues increased by approximately 21%. New booking momentum was
strong in the year with £2.1 million of sales booked in the twelve
months to 31 January 2025, a 39% year-on-year increase. ARR as at
31 January 2025 was £14.4 million and cash was approximately £5.1
million.
Checkit believes that its management
team will be enhanced by the addition of members of the Crimson
Tide management team and further details are set out
below.
Provision of enhanced
product offering to customers of the Combined
Group
The Boards of Checkit and Crimson
Tide believe that the combination of Crimson Tide's and Checkit's
product sets will, in due course, provide an enhanced offering that
will benefit both companies' customers. By
leveraging Checkit's enhanced research and development and
recognised go-to-market capabilities, the Combined Group will be
able to benefit from the integration of Crimson Tide's solutions
while also expanding the product set available to sell to both new
and existing customers. Crimson Tide has stated its ambition to
expand its IoT sensor offering and there is an opportunity to
leverage Checkit's significant expertise in this area to accelerate
these expansion plans, providing a technological edge and
streamlining the integration process.
Checkit's strategy has been to focus
on increasing market share and driving profitable growth. Its
successful land and expand strategy has enhanced its customer base
and delivered year on year revenue growth. The success of its long
term growth strategy, focusing on expanding verticals and
geographies is demonstrated by the growth in revenues that it has
achieved in the key US market. In addition, Checkit has delivered a
36% CAGR in ARR since 2020, providing good visibility over future
revenues and accelerating its path to net cash
generation.
Checkit has demonstrated that its
products are essential for daily workflow and operations and boost
productivity, reduce costs and ensure compliance for its clients.
In FY25, Checkit significantly enhanced its product offering by
launching Asset Intelligence, its AI/ML analytics platform that
provides data insights that will enhance the return on investment
on its products.
The Boards of Checkit and Crimson
Tide believe that Checkit's successful land and expand strategy can
be applied to Crimson Tide's existing customer base to accelerate
profitable cash generative growth for the Combined Group. Checkit's
go-to-market approach of securing blue chip customers with entry
size deals, which are then expanded over time providing additional
sales and innovative services, can be applied to Crimson Tide's
business model to fuel growth. This will enable the Combined Group
to better cultivate mid to large size deals within its existing
customer base and generate new organic growth opportunities in
focussed verticals.
By implementing a rigorous and
systematic approach to pipeline generation, the Combined Group
would benefit from a more efficient sales cycle, enabling faster
revenue generation. Checkit's unique ability to harness customer
data enables deeper insights into customer productivity challenges
and will allow customers of the Combined Group to benefit from the
development of targeted machine learning and artificial
intelligence modules that can complement the core product
set.
The benefits of this approach are
clear. By offering Crimson Tide's range of bespoke solutions along
with Checkit's scalable products, the Combined Group will
differentiate itself in the market and meet specific customer needs
more effectively. This tailored approach can lead to higher
customer satisfaction and loyalty, as well as open new revenue
streams. Overall, the combination of Crimson Tide and Checkit's
product sets, enhanced by Checkit's strategic initiatives, will
create a more robust and competitive company with greater growth
potential and long-term stability.
Substantial cross-selling
and upselling opportunities to customers from a combination of the
two businesses, thereby enhancing competitive standing of the
Combined Group in a fragmented workflow management systems market
over $17 billion in size
The combination of Checkit and
Crimson Tide would present substantial opportunities for
cross-selling and upselling Checkit's product suite to Crimson
Tide's customer base and vice versa. Crimson Tide's established
presence in sectors such as logistics, transportation, healthcare,
and retail align well with Checkit's market focus and growth
strategy. This alignment not only expands the verticals for the
Combined Group but also supports a unified approach to scaling in
the US, where Checkit is already well established with a direct
sales team delivering 27% of group ARR.
The ability to offer a broader range
of products to customers will allow the Combined Group to position
itself as a one-stop shop in a large market, offering integrated
solutions that enable inherent efficiency benefits to existing
customers whilst opening up further opportunities in new verticals
and geographies. This approach, combined with Checkit's innovative
use of customer data, will enable the acceleration of growth, and
enhance the long-term prospects of the Combined Group.
The combination would enhance the
enlarged entity's position in the workflow software solutions
market, thereby leveraging the strengths of both organisations for
an enhanced competitive advantage.
The market for workflow management
systems was valued at US$17.1 billion in 2024 and is expected to
generate a CAGR of 33.5% between 2024 and 2034[2]. Growth in the sector will be driven by
innovation and the exploitation of data for management information.
With the launch of Asset intelligence, Checkit is well positioned
to benefit from this market trend and applying these insights to
Crimson Tide's more bespoke product offering will bring further
benefits and growth opportunities to the Combined Group.
Opportunity to realise
synergies from a combination of the two
businesses
Under the leadership of the Checkit
management team with support from Crimson Tide management, the
Combined Group is expected to benefit from significant synergies,
efficiencies and growth opportunities:
·
Revenue
Synergies: The integration of
Checkit and Crimson Tide is expected to unlock revenue synergies
from cross-selling and upselling opportunities. By leveraging
Checkit's product suite within Crimson Tide's established sectors
such as logistics, transportation, healthcare and retail and vice
versa, there is the opportunity to drive additional revenue.
Offering more comprehensive solutions to existing customers where
there is currently no significant degree of overlap between the two
companies such as Tesco, Morrisons, Bookers and the NHS should
enhance the value proposition and increase the sales opportunity.
It will also open further opportunities to expand the addressable
market via new verticals and geographies.
·
Cost
Synergies: In order to unlock the
significant potential upside from a combination of the two
businesses, Checkit management has identified staff and non-staff
cost savings in the Combined Group. Elimination of duplicate costs
associated with two listings on the London Stock Exchange will
provide savings alongside the consolidation of some staff and
non-staff functions in sales and marketing, product development,
administration and operations which is expected to streamline
operations over time and lead to a more efficient and
cost-effective organisational structure.
·
Accelerated
Growth for Crimson Tide: Applying
Checkit's proven go-to-market strategies, which include both land
and expand tactics, and organic growth initiatives, will accelerate
Crimson Tide's growth. Checkit's higher ARR growth rate
demonstrates its capability to drive revenue expansion effectively.
Implementing these strategies within Crimson Tide provides an
opportunity to increase Crimson Tide's market penetration and rate
of revenue growth.
·
Enhanced
Financial Standing: The Combined
Group would, immediately following Completion, boast an ARR of
increased scale and a pro forma cash balance (before deal costs) of
approximately £7.2 million with the potential for significant
future net cash generation. Once profitable, the Combined Group is
also expected to grow profitability faster than either company
could as standalone businesses. This enhanced financial position
would not only provide stability but also enable strategic
investments in innovation and expansion, further reinforcing the
Combined Group's financial standing. The robust financial health of
the Combined Group should increase investor confidence and provide
a solid foundation for sustained long-term profitable
growth.
The Combined Group should be
a more attractive investment proposition to existing and potential
new shareholders
The Boards of Checkit and Crimson
Tide believe that the Combined Group with its increased scale and
enhanced financial standing would present a more attractive
investment opportunity for existing and potential shareholders than
either business remaining as standalone entities. The Boards of
Checkit and Crimson Tide believe that this, along with the
significant potential revenue and cost synergies identified, could
result in the Combined Group attracting a wider pool of investors
and consequently being attributed higher valuation multiples by the
market than either standalone company could reasonably expect to
command. A broader investor base could also reasonably be expected
to increase liquidity for existing and potential
investors.
For
the reasons set out above, the Boards of Checkit and Crimson Tide
believe that the strategic and financial rationale for the Merger
is compelling, in the best interests of both companies' respective
shareholders and provides significant opportunities for enhanced
value for both sets of shareholders.
4. Board of the Combined
Group
Subject to Completion, it is proposed that,
following the Effective Date, the Checkit Board will
comprise:
·
Keith Daley, currently Non-Executive Chairman of Checkit, who
will remain Non-Executive Chairman of Checkit;
· Kit
Kyte, currently Chief Executive Officer of Checkit, who will remain
Chief Executive Officer of Checkit;
·
Kris Shaw, currently Chief Financial Officer of Checkit, who
will remain Chief Financial Officer of Checkit;
·
Alex Curran, currently Non-Executive Director of Checkit, who
will remain Non-Executive Director of Checkit; and
·
Jacqueline Daniell, currently Non-Executive Chairman of
Crimson Tide, who will join the Checkit Board as a Non-Executive
Director.
Upon completion of the Merger, the other
Non-Executive Directors of Crimson Tide would be expected to resign
and from that point cease to be directors of Crimson Tide. The
executive directors of Crimson Tide are expected to resign from
their roles as directors of Crimson Tide but will be appointed to
the following senior management roles within the Combined
Group:
·
Phil Meyers, currently Chief Executive Officer of Crimson
Tide, will be appointed as global Chief Operating officer of the
Combined Group;
·
Luke Jeffrey, currently Chief Technology Officer of Crimson
Tide, will be appointed as Chief Technology Officer of the Combined
Group; and
·
Peter Hurter, currently Chief Financial Officer of Crimson
Tide, will be appointed as head of the integration process of
Crimson Tide into Checkit and will be employed by the Combined
Group for a period to be agreed from Completion.
5. Governance,
Management, Employees, Pensions, Research and Development and
Locations of Business
Strategic
plans for Crimson Tide
The Boards of Checkit and Crimson Tide believe,
as set out in paragraph 3 above, that the Merger has a
compelling strategic rationale, with the key
aspects of the Checkit Board's growth plan to create a market
leader in workflow software solutions as follows:
·
Crimson Tide's mpro5 product with Checkit branding will be
retained for at least the first 12 months following Completion and
run during that period separate to the ecosystem for Checkit's
existing product suite. Thereafter, the Checkit Board may integrate
mpro5 into the Combined Group's wider offering (including
application of Checkit's expertise in IoT machine learning to the
mpro5 product), such that it can be sold increasingly alongside
Checkit's existing product suite, with cross-selling opportunities
expected to arise as a result.
·
Crimson Tide's sales and marketing function will be
integrated into Checkit's existing go-to-market direct sales
infrastructure. The Checkit Board believes that the application of
Checkit's successful land and expand strategy can be applied to
Crimson Tide, thereby accelerating the Combined Group's profitable
cash generative growth.
·
Crimson Tide's US footprint will be integrated into Checkit's
already well-established existing US go-to-market direct sales
offering.
·
Checkit will apply its customer success programme to Crimson
Tide's customer base which is expected to increase cross-selling
and upselling opportunities across the customer base of the
Combined Group.
Employees and
management
Checkit recognises the contribution made by
existing Crimson Tide management and employees to Crimson Tide's
development to date, however, in order to recognise the significant
potential upside from a combination of the two businesses, Checkit
management has identified staff cost savings in the Combined
Group.
Subject to the Merger completing, Checkit
proposes that, following Completion, the board of the Combined
Group will consist of the existing members of the Checkit Board
with the addition of Jacqueline Daniell, currently Non-Executive
Chair of Crimson Tide, who will join the Checkit Board as a
Non-Executive Director. Upon Completion, the other Non-Executive
directors of Crimson Tide are expected to resign and from that
point cease to be directors of Crimson Tide. The executive
directors of Crimson Tide, being Phil Meyers, Luke Jeffrey and
Peter Hurter, are expected to resign from their roles as directors
of Crimson Tide but will be appointed to the senior management
roles within the Combined Group as set out in paragraph
4.
Ahead of this Announcement, Checkit conducted
detailed due diligence on Crimson Tide's operations and employees
and has made an assessment on the future prospects of the Combined
Group. This has included a detailed review with Crimson Tide
management to identify potential cost synergies from a combination
of the two companies, including identifying duplicate and redundant
positions thereby informing the process for integrating the Crimson
Tide business into the operations of Checkit.
Checkit's analysis during due diligence
identified potential cost synergies across Checkit and Crimson Tide
due to a degree of duplication within certain functions between the
two companies and certain existing roles within Crimson Tide that
will no longer be necessary to the Combined Group. In order to
streamline operations in the Combined Group and to realise the
benefits of the Merger, Checkit will make headcount reductions in
Crimson Tide following Completion. Checkit has not as yet
formulated its plans as to the number of headcount reductions it
will make in Crimson Tide and intends to assess on Completion, in
coordination with Crimson Tide management, the extent to which
headcount reductions are necessary. Based on Checkit's analysis to
date, it expects that headcount reductions in Crimson Tide
following Completion will be between 5 and 10 employees (from 36
employees as at the date of this Announcement) with these expected
to be in the areas of sales and marketing, product development,
head office administrative functions and operations in order of
materiality. As part of its analysis, Checkit has conducted a
review of Crimson Tide's existing US operations and has worked with
Crimson Tide to evaluate the opportunities that Crimson Tide's
market presence provides in the context of Checkit's existing US
strategy. Checkit expects that the Combined Group will have a
reduced overall sales and marketing presence in the US thereby
reducing the losses currently incurred by Crimson Tide in the
US.
Following Completion, Checkit also intends to
make some reductions to the existing Checkit headcount with Checkit
management also intending to implement these reductions regardless
of the Merger completing. By consolidating operations across the
two companies, Checkit intends to streamline operations in the
Combined Group which Checkit believes will lead to a more efficient
and cost-effective organisational structure.
No proposals have been finalised yet as to how
any such headcount reductions will be implemented but Checkit
intends to work with Crimson Tide's management to this effect
following Completion. During the integration period following
completion of the Acquisition, Checkit intends to complete a
comprehensive organisational review, engagement and planning
exercise which will involve a range of stakeholders, including any
affected employees and any appropriate employee representative
bodies. Checkit's intention is to approach management and employee
integration with the aim of retaining and motivating the best
talent to augment its focus on creating a best-in-class
organisation.
No headcount reductions will proceed without
comprehensive planning or the appropriate conclusion of all
applicable information and consultation procedures with employees
and their representatives. Checkit confirms that the intention is
for any individuals impacted to be treated in a manner consistent
with Checkit and Crimson Tide's high standards and culture and that
Checkit will observe Crimson Tide's existing redundancy practices
and policies, including undertaking appropriate consultation with
affected employees.
The Checkit Board confirms that, upon the
Merger completing, the existing contractual and statutory
employment rights, including pension rights, of all management and
employees of Crimson Tide will be fully safeguarded.
Existing rights and pension schemes
Checkit confirms that, following completion of
the Merger, the existing statutory and contractual rights and terms
and conditions of employment of management and employees of Crimson
Tide, including in relation to pensions, will be fully safeguarded
in accordance with applicable law. Checkit has no intention to make
any material modifications to the conditions of employment of
management or employees of the Crimson Tide Group, unless otherwise
agreed upon with the respective employees. There are no plans to
make any immediate changes to any defined contribution scheme(s)
operated by Crimson Tide but in due course Checkit would expect to
harmonise terms between the two businesses.
Incentivisation and retention arrangements
Checkit believes that the ongoing
participation of senior management of Crimson Tide is important to
the future success of Crimson Tide. No discussions in relation to
incentivisation arrangements have yet taken place and no
discussions are expected to take place prior to completion of the
Merger, but Checkit intends to put in place appropriate
arrangements for selected members of senior management of the
Crimson Tide Group following completion of the Merger. Such
incentivisation would be expected to include the granting of
Checkit options following Completion.
Location of business, fixed assets and headquarters; research
and development
The Checkit Board recognises the
importance of a global office network for the Combined Group. The
growing importance of a distributed workforce, whether in the
office, remote or at a customer site is changing the needs of, and
providing flexibility for, both the employee and the
customer.
The Checkit Directors intend that,
following completion of the Merger, the Combined Group should
regularly review its property footprint alongside the best working
practices and commitments on ESG to optimise office space across
each region in which the Combined Group operates.
Following completion of the Merger,
Checkit intends to commence a review in relation to the Combined
Group's office space. No decisions have yet been reached, but this
review is likely to lead to a rationalisation and closure of
Crimson Tide's current office space in Tunbridge Wells, Dublin and
any presence in the US. The Checkit Directors intend that Checkit's
office in Cambridge will be the corporate headquarters for the
Combined Group.
Following completion of the Merger,
Checkit intends to commence a review of Crimson Tides new product
development function. Checkit's expectation is that this review
will result in some rationalisation of Crimson Tide's existing
product development roadmap, and this will likely result in reduced
third party development expenditure.
Trading Facilities
Crimson Tide Shares are admitted to trading on
the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. As set out in
paragraph 19, it is intended that an
application will be made for the cancellation of trading of the
Crimson Tide Shares on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market to
take effect on or shortly after the Effective Date.
It is intended that Crimson Tide be
re-registered as a private limited company on, or as soon as
practicable following, the Effective Date.
Name of
Checkit
On Completion, Checkit intends that the name of
Checkit will remain Checkit plc.
Statements
No statements in this paragraph
5 constitute "post-offer undertakings" for the
purposes of Rule 19.5 of the Code.
6.
Recommendations
Crimson
Tide
The Crimson Tide Directors, who have been so advised
by Cavendish as to the financial terms of the Merger, unanimously
consider the terms of the Merger to be fair and reasonable. In
providing advice to the Crimson Tide Directors, Cavendish has taken
into account the commercial assessments of the Crimson Tide
Directors. Cavendish is providing independent financial advice to
the Crimson Tide Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the
Takeover Code.
Accordingly, the Crimson Tide Directors intend to
recommend unanimously that Crimson Tide Shareholders vote in favour
of the Scheme at the Crimson Tide Court Meeting and in favour of
the Crimson Tide Resolution to be proposed at the Crimson Tide
General Meeting, as those Crimson Tide Directors who are interested
in Crimson Tide Shares have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect
of their own beneficial holdings (or have undertaken to procure the
vote in respect of the Crimson Tide Shares in which certain of
their connected persons are interested) of 90,858 Crimson Tide
Shares representing, in aggregate, approximately 1.38 per cent. of
Crimson Tide's issued ordinary share capital as at the close of
business on the Latest Practicable Date.
Checkit
In order to implement the Merger, Checkit will
require the approval of the Checkit Shareholders to allot the New
Checkit Shares at the Checkit General Meeting. The Merger is
accordingly conditional on such approval being obtained.
The Checkit Directors consider the Merger to be in
the best interests of Checkit Shareholders as a whole and
accordingly intend to recommend unanimously that Checkit
Shareholders vote in favour of the Checkit Resolution to be
proposed at the Checkit General Meeting, as those Checkit Directors
who are interested in Checkit Shares intend to irrevocably
undertake to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings (or
intend to undertake to procure the vote in respect of the Checkit
Shares in which certain of their connected persons are interested)
of 21,966,976 Checkit Shares representing, in aggregate,
approximately 20.34 per cent. of Checkit's issued ordinary share
capital as at the close of business on the Latest Practicable
Date.
7. Background to and
reasons for the recommendation of the Crimson Tide
Board
The Crimson Tide Directors believe that the proposed
Merger with Checkit creates a timely and strategically compelling
opportunity to combine two businesses which share much in
common. Both businesses provide workflow software and related
services with a view to improving and driving efficiencies within
client operations, helping them to run their businesses on a more
data-centric basis, driving improved decision making, compliance,
safety and customer experience. The proposed Merger provides a
valuable opportunity therefore to create a market leader in
workflow software solutions, enabling Crimson Tide Shareholders to
participate in a larger, more resilient and better diversified
business, whilst participating fully in anticipated future value
accretion, and any potential re-rating.
Accretive opportunities are expected to be
considerable post completion. These are largely anticipated to be
cost synergies in the short-term, from eliminating duplicated
operating costs and costs of Crimson Tide being admitted to trading
on AIM. However, in the medium term, revenue synergies are
anticipated to arise from combining the proven functionality of
mpro5 with Checkit's effective sales and marketing function,
enabling accelerated sales and cross-selling opportunities and an
enhanced product offering with which to drive Checkit's proven land
and expand strategy.
In considering the recommendation of the Merger to
the Crimson Tide Shareholders, the Crimson Tide Directors have
given due consideration to Checkit's stated intentions with respect
to the strategy and future operation of the business as set out in
paragraph 5 above. The Crimson Tide Directors welcome Checkit's
growth plan to create a market leader in workflow software
solutions and its clear commitment to Crimson Tide's current
executive team whose expertise will, the Crimson Tide Directors
believe, be critical in realising the shared vision of the Checkit
Board and Crimson Tide Board for the Combined Group. The
Crimson Tide Directors also welcome the fact that Crimson Tide's
Board will have representation on the Board of the Combined
Group.
The Crimson Tide Directors also
welcome that Checkit has no intention to make material changes to
the terms and conditions of employment of Crimson Tide employees as
a result of the Merger and that the existing contractual and
statutory employment rights, including in relation to pensions, of
all of Crimson Tide's management and employees will be fully
safeguarded in accordance with applicable law and
regulation.
The Crimson Tide Directors note,
however, that property footprint rationalisation may occur
following Completion and that headcount reductions are anticipated
by the removal of duplicative functions across Crimson Tide's
administrative and head office functions, as well as in functions
such as sales and marketing, operations, and product
development. The Crimson Tide Directors note Checkit's clear
commitment to involve the senior Crimson Tide management team in
the post-merger headcount reduction process and acknowledge that,
whilst regrettable, steps of this nature are likely to be necessary
in order to achieve the expected benefits of the Merger and welcome
that any individuals affected will be subject to full consultation
procedures and treated in a manner consistent with the high
standards, culture and practices of both Checkit and Crimson
Tide. The Crimson Tide Directors further acknowledge the fact
that cost savings are expected to be shared within both Crimson
Tide and Checkit.
8. Irrevocable
Undertakings & Letters of Intent
In respect of the Crimson
Tide Shareholder Meetings
The Crimson Tide Directors who are interested
in Crimson Tide Shares have irrevocably undertaken to vote (or
procure votes) in favour of the Scheme at the Crimson Tide Court
Meeting and in favour of the Crimson Tide Resolution to be proposed
at the Crimson Tide General Meeting, in respect of their own
beneficial holdings (or the holdings of certain persons connected
with them) of 90,858 Crimson Tide Shares representing, in
aggregate, approximately 1.38 per cent. of Crimson Tide's issued
ordinary share capital as at the close of business on the Latest
Practicable Date.
In addition, Checkit has received an
Irrevocable Undertaking to vote in favour of the Scheme at the
Crimson Tide Court Meeting and to vote in favour of the Crimson
Tide Resolution to be proposed at the Crimson Tide General Meeting
in respect of 347,666 Crimson Tide Shares, being approximately 5.29
per cent. of Crimson Tide Shares in issue as at 10 February 2025
(being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this
Announcement).
Checkit has also received non-binding letters
of support to vote in favour of the Crimson Tide Resolution to be
proposed at the Crimson Tide General Meeting, in respect of
1,358,333 Crimson Tide Shares representing, in aggregate,
approximately 20.66 per cent. of Crimson Tide's issued ordinary
share capital as at the close of business on the Latest Practicable
Date.
Checkit has therefore received Irrevocable
Undertakings and letters of intent to vote in favour of the Crimson
Tide Resolution in respect of a total number of 1,796,857 Crimson
Tide Shares representing, in aggregate, approximately 27.33 per
cent. of Crimson Tide's issued ordinary share capital as at the
close of business on the Latest Practicable Date.
The Irrevocable Undertakings summarised above,
inter alia, prohibit the Shareholders concerned from selling all or
any part of their holdings of Crimson Tide Shares to anyone other
than Checkit and, in the case of the Irrevocable Undertakings given
by Crimson Tide Directors, remain binding in the event of any
competing offer. All of the Irrevocable Undertakings will cease to
be binding if the Merger lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. The
Irrevocable Undertaking from a shareholder which is not a Crimson
Tide Director will also lapse if, within ten business days after
the despatch of the Scheme Document, a third party announces a firm
intention to make an offer to acquire all the issued and to be
issued equity share capital of Crimson Tide for a consideration per
share which represents at least 10 per cent. greater than the value
of the consideration per share available under the Merger as at the
date of such announcement and Checkit does not within 14 business
days of such announcement increase the consideration payable under
the Merger to an amount which is equal to or exceeds the value of
such third party offer.
In respect of the Checkit
General Meeting
The Checkit Directors intend to give irrevocable
undertakings to vote (or procure votes) in favour of the Checkit
Resolution to be proposed at the Checkit General Meeting in respect
of their own beneficial holdings (or the holdings of certain
persons connected with them) of 21,966,976 Checkit Shares
representing, in aggregate, approximately 20.34 per cent. of
Checkit's issued ordinary share capital as at the close of business
on the Latest Practicable Date.
Further details of these Irrevocable
Undertakings and letters of intent are set out in Appendix III of
this Announcement.
9. Merger Structure
& Conditions
Scheme of
Arrangement
It is intended that the Merger will
be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement
between Crimson Tide and Crimson Tide Scheme Shareholders under
Part 26 of the Companies Act. The procedure involves, among other
things, an application by Crimson Tide to the Court to sanction the
Scheme, in consideration for which Crimson Tide Scheme
Shareholders, who are on the register of members at the Scheme
Record Time, will receive New Checkit Shares on the basis set out
in paragraph 2 of this part of this Announcement. The purpose of
the Scheme is to provide for Checkit to become the owner of the
entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Crimson
Tide.
The New Checkit Shares will be
issued in registered form and will be capable of being held in both
certificated and uncertificated form. The New Checkit Shares will
be issued by Checkit to Crimson Tide Shareholders no later than 14
days after the Effective Date. Fractions of New Checkit Shares will
not be allotted or issued pursuant to the Merger, but entitlements
of Crimson Tide Shareholders will be rounded down to the nearest
whole number of New Checkit Shares and all fractions of New Checkit
Shares will be aggregated and sold in the market as soon as
practicable after the Effective Date. The net proceeds of such sale
(after deduction of all expenses and commissions incurred in
connection with the sale) will be distributed in due proportions to
Crimson Tide Shareholders who would otherwise have been entitled to
such fractions (rounded down to the nearest penny), save that
individual entitlements to amounts of less than £5.00 will be
retained for the benefit of the Combined Group.
Conditions
Implementation of the
Scheme
The implementation of the Scheme
will be subject to the Conditions and further terms which are set
out in Appendix I of this Announcement and the further terms and
conditions to be set out in the Scheme Document (and the related
Crimson Tide Forms of Proxy when issued) including, among other
things:
1. the Scheme
becoming Effective by 11:59 p.m. on the Long Stop Date, failing
which the Scheme will lapse and the Merger will not take place
(unless the Panel otherwise consents);
2. the
approval of the Scheme by a majority in number of the Crimson Tide
Scheme Shareholders, representing not less than 75 per cent. in
value of the Crimson Tide Scheme Shares held by those Crimson Tide
Scheme Shareholders, present and voting, either in person or by
proxy, at the Crimson Tide Court Meeting or at any adjournment of
it, such meeting to be held on or before the 22nd day after the
expected date of the Crimson Tide Court Meeting (or such later date
as may be agreed between Checkit and Crimson Tide and the Court may
allow);
3. the passing
of the Crimson Tide Resolution by the requisite majority at the
Crimson Tide General Meeting or at any adjournment of it, such
meeting to be held on or before the 22nd day after the expected
date of the Crimson Tide General Meeting (or such later date as may
be agreed between Checkit and Crimson Tide and the Court may
allow);
4. the passing
of the Checkit Resolution by the requisite majority at the Checkit
General Meeting;
5. the
sanction by the Court of the Scheme at the Court Hearing, such
hearing to be held on or before the 22nd day after the expected
date of the Court Hearing (or such later date as may be agreed
between Checkit and Crimson Tide and the Court may
allow);
6. delivery to
the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales of the Court Order
sanctioning the Scheme for registration; and
7. the London
Stock Exchange having acknowledged to Checkit or its agent (and
such acknowledgement not having been withdrawn) that the New
Checkit Shares will be admitted to trading on AIM.
Scheme
becoming Effective
Once the necessary approvals from
Crimson Tide Shareholders have been obtained and the other
Conditions have been satisfied, or (where applicable) waived, to
become Effective the Scheme must be sanctioned by the Court. The
Scheme will become Effective in accordance with its terms upon a
copy of the Court Order being delivered to the Registrar of
Companies for registration. Upon the Scheme becoming Effective, it
will be binding on all Crimson Tide Shareholders, irrespective of
whether or not they attended or voted at the Crimson Tide Court
Meeting or the Crimson Tide General Meeting (and if they attended
and voted, whether or not they voted in favour).
The Merger is subject to the terms
and Conditions in Appendix I to this Announcement and on the
further terms and conditions that will be set out in the Scheme
Document.
10. Indicative Timing
Further details of the Scheme,
including an indicative timetable for its implementation, will be
set out in the Scheme Document, which is expected to be despatched
to Crimson Tide Shareholders as soon as reasonably practicable and,
in any event, within 28 days of the date of this Announcement
(unless otherwise agreed with the Panel). The timing of events
which relate to the implementation of the Merger is, however,
subject to the approval of the Court and is therefore subject to
change.
It is currently expected that the
Merger will have an Effective Date in the second quarter of
2025.
11. Election to switch
Subject to obtaining the consent of
the Panel, Checkit reserves the right to elect to implement the
Merger by way of a Takeover Offer as an alternative to the Scheme.
In any such event, a Takeover Offer would be implemented on the
same terms, so far as applicable, as those which apply to the
Scheme. Further details relating to this right are set out in the
terms and Conditions in Appendix I to this Announcement. If Checkit
does elect to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer, and
if sufficient acceptances of such Takeover Offer are received
and/or sufficient Crimson Tide Shares are otherwise acquired, it is
the intention of Checkit to apply the provisions of sections 979 to
982 (inclusive) of the Companies Act to acquire compulsorily any
remaining Crimson Tide Shares to which such Takeover Offer
relates.
12. Checkit Shareholder approval to issue New Checkit
Shares
The Merger involves the issue of New
Checkit Shares to Crimson Tide Shareholders. Accordingly, Checkit
will be required to seek the approval of Checkit Shareholders for
the allotment and issue of New Checkit Shares at the Checkit
General Meeting. The Merger will be conditional on, among other
things, the Checkit Resolution being passed by the requisite
majority of Checkit Shareholders at the Checkit General
Meeting.
Checkit will prepare the Checkit
Circular which will contain a notice convening the Checkit General
Meeting. It is expected that the Checkit Circular will be published
and posted to Checkit Shareholders at the same time as the Scheme
Document is posted to Crimson Tide Shareholders. The Checkit
Circular will be made available by Checkit on its website at
www.checkit.net and by Crimson Tide on its website at
www.crimsontide.co.uk.
13. Admission of New Checkit Shares
Prior to the Effective Date, an
application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the
New Checkit Shares
to be admitted to AIM. It is expected that Admission will become
effective and that unconditional dealings in the New Checkit Shares
will commence at 8.00 a.m. on the first Business Day following the
Effective Date. The New Checkit Shares will not be listed on any
stock exchange other than AIM, and have not been, and will not be,
registered under the US Securities Act or under any laws of any
state or other jurisdiction of the United States.
14. About Crimson Tide
Crimson Tide is the provider of mpro5, the
process management app. mpro5 is delivered on all modern devices
and enables organisations to digitally transform their business
with a view to improving customer experience, safety and compliance
and operational efficiency. In doing so Crimson Tide is able
to help customers overcome inefficiencies, unlocking substantial
cost savings and productivity gains whilst strengthening customer
workforces with smart mobile working. Integrating with IoT
sensors (such as temperature, or humidity) mpro5 provides customers
with a strong data foundation enabling them to make informed and
actionable decisions about their day to day operations.
Crimson Tide is trusted by businesses across a
wide variety of verticals including facilities management,
transportation, catering, retail and healthcare estates and is
currently deployed in over 260,000 sites in 11 countries.
mpro5 offers Crimson Tide's customers a highly
scalable and secure solution, hosted in the cloud on Microsoft
Azure. mpro5 is typically provided on a long term contracted
monthly subscription basis, whilst the Crimson Tide team is also
able to provide maintenance and customer specific adaptations of
the solution, allowing organisations to further refine and adapt
their processes to maximise efficiency and return on their
investment in mpro5, ultimately driving contract renewal and
customer longevity.
15. About Checkit
Checkit is the augmented workflow solution for
frontline workers and smart sensor automation, enabling large
multinational and complex organisations to operate more safely,
efficiently and sustainably - driving them towards achieving
intelligent operations.
Checkit has hundreds of customers across the
globe, including Global Fortune 500 and public health
organisations. Checkit's customers are digitising their manual
processes through Checkit's highly customisable workflow software
and top-of-the-line Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, increasingly
aided by Machine Learning and AI. More than 12 billion sensor
readings and millions of completed workflows per year are sent
through Checkit's platform enabling customers to become more
efficient, ensure safety and deliver complete operational
visibility.
16. Current trading
Current
trading of Checkit
Checkit's revenue for the year ended 31 January
2025 ("FY25") was £14.0 million (31 January 2024: £12.0 million),
representing a year-on-year increase of 17%, as Checkit continues
to see strong growth opportunities in the US, where revenues
increased by approximately 21%.
New booking momentum was strong in the year
with £2.1 million of sales booked in the twelve months to 31
January 2025, a 39% year-on-year increase. Expansion revenue from
existing customers continues to drive the majority of revenue
growth, complemented by several key new customer wins that are
expected to provide further expansion opportunities in the coming
years. New customer signings in both the UK and US have
strengthened Checkit's growing care home use case, while additional
wins in Checkit's core blood plasma and hospitality verticals offer
further land and expand opportunities. As noted in its interim
results to 31 July 2024, Checkit's sales performance in FY25 was
partly impacted by the non-renewal of low margin and non-core
business, but taking into account the growth in sales bookings, ARR
as at 31 January 2025 was £14.4 million and cash was approximately
£5.1 million.
By increasing revenue whilst maintaining gross
margin and cost control, strong progress towards the Company's
longer-term financial objectives including its path to
profitability using its existing financial resources has been
maintained in FY25, with overall trading and year end cash in line
with Board expectations.
Current
trading of Crimson Tide
Crimson Tide was pleased in its interim results
for the six months to 30 June 2024 ("Crimson Tide FY24 Interims")
to report revenue up 3.3% to £3.14m (H1 2023: £3.04m), EBITDA up
c209% at £0.33m (H1 2023: £0.11m) and gross margins of 88.2%, up
nearly 4 percentage points on the prior year. Crimson Tide
has at the same time increased ARR to £5.94m (FY2023: £5.75m) with
cash reserves healthy at £2.5m (H1 2023: £2.9m). Crimson Tide
has and will continue to develop and invest in the core mpro5
product such that the product is in the best shape possible, and
the Board is confident in its competitive advantage and market
readiness.
Crimson Tide further referred to these
achievements coming despite the impact of two key client losses in
the prior year, both occasioned by factors beyond its control, and
the distraction of two unsolicited takeover bids. Crimson Tide also
indicated execution risks arising from the limitations of capacity
in sales areas, against which investment was being made, and a
market-wide pattern of opportunities going to competitive tender
and sales cycles generally becoming extended, a feature which has
persisted during the second half of FY24.
The Company has continued to trade in line with
the Board's expectations since the date of the Crimson Tide FY24
Interims with the second half of the year unfolding as envisaged,
with ARR at the year-end of approximately £5.2m and cash of
approximately £2.1m. As predicted Crimson Tide experienced
further ARR churn in the second half as certain covid-era deals
came to an end, though the Crimson Tide Board has taken action to
adjust Crimson Tide's cost base in response to changes in its sales
cycle and customer requirements, incurring some exceptional costs
in doing so, but has been disciplined to ensure that the Company's
commitment to ongoing investment in capacity or product was not
prejudiced.
Notwithstanding the performance of the business
since the FY24 interims the Crimson Tide Board believes that in the
current economic climate client buying behaviour is unlikely to
improve in the short term, with sales cycles only likely to become
more protracted, however well invested the mpro5 platform may
be. With that in mind the Crimson Tide board sees little
scope to make top-line progress during the current financial year,
with any growth not now anticipated until FY26.
17. Overseas Shareholders
The distribution of this Announcement to, and
the availability of the New Checkit Shares to be issued pursuant to
the Merger to, persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom
may be affected by the laws of their relevant jurisdiction. Such
persons should inform themselves of and observe any applicable
legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdiction. Further
details in relation to Overseas Shareholders of Crimson Tide will
be found in the Scheme Document.
This Announcement is provided for information
purposes only. This Announcement is not intended to, and does not
constitute, or form part of, an offer, invitation or the
solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe
for, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, nor is
it a solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor
will there be any purchase or transfer of the securities referred
to in this Announcement in any jurisdiction in contravention of
applicable law or regulation.
The New Checkit Shares to be issued under the
terms of the Merger have not been and will not be registered under
the US Securities Act or under any laws or with any securities
regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the
United States. Accordingly, unless an exemption under relevant
securities laws is available, including the exemption from the
registration requirements of the US Securities Act provided by
section 3(a)(10) of that Act, the New Checkit Shares are not being,
and may not be, offered, sold, resold, delivered or distributed,
directly or indirectly, in, into or from the United States. Neither
the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any US state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of the New
Checkit Shares, or determined if this Announcement is accurate or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offence.
18. Crimson Tide Option
Holders
Participants in the Crimson Tide
Share Scheme and other option holders will be contacted regarding
the effect of the Merger on their rights under such schemes or
options and an appropriate proposal in accordance with Rule 15 of
the Code will be made by Checkit to such participants in due
course. Details of the proposals will be set out in separate
letters to be sent to participants in Crimson Tide option schemes
and other option holders.
19. Cancellation of admission to trading on
AIM & Re-registration
Prior to the Scheme becoming
Effective, it is intended that an application will be made to the
London Stock Exchange for the cancellation of the trading of the
Crimson Tide Shares on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market with
effect from or shortly after the Effective Date. The last day of
dealings in Crimson Tide Shares on AIM is expected to be the date
of the Court Hearing and no transfers will be registered after 6.00
p.m. on that date.
On the Effective Date, Crimson Tide
will become a subsidiary of Checkit and share certificates in
respect of Crimson Tide Shares will cease to be valid and should be
destroyed. In addition, entitlements to Crimson Tide Shares held
within the CREST system will be cancelled on the Effective
Date.
Upon the Scheme becoming Effective,
Checkit will acquire the Crimson Tide Shares fully paid and free
from all liens, equitable interests, charges, encumbrances and
other third party rights of any nature whatsoever and together with
all rights attaching to them including the right to receive and
retain all dividends and distributions (if any) declared, made or
paid by reference to a record date falling on or after the
Effective Date.
It is also intended that, following
the Effective Date, Crimson Tide will be re-registered as a private
company under the relevant provisions of the Companies
Act.
20.
Disclosure of interests in Crimson Tide
As at the close of business on 10
February 2025, being the last Business Day prior to
this Announcement, save for the irrevocable undertakings referred
to in paragraph 8 (Irrevocable
undertakings & Letters of Intent) above, so far as
Checkit is aware, no person acting, or deemed to be acting, in
concert with Checkit:
· had
an interest in, or right to subscribe for, relevant securities of
Crimson Tide;
· had
any short position in (whether conditional or absolute and whether
in the money or otherwise), including any short position under a
derivative, any agreement to sell or any delivery obligation or
right to require another person to purchase or take delivery of,
relevant securities of Crimson Tide;
· had
procured an irrevocable commitment or letters of intent to accept
the terms of the Merger in respect of relevant securities of
Crimson Tide; or
· had
borrowed or lent any Crimson Tide Shares (including, for these
purposes, any financial collateral arrangements of the kind
referred to in Note 4 to Rule 4.6 of the Code).
Furthermore, save for the irrevocable
undertakings described in paragraph 8 (Irrevocable undertakings & Letters of
Intent) above, no arrangement exists between Checkit or
Crimson Tide or a person acting in concert with Checkit or Crimson
Tide in relation to Crimson Tide Shares. For these purposes, an "arrangement"
includes any indemnity or option arrangement, any agreement or any
understanding, formal or informal, of whatever nature, relating to
Crimson Tide Shares which may be an inducement to deal or refrain
from dealing in such securities.
Checkit is not aware of any dealings in Crimson
Tide Shares that would require a minimum level, or particular form
of consideration that it would be obliged to offer under Rule 6 or
Rule 11 of the Code (as appropriate).
21.
Documents Available For Inspection
Copies of the following documents
are available, or will be made available promptly and by no later
than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following this
announcement, on www.checkit.net subject to certain restrictions relating to persons
resident in restricted jurisdictions:
·
This Announcement;
·
The irrevocable undertakings and letters of intent
listed in Appendix III;
·
The consent letters referred to in Section
22 below; and
·
The investor presentation titled
"Creating a market leader in workflow software
solutions".
For the avoidance of doubt, the
contents of any website referred to in this announcement are not
incorporated into and do not form part of this
announcement.
22.
General
The Scheme will be governed by
English law and will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts
of England and Wales. The Scheme will be subject to the applicable
requirements of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock
Exchange and the FCA.
The bases and sources of certain
information contained in this announcement are set out in Appendix
II. Certain terms used in this announcement are defined in Appendix
V.
It is expected that the Scheme
Document will be published as soon as reasonably practicable and in
any event within 28 days of the date of this Announcement (unless
agreed otherwise with the Panel). Further information about the
Merger will be set out in the Scheme
Document.
This Announcement contains inside information
for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation. For
such purposes, the person responsible for this Announcement on
behalf of Checkit is Kit Kyte, Chief Executive Officer of Checkit.
The person responsible for this Announcement on behalf of Crimson
Tide is Philip Meyers, Chief Executive Officer of Crimson
Tide
The LEI of Checkit is 213800556WJOWQNT2R68
and the LEI of Crimson Tide
is 213800YUNLNBVYR3G129.
Each of Singer Capital Markets Advisory LLP and
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited has given and not withdrawn its
consent to the inclusion in this announcement of references to its
name in the form and context in which it appears.
Important notices relating to
financial advisers
Singer Capital Markets Advisory LLP, which is authorised and
regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority,
is acting as Financial Adviser, Nominated Adviser and Broker
exclusively for Checkit and no-one else in connection with the
matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other
person as their client in relation to such matters and will not be
responsible to anyone other than Checkit for providing the
protections afforded to clients of Singer Capital Markets nor for
providing advice in relation to the Merger or any matter referred
to in this announcement.
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited, which is authorised and
regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom,
is acting exclusively for Crimson Tide and for no one else in
connection with the subject matter of this Announcement and will
not be responsible to anyone other than Crimson Tide for providing
the protections afforded to clients of Cavendish or for providing
advice in relation to the contents of this Announcement or any
matters referred to in this Announcement.
Further
information
This Announcement is for information purposes only. It is not
intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer,
invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise
acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any
securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any
jurisdiction, pursuant to the Merger or otherwise, nor shall there
be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of Crimson Tide
pursuant to the Merger or otherwise in any jurisdiction in
contravention of applicable law. The Merger will be implemented
solely by means of the Scheme Document (or, in the event that the
Merger is to be implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, the offer
document) which will contain the full terms and conditions of the
Merger, including details of how to vote in respect of the Merger
(or, in the case of a Takeover Offer, to accept the
offer).
Crimson Tide will prepare the Scheme Document to be
distributed to Crimson Tide Shareholders. Crimson Tide and Checkit
urge Crimson Tide Shareholders to read the Scheme Document
carefully as it will contain important information relating to the
Merger, the New Checkit Shares and the Combined Group. Any decision
to vote in respect of resolutions to be proposed at the Crimson
Tide Shareholder Meetings to approve the Merger, the Scheme or
related matters, should be made only on the basis of the
information contained in the Scheme Document.
It
is expected that the Scheme Document (including notices of the
Crimson Tide Shareholder Meetings) together with the relevant
Crimson Tide Forms of Proxy will be sent to Crimson Tide
Shareholders within 28 days of the date of this Announcement (or on
such later date as may be agreed by Checkit and Crimson Tide with
the consent of the Panel).
Checkit will prepare the Checkit Circular to be distributed to
Checkit Shareholders and which will be available on Checkit's
website at www.checkit.net and Crimson Tide's website at
www.crimsontide.co.uk. Checkit urges Checkit Shareholders to read
the Checkit Circular when it becomes available. Any decision to
vote in respect of the Checkit Resolution should be made only on
the basis of the information in the Checkit Circular. It is
expected that the Checkit Circular (including the notice of the
Checkit General Meeting) together with the Checkit Form of Proxy,
will be posted to Checkit Shareholders as soon as is reasonably
practicable and in any event within 28 days of this Announcement,
unless otherwise agreed with the Panel.
The statements contained in this Announcement are made as at
the date of this Announcement, unless some other time is specified
in relation to them.
This Announcement does not constitute a prospectus or
prospectus equivalent document. The New Checkit Shares to be issued
pursuant to the Merger are not being offered to the public by means
of this Announcement. The Merger will be subject to the applicable
requirements of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock
Exchange, the AIM Rules for Companies and the
FCA.
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and
certain other information provided by Crimson Tide Shareholders,
persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the
receipt of communication by Crimson Tide may be provided to Checkit
during the Offer Period as required by section 4 of Appendix 4 to
the Takeover Code.
Overseas
Shareholders
This Announcement has been prepared for the purpose of
complying with English law, the Takeover Code, the Market Abuse
Regulation, the AIM Rules and the Disclosure Guidance and
Transparency Rules and the information disclosed may not be the
same as that which would have been disclosed if this Announcement
had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions
outside of the United Kingdom.
The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement
in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by
law and/or regulation. Persons who are not resident in the United
Kingdom, or who are subject to the laws of other jurisdictions
should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or
regulatory requirements. In particular, the ability of persons who
are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to the
laws of another jurisdiction to participate in the Merger or to
vote their Crimson Tide Shares in respect of the Scheme at the
Crimson Tide Court Meeting, or to execute and deliver Crimson Tide
Forms of Proxy appointing another to vote at the Crimson Tide Court
Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the
relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or to which they
are subject. Any failure to comply with the applicable requirements
may constitute a violation of the laws and/or regulations of any
such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, the companies and persons involved in the Merger disclaim any
responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions
by any person.
Unless otherwise determined by Checkit or required by the
Takeover Code and permitted by applicable law and regulation,
participation in the Merger will not be made available, directly or
indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do
so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may
vote in favour of the Merger by any such use, means,
instrumentality or form within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any
other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the
laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this Announcement
and all documentation relating to the Merger are not being, and
must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded,
distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction
where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction, and
persons receiving this Announcement and all documents relating to
the Merger (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not
mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such
jurisdictions as doing so may invalidate any purported vote in
respect of the Merger.
If
the Merger is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless
otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover
Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into or by use
of the mails or any other means or instrumentality (including,
without limitation, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic
transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce
of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities
exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer will
not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means,
instrumentality or facilities or from within any Restricted
Jurisdiction.
The availability of the New Checkit Shares under the Merger to
Crimson Tide Shareholders who are not resident in the United
Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions
in which they are resident or to which they are subject. Persons
who are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to
the laws of other jurisdictions should inform themselves of, and
observe, any applicable legal or regulatory
requirements.
Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be
contained in the Scheme Document.
Profit forecasts, estimates
or quantified financial benefits statements
Checkit
The FY25
Checkit Profit Estimate is a profit estimate within the meaning of
Rule 28.1 of the Takeover Code. The FY25 Checkit Profit Estimate,
the assumptions and basis of preparation on which it is based and
the Checkit Directors' confirmation as required by Rule 28 of the
Takeover Code, are set out in Appendix IV of this
Announcement.
Other than
the FY25 Checkit Profit Estimate, no statement in this Announcement
is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any period or a
quantified financial benefits statement and no statement in this
Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or
earnings per share for Checkit for the current or future financial
years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published
earnings or earnings per share for Checkit.
Crimson Tide
The FY24
Crimson Tide Profit Estimate is a profit estimate within the
meaning of Rule 28.1 of the Takeover Code. The FY24 Crimson Tide
Profit Estimate, the assumptions and basis of preparation on which
it is based and the Crimson Tide Directors' confirmation as
required by Rule 28 of the Takeover Code, are set out in Appendix
IV of this Announcement.
Other than
the FY24 Crimson Tide Profit Estimate, no statement in this
Announcement is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any
period or a quantified financial benefits statement and no
statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that
earnings or earnings per share for Crimson Tide for the current or
future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the
historical published earnings or earnings per share for Crimson
Tide.
Disclosure requirements of
the Code:
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in
1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree or of
any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an
offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer
is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening
Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period
and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities
exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position
Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short
positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities
of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange
offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule
8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London
time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the
offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m.
(London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement
in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified.
Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree
company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline
for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a
Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes,
interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the
offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a
Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities
of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A
Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned
and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to
subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree
company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the
extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule
8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies
must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the
business day following the date of the relevant
dealing.
If
two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an
interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a
securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single
person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by Crimson Tide
and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by
Crimson Tide, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert
with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of
whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing
Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on
the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk,
including details of the number of relevant securities in issue,
when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first
identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit
on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you
are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing
Disclosure.
The defined terms used in this section "Disclosure
requirements of the Code" are defined in the Code which can be
found on the Takeover Panel's website.
Rule 2.9
Disclosure
In
accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Takeover Code, Crimson Tide
announces that, as at close of business on the Latest Practicable
Date, it has 6,574,863 Crimson Tide Shares in issue and admitted to
trading on the London Stock Exchange. Crimson Tide has no Crimson
Tide Shares held in treasury. The International Securities
Identification Number (ISIN) of the Crimson Tide Shares is
GB00BRJRV969.
In
accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Takeover Code, Checkit announces
that as at close of business on the Latest Practicable Date, it has
108,008,562 Checkit Shares in issue and admitted to trading on AIM.
Checkit has no Checkit Shares held in treasury. The ISIN of the
Checkit Shares is GB00B0C5RG72.
Publication on a
website
In
accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement
will be made available (subject to certain restrictions relating to
persons resident in restricted jurisdictions) on Checkit's website
at www.Checkit.net by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the
business day following the date of this announcement. For the
avoidance of doubt, the content of the website referred to in this
announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of
this announcement.
Requesting Hard Copy
Documents
Pursuant to Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, a person so
entitled may request a copy of this Announcement and any
information incorporated into it by reference to another source in
hard copy form. A person may also request that all future
documents, announcements and information to be sent to that person
in relation to the Merger should be in hard copy
form.
Checkit Shareholders may request a hard copy of this
Announcement (and any information incorporated by reference in this
Announcement) by writing to MUFG Corporate Markets, Central Square,
29 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL or by calling MUFG Corporate
Markets on +44 (0) 371 664 0321. Calls are charged at the standard
geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United
Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. The
helpline is open between 9.00 am - 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday
excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Please note that
MUFG Corporate Markets cannot provide any financial, legal or tax
advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and
training purposes. It is important that you note that unless you
make such a request, a hard copy of this Announcement and any such
information incorporated by reference in it will not be sent to
you. You may also request that all future documents, announcements
and information to be sent to you in relation to the Merger should
be in hard copy form.
Crimson Tide Shareholders may request a hard copy of this
Announcement (and any information incorporated by reference in this
Announcement) by writing to Neville Registrars Limited, Neville
House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, B62 8HD or by calling Neville
Registrars on +44 (0) 121 585 1131. Calls are charged at the
standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside
the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international
rate. The helpline is open between 9.00 am - 5.00 pm, Monday to
Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Please note
that Neville Registrars cannot provide any financial, legal or tax
advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and
training purposes. It is important that you note that unless you
make such a request, a hard copy of this Announcement and any such
information incorporated by reference in it will not be sent to
you. You may also request that all future documents, announcements
and information to be sent to you in relation to the Merger should
be in hard copy form.
Forward Looking
Statements
This announcement may contain "forward-looking statements"
relating to each of Checkit, Crimson Tide and/or the Combined Group
and the business sectors in which they operate. Generally, the
words "will", "may", "should", "continue", "believes", "expects",
"intends", "anticipates", "forecast", "plan" and "project" or
similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such
statements reflect Checkit's current views with respect to future
events and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that
could cause the actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Many of
these risks, assumptions and uncertainties relate to factors that
are beyond Checkit's abilities to control or estimate precisely,
such as future market conditions, changes in general economic and
business conditions and the behaviour of other market participants.
Checkit cannot give any assurance that the forward-looking
statements will prove to have been correct. The reader should not,
therefore, place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement.
Checkit does not undertake any obligation to update or revise
publicly any of the forward-looking statements set out in this
announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, except to the extent legally
required.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this announcement have been
subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for
the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly
and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an
arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede
them.
APPENDIX I
CONDITIONS AND FURTHER TERMS
OF THE MERGER
Part A: The Conditions
1. The Merger will be
conditional upon the Scheme becoming unconditional and becoming
Effective, subject to the Takeover Code, by not later than 11.59
p.m. on the Long Stop Date.
Scheme conditions
2. In addition, subject to
Part B of this Appendix I and to the requirements of the Panel, the
Scheme will be conditional upon:
(a)
(i) the
approval of the Scheme by a majority in number of Crimson Tide
Scheme Shareholders representing not less than 75 per cent. of the
voting rights attaching to the Crimson Tide Scheme Shares held by
such Crimson Tide Scheme Shareholders (or the relevant class or
classes thereof) who are on the register of members of Crimson Tide
at the Voting Record Time, present and voting, either in person or
by proxy, at the Crimson Tide Court Meeting and at any separate
class meeting which may be required by the Court or at any
adjournment of any such meetings;
(ii) the Crimson
Tide Court Meeting and any separate class meeting which may be
required by the Court or any adjournment of any such meeting being
held on or before the 22nd day after the expected date of the
Crimson Tide Court Meeting, to be set out in the Scheme Document in
due course (or such later date, if any, as may be agreed by Checkit
and Crimson Tide in writing and, if required, the Court may
allow);
(b)
(i) all
resolutions necessary to approve and implement the Scheme being
duly passed by the requisite majority or majorities at the Crimson
Tide General Meeting, or at any adjournment of that meeting;
(ii) the Crimson
Tide General Meeting or any adjournment of that meeting being held
on or before the 22nd day after the expected date of the Crimson
Tide General Meeting, to be set out in the Scheme Document in due
course (or such later date, if any, as may be agreed by Checkit and
Crimson Tide in writing and, if required, the Court may allow);
(c)
(i) the
sanction of the Scheme by the Court with or without modification
(but subject to any such modification being acceptable to Checkit
and Crimson Tide) and the delivery of the Court Order to the
Registrar of Companies; and
(ii) the Court
Hearing being held on or before the 22nd day after the expected
date of the Court Hearing to be set out in the Scheme Document in
due course (or such later date, if any, as Checkit and Crimson Tide
may agree and, if required, the Court may allow);
Other
conditions
3. In
addition, subject to Part B of this Appendix I and to the
requirements of the Panel, the Merger will be conditional upon the
following conditions and, accordingly, the necessary actions to
make the Scheme Effective will only be taken on the satisfaction
or, where relevant, waiver of the following conditions:
Checkit General
Meeting
(a)
the passing at the Checkit General Meeting of any resolution
required to approve and implement the Merger and to authorise the
allotment and issue of the New Checkit Shares to Crimson Tide
Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the Merger;
Admission to trading
on AIM
(b)
the London Stock Exchange having acknowledged to Checkit or its
agent (and such acknowledgement not having been withdrawn) that the
New Checkit Shares will be admitted to trading on AIM;
General Third Party
official authorisations and regulatory clearances
(c)
no Third Party having given notice of a decision to take,
institute, implement or threaten any action, proceeding, suit,
investigation, enquiry or reference (and, in each case, not having
withdrawn the same), or having enacted, made or proposed any
statute, regulation, decision or order, or change to published
practice or having taken any other steps, and there not continuing
to be outstanding any statute, regulation, decision or order, which
in each case would or might reasonably be expected to:
(i)
require, prevent or delay the divestiture, or materially alter the
terms envisaged for any proposed divestiture by any member of the
Wider Checkit Group or any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group
of all or any portion of their respective businesses, assets or
property or impose any limitation on the ability of any of them to
conduct their respective businesses (or any of them) or to own any
of their respective assets or properties or any part thereof which,
in any such case, is material in the context of the Wider Checkit
Group or the Wider Crimson Tide Group in either case taken as a
whole;
(ii) require,
prevent or delay the divestiture by any member of the Wider Checkit
Group of any shares or other securities in Crimson Tide;
(iii)
impose any material limitation on, or result in a delay in, the
ability of any member of the Wider Checkit Group directly or
indirectly to acquire or to hold or to exercise effectively any
rights of ownership in respect of shares or loans or securities
convertible into shares or any other securities (or the equivalent)
in any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group or the Wider Checkit
Group or to exercise voting or management control over any such
member;
(iv)
otherwise adversely affect the business, assets, profits or
prospects of any member of the Wider Checkit Group or of any member
of the Wider Crimson Tide Group to an extent which is material in
the context of the Wider Checkit Group or the Wider Crimson Tide
Group in either case taken as a whole;
(v) make the
Merger or its implementation or the offer or proposed offer by
Checkit or any member of the Wider Checkit Group of any shares or
other securities in, or control of Crimson Tide void, illegal,
and/or unenforceable under the laws of any jurisdiction, or
otherwise, directly or indirectly, restrain, restrict, prohibit,
delay or otherwise interfere with the same, or impose additional
conditions or obligations with respect thereto;
(vi)
except pursuant to the implementation of the Merger or, if
applicable, sections 974 to 991 of the Companies Act, require any
member of the Wider Checkit Group or the Wider Crimson Tide Group
to offer to acquire any shares or other securities (or the
equivalent) or interest in any member of the Wider Crimson Tide
Group or the Wider Checkit Group owned by any third party;
(vii)
impose any limitation on the ability of any member of the Wider
Crimson Tide Group to co-ordinate its business, or any part of it,
with the businesses of any other members which is adverse to and
material in the context of the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a
whole or in the context of the Merger; or
(viii) result in
any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group ceasing to be able to
carry on business under any name under which it presently does so,
and all applicable waiting and other time periods (including any
extensions thereof) during which any such Third Party could
institute, implement or threaten any action, proceeding, suit,
investigation, enquiry or reference or any other step under the
laws of any jurisdiction in respect of the Merger or proposed offer
for any Crimson Tide Shares having expired, lapsed or been
terminated;
(d)
the waiver (or non-exercise within any applicable time limits) by
any Third Party of any termination right, right of pre-emption,
first refusal or similar right (which is material in the context of
the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole) arising as a result
of or in connection with the Merger including, without limitation,
its implementation and financing or the proposed direct or indirect
offer for any shares or other securities in, or control or
management of, Crimson Tide by Checkit or any member of the Wider
Checkit Group;
(e)
all necessary filings or applications having been made in
connection with the Merger and all statutory or regulatory
obligations in any jurisdiction having been complied with in
connection with the Merger or the offer by any member of the Wider
Checkit Group for any shares or other securities in, or control of,
Crimson Tide and all authorisations, orders, grants, recognitions,
determinations, confirmations, consents, licences, clearances,
permissions, exemptions and approvals reasonably deemed necessary
or appropriate by Checkit or any member of the Wider Checkit Group
for or in respect of the Merger including without limitation, its
implementation and financing or the proposed direct or indirect
offer for any shares or other securities in, or control of, Crimson
Tide or any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group by any member of
the Wider Checkit Group having been obtained in terms and in a form
satisfactory to Checkit from all appropriate Third Parties or
persons with whom any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group has
entered into contractual arrangements and all such material
authorisations, orders, grants, recognitions, determinations,
confirmations, consents, licences, clearances, permissions,
exemptions and approvals necessary or appropriate to carry on the
business of any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group which is
material in the context of the Checkit Group or the Crimson Tide
Group as a whole or of the financing of the Merger remaining in
full force and effect and all filings necessary for such purpose
having been made and there being no notice or intimation of any
intention to revoke or not to renew any of the same at the time at
which the Merger becomes otherwise unconditional and all necessary
statutory or regulatory obligations in any jurisdiction having been
complied with;
Certain matters
arising as a result of any arrangement, agreement etc.
(f)
save as Disclosed, there being no provision of any agreement,
arrangement, licence, permit or other instrument to which any
member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group is a party or by or to which
any such member or any of its assets may be bound, entitled or
subject, or any circumstance which in consequence of the Merger or
the proposed offer for any shares or other securities (or
equivalent) in Crimson Tide or because of a change in the control
or management of Crimson Tide or otherwise, could or might result
in any of the following to an extent which is material and adverse
in the context of the Wider Crimson Tide Group, or the Wider
Checkit Group, in either case taken as a whole, or in the context
of the Merger:
(i) any
monies borrowed by or any other indebtedness or liabilities (actual
or contingent) of, or grant available to any such member, being or
becoming repayable or capable of being declared repayable
immediately or earlier than their or its stated maturity date or
repayment date or the ability of any such member to borrow moneys
or incur any indebtedness being withdrawn or inhibited or being
capable of becoming or being withdrawn or inhibited;
(ii) any such
agreement, arrangement, licence, permit or instrument or the
rights, liabilities, obligations or interests of any such member
thereunder being terminated or adversely modified or affected or
any obligation or liability arising or any action being taken or
arising thereunder;
(iii)
any asset or interest of any such member being or failing to be
disposed of or charged or ceasing to be available to any such
member or any right arising under which any such asset or interest
could be required to be disposed of or charged or could cease to be
available to any such member otherwise than in the ordinary course
of business;
(iv)
the creation or enforcement of any mortgage, charge or other
security interest over the whole or any part of the business,
property, assets or interest of any such member;
(v) the
rights, liabilities, obligations or interests of any such member,
or the business of any such member with, any person, firm, company
or body (or any arrangement or arrangements relating to any such
interest or business) being terminated, adversely modified or
affected;
(vi)
the value of any such member or its financial or trading position
or prospects being prejudiced or adversely affected;
(vii) any
such member ceasing to be able to carry on business under any name
under which it presently does so; or
(viii) the
creation or acceleration of any liability, actual or contingent, by
any such member (including any material tax liability or any
obligation to obtain or acquire any material Authorisation, notice,
waiver, concession, agreement or exemption from any Third Party or
any person) other than trade creditors or other liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business or in connection with
the Merger,
and no event having occurred which, under any
provision of any agreement, arrangement, licence, permit or other
instrument to which any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group is a
party or by or to which any such member or any of its assets may be
bound, entitled or subject, would or might reasonably be expected
to result in any of the events or circumstances as are referred to
in sub-paragraphs (i) to (viii) of this Condition;
Certain events
occurring since Last Accounts Date
(g)
save as Disclosed, no member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group
having, since the Last Accounts Date:
(i)
save as between Crimson Tide and wholly-owned subsidiaries of
Crimson Tide or for Crimson Tide Shares issued under or pursuant to
the exercise of options and vesting of awards granted under the
Crimson Tide Share Scheme, issued or agreed to issue, authorised or
proposed the issue of additional shares of any class;
(ii) save as
between Crimson Tide and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Crimson Tide
or for the grant of options and awards and other rights under the
Crimson Tide Share Scheme, issued or agreed to issue, authorised or
proposed the issue of securities convertible into shares of any
class or rights, warrants or options to subscribe for, or acquire,
any such shares or convertible securities;
(iii)
other than to another member of the Crimson Tide Group, prior to
completion of the Merger, recommended, declared, paid or made any
dividend or other distribution payable in cash or otherwise or made
any bonus issue;
(iv)
save for intra-Crimson Tide Group transactions, merged or demerged
with any body corporate or acquired or disposed of or transferred,
mortgaged or charged or created any security interest over any
assets or any right, title or interest in any asset (including
shares and trade investments) or authorised or proposed or
announced any intention to propose any merger, demerger, disposal,
transfer, mortgage, charge or security interest, in each case,
other than in the ordinary course of business and, in each case, to
the extent which is material in the context of the Wider Crimson
Tide Group taken as a whole;
(v) save for
intra-Crimson Tide Group transactions, made or authorised or
proposed or announced an intention to propose any change in its
loan capital in each case, to the extent which is material in the
context of the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole;
(vi)
issued, authorised or proposed the issue of, or made any change in
or to, any debentures or (save for intra-Crimson Tide Group
transactions), save in the ordinary course of business, incurred or
increased any indebtedness or become subject to any contingent
liability;
(vii)
purchased, redeemed or repaid or announced any proposal to
purchase, redeem or repay any of its own shares or other securities
or reduced or, save in respect to the matters mentioned in
sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii) above, made any other change to any part
of its share capital in each case, to the extent which is material
in the context of the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a
whole;
(viii) save for
intra-Crimson Tide Group transactions, implemented, or authorised,
proposed or announced its intention to implement, any
reconstruction, merger, demerger, amalgamation, scheme, commitment
or other transaction or arrangement otherwise than in the ordinary
course of business;
(ix)
entered into or varied or authorised, proposed or announced its
intention to enter into or vary any contract, transaction or
commitment (whether in respect of capital expenditure or otherwise)
which is of a long term, onerous or unusual nature or magnitude or
which involves or could involve an obligation of such a nature or
magnitude other than in the ordinary course of business, in each
case, to the extent which is material in the context of the Wider
Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole;
(x) (other
than in respect of a member which is dormant and was solvent at the
relevant time) taken any corporate action or steps or had any legal
proceedings started or threatened against it in relation to the
suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, its
winding-up, dissolution or reorganisation or for the appointment of
a receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, manager,
trustee or similar officer of all or any part of its assets or
revenues or any analogous proceedings in any jurisdiction or
appointed any analogous person in any jurisdiction or had any such
person appointed, in each case, to the extent which is material in
the context of the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole;
(xi)
entered into any contract, transaction or arrangement which would
be restrictive on the business of any member of the Wider Crimson
Tide Group or the Wider Checkit Group other than of a nature and
extent which is normal in the context of the business
concerned;
(xii)
waived or compromised any claim otherwise than in the ordinary
course of business which is material in the context of the Wider
Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole;
(xiii) made any
material alteration to its memorandum or articles of association or
other incorporation documents;
(xiv) been
unable, or admitted in writing that it is unable, to pay its debts
or commenced negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a
view to rescheduling or restructuring any of its indebtedness, or
having stopped or suspended (or threatened to stop or suspend)
payment of its debts generally or ceased or threatened to cease
carrying on all or a substantial part of its business;
(xv)
entered into any contract, commitment, arrangement or agreement
otherwise than in the ordinary course of business or passed any
resolution or made any offer (which remains open for acceptance)
with respect to or announced any intention to, or proposed to,
effect any of the transactions, matters or events referred to in
this Condition 3(g);
(xvi) made or
agreed or consented to any change to:
(A) the terms of the
trust deeds constituting the pension scheme(s) established by any
member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group for its directors, employees
or their dependents;
(B) the
contributions payable to any such scheme(s) or to the benefits
which accrue or to the pensions which are payable thereunder;
(C) the basis on
which qualification for, or accrual or entitlement to, such
benefits or pensions are calculated or determined; or
(D) the basis upon
which the liabilities (including pensions) of such pension schemes
are funded, valued or made, in each case, to the extent which is
material in the context of the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a
whole;
(xvii) proposed, agreed
to provide or modified the terms of the Crimson Tide Share Scheme
or other benefit constituting a material change relating to the
employment or termination of employment of a material category of
persons employed by the Wider Crimson Tide Group or which
constitutes a material change to the terms or conditions of
employment of any senior employee of the Wider Crimson Tide Group,
save as agreed by the Panel (if required) and by Checkit, or
entered into or changed the terms of any contract with any director
or senior executive;
(xviii) taken (or agreed or
proposed to take) any action which requires, or would require, the
consent of the Panel or the approval of Crimson Tide Shareholders
in general meeting in accordance with, or as contemplated by, Rule
21.1 of the Code;
(xix) entered
into or varied in a material way the terms of, any contracts,
agreement or arrangement with any of the directors or senior
executives of any members of the Wider Crimson Tide Group; or
(xx) waived
or compromised any claim which is material in the context of the
Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole, otherwise than in the
ordinary course;
No adverse change,
litigation, regulatory enquiry or similar
(h)
except as Disclosed, since the date of the Last Accounts Date:
(i) no
adverse change or deterioration having occurred in the business,
assets, financial or trading position or profits or prospects or
operational performance of any member of the Wider Crimson Tide
Group which, in any such case, is material in the context of the
Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole and no circumstances have
arisen which would or might reasonably be expected to result in
such adverse change or deterioration;
(ii) no
litigation, arbitration proceedings, prosecution or other legal
proceedings to which any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group is
or may become a party (whether as a plaintiff, defendant or
otherwise) and no enquiry, review or investigation by, or complaint
or reference to, any Third Party or other investigative body
against or in respect of any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group
having been instituted, announced, implemented or threatened by or
against or remaining outstanding in respect of any member of the
Wider Crimson Tide Group which in any such case has had or might
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole or in the context of the
Merger;
(iii)
no contingent or other liability of any member of the Wider Crimson
Tide Group having arisen or become apparent to Checkit or increased
which has had or might reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole or
in the context of the Merger;
(iv)
no enquiry or investigation by, or complaint or reference to, any
Third Party having been threatened, announced, implemented,
instituted by or remaining outstanding against or in respect of any
member by or the Wider Crimson Tide Group which in any case is
material in the context of the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a
whole;
(v) no member
of the Wider Crimson Tide Group having conducted its business in
breach of any applicable laws and regulations and which is material
in the context of the Wider Crimson Tide Group as a whole or
material in the context of the Merger; and
(vi)
no steps having been taken which are likely to result in the
withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of any
licence or permit held by any member of the Wider Crimson Tide
Group which is necessary for the proper carrying on of its business
and the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of
which has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a material
adverse effect on the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a
whole;
No discovery of
certain matters
(i)
save as Disclosed, Checkit not having discovered:
(i)
that any financial or business or other information concerning the
Wider Crimson Tide Group disclosed at any time by or on behalf of
any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group, whether publicly, to
any member of the Wider Checkit Group or otherwise, is materially
misleading or contains any material misrepresentation of fact or
omits to state a fact necessary to make any information contained
therein not misleading, in each case to an extent which is material
in the context of the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole;
or
(ii) that any
member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group is subject to any liability
(actual or contingent) which is material in the context of the
Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole; or
(iii)
any information which affects the import of any information
disclosed at any time by or on behalf of any member of the Wider
Crimson Tide Group and which is material in the context of the
Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole;
Environmental
(j)
save as Disclosed, Checkit not having discovered:
(i) any
past or present member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group has not
complied in all material respects with all applicable legislation
or regulations of any jurisdiction relating to the use, treatment,
storage, carriage, disposal, discharge, spillage, release, leak or
emission of any waste or hazardous substance or any substance
likely to impair the environment (including property) or harm human
health or otherwise relating to environmental matters or the health
and safety of any person, or that there has otherwise been any such
use, treatment, handling, storage, transport, release, disposal,
discharge, spillage, leak or emission (whether or not this
constituted a non-compliance by any person with any legislation or
regulations and wherever the same may have taken place), which
non-compliance would be likely to give rise to any material
liability including any penalty for non-compliance (whether actual
or contingent) or cost on the part of any member of the Wider
Crimson Tide Group, which in any case is material in the context of
the Wider Crimson Tide Group as a whole; or
(ii) there
is, or is likely to be, for any reason whatsoever, any liability
(actual or contingent) of any past or present member of the Wider
Crimson Tide Group to make good, remediate, repair, reinstate or
clean up any property or any controlled waters now or previously
owned, occupied, operated or made use of or controlled by any such
past or present member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group (or on its
behalf) or by any person for which a member of the Wider Crimson
Tide Group is or has been responsible, or in which any such member
may have or previously have had or be deemed to have had an
interest, under any environmental legislation, regulation, notice,
circular or order of any Third Party and which is material in the
context of the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole or the
Merger; or
(iii)
circumstances exist (whether as a result of the making of the
Merger or otherwise) which would be reasonably likely to lead to
any Third Party instituting, or whereby any member of the Wider
Checkit Group or any present or past member of the Wider Crimson
Tide Group would be likely to be required to institute, an
environmental audit or take any other steps which would in any such
case be reasonably likely to result in any liability (whether
actual or contingent) to improve, modify existing or install new
plant, machinery or equipment or carry out changes in the processes
currently carried out or make good, remediate, repair, re-instate
or clean up any land or other asset currently or previously owned,
occupied or made use of by any past or present member of the Wider
Crimson Tide Group (or on its behalf) or by any person for which a
member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group is or has been responsible,
or in which any such member may have or previously have had or be
deemed to have had an interest which is material in the context of
the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole or the Merger; or
(iv)
circumstances exist whereby a person or class of persons would be
likely to have any claim or claims in respect of any product or
process of manufacture or materials used therein currently or
previously manufactured, sold or carried out by any past or present
member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group which claim or claims would
be likely, materially and adversely, to affect any member of the
Wider Crimson Tide Group and which is material in the context of
the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a whole or the Merger;
Anti-corruption,
economic sanctions, criminal property and money
laundering
(k)
save as Disclosed, Checkit not having discovered:
(i) (A)
any past or present member, director, officer or employee of the
Wider Crimson Tide Group is or has at any time engaged in any
activity, practice or conduct which would constitute an offence
under the Bribery Act 2010, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of
1977 or any other applicable anti-corruption or anti-bribery law,
rule or regulation or any other applicable law, rule, or regulation
concerning improper payments or kickbacks or (B) any person that
performs or has performed services for or on behalf of the Wider
Crimson Tide Group is or has at any time engaged in any activity,
practice or conduct in connection with the performance of such
services which would constitute an offence under the Bribery Act
2010, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or any other
applicable anti-corruption or anti-bribery law, rule or regulation
or any other applicable law, rule, or regulation concerning
improper payments or kickbacks; or
(ii) any
asset of any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group constitutes
criminal property as defined by section 340(3) of the Proceeds of
Crime Act 2002 (but disregarding paragraph (b) of that definition)
or proceeds of crime under any other applicable law, rule, or
regulation concerning money laundering or proceeds of crime or any
member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group is found to have engaged in
activities constituting money laundering under any applicable law,
rule, or regulation concerning money laundering; or
(iii)
any past or present member, director, officer or employee of the
Wider Crimson Tide Group, or any other person for whom any such
person may be liable or responsible, is or has engaged in any
business with, made any investments in, made any funds or assets
available to or received any funds or assets from:
(A) any government,
entity or individual in respect of which US, UK or European Union
persons, or persons operating in those territories, are prohibited
from engaging in activities or doing business, or from receiving or
making available funds or economic resources, by US, UK or European
Union laws or regulations, including the economic sanctions
administered by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control,
or HMRC; or
(B) any
government, entity or individual targeted by any of the economic
sanctions of the United Nations, the United States, the United
Kingdom, the European Union or any of its member states, save that
this shall not apply if and to the extent that it is or would be
unenforceable by reason of breach of any applicable Blocking Law;
or
(iv)
any past or present member, director, officer or employee of the
Wider Crimson Tide Group, or any other person for whom any such
person may be liable or responsible:
(A) has engaged in
conduct which would violate any relevant anti-terrorism laws,
rules, or regulations, including but not limited to the U.S.
Anti-Terrorism Act; or
(B) has engaged
in conduct which would violate any relevant anti-boycott law, rule,
or regulation or any applicable export controls, including but not
limited to the Export Administration Regulations administered and
enforced by the U.S. Department of Commerce or the International
Traffic in Arms Regulations administered and enforced by the U.S.
Department of State; or
(C) has engaged
in conduct which would violate any relevant laws, rules, or
regulations concerning human rights, including but not limited to
any law, rule, or regulation concerning false imprisonment, torture
or other cruel and unusual punishment, or child labour; or
(D) is debarred or
otherwise rendered ineligible to bid for or to perform contracts
for or with any government, governmental instrumentality, or
international organization or found to have violated any applicable
law, rule, or regulation concerning government contracting or
public procurement; or
(E) any member of
the Wider Crimson Tide Group is or has been engaged in any
transaction which would cause Checkit to be in breach of any law or
regulation in connection with the Merger, including but not limited
to the economic sanctions of the United States Office of Foreign
Assets Control, or HMRC, or any other relevant government
authority; and
Intellectual
Property
(l)
save as Disclosed, no circumstance having arisen or event having
occurred in relation to any intellectual property owned or used by
any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group which would have a
material adverse effect on the Wider Crimson Tide Group taken as a
whole or is otherwise material in the context of the Merger,
including:
(i) any
member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group losing its title to any
intellectual property, or any intellectual property owned by the
Wider Crimson Tide Group being revoked, cancelled or declared
invalid; or
(ii) any
claim being asserted in writing or threatened in writing by any
person challenging the ownership of any member of the Wider Crimson
Tide Group to, or the validity or effectiveness of, any of its
intellectual property; or
(iii)
any agreement regarding the use of any intellectual property
licensed to or by any member of the Wider Crimson Tide Group being
terminated or varied.
For the purpose of these Conditions:
1.
"Third Party" means any
central bank, government, government department or governmental,
quasi-governmental, supranational, statutory, regulatory,
environmental or investigative body, authority, court, trade
agency, association, institution or professional or environmental
body in any relevant jurisdiction, including, for the avoidance of
doubt, the Panel; and
2. a
Third Party shall be regarded as having "intervened" if it has given notice to
take, institute, implement or threaten any action, proceeding,
suit, investigation, enquiry or reference or made, proposed or
enacted any statute, regulation, decision or order or taken any
measures or other steps or required any action to be taken or
information to be provided or otherwise having done anything and
"intervene" shall be
construed accordingly.
Part B: Further terms of the Merger and the
Scheme
Waiver and
Invocation of Conditions
1.
Subject to the requirements of the Panel, Checkit reserves the
right in its sole discretion to waive in whole or in part, all or
any of the Conditions set out in Part A above, except Conditions
2(a)(i), 2(b)(i), 2(c)(i), 3(a) and 3(b) which cannot be waived. If
any of the Conditions 2(a)(ii), 2(b)(ii) or 2(c)(ii) is not
satisfied by the relevant deadline specified in the relevant
Condition, Checkit shall make an announcement by 8.00 a.m. on the
Business Day following such deadline confirming whether it has
invoked the relevant Condition, waived the relevant deadlines or
agreed with Crimson Tide to extend the relevant deadline.
2.
Conditions 2(a)(i), 2(b)(i) and 3(a) to 3(l) (inclusive) in Part A
above must each be fulfilled by, or (if capable of waiver) be
waived by, Checkit or Crimson Tide (as the case may be) by no later
than 11.59 p.m. on the date immediately preceding the date of the
Court Hearing (or such later date as Checkit, Crimson Tide, the
Panel and, if required, the Court may allow) failing which the
Scheme will lapse.
3.
Under Rule 13.5(a) of the Code, Checkit may not invoke a Condition
that is subject to Rule 13.5(a) of the Code so as to cause the
Scheme not to proceed, to lapse or to be withdrawn unless the
circumstances which give rise to the right to invoke the condition
are of material significance to Checkit in the context of the
Merger. Checkit may only invoke a Condition that is subject to Rule
13.5(a) of the Code with the consent of the Panel and any Condition
that is subject to Rule 13.5(a) of the Code may be waived by
Checkit. Conditions 1, 2(a)(i), 2(b)(i) and 2(c)(i), 3(a) and 3(b)
in Part A above and, if applicable, any acceptance condition (if
the Merger is implemented by means of a Takeover Offer), are not
subject to Rule 13.5(a) of the Code.
4.
Checkit shall not be under any obligation to waive (if capable of
waiver), to determine to be or remain satisfied or to treat as
fulfilled any of the Conditions by a date earlier than the latest
date of the fulfilment of that Condition notwithstanding that the
other Conditions to the Merger may at such earlier date have been
waived or fulfilled and that there are at such earlier date no
circumstances indicating that any such conditions may not be
capable of fulfilment.
Implementation by
way of Takeover Offer
5.
Subject to obtaining the consent of the Panel, Checkit reserves the
right to elect to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer
as an alternative to the Scheme.
6. In
such event, such Takeover Offer will be implemented on the same
terms and conditions and conditions so far as applicable, as those
which would apply to the Scheme (subject to appropriate amendments,
including an acceptance condition set at up to 90 per cent. of the
Crimson Tide Shares to which the Takeover Offer relates (or such
lower percentage as the Panel may agree provided that if the
Takeover Offer became or was declared unconditional in all
respects, it would result in Checkit holding Crimson Tide Shares
carrying greater than 50 per cent. of the voting rights in Crimson
Tide)).
Rights attaching to
Crimson Tide Shares and Dividends
7.
Crimson Tide Shares will be acquired by Checkit fully paid and free
from all liens, charges, encumbrances and other third party rights
of any nature whatsoever and together with all rights attaching to
them, including the right to receive and retain all dividends and
distributions (if any) declared, made or paid or becoming payable
by reference to a record date falling on or after the Effective
Date.
8. The
New Checkit Shares will be issued credited as fully paid and will
rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Checkit Shares.
Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the New
Checkit Shares to be admitted to trading on the AIM Market of the
London Stock Exchange.
9.
Fractions of New Checkit Shares will not be allotted or issued
pursuant to the Merger, but entitlements of Crimson Tide
Shareholders will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of
New Checkit Shares and all fractions of New Checkit Shares will be
aggregated and sold in the market as soon as practicable after the
Merger becomes Effective. The net proceeds of such sale (after
deduction of all expenses and commissions incurred in connection
with the sale) will be distributed in due proportions to Crimson
Tide Shareholders who would otherwise have been entitled to such
fractions (rounded down to the nearest penny), save that individual
entitlements to amounts of less than £5.00 will be retained for the
benefit of the Combined Group.
10.
If, on or after the date of this Announcement, and prior to the
Merger becoming Effective, any dividend, distribution or return of
capital or value is declared, made or paid or becomes payable in
respect of Crimson Tide Shares with a record date on or before the
Effective Date (a "Crimson Tide
Dividend"), Checkit reserves the right (without prejudice to
any right of Checkit, with the consent of the Panel, to invoke the
Condition set out in paragraph 3(g)(iii) of Part A of this Appendix
I) to reduce Exchange Ratio accordingly so as to reflect the
aggregate value attributable to any such Crimson Tide Dividend. Any
exercise by Checkit of its rights to reduce the Exchange Ratio in
the circumstances described above shall be the subject of an
announcement but, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be regarded
as constituting any revision or variation of the terms of the
Merger. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that a dividend,
distribution or other return of value in respect of Crimson Tide
Shares has been declared, paid, made or is payable, and is or shall
be: (i) transferred pursuant to the Merger on a basis which
entitles Checkit to receive the dividend, distribution or other
return of value and to retain it; or (ii) cancelled before the
Effective Date, the Exchange Ratio payable and the terms of the
Merger shall not be subject to change and shall not be reduced in
accordance with the above.
Other terms of the
Merger
11.
If Checkit is required by the Panel to make an offer for Crimson
Tide Shares under the provisions of Rule 9 of the Code, Checkit may
make such alterations to the Conditions and certain further terms
of the Merger as are necessary to comply with the provisions of
that Rule.
12.
The availability of the Merger to persons not resident in the
United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant
jurisdictions. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom
or who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the
United Kingdom should inform themselves about and observe any
applicable requirements. Further details in relation to Overseas
Shareholders will be contained in the Scheme Document.
13.
The Merger will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or
by use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality
(including, without limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone,
internet or e-mail) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any
facility of a national securities exchange of, any Restricted
Jurisdiction and it will not be capable of acceptance by any such
use, means, instrumentality or facility or from within any
Restricted Jurisdiction.
14.
The New Checkit Shares to be issued pursuant to the Merger have not
been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act or
under any laws or with any securities regulatory authority of any
state or other jurisdiction of the United States nor under any of
the relevant securities laws of any Restricted Jurisdiction.
Accordingly, the New Checkit Shares may not be offered, sold or
delivered, directly or indirectly, into the United States, or any
other Restricted Jurisdiction, except pursuant to exemptions from
applicable requirements of any such jurisdiction.
15.
The Merger will be subject, inter
alia, to the Conditions and certain further terms which are
set out in this Appendix I and to the full terms and conditions
which will be set out in the Scheme Document and such further terms
as may be required to comply with the AIM Rules and the provisions
of the Code.
16.
This announcement and any rights or liabilities arising hereunder
are, and the Merger, the Scheme, and any proxies will be, governed
by English law and will be subject to the jurisdiction of the
courts of England and Wales. The Scheme will be subject to the
applicable requirements of the Code, the Panel, the London Stock
Exchange, the FCA and the AIM Rules.
17.
Each of the Conditions shall be regarded as a separate Condition
and shall not be limited by reference to any other Condition.
APPENDIX II
SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND
BASES OF CALCULATION
(i)
As at 10 February 2024 (being the latest practicable
day prior to this Announcement), there were 6,574,863 Crimson Tide
Shares in issue. The International Securities Identification number
for Crimson Tide Shares is GB00BRJRV969.
(ii)
As at 10 February 2024 (being the latest practicable
day prior to this Announcement), there were 108,008,562 Checkit
Shares in issue. The International Securities Identification number
for Checkit Shares is GB00B0C5RG72.
(iii)
Any reference to the issued and to be issued share capital of
Crimson Tide are based on the 6,574,863 Crimson Tide
Shares referred to in paragraph (i).
(iv)
The value of the Merger by reference to the existing issued
share capital of Crimson Tide is based on the issued and to be
issued share capital of Crimson Tide (as set out in paragraph (iii)
above).
(v)
Unless otherwise stated, all prices and closing prices for
the Crimson Tide Shares and Checkit Shares are closing middle
market quotations derived from the Daily Official List.
(vi)
The enlarged share capital of 147,457,740 shares in Checkit
immediately following Completion has been calculated as the sum
of:
a.
The current share capital of Checkit; plus
b.
39,449,178 New Checkit Shares, which may be issued under the
terms of the Merger (calculated as the number of the issued and to
be issued ordinary share capital of Crimson Tide as set out in
paragraph (iii) above multiplied by the Exchange Ratio).
(vii) The percentage
of the share capital of Checkit that Crimson Tide Shareholders will
own following Completion is calculated on the basis of:
a. The issued
share capital of Checkit (as set out in paragraph (ii) above);
and
b. The
39,449,178 New Checkit Shares that Crimson Tide Shareholders
will receive under the terms of the Merger, based on the fully
diluted share capital of Crimson Tide (as set out in paragraph
(iii) and an exchange ratio of 6 New Checkit Shares for each
Crimson Tide Share.
(viii) The pro forma cash
balance of the Enlarged Group following Completion of approximately
£7.2 million (before deal costs) has
been calculated as the sum of:
a. Checkit's cash
balance as at 31 January 2025 of approximately £5.1 million;
and
b. Crimson Tide's
cash balance as at 31 December 2024 of approximately £2.1
million.
(ix)
Based on a valuation of 16.5 pence per New Checkit Share
(being the middle market closing price of a Checkit Share on 10
February 2024, being the latest practicable day prior to this
Announcement), the Merger values each Crimson Tide Share at 99
pence.
(x)
Unless otherwise stated, the financial information relating to the
Checkit Group is extracted (without adjustment) from the audited
financial statements of the Checkit Group for the 12 months ended
31 January 2024 and the unaudited interim results of the Checkit
Group for the 6 months ended 31 July 2024.
(xi) Unless
otherwise stated, the financial information relating to the Crimson
Tide Group is extracted (without adjustment) from the audited
financial statements of the Crimson Tide Group for the 12 months
ended 31 December 2023 and the unaudited interim results of the
Crimson Tide Group for the 6 months ended 30 June 2024.
(xii) All
information relating to Checkit has been provided by persons duly
authorised by the Checkit Board.
(xiii) All information
relating to Crimson Tide has been provided by persons duly
authorised by the Crimson Tide Board.
(xiv)
Certain figures contained in this announcement have been subject to
rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same
category presented in different tables may vary slightly and
figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic
aggregation of the figures that precede them.
APPENDIX
III
DETAILS OF IRREVOCABLE
UNDERTAKINGS AND LETTERS OF INTENT
Irrevocable Undertakings and letters of support in connection
with the Crimson Tide Shareholder Meetings
PART A - Irrevocable undertakings in respect of Crimson Tide
Shares from Crimson Tide Directors
The following Crimson Tide Directors
have given irrevocable undertakings in respect of their entire
beneficial holdings of Crimson Tide Shares (and in respect of the
Crimson Tide Shares in which certain of their connected persons are
interested) to vote, or procure votes, in favour of the Scheme at
the Crimson Tide Court Meeting and in favour of the Crimson Tide
Resolution to be proposed at the Crimson Tide General Meeting (or
in the event that the Merger is implemented by way of a Takeover
Offer, accept or procure the acceptance of the Takeover Offer), in
relation to 90,858 Crimson Tide Shares, representing, in aggregate,
approximately 1.38 per cent. of Crimson Tide's existing issued
ordinary share capital as at the Latest Practicable
Date:
Name of Crimson Tide Director
|
Number of Crimson Tide Shares
|
Percentage of issued ordinary share capital of Crimson Tide as
at the Latest Practicable Date
|
Jacqueline Daniell
|
16,722
|
0.25
|
Philip Meyers
|
-
|
-
|
Luke Jeffrey
|
73,251
|
1.11
|
Pieter Hurter
|
885
|
0.01
|
Janet Morris
|
-
|
-
|
James Joyce
|
-
|
-
|
These irrevocable undertakings will continue to be binding in the
event that a higher competing offer is made for Crimson
Tide.
Each of these irrevocable
undertakings will lapse, among other things:
·
if Checkit announces, with the consent of the
Panel, that it does not intend to proceed with the
Merger;
·
if any competing offer for Crimson Tide becomes or
is declared unconditional in all respects or otherwise becomes
effective; or
·
on and from the earlier of (a) the Long Stop Date
or (b) the time and date on which the Merger is withdrawn, lapses
or otherwise terminates in accordance with its terms (provided that
the reason is not because Checkit has elected to proceed by way of
a Takeover Offer rather than by way of a Scheme or vice
versa).
PART B - Irrevocable undertakings in respect of Crimson Tide
Shares from other Crimson Tide Shareholders
The following Crimson Tide
Shareholder has given an irrevocable undertaking in respect of the
Crimson Tide Shares in which it is interested to vote, or procure
votes, in favour of the Scheme at the Crimson Tide Court Meeting
and in favour of the Crimson Tide Resolution to be proposed at the
Crimson Tide General Meeting (or in the event that the Merger is
implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, accept or procure the
acceptance of the Takeover Offer), in relation to 347,666 Crimson
Tide Shares, representing, in aggregate, approximately 5.29 per
cent. of Crimson Tide's existing issued ordinary share capital as
at the Latest Practicable Date:
Name of Crimson Tide Shareholder
|
Number of Crimson Tide Shares
|
Percentage of issued ordinary share capital of Crimson Tide as
at the Latest Practicable Date
|
William Currie Investments
Limited
|
347,666
|
5.29
|
This irrevocable undertaking will
lapse, among other things:
·
if Checkit announces, with the consent of the
Panel, that it does not intend to proceed with the
Merger;
·
if any competing offer for Crimson Tide becomes or
is declared unconditional in all respects or otherwise becoming
effective;
·
on and from the earlier of (a) the Long Stop Date
or (b) the time and date on which the Merger is withdrawn, lapses
or otherwise terminates in accordance with its terms (provided that
the reason is not because Checkit has elected to proceed by way of
a Takeover Offer rather than by way of a Scheme or vice versa);
or
·
if, within ten business days after the despatch of
the Scheme Document, a third party announces, in accordance with
Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code, a firm intention to make an offer to
acquire all the issued and to be issued equity share capital of
Crimson Tide for a consideration per share which represents at
least 10 per cent. greater than the value of the consideration per
share available under the Merger as at the date of such third party
announcement and Checkit does not within 14 business days of such
third party announcement increase the consideration payable under
the Merger to an amount which is equal to or exceeds the value of
such third party offer.
PART C - Letters of support in respect of Crimson Tide Shares
from Crimson Tide Shareholders
The following Crimson Tide
Shareholders have given a non-binding letter of support indicating
their intention to vote, or procure votes, in favour of the Crimson
Tide Resolution to be proposed at the Crimson Tide General Meeting,
in relation to 1,358,333 Crimson Tide Shares, representing, in
aggregate, approximately 20.66 per cent. of Crimson Tide's existing
issued ordinary share capital as at close of business on the Latest
Practicable Date:
Name of Crimson
Tide Shareholder
|
Number of
Crimson Tide Shares
|
Percentage of
issued share capital of Crimson Tide as at the Latest Practicable
Date
|
Canaccord Genuity Asset Management
Limited
|
720,000
|
10.95
|
Herald Investment Management Limited
|
323,333
|
4.92
|
Octopus Investments
|
315,000
|
4.79
|
Copies of these irrevocable
undertakings and letters of intent will be made available promptly
and by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day
following this announcement, on
www.Checkit.net, subject to certain
restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted
Jurisdictions, until the end of the Merger.
APPENDIX IV
PROFIT
ESTIMATES
Part A: Checkit Profit Estimate
On 25 April 2024, in the
announcement of its final results for the year ended 31 January
2024, Checkit updated the market in relation to FY25 trading with
reference to the market expectations immediately prior to that
announcement and which were for Adjusted LBITDA of £2.3
million:
"Trading since the start of the new
financial year has seen continued momentum in line with the Board's
and market expectations."
"Looking forward, the Board is
optimistic about meeting market expectations for FY25."
On 12 September 2024, in the
announcement of its interim results for the six months ended 31
July 2024, Checkit again updated the market in relation to FY25
with reference to the market expectations immediately prior to that
announcement which were for Adjusted LBITDA of £2.3
million.
"the Board remains confident of
delivering market expectations for revenue and LBITDA for this
financial year."
"we remain on track to meet market
revenue and LBITDA expectations for the current year."
Application of Rule 28 to the Checkit Profit
Estimate
The statements from Checkit above
set an expectation for the 12 months ended 31 January 2025
(the "FY25 Checkit Profit
Estimate"). The FY25 Checkit Profit Estimate is a profit
estimate for the purposes of Rule 28.1 of the Takeover
Code.
Checkit Directors' confirmation
The Checkit Directors have
considered the FY25 Checkit Profit Estimate and confirm that it
remains valid as at the date of this Announcement. The Checkit
Directors confirm that the FY25 Checkit Profit Estimate has been
properly compiled and that the basis of accounting used is
consistent with Checkit's accounting policies which are in
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and
those that Checkit applied in preparing its financial statements
for the year ended 31 January 2024.
Basis of preparation and assumptions
The Checkit Profit Estimate is based
on the unaudited management accounts of
Checkit for the year ended 31 January 2025.
The Checkit Profit Estimate is not based on any
assumptions.
Part B: FY24 Crimson Tide Profit Estimate
On 26 September 2024, in the announcement of
its interim results for the six months to 30 June 2024, Crimson
Tide updated the market in relation to trading for the full year to
31 December 2024 with reference to board expectations immediately
prior to that announcement:
"Given the increased sales cycle, our
expectation is that revenue and EBITDA for H2 2024 will be broadly
in line with H1 2024, evidencing good year on year EBITDA growth,
albeit on flat revenues."
Application of Rule 28 to the FY24 Crimson Tide Profit
Estimate
The FY24 Crimson Tide Profit Estimate is a
profit estimate for the purpose of Rule 28.1 of the Takeover
Code.
Crimson Tide Directors' confirmation
The Crimson Tide Directors have
considered the FY24 Crimson Tide Profit Estimate and confirm that
it remains valid as at the date of this Announcement. The
Crimson Tide Directors confirm that the FY24 Crimson Tide Profit
Estimate has been properly compiled and that the basis of
accounting used is consistent with Crimson Tide's accounting
policies which are in accordance with International Financial
Reporting Standards and those that Crimson Tide applied in
preparing its financial statements for the year ended 31 December
2023.
Basis of preparation and assumptions
The FY24 Crimson Tide Profit
Estimate is based on the unaudited management accounts of Crimson
Tide for the year ended 31 December 2024. The FY24 Crimson
Tide Profit Estimate is not based on any assumptions.
APPENDIX V
DEFINITIONS
Admission
|
admission of the New Checkit Shares
to trading on AIM
|
AIM
|
the AIM Market operated by
the London Stock Exchange
|
AIM
Rules
|
the AIM Rules for Companies
published by the London Stock Exchange (as amended from
time to time)
|
Announcement
|
this Announcement of which the
Appendices form part
|
Appendices
|
the appendices to this
Announcement
|
Authorisations
|
authorisations, orders, grants,
recognitions, determinations, certificates, confirmations,
consents, licences, clearances, provisions, permissions and
approvals;
|
Blocking Law
|
Council Regulation EC No 2271/1996
of 22 November 1996 ("Blocking
Regulation") or any law or regulation implementing the
Blocking Regulation in any member state of the European Union or
the United Kingdom
|
Board
|
board of directors
|
Business Day
|
a day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays
and public holidays) on which banks are open for business in
the City of London and Jersey
|
Cavendish
|
Cavendish Capital Markets
Limited
|
Checkit
|
Checkit plc
|
Checkit Circular
|
the circular relating to the Checkit
Resolution and convening the Checkit General Meeting to be
published and sent by Checkit to the Checkit
Shareholders
|
Checkit Directors
|
the directors of Checkit at the time
of this announcement
|
Checkit Form of Proxy
|
the form of proxy which will
accompany the Checkit Circular
|
Checkit General Meeting
|
the general meeting of Checkit to be
convened in connection with the Merger, notice of which will be set
out in the Checkit Circular, including any adjournment
thereof
|
Checkit Group
|
Checkit and its subsidiaries as at
the date of this Announcement
|
Checkit Resolution
|
the resolution to be proposed at the
Checkit General Meeting to authorise the allotment of the New
Checkit Shares
|
Checkit Shareholders
|
the holders of Checkit
Shares
|
Checkit Shares
|
the allotted and issued ordinary
shares of 5 pence each in the capital of Checkit
|
Closing Price
|
the closing middle market quotation
of a share derived from the AIM Appendix to the Daily Official List
of the London Stock Exchange
|
Code or Takeover Code
|
the City Code on Takeovers and
Offers
|
Combined Group
|
the Checkit Group as enlarged by the
acquisition of the Crimson Tide Group following
Completion
|
Companies Act
|
the UK Companies Act 2006,
as amended from time to time
|
Completion
|
the date on which the Merger becomes
Effective
|
Conditions
|
the conditions to the Merger set out
in Appendix I of this Announcement, and Condition means any one of
them
|
Court
|
the High Court of Justice in England
and Wales;
|
Court Hearing
|
the hearing by the Court of the
application to sanction the Scheme;
|
Court Order
|
the order of the Court sanctioning
the Scheme under section 899 of the Companies Act;
|
CREST
|
the computerised settlement system
(as defined in the CREST Regulations) operated by Euroclear UK
& International Limited which facilitates the transfer of title
to shares in uncertificated form
|
CREST Regulations
|
the Uncertificated Securities
Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/3755), as amended
|
Crimson Tide
|
Crimson Tide plc
|
Crimson Tide Court Meeting
|
the meeting of the Crimson Tide
Scheme Shareholders to be convened by order of the Court pursuant
to section 896 of the Companies Act, for the purpose of approving
the Scheme, including any adjournment of it, notice of which shall
be contained in the Scheme Document
|
Crimson Tide Directors
|
the directors of Crimson Tide at the
time of this announcement
|
Crimson Tide Forms of Proxy
|
the forms of proxy for voting at the
Crimson Tide Shareholder Meetings which will accompany the Scheme
Document;
|
Crimson Tide General Meeting
|
the general meeting of Crimson Tide
to be convened in connection with the Scheme, including any
adjournment of it, and expected to be held immediately following
the Crimson Tide Court Meeting and notice of which shall be
contained in the Scheme Document
|
Crimson Tide Group
|
Crimson Tide and its subsidiaries as
at the date of this Announcement
|
Crimson Tide Resolution
|
the special resolution to be
proposed at the Crimson Tide General Meeting authorising the
Crimson Tide Directors to take all required action in relation to
the Scheme and amending Crimson Tide's articles of association and
such other matters as may be necessary to implement the
Scheme
|
Crimson Tide Scheme Shareholders
|
the holders of Crimson Tide Scheme
Shares from time to time
|
Crimson Tide Scheme Shares
|
the Crimson Tide Shares:
(a) in issue at the date of the Scheme Document;
(b) (if any) issued after the date of the Scheme Document and
before the Voting Record Time; and
(c)
(if any) issued at or after the Voting Record Time
but at or before the Scheme Record Time, either on terms that the
original or any subsequent holders of such shares are to be bound
by the Scheme or in respect of which their holders are, or shall by
such time have agreed in writing to be, bound by the
Scheme,
and, in each case, remaining in
issue at the Scheme Record Time but excluding any Crimson Tide
Scheme Shares held as treasury shares at any relevant date or time
and any Crimson Tide Scheme Shares registered in the name of, or
beneficially owned by, Checkit or its nominees or any other member
of the Checkit Group at any relevant date or time
|
Crimson Tide Shareholder Meetings
|
together, the Crimson Tide Court
Meeting and the Crimson Tide General Meeting
|
Crimson Tide Shareholders
|
the holders of Crimson Tide
Shares
|
Crimson Tide Shares
|
the allotted and issued ordinary
shares of 10 pence each in the capital of Crimson Tide
|
Crimson Tide Share Scheme
|
Crimson Tide's Enterprise Management
Incentive share option scheme
|
Daily Official List
|
the Daily Official List published by
the London Stock Exchange
|
Dealing Disclosure
|
an announcement pursuant to Rule 8
of the Takeover Code containing details of dealings in the relevant
securities of a party to an offer
|
Disclosed
|
the information fairly disclosed by
or on behalf of Crimson Tide: (i) in the annual report and accounts
of Crimson Tide for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 and
the interim results for the period 30 June 2024; (ii) in any other
public announcement made by Crimson Tide on a Regulatory
Information Service before the date of the Announcement; (iii) in
this Announcement; (iv) in the information made available to
Checkit in the data room established by Crimson Tide (or Crimson
Tide's advisers) for the purposes of the Merger on or before 6.30
p.m. on 10 February 2025; or (v) as otherwise fairly disclosed by
or on behalf of Crimson Tide to Checkit (or its officers,
employees, agents or advisers) before the date of this
Announcement
|
Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules
|
the disclosure rules and
transparency rules made by the FCA pursuant to section 73A of
FSMA
|
Effective
|
in the context of the
Merger:
(i) if the Merger is implemented by
way of a Scheme of Arrangement, the Scheme having become effective
in accordance with its terms; or
(ii) if the Merger is implemented by
way of a takeover offer as defined in Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the
Companies Act, the Merger having been declared or become
unconditional in accordance with the requirements of the
Code
|
Effective Date
|
the date on which the Merger becomes
or is declared Effective
|
EMI
Scheme
|
Crimson Tide's Enterprise Management
Incentive Scheme
|
Exchange Ratio
|
6 new Checkit Shares for every 1 Crimson Tide
Share and, where the terms of the Merger allow, any subsequent
adjustment thereof
|
FCA
|
the Financial Conduct Authority or
its successor from time to time
|
FSMA
|
the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000 (as amended from time to time)
|
"FY24 Crimson Tide Profit Estimate"
|
the profit estimate included within
Crimson Tide's interim results announcement released on 26
September 2024 in respect of the six months to 30 June 2024, as set
out in Appendix IV to this Announcement
|
Irrevocable Undertakings
|
the irrevocable undertakings
obtained by Checkit as detailed in Appendix III;
|
Last Accounts Date
|
17 April 2024, being the date to
which the last audited financial statements of Crimson Tide were
published
|
Latest Practicable Date
|
10 February 2025, being the latest
practicable date before the date of this Announcement
|
London Stock Exchange
|
London Stock Exchange plc or its
successor from time to time
|
Long Stop Date
|
11.59 p.m. on 30 June 2025 or such
later date (if any) as may be agreed in writing by Checkit and
Crimson Tide (with the Panel's consent and as the Court may approve
(if such approval(s) are required))
|
Market Abuse Regulation
|
the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) (No
596/2014) incorporated into UK law by virtue of the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018 as amended by virtue of the Market Abuse
(Amendment)(EU Exit) Regulations 2019)
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Merger
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the proposed acquisition by Checkit
of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of
Crimson Tide (other than any Crimson Tide Shares already held by
the Checkit Group) to be implemented by way of the Scheme as
described in this Announcement or (should Checkit so elect, subject
to the consent of the Panel (where necessary)) by way of a Takeover
Offer
|
Neville Registrars
|
Neville Registrars Limited, Neville
House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, B62 8HD, the registrars to
Crimson Tide
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New
Checkit Shares
|
the new Checkit Shares proposed to
be issued credited as fully paid to the Crimson Tide Scheme
Shareholders pursuant to the Scheme (and any other Crimson Tide
Shareholders whose Crimson Tide Shares are issued after the Scheme
becomes Effective)
|
Offer Period
|
the period commencing on the date of
this Announcement and ending on (i) the earlier of the date on
which the Scheme becomes Effective and/or the date on which the
Scheme lapses or is withdrawn (or such other date as the Panel may
decide) or (ii) the earlier of the date on which the Takeover Offer
has become or has been declared unconditional as to acceptances
and/or the date on which the Takeover Offer lapses or is withdrawn
(or such other date as the Panel may decide), in each case other
than where such lapsing or withdrawal is a result of Checkit
exercising its right to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover
Offer
|
Opening Position Disclosure
|
an announcement containing details
of interests or short positions in, or rights to subscribe for, any
relevant securities of a party to the Merger if the person
concerned has such a position, as defined in Rule 8 of the Takeover
Code
|
Overseas Shareholders
|
Crimson Tide Shareholders who have a
registered address in, or are citizens, residents or nationals of,
a jurisdiction outside the UK
|
Panel or Takeover Panel
|
the Panel on Takeovers and
Offers
|
Possible Offer Announcement
|
the announcement on 4 June 2024 of a
possible offer by Checkit for Crimson Tide
|
Registrar of Companies
|
the Registrar of Companies in
England and Wales
|
Regulatory Information Service
|
the regulatory information service
as defined in the handbook of rules and guidance made by the
FCA
|
Restricted Jurisdiction
|
any jurisdiction where the release,
publication or distribution in whole or in part, in, into or from
or where the extension of the Merger would constitute a violation
of the relevant laws of the jurisdiction or
would result in a requirement to comply with any governmental or
other consent or any registration, filing or other formality which
Checkit regards as unduly onerous, in particular the United
States of
America, Canada, Japan or Australia
|
Restricted Overseas Shareholder
|
any Crimson Tide Shareholder not
resident in, or nationals or citizens of the United Kingdom who
have not prior to the Effective Date been able to satisfy Checkit
in its absolute discretion that receipt of New Checkit Shares
pursuant to the Merger is exempt from or not subject to the
registration or other legal or regulatory requirements or
restrictions of the relevant jurisdiction
|
Scheme or Scheme of Arrangement
|
the proposed scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act between
Crimson Tide and the Crimson Tide Scheme Shareholders the terms of
which are to be set out in the Scheme Document
|
Scheme Document
|
the document to be dispatched to
(among others) Crimson Tide Shareholders including, among other
things, the Scheme and the notices convening the Crimson Tide Court
Meeting and the Crimson Tide General Meeting
|
Scheme Record Time
|
the time and date to be specified in
the Scheme Document by reference to which the entitlements of
Crimson Tide Shareholders under the Scheme will be determined,
expected to be 6.00 p.m. on the Business Day before the Scheme
becomes Effective
|
Significant Interest
|
in relation to an undertaking, a
direct or indirect interest of 20 per cent. or more of: (i) the
total voting rights conferred by the equity share capital (as
defined in section 548 of the Companies Act) of such undertaking or
(ii) the relevant partnership interest;
|
Singer Capital Markets
|
Singer Capital Markets Advisory LLP,
financial adviser to Checkit
|
Takeover Offer
|
should the Merger be implemented by
way of a takeover offer as defined in section 974 of the Companies
Act, the takeover offer to be made by or on behalf of Checkit to
acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital
of Crimson Tide and, where the context requires, any subsequent
revision, variation, extension or renewal of such takeover
offer
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Third Party
|
any government, government
department or governmental, quasi-governmental, supranational,
statutory, regulatory, environmental or investigative body or
association, institution or agency (including, without limitation,
any trade agency) or authority (including, without limitation, any
anti-trust or merger control authority), any court or professional
or environmental body or any other person or body whatsoever in any
relevant jurisdiction;
|
UK or United Kingdom
|
the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland
|
US
Person
|
a US person as defined in Regulation
S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as
amended
|
US
Securities Act
|
the United States Securities Act of
1993
|
Voting Record Time
|
the time and date specified in the
Scheme Document by reference to which entitlement to vote at the
Crimson Tide Court Meeting will be determined, expected to be 6.00
p.m. on the day two days prior to the Crimson Tide Court Meeting or
any adjournment of it (as the case may be)
|
Wider Checkit Group
|
Checkit and its subsidiary
undertakings and associated undertakings and any other body
corporate partnership, joint venture or person in which Checkit and
all such undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a
Significant Interest (other than any member of the Wider Crimson
Tide Group)
|
Wider Crimson Tide Group
|
Crimson Tide and its subsidiaries,
subsidiary undertakings, associated undertakings and any other body
corporate, partnership, joint venture or person in which Crimson
Tide and all such undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a
Significant Interest.
|