01 July 2024
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING ITS APPENDIX) AND THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION
OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR
INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH
AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE,
PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BREACH ANY APPLICABLE LAW OR
REGULATION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES
NOT CONSTITUTE OR CONTAIN ANY INVITATION, SOLICITATION,
RECOMMENDATION, OFFER OR ADVICE TO ANY PERSON TO SUBSCRIBE FOR,
OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR DISPOSE OF ANY SECURITIES IN DEVOLVER DIGITAL
INC. WHERE SUCH OFFER WOULD BREACH ANY APPLICABLE LAW OR
REGULATION.
THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY THE
COMPANY TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION STIPULATED UNDER THE
MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF THE
DOMESTIC LAW OF THE UNITED KINGDOM BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
(WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (AS AMENDED) ("UK MAR"). UPON THE PUBLICATION
OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA THE REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS
INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC
DOMAIN.
Devolver Digital,
Inc.
("Devolver Digital", "Devolver" or the "Company", and the
Company together with all of its subsidiary undertakings "the
Group")
Proposed Placing of up to
£7.9 million by way of an accelerated bookbuild
Devolver Digital, an award-winning
digital publisher and developer of independent ("indie") video
games, announces its intention to undertake
an equity placing (the "Placing") of up to £7.9 million
(equivalent to USD $10 million*), through the issue of up to
23,917,151 new shares of common stock, par
value $0.0001 each (the "Placing Shares"). The Placing Price is
a c.10 per cent premium to the closing price as of the date of this
Announcement. The Placing Shares will represent up to 5.4% of the
issued and outstanding share capital of Devolver.
The Placing was originated by an
inbound enquiry from existing shareholders. The net proceeds of the
Placing will be used to further strengthen the balance sheet,
providing additional flexibility for the Company to be able to take
up further opportunities as they arise over the medium term and
deliver shareholder value.
The Company has consulted with a
number of its shareholders to gauge their feedback as to the terms
and conditions of the Placing. The Board has concluded that the
Placing is in the best interests of shareholders and will promote
the long-term success of the Company.
* Using an USD:GBP exchange rate at the date of this
announcement of 1.267:1
Details of the Placing
Zeus Capital Limited ("Zeus" or the "Broker") has today entered into a
placing agreement with the Company (the "Placing Agreement"). Under the terms of
the Placing Agreement, the Broker has agreed, subject to certain
conditions, to use its reasonable endeavours to procure placees for
the Placing Shares as agent of the Company.
The Placing will be conducted
through an accelerated bookbuild process being managed by Zeus. The
accelerated bookbuild will be launched immediately following this
Announcement.
The Placing is subject to the terms
and conditions set out in the Appendix to this
Announcement.
The timing of the closing of the
Bookbuild and the final number and allocation of Placing Shares
will be determined at the discretion of the Company (in
consultation with Zeus). The Broker reserves the right, by
agreement with the Company, to increase the size of the Placing to
accommodate additional demand.
The Placing, which is subject to the
terms and conditions set out in the Appendix to this Announcement,
is conditional upon, inter
alia, Admission becoming effective and the Placing Agreement
becoming unconditional in all respects by no later than 8.00 a.m.
on 05 July 2024 (or such later time and/or date, being not later
than 15 July 2024, as the Company and Zeus may agree). Application
will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the Placing Shares to
be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected that Admission will
occur and that dealings will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 05 July
2024.
The Placing Shares will rank, on
issue, pari passu in all
respects with the existing shares of common stock of $0.0001 each
in the capital of the Company and will be issued free from all
liens, charges and encumbrances. The Company has existing
authorities (granted at its last Annual Meeting which was held on
28 June 2024) to issue 10% of its existing share capital non
pre-emptively for cash for general corporate purposes with an
additional 10% permitted to be used in connection with financing a
transaction such as a capital investment of a kind contemplated by
the Statement of Principles on Disapplying Pre-Emption Rights most
recently published by the Pre-Emption Group.
The Broker is not underwriting the
Placing.
A further announcement will be made
following closing of the Placing, confirming the final
details.
The Appendix to this Announcement
(which forms part of this Announcement) sets out the terms and
conditions of the Placing. Persons who have chosen to participate
in the Placing, by making an oral or written offer to acquire
Placing Shares, will be deemed to have read and understood this
Announcement in its entirety (including the Appendix) and to be
making such offer on the terms and subject to the conditions
herein, and to be providing the representations, warranties,
agreements, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in the
Appendix.
Expected Timetable of Principal Events
|
2024
|
Announcement of the
Placing
|
01 July
|
Announcement of the results of the
Placing
|
02 July
|
Admission and commencement of
dealings of the Placing Shares
|
05 July
|
Depositary interests representing
the Placing Shares credited to CREST stock accounts
|
05 July
|
Notes:
(i)
References to times are to London time (unless otherwise
stated).
(ii)
If any of the above times or dates should change, the revised times
and/or dates will be notified by the Group via an announcement to
an RIS.
(iii)
The timing of the events in the above timetable that fall after the
publication of this Announcement are indicative only and subject to
change.
Current trading
As announced in the trading
statement released on 28 June 2024, the Group's current
financial performance is in line with consensus expectations for
full year 2024.
Enquiries
Devolver Digital, Inc.
ir@devolverdigital.com
Kate Marsh, Non-Executive Chair
Harry Miller, Chief Executive
Officer
Daniel Widdicombe, Chief Financial
Officer
Zeus (Nominated Adviser and Broker)
Nick Cowles / Kieran Russell
(Investment Banking)
Ben Robertson (Equity Capital
Markets)
|
+44
(0)20 3829 5000
|
FTI
Consulting (Communications Adviser)
devolver@fticonsulting.com
Jamie Ricketts / Dwight Burden
/ Valerija Cymbal / Usama
Ali
+44
(0)20 3727 1000
Market Abuse Regulation (EU) NO. 596/2014
This Announcement contains inside
information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No
596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended ("UK MAR"). In
addition, market soundings (as defined in UK MAR) were taken in
respect of the Placing with the result that certain persons became
aware of inside information (as defined in UK MAR), as permitted by
UK MAR. Such inside information is set out in this Announcement.
Therefore, those persons that received inside information in a
market sounding are no longer in possession of such inside
information relating to the Company and its securities.
About Devolver Digital
Devolver is an award-winning video
games publisher in the indie games space with a balanced portfolio
of third-party and own-IP. Devolver has an emphasis on premium
games and has published over 120 titles, with more than 30 titles
in the pipeline scheduled for release over the next three years.
Devolver has in-house studios developing first-party IP titles and
a complementary publishing brand. Devolver is registered in
Wilmington, Delaware, USA.
IMPORTANT
NOTICES
This announcement (including the
appendix) and the terms and conditions set out herein (the
"Announcement") do not
constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, any
offer to sell or issue or a solicitation of an offer to buy,
subscribe for or otherwise acquire any securities in any
jurisdiction. This Announcement is not for publication or
distribution, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or
into Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa or any
other jurisdiction in which such publication or distribution would
be unlawful ("Restricted
Jurisdiction") (or to any persons in a Restricted
Jurisdiction) unless permitted pursuant to an exemption under the
relevant local law or regulation in any such jurisdiction. Any
failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation
of the applicable laws of such jurisdictions. Persons needing
advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
This Announcement is not for
publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the
United States. This Announcement is not an offer of securities for
sale into the United States. The securities referred to herein have
not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be
offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an
applicable exemption from registration. No public offering of
securities is being made in the United States.
No action has been taken by Devolver
Digital Inc, (the "Company"), Zeus Capital Limited
("Zeus") or any of their
respective directors, officers, partners, agents, employees,
affiliates, advisors, consultants, persons connected with them as
defined in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended
("FSMA") (together,
"Affiliates") that would
permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution
of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material
relating to such Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action
for that purpose is required. Persons receiving this Announcement
are required to inform themselves about and to observe any
restrictions contained in this Announcement.
This Announcement is directed at and
is only being distributed to: (A) if in a member state of the
European Economic Area, persons who are "qualified investors"
within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as
amended (the "EU Prospectus
Regulation"), (B) if in the United Kingdom, persons who are
"qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of
Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as it forms part of UK domestic law by
virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended (the
"UK Prospectus Regulation")
and who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to
investments falling within the definition of "investment
professionals" in Article 19(5) of FSMA(Financial Promotion) Order
2005, as amended (the "Order"); or (ii) high net worth
entities falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order or (C)
other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated
(all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). No other person
should act on or rely on this Announcement and persons distributing
this Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do
so. By accepting the terms of this Announcement, you represent and
agree that you are a Relevant Person. This Announcement must not be
acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any
investment or investment activity to which this Announcement
relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged
in only with Relevant Persons. As regards all persons other than
Relevant Persons, the details of the Placing set out in this
Announcement are for information purposes only.
This Announcement is not being
distributed by, nor has it been approved for the purposes of
section 21 of FSMA by, a person authorised under FSMA. This
Announcement is being distributed and communicated to persons in
the United Kingdom only in circumstances in which section 21(1) of
FSMA does not require approval of the communication by an
authorised person.
No prospectus has been or will be
made available in connection with the matters contained in this
Announcement and no such prospectus is required (in accordance with
the EU Prospectus Regulation and the UK Prospectus Regulation) to
be published.
The information contained in this
Announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport
to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose
on the information contained in this Announcement or its accuracy,
fairness or completeness. None of the information in this
Announcement has been independently verified or approved by Zeus or
any of their respective Affiliates.
Certain statements in this
Announcement are forward-looking statements, which include all
statements other than statements of historical fact and which are
based on the Company's expectations, intentions and projections
regarding the Company's future financial condition, performance,
anticipated events, strategic initiatives, or trends, the future
performance of the Company and other matters that are not
historical facts. These forward-looking statements, which may use
words such as "aim", "anticipate", "believe", "could", "intend",
"estimate", "expect" (or the negatives thereof) and words of
similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown
risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that could
cause the actual results of operations, financial condition,
performance, liquidity and dividend policy and the development of
the industries in which the Company's business operates to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements. Given those risks and uncertainties, prospective
investors should not rely on such forward-looking statements in
making their investment decisions. In particular, but without
prejudice to the generality of the above, no representation or
warranty is given, and no responsibility or liability is accepted,
either as to the achievement or reasonableness of any future
projections, forecasts, estimates or statements as to any prospects
or future returns contained or referred to in this Announcement or
in relation to the basis or assumptions underlying such projections
or forecasts. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date
of such statements. Except as required by the London Stock Exchange
or applicable law, the Company, Zeus, and their respective
Affiliates undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Results can be
positively or negatively affected by market conditions beyond the
control of the Company or any other person.
Zeus is authorised and regulated in
the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting
exclusively for the Company and for no one else in connection with
the Placing and will not regard any other person (whether or not a
recipient of this Announcement) as a client in relation to the
Placing or any other matter referred to in this Announcement, and
will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for
providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing
advice in relation to the Placing, or any other matter referred to
in this Announcement. The responsibilities of Zeus as the Company's
nominated adviser under the AIM Rules for Companies and the AIM
Rules for Nominated Advisers are owed solely to the London Stock
Exchange and are not owed to the Company or any director,
shareholder or any other person.
This Announcement is being issued by
and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or
warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in
relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be
accepted by or on behalf of Zeus or any of its Affiliates as to, or
in relation to, the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of this
Announcement or any other written or oral information made
available to or publicly available to any interested party or its
advisers, and any liability therefor is expressly
disclaimed.
Recipients of this Announcement
should conduct their own independent investigation, evaluation and
assessment of the merits or otherwise of the business described in
this Announcement. This Announcement does not constitute a
recommendation concerning any investor's options with respect to
the Placing. The price and value of securities can go down as well
as up. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. No
statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast
and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean
that earnings or earnings per share of the Company for the current
or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the
historical published earnings or earnings per share of the Company.
The contents of this Announcement are not to be construed as legal,
business, financial, regulatory or tax advice. Each shareholder or
prospective investor should consult with his or her or its own
legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser
for legal, financial, business, regulatory or tax advice. Investing
in the Placing Shares involves a substantial degree of
risk.
The Placing Shares to be issued
pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any
stock exchange other than AIM.
Members of the public are not
eligible to take part in the Placing and no public offering of
Placing Shares is being or will be made.
Neither the content of the Company's
website (or any other website) nor the content of any website
accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other
website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this
Announcement.
Information to Distributors
UK product
governance
Solely for the purposes of the
product governance requirements contained within of Chapter 3 of
the FCA Handbook Production Intervention and Product Governance
Sourcebook (the "UK Product
Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any
liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which
any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance
Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing
Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has
determined that such securities are: (i) compatible with an end
target market of investors who meet the criteria of retail
investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional
clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in Chapter 3
of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; and (ii)
eligible for distribution through all permitted distribution
channels (the "UK Target Market
Assessment"). Notwithstanding the UK Target Market
Assessment, distributors should note that: (a) the price of the
Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of
their investment; (b) the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income
and no capital protection; and (c) an investment in the Placing
Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a
guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in
conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are
capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment
and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses
that may result therefrom. The UK Target Market Assessment is
without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or
regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing.
Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the UK Target Market
Assessment, the Broker will only procure investors who meet the
criteria of professional clients and eligible
counterparties.
For the avoidance of doubt, the UK
Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of
suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of Chapter 9A or
10A respectively of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business
Sourcebook; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of
investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action
whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares.
Each distributor is responsible for
undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the
Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution
channels.
EEA product
governance
Solely for the purposes of the
product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive
2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended
("MiFID II"); (b) Articles
9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593
supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures
(together, the "MiFID II Product
Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any
liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which
any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product
Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto,
the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process,
which has determined that the Placing Shares are: (i) compatible
with an end target market of retail investors and investors who
meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible
counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for
distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by
MiFID II (the "Target Market
Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment,
distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may
decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment;
the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital
protection; and an investment in the Company's common stock is
compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income
or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an
appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating
the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient
resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom.
The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the
requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling
restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted
that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Broker will
only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional
clients and eligible counterparties.
For the avoidance of doubt, the
Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of
suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b)
a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest
in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect
to the Placing Shares.
Each distributor is responsible for
undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the
Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution
channels.
APPENDIX
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE
PLACING
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE
PLACING FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX) AND THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (THE "ANNOUNCEMENT") ARE RESTRICTED AND
ARE NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES,
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY
OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR
DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL ("RESTRICTED JURISDICTIONS") UNLESS
PERMITTED PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION UNDER THE RELEVANT LOCAL LAW OR
REGULATION IN ANY SUCH JURISDICTION.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE
PLACING AND NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF PLACING SHARES IS BEING OR WILL
BE MADE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT
HEREIN AND REFERRED TO IN IT ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHO ARE
(A) IF IN A MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA"),
PERSONS WHO ARE "QUALIFIED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE
2(E) OF THE REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129, AS AMENDED (THE "EU
PROSPECTUS REGULATION"); (B) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, PERSONS WHO
ARE "QUALIFIED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(E) OF
REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129, AS IT FORMS PART OF UK DOMESTIC LAW BY
VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED (THE
"UK PROSPECTUS REGULATION") AND WHO (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN THE
DEFINITION OF "INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS" IN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER
2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER"); OR (II) ARE HIGH NET WORTH ENTITIES
FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) OF THE ORDER OR (C) OTHER
PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH
PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT
PERSONS").
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF
AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER FOR
SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY. THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN MUST NOT
BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS.
ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED
IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS
OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, BUSINESS, FINANCIAL, REGULATORY, TAX AND
RELATED ASPECTS OF AN INVESTMENT IN PLACING SHARES. DISTRIBUTION OF
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS MAY BE RESTRICTED OR
PROHIBITED BY LAW. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST
SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO.
Unless otherwise defined in these
terms and conditions, capitalised terms used in these terms and
conditions shall have the meaning given to them in the section
below headed "Definitions".
No representation or warranty,
express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to,
and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by or on
behalf of Devolver Digital Inc. (the "Company"), Zeus Capital Limited
("Zeus") (the "Broker") or their respective
directors, officers, partners, agents, employees, affiliates,
advisors, consultants, persons connected with them as defined in
the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended
("FSMA") (together,
"Affiliates") as to, or in
relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or
any other written or oral information made available to or publicly
available to any interested party or its advisers, and any
liability therefor is expressly disclaimed.
The Placing Shares have not been and
will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities
Act"), and may not be offered, sold, resold, transferred or
delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States
absent registration under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in the
United States. The Placing Shares are being offered and sold
outside the United States in "offshore transactions" to non-US
persons, as defined in, and in compliance with, Regulation S under
the Securities Act. Persons receiving this Announcement (including
custodians, nominees and trustees) must not forward, distribute,
mail or otherwise transmit it or any part of it in or into the
United States.
This Announcement does not
constitute or form part of an offer to sell or issue or a
solicitation of an offer or invitation to buy or subscribe for or
otherwise acquire any securities in any jurisdiction. No copy or
part of this Announcement or the information contained in it may be
published or distributed, directly or indirectly, to persons in any
of the Restricted Jurisdictions unless permitted pursuant to an
exemption under the relevant local law or regulation in any such
jurisdiction.
The relevant clearances have not
been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of
any province or territory of Canada; no prospectus has been lodged
with, or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant
clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained for the South
Africa Reserve Bank or any other applicable body in the Republic of
South Africa in relation to the Placing Shares and the Placing
Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under or offered
in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or
territory of Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South
Africa. Accordingly, the Placing Shares may not (unless an
exemption under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be
offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or
into Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or
any other jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.
No action has been taken by the
Company, the Broker, or any of their respective Affiliates that
would permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or
distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or
publicity material relating to such Placing Shares in any
jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons
receiving this Announcement are required to inform themselves about
and to observe any restrictions contained in this
Announcement.
Persons distributing any part of
this Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do
so. Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees)
who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy
of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking
any action.
Any indication in this Announcement
of the price at which the Company's shares have been bought or sold
in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance.
Persons needing advice should consult an independent financial
adviser. No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a
profit forecast and no statement in this Announcement should be
interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share of the
Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily
match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per
share of the Company.
The Broker is authorised and
regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority
("FCA"), are acting
exclusively for the Company and for no one else in connection with
the Placing and will not regard any other person (whether or not a
recipient of this Announcement) as a client in relation to the
Placing or any other matter referred to in this Announcement, and
will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for
providing the protections afforded to their respective clients nor
for providing advice in relation to the Placing, or any other
matter referred to in this Announcement.
By participating in the Placing,
each Placee is deemed to have read and understood this Announcement
(including this Appendix) in its entirety and to be making such
offer to acquire Placing Shares on the terms and subject to the
conditions set out in this Announcement and to be providing the
representations, warranties, undertakings, agreements and
acknowledgements contained in this Appendix.
In particular, each Placee
represents, warrants, undertakes and acknowledges to and agrees
with the Company and the Broker (amongst other things)
that:
1.
it is a Relevant Person and undertakes that it
will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that
are allocated to it for the purposes of its business;
2.
if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is
used in Article 5(1) of the EU Prospectus Regulation, (a) the
Placing Shares purchased by it in the Placing will not be acquired
on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be
acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in a
member state of the EEA other than "qualified investors" within the
meaning of Article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation or in
circumstances in which the prior consent of the Broker have been
given to the offer or resale, or (b) where the Placing Shares have
been subscribed for by it on behalf of persons in any member state
of the EEA other than "qualified investors" within the meaning of
Article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation, the offer of those
Placing Shares to it is not treated under the EU Prospectus
Regulation as having been made to such persons;
3.
if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is
used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, (a) the
Placing Shares purchased by it in the Placing will not be acquired
on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be
acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in the UK
other than Relevant Persons or in circumstances in which the prior
consent of the Broker has been given to the offer or resale, or (b)
where the Placing Shares have been subscribed for by it on behalf
of persons in the UK other than Relevant Persons, the offer of
those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the UK Prospectus
Regulation as having been made to such persons;
4.
it is acquiring the Placing Shares for its own
account or is acquiring the Placing Shares for an account with
respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and has
the authority to make and does make the representations,
warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements, undertakings and
agreements contained in this Announcement;
5.
it understands (or if acting for the account of
another person, such person has confirmed that such person
understands) the resale and transfer restrictions set out in this
Appendix; and
6.
it (and any person on whose account it is acting)
is located outside the United States and is not a US person and is
otherwise acquiring the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction"
meeting the requirements of Regulation S under the Securities
Act.
The Company and the Broker will rely
upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations,
warranties, acknowledgements, undertakings and agreements. Each
Placee hereby agrees with the Company and the Broker to be bound by
these terms and conditions as being the terms and conditions upon
which Placing Shares will be issued. A Placee shall, without
limitation, become so bound if the Broker confirms to such Placee
its allocation of Placing Shares.
CREST: Regulation S Category 3 Settlement
Service
The Placing Shares have not been,
and will not be, registered under the Securities Act. The Placing
Shares are being offered and sold only outside the United States to
persons who are not US persons or acting for the account or benefit
of any US Persons in "offshore transactions" (as defined in
Regulation S) in accordance with, and in reliance on, the safe
harbor from registration provided by Rule 903(b)(3), or Category 3,
of Regulation S. The Placing Shares will be subject to the
conditions listed under Rule 903(b)(3), or Category 3, of
Regulation S. The Placing Shares are "restricted securities" as
defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Purchasers of the
Placing Shares may not offer, sell, pledge or otherwise transfer
Placing Shares, directly or indirectly, in or into the United
States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any US Person,
except pursuant to a transaction meeting the requirements of Rules
901 to 905 (including the Preliminary Notes) of Regulation S,
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.
Each subscriber for Placing Shares,
by subscribing for such Placing Shares, agrees to reoffer or resell
the Shares only pursuant to registration under the Securities Act
or in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S or pursuant to
another available exemption from registration, and agrees not to
engage in hedging transactions with regard to such securities
unless in compliance with the Securities Act. These restrictions
severely restrict subscribers of Placing Shares from reselling the
Placing Shares in the United States or to, or for the account or
benefit of, any US Person. The
Company currently intends that these restrictions will remain in
place indefinitely.
Once the Placing Shares are admitted
to trading on AIM, the Placing Shares will trade in the Company's
restricted line of shares. The Company has established a depositary
interest programme. The Placing Shares (represented by the
Depositary Interests) will be held in the CREST system and
identified with the marker "REG S Cat 3". The "REG S Cat 3" marker
indicates that the shares held in the CREST system will bear
a legend that describes certain transfer restrictions and
other information, including that: (a) the shares may not be taken
up, offered, sold, resold, delivered or distributed, directly or
indirectly, within, into or from the United States or to, or for
the account or benefit of, US Persons except (i) in an offshore
transaction meeting the requirements of Regulation S, (ii) pursuant
to an available exemption from registration under the Securities
Act, or (iii) pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act; and (b) hedging transactions involving the
shares may not be conducted unless in compliance with the
Securities Act.
The certifications, acknowledgements
and agreements set out herein must be made through the CREST system
by those acquiring or withdrawing the shares with the "REG S Cat 3"
marker. If such certifications, acknowledgements and agreements
cannot be made or are not made, settlement through CREST might be
rejected.
Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing
Shares
The Company has today entered into
an agreement (the "Placing
Agreement") with the Broker. Pursuant to the Placing
Agreement, the Broker has agreed, subject to the terms and
conditions set out in such agreement, as agent for and on behalf of
the Company, to use its reasonable endeavours to procure Placees
for the Placing Shares. The Placing is not being
underwritten.
The Broker will today commence the
bookbuilding process (the "Bookbuild") to determine demand for
participation in the Placing by Placees. This Appendix gives
details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics for
participation in, the Placing. No commissions will be paid to
Placees or by Placees in respect of any Placing Shares. Members of
the public are not entitled to participate. The Company and the
Broker shall be entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative
method to the Bookbuild as they may, in their absolute discretion,
determine.
The Placing Shares will, when
issued, be subject to the bylaws of the Company, be credited as
fully paid and rank pari
passu in all respects with each other and with the existing
shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.0001 (the
"Common Shares"), including
the right to receive all dividends and other distributions
declared, made or paid in respect of the Common Shares after the
date of issue of the Placing Shares. The Placing Shares will be
issued free of any encumbrance, lien or other security
interest.
A bid in the Bookbuild will be made
on these terms and conditions and will be legally binding on the
Placees on behalf of which it is made and, except with the Broker's
consent, will not be capable of variation or revocation after the
close of the Bookbuild.
The book will open with immediate
effect. The final number of Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to
the Placing will be agreed by the Broker and the Company at the
close of the Bookbuild, and the result of the Placing will be
announced as soon as practicable thereafter. The timing for
the close of the Bookbuild and the allocation of the Placing Shares
shall be at the absolute discretion of the Broker, in consultation
with the Company.
To the fullest extent permissible by
law, neither:
a) the
Broker;
b) any of its
affiliates, agents, advisers, directors, officers, consultants or
employees; nor
c) to the
extent not contained within (a) or (b), any person connected with
the Broker as defined in the FSMA ((b) and (c) being together
"affiliates" and
individually an "affiliate"
of the Broker),
shall have any liability (including
to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) to Placees
or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or
otherwise. In particular, neither the Broker nor any of its
affiliates shall have any liability (including, to the extent
legally permissible, any fiduciary duties), in respect of their
conduct of the Bookbuild or of such alternative method of effecting
the Placing as the Broker may determine.
Application for Admission
Application will be made to London
Stock Exchange plc for admission of the Placing Shares to trading
on AIM ("Admission").
Admission is expected to become effective on or around 05 July 2024
(or such later time and/or date as the Broker may agree with the
Company, being not later than 15 July 2024) and dealings in the
Placing Shares are expected to commence on the same day.
Principal terms of the Placing
1.
The Broker is acting as bookrunner and as agent of
the Company in connection with the Placing on the terms and subject
to the conditions of the Placing Agreement.
2.
Participation in the Placing will only be
available to persons who may lawfully be, and are, invited by the
Broker to participate. The Broker and any of its Affiliates are
entitled to enter bids in the Bookbuild as principal.
3.
The placing price of 33 pence per Placing Share
(the "Placing Price") will
be payable to the Broker (as agent of the Company) by all Placees
whose bids are successful. No commissions will be paid to Placees
or by the Placees in respect of any Placing Shares.
4.
The final number of Placing Shares will be
determined by the Company (in consultation with the Broker)
following completion of the Bookbuild. The results of the Placing
will then be announced on a Regulatory Information Service as soon
as is practicable following completion of the Bookbuild.
5.
To bid in the Bookbuild, prospective Placees
should communicate their bid by telephone or in writing to their
usual sales contact at Zeus. Each bid should state the number of
Placing Shares which the prospective Placee wishes to subscribe for
at the Placing Price. Bids may be scaled down by the Broker on the
basis referred to in paragraph 9 below. The Broker reserves the
right not to accept bids or to accept in bids in part rather than
in whole.
6.
The Bookbuild is expected to close later today but
may be closed earlier or later at the absolute discretion of the
Broker in consultation with the Company. The Broker may, in
agreement with the Company, accept bids, either in whole or in
part, that are received after the Bookbuild has closed, allocate
Placing Shares after the time of any initial allocation to any
person submitting a bid after time and allocate Placing Shares
after the Bookbuild has closed to any person submitting a bid after
that time.
7.
Each prospective Placee's allocation will be
agreed between the Company and the Broker, and will be confirmed
orally or in writing by the Broker (as agent of the Company) to
such Placee, and a trade confirmation will be despatched as soon as
practicable thereafter and the terms and conditions of this
Appendix will be deemed incorporated into the trade
confirmation.
8.
The Broker's oral and/or written confirmation to
any person of an allocation of Placing Shares will give rise to an
immediate, separate, irrevocable and legally binding commitment by
that person, in favour of the Broker and the Company, under which
it agrees and is required to (a) acquire the number of Placing
Shares allocated to it and (b) pay the Broker (or as it may direct)
in cleared funds an amount equal to the product of the Placing
Price and the number of Placing Shares allocated to it and that the
Company has agreed to allot and issue to that Placee, on the terms
and subject to the conditions set out in this Appendix and in
accordance with the Company's bylaws. Except with the Broker's
consent, such commitment will not be capable of variation or
revocation after the time at which it is submitted.
9.
Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5 above, the Broker
may choose to accept bids, either in whole or in part, on the basis
of allocations determined in agreement with the Company and may
scale down any bids for this purpose on such basis as it may
determine.
10.
The Company reserves the right (upon agreement
with the Broker) to reduce or seek to increase the amount to be
raised pursuant to the Placing.
11.
Irrespective of the time at which the Placee's
allocation(s) pursuant to the Placing is/are confirmed, settlement
for all Placing Shares to be acquired pursuant to the Placing will
be required to be made at the same time on the basis explained
below under "Registration and Settlement".
12.
All obligations under the Placing will be subject
to fulfilment (or where applicable, waiver) of the conditions
referred to below under "Conditions of the Placing" and to the
Placing not being terminated on the basis referred to below under
"Rights to terminate under the Placing Agreement".
13.
By participating in the Bookbuild, each Placee
will agree that its rights and obligations in respect of the
Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described below
and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee
after confirmation (oral or otherwise) by the Broker.
14.
To the fullest extent permissible by law, neither
the Broker nor any of its Affiliates shall have any liability
(whether in contract, tort or otherwise and including to the extent
permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) to Placees or to any
other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise. In
particular, neither the Broker nor any of its Affiliates shall have
any liability (whether in contract, tort or otherwise and
including, to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties)
in respect of its conduct of the Bookbuild or of such alternative
method of effecting the Placing as the Broker and the Company may
agree.
Conditions of the Placing
The Placing is conditional upon the
Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been
terminated in accordance with its terms.
The obligations of the Broker under
the Placing Agreement are conditional on certain customary
conditions including (but not limited to):
1.
the warranties given by the Company under the
Placing Agreement being true and accurate and not misleading at the
date of the Placing Agreement, at the time of execution of the term
sheet and at Admission by reference to the facts and circumstances
then subsisting;
2.
the Company having complied with its obligations
under the Placing Agreement to the extent that such obligations are
required to be performed on or prior to Admission, in each case, in
all respects which are, in the good faith opinion of the Broker,
material in the context of the Placing and/or Admission;
3.
there not having occurred, in the good faith
opinion of the Broker, any material adverse change in the
group;
4.
each Placee returning a duly-executed
representation letter in the form provided by the
Broker;
5.
Admission taking place by not later than 8.00 a.m.
on 05 July (or such later time and/or date as the Company and the
Broker may agree being not later than 15 July).
The Broker has discretion to waive
compliance by the Company with the whole or any part of certain of
the Company's obligations in relation to the conditions in the
Placing Agreement and/or agree an extension in time for their
satisfaction. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees'
commitments as set out in this Announcement.
If (a) any of the conditions
contained in the Placing Agreement (including those described
above) are not fulfilled (or, to the extent permitted under the
Placing Agreement, waived by the Broker) by the relevant time or
date specified in the Placing Agreement (or such later time or date
as the Company and the Broker may agree), or (b) the Placing
Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below, the
Placing will lapse and each Placee's rights and obligations
hereunder shall cease and terminate at such time and no claim may
be made by a Placee in respect thereof.
Neither the Company, nor the Broker
nor any of their respective Affiliates shall have any liability to
any Placees (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a
Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision they may make as to
whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or date for the
satisfaction of any condition in the Placing Agreement or in
respect of the Placing generally and by participating in the
Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is within the
absolute discretion of the Company and/or the Broker.
By participating in the Placing,
each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations hereunder
terminate only in the circumstances described above and under
"Rights to terminate under the Placing Agreement" and will not be
capable of rescission or termination by the Placee after
confirmation (oral or otherwise) by a Broker.
Rights to terminate under the Placing
Agreement
The Broker may, at any time before
Admission, terminate its obligations under the Placing Agreement by
giving notice to the Company if, inter alia:
1.
the application for Admission and/or the Company's
application to Euroclear for the depositary interests representing
the Placing Shares to be admitted as participating securities in
CREST is withdrawn by the Company and/or refused by the London
Stock Exchange or Euroclear (as appropriate);
2.
it shall come to the notice of the Broker that any
statement contained in this Announcement is or has become untrue or
incorrect or misleading, or any matter has arisen which would
constitute a material omission from this Announcement;
3.
there has been a breach by the Company of any of
the warranties in the Placing Agreement ;
4.
there has been a breach by the Company of its
obligations under the Placing Agreement which, in the good faith
opinion of the Broker, is material in the context of the Placing
and/or Admission;
5.
in the good faith opinion of the Broker, a
material adverse change in respect of the group has occurred;
or
6.
there has occurred certain market disruption or
force majeure events; or
7.
any of the conditions in the Placing Agreement has
not been satisfied or (to the extent capable of being waived)
waived by the Broker by the date specified therein (or such later
time and/or the date as the Company and the Broker may
agree).
Upon termination, the Company and
the Broker shall be released and discharged (except for any
liability arising before or in relation to such termination) from
their respective obligations under or pursuant to the Placing
Agreement, subject to certain exceptions.
By participating in the Placing,
each Placee agrees that the exercise by the Broker of any right of
termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall
be within the absolute discretion of the Broker (acting in good
faith where required) and that the Broker will not need to make any
reference to, consult with or seek consent from the Placees in this
regard and the Broker and the Company (or the Company's directors,
officers or employees) shall not have any liability whatsoever to
the Placees in connection with any such exercise or failure so to
exercise.
No
prospectus
No offering document or prospectus
has been or will be prepared, submitted or approved by the FCA in
relation to the Placing and no such prospectus is required to be
published and Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis
of the information contained in this Announcement and any
information published by or on behalf of the Company by
notification to a Regulatory Information Service prior to the
publication of this Announcement and subject to the further terms
set forth in the trade confirmation to be provided to individual
prospective Placees.
Each Placee, by accepting a
participation in the Placing, agrees that the content of this
Announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and
confirms to the Broker and the Company that it has neither received
nor relied on any information, representation, warranty or
statement made by or on behalf of the Broker or any of their
respective Affiliates, any persons acting on their behalf or the
Company and neither of the Broker nor any of their respective
Affiliates, nor any persons acting on behalf of the foregoing, nor
the Company will be liable for the decision of any Placee to
participate in the Placing based on any other information,
representation, warranty or statement which the Placee may have
obtained or received (regardless of whether or not such
information, representation, warranty or statement was given or
made by or on behalf of any such persons).
By participating in the Placing,
each Placee acknowledges, and agrees with the Broker, for itself
and as agent for the Company that it has relied on its own
investigation of the business, financial or other position of the
Company in deciding to participate in the Placing. Nothing in this
paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent
misrepresentation.
Restriction on further issue of securities
The Company has undertaken to the
Broker that, between the date of the Placing Agreement and 90
calendar days after the date of Admission, it will not, without the
prior written consent of the Broker, directly or indirectly allot
or issue Common Shares, subject to customary exceptions agreed
between the Broker and the Company.
By participating in the Placing,
Placees agree that the exercise by the Broker of any power to
consent to waive the undertaking by the Company of a transaction
which would otherwise be subject to such undertaking shall be
within the absolute discretion of the Broker, and that they do not
need to make any reference to, consult with, or seek consent from,
Placees and that the Broker shall have no liability to Placees
whatsoever in connection with any such exercise (or failure to
exercise) of the power to grant consent.
Registration and settlement
Settlement of transactions in the
depositary interests representing the Placing Shares
(ISIN:USU0858L1036) following Admission will take place within the
CREST system, subject to certain exceptions. Settlement through
CREST is expected to occur on 05 July 2024 unless otherwise
notified by the Broker. The Broker reserves the right to require
settlement for and delivery of the Placing Shares to Placees by
such other means that they deem necessary, if delivery or
settlement is not possible or practicable within the CREST system
within the timetable set out in this Announcement or would not be
consistent with the regulatory requirements in the Placee's
jurisdiction.
Each Placee allocated Placing Shares
in the Placing will be sent a trade confirmation in accordance with
the standing arrangements in place with the Broker stating the
number of Placing Shares allocated to it, the Placing Price, the
aggregate amount owed by such Placee to the Broker and settlement
instructions. Each Placee agrees that it will do all things
necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed in
accordance with either the standing CREST or certificated
settlement instructions that it has in place with the
Broker.
A Placee's entitlement to receive
any Placing Shares under the Placing will be conditional on the
Broker's receipt of payment in full for such Placing Shares by the
relevant time to be stated in the written confirmation referred to
above, or by such later time and date as the Broker and the Company
may in their absolute discretion determine, or otherwise in
accordance with that confirmation's terms.
Interest is chargeable daily on
payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance
with the arrangements set out above at the rate of two percentage
points above the base rate of Barclays Bank Plc.
Each Placee is deemed to agree that
if it does not comply with these obligations: (a) the Company may
release itself (if it decides in its absolute discretion to do so)
and will be released from all obligations it may have to issue any
such Placing Shares to such Placee or at its direction which are
then unissued; (b) the Company may exercise all rights of lien,
forfeiture and set-off over and in respect of any Placing Shares to
the fullest extent permitted under its bylaws and constitution or
otherwise by law and to the extent that such Placee then has any
interest in or rights in respect of any Placing Shares; (c) the
Company or the Broker may sell (and all of them are irrevocably
authorised by such Placee to do so) all or any Placing Shares on
such Placee's behalf and then retain from the proceeds, for the
account and benefit of the Company or, where applicable, the Broker
(i) any amount up to the total amount due to it as, or in respect
of, subscription monies, or as interest on such monies, for any
Placing Shares, (ii) any amount required to cover any stamp duty or
stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties)
arising on the sale of such Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf,
and (iii) any amount required to cover dealing costs and/or
commissions necessarily or reasonably incurred by it in respect of
such sale; and (d) such Placee shall remain liable to the Company
(and to the Broker as applicable) for the full amount of any losses
or shortfall and of any costs which it may suffer or incur as a
result of it (i) not receiving payment in full for such Placing
Shares by the required time, and/or (ii) the sale of any such
Placing Shares to any other person at whatever price and on
whatever terms actually obtained for such sale by or for it. By
communicating a bid for Placing Shares, each Placee confers on the
Broker all such authorities and powers necessary to carry out any
such sale under this paragraph and agrees to ratify and confirm all
actions which the Broker lawfully takes in pursuance of such
sale.
If Placing Shares are to be
delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, the Placee should
ensure that the trade confirmation is copied and delivered
immediately to the relevant person within that
organisation.
Insofar as Placing Shares are
registered in the Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the
name of any person for whom the Placee is contracting as agent or
that of a nominee for such person, such Placing Shares will,
subject as provided below, be so registered free from any liability
to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If there are any
circumstances in which any other stamp duty or stamp duty reserve
tax is payable in respect of the issue of the Placing Shares,
neither the Broker nor the Company shall be responsible for the
payment thereof. Placees will not be entitled to receive any fee or
commission in connection with the Placing.
Representations and Warranties
By submitting a bid and/or
participating in the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on
such Placee's behalf) irrevocably acknowledges, confirms,
undertakes, represents, warrants and agrees (as the case may be)
with the Company and the Broker, in each case as a fundamental term
of its application for Placing Shares, that:
1.
it has read and understood this Announcement
(including this Appendix) in its entirety and acknowledges that its
participation in the Bookbuild and the Placing will be governed by
the terms and conditions of the Placing as referred to and included
in this Announcement (including this Appendix);
2.
no prospectus or offering document has been or
will be prepared in connection with the Placing and that it has not
received and will not receive a prospectus or other offering
document in connection with the Placing or the Placing
Shares;
3.
the Placing does not constitute a recommendation
or financial product advice and the Broker has not had regard to
its particular objectives, financial situation or needs;
4.
(a) the Common Shares are admitted to trading on
AIM, and the Company is therefore required to publish certain
business and financial information in accordance with the rules and
practices of the London Stock Exchange and Regulation (EU) No.
596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended ("UK MAR") (collectively "Exchange Information"), which includes
a description of the nature of the Company's business and the
Company's most recent balance sheet and profit and loss account,
and that it is able to obtain or access such information or
comparable information concerning any other publicly traded company
without undue difficulty; and (b) it has had access to such
financial and other information (including business, financial
condition, prospects, creditworthiness, status and affairs of the
Company, the Placing and the Placing Shares) concerning the
Company, the Placing and the Placing Shares as it has deemed
necessary in connection with its own investment decision to acquire
any of the Placing Shares;
5.
it has made its own assessment of the Company, the
Placing Shares and the terms and conditions of the Placing and has
relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other
position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing
and has satisfied itself that the information is still
current;
6.
it will indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold
harmless each of the Company, the Broker, their respective
Affiliates and any person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing
from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses (including
legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any
breach by it of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements,
agreements and undertakings in this Announcement (including this
Appendix) and agrees that the provisions of this Announcement
including this Appendix shall survive after completion of the
Placing;
7.
neither the Broker nor any of its Affiliates nor
any person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing has provided,
and none of them will provide it with, any material or information
regarding the Placing Shares or the Company; nor has it requested
that the Broker nor any of its Affiliates nor any person acting on
their behalf to provide it with any such material or
information;
8.
the content of this Announcement is exclusively
the responsibility of the Company and that neither the Broker nor
any of its Affiliates nor any person acting on behalf of any of the
foregoing will be responsible for or shall have any liability for
any information, representation or statement relating to the
Company contained in this Announcement or any information
previously or subsequently published by or on behalf of the Company
(including, without limitation, the Exchange Information) and
neither the Broker nor any of its Affiliates nor any person acting
on behalf of any of the foregoing will be liable for any Placee's
decision to participate in the Placing based on any information,
representation or statement contained in this Announcement or
otherwise. Each Placee further represents, warrants and agrees that
the only information on which it is entitled to rely and on which
such Placee has relied in committing to subscribe for Placing
Shares is the information contained in this Announcement and any
Exchange Information, such information being all that it deems
necessary to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing
Shares and that it has relied on its own investigation with respect
to the Placing Shares and the Company in connection with its
decision to subscribe for Placing Shares and acknowledges that it
is not relying on any investigation that the Broker, any of its
Affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing
may have conducted with respect to the Placing Shares or the
Company and its Affiliates and none of such persons has made any
representations to it, express or implied, with respect
thereto;
9.
in making any decision to acquire Placing Shares:
(a) it has such knowledge and experience in financial, business and
international investment matters as is required to evaluate the
merits and risks of subscribing for Placing Shares; (b) it is
experienced in investing in securities of this nature and is aware
that it may be required to bear, and is able to bear, the economic
risk of, and is able to sustain, a complete loss in connection with
the Placing; (c) it has had sufficient time and access to
information to consider and conduct its own investigation with
respect to the offer and subscription for Placing Shares, including
the tax, legal and other economic considerations; (d) it has relied
upon its own examination and due diligence of the Company and its
affiliates taken as a whole, and the terms of the Placing,
including the merits and risks involved; and (e) it will not look
to the Company, the Broker, any of their respective Affiliates, or
any person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing, for all or
part of any such loss or losses it may suffer;
10.
it has not relied on any confidential price
sensitive information concerning the Company in making its
investment decision to participate in the Placing and is not
purchasing the Placing Shares on the basis of material non-public
information or inside information (as defined under UK
MAR);
11.
it (and any person acting on its behalf) has the
funds available to pay for the Placing Shares it has agreed to
subscribe for and acknowledges, agrees and undertakes that it (and
any person acting on its behalf) will pay the total subscription
amount for the Placing Shares allocated to it in accordance with
the terms of this Announcement by the due time and date set out in
this Announcement or any trade confirmation issued pursuant to this
Announcement, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be
placed with other placees or sold at such price as the Broker
determines and without liability to such Placee, and it will remain
liable for any amount by which the net proceeds of such sale falls
short of the product of the Placing Price and the number of Placing
Shares allocated to it and may be required to bear any costs,
commissions, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other similar
taxes (together with any interest or penalties due pursuant to the
terms set out or referred to in this Announcement) which may arise
upon the sale of such Placing Shares on its behalf;
12.
it has not relied on any information relating to
the Company contained in any research reports prepared by the
Broker, its Affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of the
foregoing and understands that (a) neither the Broker nor any of
its Affiliates nor any person acting on behalf of any of the
foregoing has or shall have any liability for public information or
any representation; (b) neither the Broker nor any of its
Affiliates nor any person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing
has or shall have any liability for any additional information that
has otherwise been made available to such Placee, whether at the
date of this Announcement or otherwise; and (c) neither the Broker
nor any of its Affiliates nor any person acting on behalf of any of
the foregoing makes any representation or warranty, express or
implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of such
information, whether at the date of this Announcement or
otherwise;
13.
(a) it is entitled to acquire Placing Shares under
the laws and regulations of all relevant jurisdictions which apply
to it; (b) it has fully observed such laws and regulations and
obtained all such governmental and other
guarantees and other consents and authorities (including, without
limitation, in the case of any person on whose behalf it is acting,
all necessary consents and authorities to agree to the terms set
out or referred to in this Announcement (including this Appendix))
which may be required thereunder and has complied with all
necessary formalities; (c) it has all necessary capacity and
authority and is entitled to commit to participation in the Placing
and to perform its obligations in relation thereto and will honour
such obligations, and to make the representations and agreements
contained in this Appendix; (d) it has paid any issue, transfer or
other taxes due in connection with its participation in the Placing
in any territory; (e) it has not taken any action which will or may
result in the Company, or the Broker or any of their respective
Affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of the
foregoing being in breach of the legal and/or
regulatory requirements of any territory in connection with the
Placing; and (f) if it is a pension fund or investment company it
is aware of, and it is in full compliance with, all applicable laws
and regulations with respect to its subscription for Placing
Shares;
14.
it (and any person who it is acting on behalf of)
is outside of the United States and is not a US person and is
otherwise acquiring the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction"
meeting the requirements of Regulation S under the Securities
Act;
15.
it is not, and any person who it is acting on
behalf of is not, and at the time the Placing Shares are subscribed
will not be, a resident of, or with an address in any Restricted
Jurisdiction, and it acknowledges and agrees that the Placing
Shares have not been and will not be registered or otherwise
qualified under the securities legislation of any Restricted
Jurisdiction and may not be offered, sold, or acquired, directly or
indirectly, within those jurisdictions;
16.
it will not distribute, forward, transfer or
otherwise transmit this Announcement or any other materials
concerning the Placing (including any electronic copies thereof),
directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into any
Restricted Jurisdiction;
17.
if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is
used in Article 5(1) of the EU Prospectus Regulation, (a) the
Placing Shares purchased by it in the Placing will not be acquired
on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be
acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in a
member state of the EEA other than "qualified investors" within the
meaning of Article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation or in
circumstances in which the prior consent of the Broker has been
given to the offer or resale, or (b) where the Placing Shares have
been subscribed for by it on behalf of persons in any member state
of the EEA other than "qualified investors" within the meaning of
Article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation, the offer of those
Placing Shares to it is not treated under the EU Prospectus
Regulation as having been made to such persons;
18.
if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is
used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, (a) the
Placing Shares purchased by it in the Placing will not be acquired
on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be
acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in the UK
other than Relevant Persons or in circumstances in which the prior
consent of the Broker has been given to the offer or resale, or (b)
where the Placing Shares have been subscribed for by it on behalf
of persons in the UK other than Relevant Persons, the offer of
those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the UK Prospectus
Regulation as having been made to such persons;
19.
it has not offered or sold and will not offer or
sell any Placing Shares to the public in the United Kingdom or any
member state of the EEA except to persons whose ordinary activities
involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of
investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their
business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted in
and which will not result in an offer to the public in the United
Kingdom within the meaning of section 85(1) of FSMA or an offer to
the public in a member state of the EEA within the meaning of the
EU Prospectus Regulation;
20.
it has not been engaged to subscribe for the
Placing Shares on behalf of any other person who is not a qualified
investor (within the meaning of Article 2 of the UK Prospectus
Regulation) unless the terms on which it is engaged enable it to
make decisions concerning the acceptance of offers of transferable
securities on the client's behalf without reference to the client
as described in section 86(2) of FSMA;
21.
it has only communicated or caused to be
communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated
any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity
(within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) relating to the Placing
Shares in circumstances in which it is permitted to do so pursuant
to section 21 of FSMA and it acknowledges and agrees that this
Announcement has not been approved by the Broker in its capacity as
an authorised person under section 21 of FSMA and it may not
therefore be subject to the controls which would apply if it was
made or approved as a financial promotion by an authorised
person;
22.
it is aware of, has complied with and will comply
with all applicable laws with respect to anything done by it, or on
its behalf, in relation to the Placing Shares (including, without
limitation, all relevant provisions of FSMA and the Financial
Services Act 2012) in respect of anything done in, from or
otherwise involving the United Kingdom;
23.
it is aware of and has complied with its
obligations in connection with money laundering and terrorist
financing under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act
2000, the Terrorism Act 2006, the Money Laundering, Terrorist
Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer)
Regulations 2017 and related or similar rules, regulations or
guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any government
agency having jurisdiction in respect thereof and the Money
Laundering Sourcebook of the FCA (together, the "Money Laundering Regulations") and, if
it is making payment on behalf of a third party, that satisfactory
evidence has been obtained and recorded by it to verify the
identity of the third party as required by the Money Laundering
Regulations, and its application is only made on the basis that it
accepts full responsibility for any requirement to verify the
identity of its clients and other persons in respect of whom it has
applied and recorded by it to verify the identity of the third
party as required by the applicable law;
24.
if in the United Kingdom, it is a "qualified
investor" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus
Regulation and (a) has professional experience in matters relating
to investments falling within the definition of "investment
professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Order, (b) high net worth
entities falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or
(c) is a person to whom this Announcement may otherwise lawfully be
communicated;
25.
if in the United Kingdom, unless otherwise agreed
with the Broker, it is a "professional client" or an "eligible
counterparty" within the meaning of chapter 3 of the FCA's Conduct
of Business Sourcebook;
26.
if in a member state of the EEA, it is a
"qualified investor" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the EU
Prospectus Regulation;
27.
it will acquire, hold, manage and (if applicable)
dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the
purposes of its business only;
28.
its participation in the Placing would not give
rise to an offer being required to be made by it, or any person
with whom it is acting in concert, pursuant to Rule 9 of the City
Code on Takeovers and Mergers;
29.
if it has received any confidential price
sensitive information (including inside information as defined
under UK MAR) about the Company in advance of the Placing, it has
not: (a) dealt in the securities of the Company; (b) encouraged or
required another person to deal in the securities of the Company;
or (c) disclosed such information to any person except as permitted
under applicable law, prior to the information being made publicly
available;
30.
it is aware of its obligations regarding insider
dealing, including, without limitation, as contained within in the
Criminal Justice Act 1993 and UK MAR, and confirms that it has and
will continue to comply with those obligations;
31.
neither the Broker, nor any of its Affiliates nor
any person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing is making any
recommendations to it or advising it regarding the suitability or
merits of any transaction it may enter into in connection with the
Placing, and that neither the Broker, nor any of its Affiliates nor
any person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing has any duties
or responsibilities to it for providing advice in relation to the
Placing or in respect of any representations, warranties,
undertakings or indemnities contained in the Placing Agreement or
for the exercise or performance of any of the Broker's rights and
obligations thereunder, including any right to waive or vary any
condition or exercise any termination right contained
therein;
32.
it irrevocably appoints the Broker and any of its
duly-authorised officers as its agent for the purposes of executing
and delivering to the Company and/or its registrars any documents
on its behalf necessary to enable it to be registered as the holder
of any of the Placing Shares agreed to be taken up by it under the
Placing;
33.
that any person who confirms to the Broker on
behalf of a Placee an agreement to subscribe for Placing Shares
and/or who authorises the Broker to notify the Placee's name to the
Company's registrar, has authority to do so on behalf of the
Placee;
34.
the agreement to settle each Placee's allocation
of Placing Shares (and/or the allocation of a person for whom it is
contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax
depends on the settlement relating only to an acquisition by it
and/or such person direct from the Company of the Placing Shares in
question. Such agreement assumes that the Placing Shares are not
being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary
receipts or to issue or transfer the Placing Shares into a
clearance service. If there were any such arrangements, or the
settlement related to other dealing in the Placing Shares, stamp
duty or stamp duty reserve tax may be payable and the Placee agrees
that it shall be responsible for such stamp duty or stamp duty
reserve tax, and acknowledges that neither the Company nor the
Broker will be responsible. If this is the case, the Placee should
take its own advice and notify the Broker accordingly;
35.
that it, or the person specified by it for
registration as a holder of the Placing Shares, will be liable for
any stamp duty and all other stamp, issue, securities, transfer,
registration, documentary or other duties or taxes (including any
interest, fines or penalties relating thereto), if any, payable on
acquisition of any of the Placing Shares or the agreement to
subscribe for the Placing Shares and acknowledges and agrees that
none of the Broker, the Company, any of their respective Affiliates
or any person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing will be
responsible for any liability to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve
tax resulting from a failure to observe this requirement. Each
Placee and any person acting on behalf of such Placee agrees to
participate in the Placing, and agrees to indemnify the Company and
the Broker on an after-tax basis in respect of the same, on the
basis that depositary interest representing the Placing Shares will
be credited to the CREST stock account of Zeus who will hold them
as nominee on behalf of such Placee until settlement in accordance
with its standing settlement instructions;
36.
the Placing Shares will be issued subject to the
terms and conditions set out in this Announcement (including this
Appendix);
37.
in order to ensure compliance with the Money
Laundering Regulations, the Broker (for itself and as agent on
behalf of the Company) or the Company's registrars may, in their
absolute discretion, require verification of its identity. Pending
the provision to the Broker or the Company's registrars, as
applicable, of evidence of identity, definitive certificates in
respect of the Placing Shares may be retained at the Broker's
absolute discretion or, where appropriate, delivery of depositary
interests representing the Placing Shares to it in uncertificated
form, may be retained at the Broker's or the Company's registrars',
as the case may be, absolute discretion. If within a reasonable
time after a request for verification of identity, the Broker (for
themselves and as agent on behalf of the Company) or the Company's
registrars have not received evidence satisfactory to them, the
Broker and/or the Company may, at its absolute discretion,
terminate its commitment in respect of the Placing, in which event
the monies payable on acceptance of allotment will, if already
paid, be returned without interest to the account of the drawee's
bank from which they were originally debited;
38.
when a Placee or any person acting on behalf of
the Placee is dealing with the Broker, any money held in an account
with the Broker on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on
behalf of the Placee will not be treated as client money within the
meaning of the relevant rules and regulations of the FCA made under
FSMA. The Placee acknowledges that the money will not be subject to
the protections conferred by the client money rules; as a
consequence, this money will not be segregated from the Broker's
money in accordance with the client money rules and will be used by
the Broker in the course of its business; and the Placee will rank
only as a general creditor of the Broker;
39.
time is of the essence as regard its obligations
in respect of its participation in the Placing under these terms
and conditions;
40.
the basis of allocation will be determined by the
Company in its absolute discretion in consultation with the Broker.
The right is reserved to reject in whole or in part and/or scale
back any participation in the Placing;
41.
it irrevocably authorises the Company and the
Broker to produce this Announcement (including this Appendix)
pursuant to, in connection with, or as may be required by any
applicable law or regulation, administrative or legal proceeding or
official inquiry with respect to the matters set forth in this
Announcement (including this Appendix);
42.
its commitment to subscribe for Placing Shares on
the terms set out in this Announcement (including this Appendix)
will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may in future be
made to the terms or conditions of the Placing and that Placees
will have no right to be consulted or require that their consent be
obtained with respect to the Company's conduct of the
Placing;
43.
the Broker, and its Affiliates, acting as an
investor for its or their own account(s) may subscribe for and/or
purchase Placing Shares and, in that capacity may retain, purchase,
offer to sell or otherwise deal for its or their own account(s) in
the Placing Shares, any other securities of the Company or other
related investments in connection with the Placing or otherwise.
Accordingly, references in this Announcement to the Placing Shares
being offered, subscribed, acquired or otherwise dealt with should
be read as including any offer to, or subscription, acquisition or
dealing by, the Broker and/or any of its Affiliates acting as
investors for their own account(s). Each Placee further
acknowledges that the Broker and its Affiliates may enter
into financing arrangements and swaps with investors in connection
with which the Broker and any of its Affiliates may from time to
time acquire, hold or dispose of such securities of the Company,
including the Placing Shares. Neither the Broker nor the Company
intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transaction
otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory
obligation to do so;
44.
the Broker and its Affiliates may have engaged in
transactions with, and provided various investment banking,
financial advisory transactions and services in the ordinary course
of their business with the Company and/or its Affiliates for which
they would have received customary fees and commissions, and the
Broker and its Affiliates may provide such services to the Company
and its Affiliates in the future;
45.
a communication that the transaction or the book
is "covered" (i.e. indicated demand from investors in the book
equals or exceeds the amount of securities being offered) is not
any indication or assurance that the book will remain covered or
that the transaction and securities will be fully distributed by
the Broker. The Broker reserve the right to take up a portion of
the securities in the Placing as a principal position at any stage
at its sole discretion, inter alia, to take account of the
Company's objectives, MiFID II requirements and/or its allocation
policies;
46.
neither the Company nor the Broker owes any
fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any
acknowledgements, confirmations, representations, warranties,
undertakings or indemnities in the Placing Agreement;
47.
if it is subscribing for the Placing Shares as a
fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, it has full
power and authority to make, and does make, the foregoing
representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and
undertakings on behalf of each such accounts and it is and will
remain liable to the Company and the Broker for the performance of
all its obligations as a Placee in respect of the Placing
(regardless of the fact that it is acting for another person). Each
Placee agrees that the provisions of this paragraph will survive
the resale of the Placing Shares by or on behalf of any person for
whom it is acting;
48.
its participation in the Placing, these terms and
conditions and any contractual or non-contractual obligations
arising out of, or in relation to thereto, shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with English law and that the courts of
England shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide any
proceedings which may arise out of or in connection with these
terms and conditions, except that enforcement proceedings in
respect of the Placee's obligation to make payment for the Placing
Shares (together with any interest chargeable thereon) may be taken
by the Broker or the Company in any jurisdiction; and
49.
the Company, the Broker and others will rely upon
the truth and accuracy of the foregoing agreements,
acknowledgements, representations, warranties, agreements and
undertakings which are given to the Broker (for their own benefit
and, where relevant, the benefit of their respective Affiliates)
and the Company and are irrevocable.
No claim shall be made against the
Company, the Broker or their respective Affiliates or any other
person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing by a Placee to
recover any damage, cost, charge or expense which it may suffer or
incur by reason of or arising from the carrying out by it of the
work to be done by it pursuant to this Announcement or the
performance of its obligations pursuant to this Announcement or
otherwise in connection with the Placing.
No UK stamp duty or stamp duty
reserve tax should be payable to the extent that depositary
interests representing the Placing Shares are issued or transferred
(as the case may be) into CREST to, or to the nominee of, a Placee
who holds those shares beneficially (and not as agent or nominee
for any other person) within the CREST system and registered in the
name of such Placee or such Placee's nominee.
Any arrangements to issue or
transfer the Placing Shares into a depositary receipts system or a
clearance service or to hold the Placing Shares as agent or nominee
of a person to whom a depositary receipt may be issued or who will
hold the Placing Shares in a clearance service, or any arrangements
subsequently to transfer the Placing Shares, may give rise to stamp
duty and/or stamp duty reserve tax, for which neither the Company
nor the Broker will be responsible and the Placee to whom (or on
behalf of whom, or in respect of the person for whom it is
participating in the Placing as an agent or nominee) the
allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares has
given rise to such stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax undertakes
to pay such stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax forthwith and to
indemnify on an after-tax basis and to hold harmless the Company
and the Broker in the event that either of the Company and/or the
Broker has incurred any such liability to stamp duty or stamp duty
reserve tax.
In addition, Placees should note
that they will be liable for any capital duty, stamp duty and all
other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary
or other duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or
penalties relating thereto) payable outside the UK by them or any
other person on the acquisition by them of any Placing Shares or
the agreement by them to acquire any Placing Shares.
Each Placee should seek its own
advice as to whether any of the above tax liabilities
arise.
All times and dates in this
Announcement may be subject to amendment. The Broker shall notify
the Placees and any person acting on behalf of the Placees of any
such changes.
The rights and remedies of the
Broker and the Company under these terms and conditions are in
addition to any rights and remedies which would otherwise be
available to each of them and the exercise or partial exercise of
one will not prevent the exercise of others.
Each Placee may be asked to disclose
in writing or orally to the Broker:
(a) if he is an individual, his
nationality; or
(b) if he is a discretionary fund
manager, the jurisdiction in which the funds are managed or
owned.
Definitions and interpretation
In this Appendix, unless the context
otherwise requires:
"Admission"
|
admission of the Placing Shares to
trading on AIM becoming effective in accordance with Rule 6 of the
AIM Rules;
|
"AIM"
|
AIM, the market operated by the
London Stock Exchange;
|
"Bookbuild"
|
means the accelerated bookbuilding
process to be commenced by the Broker to use reasonable endeavours
to procure Placees for the Placing Shares, as described in this
Announcement and subject to the terms and conditions set out in
this Announcement and the Placing Agreement;
|
"Common Shares"
|
means shares of common stock, par
value $0.0001 each in the capital of the Company;
|
"CREST"
|
means the relevant system (as
defined in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001
No. 3755)) in respect of which Euroclear is the Operator (as
defined in such Regulations) in accordance with which securities
may be held and transferred in uncertificated form;
|
"Depositary Interests"
|
means the depositary interests
representing those Placing Shares to be settled in CREST which
shall be issued by Computershare Investor Services PLC as
depositary on Admission under the instruction of the
Company;
|
"FCA"
|
means the UK Financial Conduct
Authority;
|
"LSE"
|
London Stock Exchange
plc;
|
"Placees"
|
means persons who agree
conditionally to subscribe for the Placing Shares pursuant to the
Placing in accordance with the Terms and Conditions;
|
"Placing"
|
the proposed conditional placing of
the Placing Shares at the Placing Price pursuant to the terms of
the Placing Agreement, to be conducted by a bookbuild process on
the terms and conditions annexed to this Announcement;
|
"Placing Agreement"
|
the placing and agreement between
the Company, and the Broker entered into on the date of this
Announcement in connection with the Placing and
Admission;
|
"Placing Price"
|
33 pence per Placing
Share;
|
"Placing Shares"
|
23,917,151 new Common Shares;
and
|
"Securities Act"
|
means the United States Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
|