NOT FOR
RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN
WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO
WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF
SUCH JURISDICTION.
THE FOLLOWING
ANNOUNCEMENT IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT A PROSPECTUS OR PROSPECTUS
EQUIVALENT DOCUMENT AND INVESTORS SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY INVESTMENT
DECISION IN RELATION TO THE ACQUISITION AND NEW MUSTANG SHARES
EXCEPT ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION IN THE SCHEME DOCUMENT AND
THE MUSTANG CIRCULAR AND PROSPECTUS WHICH ARE PROPOSED TO BE
PUBLISHED IN DUE COURSE.
THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE UK
VERSION OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO 596/2014 WHICH IS PART OF
ENGLISH LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018,
AS AMENDED. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A
REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW
CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10 May
2024
RECOMMENDED ALL SHARE
OFFER
FOR
CYKEL AI
PLC
BY
MUSTANG ENERGY
PLC
to be implemented by means of
a scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the
Companies Act 2006
Summary
· The
boards of Mustang Energy Plc ("Mustang") and Cykel AI Plc ("Cykel")
are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the
terms of a recommended all share offer to be made by Mustang to
acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital
of Cykel (the "Offer" or the "Acquisition"). It is intended that
the Acquisition be implemented by means of a Court-sanctioned
scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the
"Scheme") between Cykel and Cykel Shareholders (or, if Mustang so
elects, with the consent of the Panel, a Takeover
Offer).
· Under
the terms of the Acquisition, each Cykel Shareholder will be
entitled to receive:
1.911 New Mustang Shares in
exchange for each 1 Cykel Share
Based on this exchange ratio
("Exchange Ratio") and a valuation of £1 million for the current
entire issued share capital of Mustang, the Acquisition implies an
offer value of 9.37 pence per Scheme Share and values the entire
issued ordinary share capital of Cykel at approximately £19.22
million.
On this basis, the Acquisition
represents:
•
A premium of approximately 1.30% to the Closing
Price of 9.25 pence per Cykel Share on 17 January 2024 (being the
last Business Day prior to the suspension of trading in Cykel
Shares); and
•
A discount of approximately 3.20% to the
three-month (less one week) VWAP of 9.68 pence per Cykel Share on
17 January 2024 (being the last Business Day prior to the
suspension of trading in Cykel Shares).
Background to and reasons for the
Acquisition
The Cykel Board and the Mustang
Board believe that there is a compelling strategic and financial
rationale for the Acquisition which will benefit the shareholders,
clients, commercial counterparties and other stakeholders of the
Combined Group.
Cykel was incorporated on 22 August
2023 and was admitted to trading on the Access segment of the Aquis
Stock Exchange Growth Market on 25 October 2023. Trading in the
Cykel Shares was suspended on 18 January 2024 due to the
transformational nature of the Acquisition.
Cykel is an early stage company that
intends to grow quickly through the operation of a software
business engaged in the development of advanced artificial
intelligence (AI) products, aiming to offer these to consumers
through a "software as a service" (SaaS) model.
The rise of potent Natural Language
Processing (NLP) text generators, exemplified by OpenAI's "GPT-4",
will serve as a catalyst for the widespread adoption of AI-driven
business applications. As NLP-based text generators gain mainstream
prominence, Cykel anticipates organisations embracing specialised
"value add" applications that augment their business operations.
This strategic orientation underscores Cykel's expectation of a
burgeoning market for business applications propelled by the
maturation of NLP technology.
Cykel has developed an AI-Powered
Task Operating System as a Google Chrome extension. This core
software, including all front and back-end coding, integration work
with third party providers, and publishing of Cykel's extension was
completed in Q4 2023. Cykel's AI-Powered Task Operating System
(Task OS) is designed to bring AI capabilities to the world of task
management, providing users with a platform for streamlined
workflows, intelligent task prioritisation and cross-platform
integration.
Mustang was formed to undertake an
acquisition of a target company, business or asset(s) with
operations in the energy or natural resources sectors. As a result
of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Mustang announced that it would
expand its search for appropriate acquisition targets to the entire
value chain of the energy industry and would also consider
potential acquisitions outside of the energy and natural resources
industries.
The Combined Group intends to expand
in the following areas:
· B2B
Sales: Cykel intends to market directly to B2B companies and expand
its marketing in the UK, Europe and North America. The goal is to
grow a client base materially in 2024 based on the successful
launch of the product in Q1 2024.
· Partnerships: Cykel intends to market through partnerships
with organisations that are selling to the B2B software
market.
· Technology: Cykel intends to offer more software features as
it expands its client base. The technology roadmap will be driven
primarily by user feedback from both customers and project
partners.
Cykel's AI software aims to be
available on a "freemium" basis. As such, the basic usage tier will
be free, but Software as a Service fees will be incurred over a
certain amount of requests per month.
The Cykel Directors and the Mustang
Directors believe that the Combined Group's admission to the Main
Market will not only enable greater liquidity of the Combined
Group's shares, but also will enhance the Combined Group's
corporate profile, which would in turn enhance the Combined Group
in its market perception, contracting with third parties and
attracting talent.
The Acquisition would allow the Cykel
Shareholders to exchange their Cykel Shares for New Mustang Shares,
being shares in the Combined Group. Upon completion of the
Acquisition, the Combined Group will be admitted to the Main
Market. The Cykel Directors believe that the Cykel Shareholders
will achieve greater liquidity by holding shares in the Combined
Group, rather than in Cykel alone. The Acquisition is an
opportunity to achieve an admission to listing on the Official List
and trading on the Main Market earlier than the Cykel Directors
initially expected.
Commenting on today's announcement,
Alan Broome, Chairman of Mustang, said:
"The Acquisition presents an
exciting opportunity for Mustang shareholders to engage in the
burgeoning growth of a dynamic, young company. Cykel's innovative
AI-Powered Task Operating System stands poised to revolutionise
organisational efficiency, automating repetitive tasks and
furnishing invaluable data-driven insights for strategic
decision-making. We firmly believe this Acquisition aligns with our
strategic objectives and offers compelling financial prospects for
our shareholders."
Commenting on today's announcement,
Jonathan Bixby, Executive Chairman of Cykel, said:
We are very excited about the
prospects of trading on the London Stock Exchange. The field of
Artificial Intelligence is one of the most exciting technology
trends in the world and allowing more investors access to this
trend is a positive outcome for Cykel and our
shareholders.
Mustang recommendation
· The
Mustang Directors, who have been so advised by Guild Financial as
to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of
the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice
to the Mustang Directors, Guild has taken into account the
commercial assessments of the Company Directors. Guild is providing
independent financial advice to the Mustang Directors for the
purpose of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
Cykel recommendation
· The
Cykel Directors, who have been so advised by Capital Plus Partners
as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of
the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice
to the Cykel Directors, Capital Plus Partners has taken into
account the commercial assessments of the Cykel Directors. Capital
Plus Partners is providing independent financial advice to the
Cykel Directors for the purpose of Rule 3 of the Takeover
Code.
· Accordingly, the Cykel Directors believe that the Acquisition
is in the best interests of Cykel Shareholders as a whole and
recommend unanimously that Cykel Shareholders vote or procure votes
in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution to
be proposed at the General Meeting (or, in the event that the
Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or
procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer), as all the Cykel
Directors holding Cykel Shares have irrevocably undertaken to do in
respect of their own beneficial holdings of 53,500,000 Cykel Shares
(representing, in aggregate, approximately 26.07% of the Cykel
Shares in issue as at the Latest Practicable Date).
Irrevocable undertakings
· As set
out above, Mustang has received irrevocable undertakings from the
Cykel Directors in respect of their own beneficial holdings of
53,500,000 Cykel Shares, representing approximately 26.07% of the
Cykel Shares in issue as at the Latest Practicable Date.
· Mustang has also received irrevocable undertakings from
certain other Cykel Shareholders to vote or procure votes in favour
of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution to be
proposed at the General Meeting (or, in the event that the
Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or
procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer) in respect of 58,500,000
Cykel Shares, representing approximately 28.51% of the Cykel Shares
in issue as at the Latest Practicable Date.
· In
aggregate, Mustang has received irrevocable undertakings from the
Cykel Directors and certain other Cykel Shareholders to vote or
procure votes in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the
Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting (or, in the event
that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to
accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer) in respect of a
total of 112,000,000 Cykel Shares, representing, in aggregate,
approximately 54.58% of the Cykel Shares in issue as at the Latest
Practicable Date. These undertakings will remain binding in the
event of a competing offer being made.
· In
addition to the irrevocable undertakings noted above, Mustang has
received irrevocable undertakings to vote or procure the vote in
favour of the Mustang Resolutions required for the issue of the New
Mustang Shares to the Cykel Shareholders. These undertakings have
been received from the Mustang Directors in respect of a total of
2,450,000 Mustang Shares, representing 20.14% of the Mustang Shares
in issue as at the Latest Practicable Date and from the Mustang
Shareholders in respect of a total of 2,721,600 Mustang Shares,
representing 22.38% of the Mustang Shares in issue as at the Latest
Practicable Date. The combined total is therefore in respect of
5,171,600 shares, representing 42.52% of the Mustang Shares in
issue as at the Latest Practicable Date.
· Full
details of the irrevocable undertakings received by Mustang are set
out in Appendix 3 to this announcement.
Timetable and conditions
· The
Acquisition will be implemented by way of the Scheme (or if Mustang
so elects and with the consent of the Panel, a Takeover
Offer).
· The
purpose of the Scheme is to provide for Mustang to become the owner
of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of
Cykel. This is to be achieved by transferring the Scheme Shares
held by Scheme Shareholders to Mustang, in consideration for which
Mustang will allot and issue the New Mustang Shares to the Scheme
Shareholders on the basis of 1.911 New Mustang Shares for each 1
Cykel Share.
· In
order to allot and issue the New Mustang Shares, Mustang is
required to publish the Prospectus and seek the approval of the
Mustang Shareholders of the Mustang Resolutions at the Mustang
General Meeting. The Acquisition is accordingly conditional on the
approval of the Mustang Shareholders of the Mustang
Resolutions.
· The
Scheme will be put to Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting and
to the Cykel Shareholders at the General Meeting. In order to
become Effective, the Scheme must be approved by a majority in
number of the Scheme Shareholders voting at the Court Meeting,
either in person or by proxy, representing at least 75% in value of
the Scheme Shares voted. In addition, the implementation of the
Scheme must also be approved by Cykel Shareholders at the General
Meeting.
· The
Acquisition will be on the terms and subject to the Conditions and
certain further terms set out in Appendix 1 to this announcement,
including, among other things: (a) the Admission Condition having
been satisfied; (b) the approval of the Mustang Resolutions by the
Mustang Shareholders at the Mustang General Meeting; (c) the
approval of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting and the
passing of the Resolution by the Cykel Shareholders at the General
Meeting; (d) the sanction of the Scheme by the Court; and (e) the
Scheme becoming Effective no later than the Long Stop
Date.
· The
Scheme Document will include full details of the Scheme, together
with an explanatory statement providing details of the Offer, and
the notices convening the Court Meeting and the General Meeting.
The Scheme Document will also contain the expected timetable of the
Acquisition and will specify the necessary actions to be taken by
Cykel Shareholders. The Scheme Document will be sent to Cykel
Shareholders within 28 days of the date of this announcement (or
such later date as Cykel, Mustang and the Panel agree).
· Mustang expects to send the Mustang Circular and the
Prospectus to Mustang Shareholders on or around the date of the
Scheme Document, summarising the background to, and reasons for,
the Acquisition, and including a notice convening the Mustang
General Meeting.
· The
Acquisition is currently expected to become Effective during the
second quarter of 2024, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of
the Conditions and certain further terms set out in Appendix 1 to
this announcement and to the full terms and conditions of the Offer
which will be set out in the Scheme Document.
The Cykel Directors are responsible
for arranging this announcement on behalf of Cykel. The Mustang
Directors are responsible for arranging this announcement on behalf
of Mustang. The LEI of Cykel is 9845003CB9FEA73A3E09. The LEI of Mustang is 213800QEO6L6JAS62H02
This summary should be read in conjunction with, and is
subject to, the following full text of this announcement and the
Appendices. The Scheme will be subject to the further terms and
conditions set out in Appendix 1 to this announcement and to the
full terms and conditions which will be set out in the Scheme
Document. Appendix 2 contains bases and sources of certain
information contained in this announcement. Details of irrevocable
undertakings received by Mustang are set out in Appendix 3. Certain
terms used in this announcement are defined in Appendix
4.
A copy of this announcement is
available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons
resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, for inspection on Mustang's
website at www.mustangplc.com and Cykel's website at www.cykel.ai.
For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of these websites and of
any other website accessible by hyperlinks on this website, are not
incorporated by reference into, and do not form part of, this
announcement.
Enquiries:
Mustang Energy Plc
|
|
Dean Gallegos - Managing
Director
|
dg@mustangplc.com
|
|
+61 416
220 007
|
Guild Financial Advisory Limited - Rule 3 Adviser to
Mustang
|
|
Ross Andrews
|
ross.andrews@guildfin.co.uk
|
|
+44 (0)
7973 839767
|
Cykel AI Plc
|
|
Jonathan Bixby - Executive
Chairman
|
Via First
Sentinel
|
First Sentinel Corporate Finance - AQSE Corporate Adviser to
Cykel
|
|
Brian Stockbridge
|
brian@first-sentinel.com
|
|
+44 (0) 20
3855 5551
|
Capital Plus Partners - Rule 3 Adviser to
Cykel
|
|
Dominic Berger
|
dpb@capplus.co.uk
|
|
+44 (0) 20
3821 6167
|
Clear Capital Markets - Broker to Cykel
|
|
Bob Roberts
|
+44 (0) 20
3869 6080
|
Druces LLP is providing legal advice
to Mustang in connection with the Acquisition. Fladgate LLP is
providing legal advice to Cykel in connection with the
Acquisition.
Inside
information
This Announcement contains inside
information as defined in the UK Market Abuse Regulation. Upon the
publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information
Service, such inside information is now considered to be in the
public domain.
The person responsible for arranging
the release of this Announcement on behalf of Mustang is [Dean
Gallegos, Managing Director]. The person responsible for arranging
the release of this Announcement on behalf of Cykel is Nicholas
Lyth, Financial Director.
IMPORTANT
NOTICES
Further
information
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not
intended to and does not constitute or form part of any offer to
sell or subscribe for or any invitation or the solicitation of an
offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the
solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant
to the Acquisition or otherwise. The Acquisition will be made
solely pursuant to the terms of the Scheme Document, which will
contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including
details of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition, together with
the accompanying Forms of Proxy. Any vote in respect of the Scheme
or other response in relation to the Acquisition should be made
only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme
Document. This announcement is not a prospectus, prospectus
equivalent document or scheme document and no investment decision
in relation to the Acquisition or the New Mustang Shares should be
made except on the basis of information in the
Prospectus.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement
in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by
law and therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves
about, and observe any applicable legal or regulatory
requirements. In particular, the ability of persons who are
not resident in the United Kingdom to vote their Cykel Shares with
respect to the Scheme at the Court Meeting, or to appoint another
person as proxy to vote at the Court Meeting on their behalf, may
be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they
are located. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions
may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any
responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions
by any person. This announcement has been prepared for the purposes
of complying with English law and the Takeover Code and the
information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have
been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance
with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom. This
announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus
equivalent document.
The Scheme Document (including notices of the Court Meeting
and the General Meeting), together with the relevant Forms of
Proxy, will be published as soon as practicable and in any event
within 28 days of this announcement (unless otherwise agreed with
the Panel).
Mustang and Cykel encourage Cykel Shareholders to read the
Prospectus, the Scheme Document (or any further documentation
published in connection with the Acquisition) carefully when it
becomes available because it will contain important information in
relation to the Acquisition. Any decision (other than an investment
decision in relation to the Acquisition or the New Mustang Shares)
by Cykel Shareholders in relation to the Acquisition should be made
only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme
Document. Any investment decision in relation to the Acquisition or
the New Mustang Shares should be made only on the basis of
information in the Prospectus.
The statements contained in this announcement are made as at
the date of this announcement, unless some other time is specified
in relation to them, and the release of this announcement shall not
give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the
facts set out in this announcement since such
date.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement
in or into jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be
restricted by the laws and/or regulations of those jurisdictions
and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes
who are subject to the laws and/or regulations of any jurisdiction
other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves about and
observe any such applicable laws and/or regulations in their
jurisdiction. Any failure to comply with
any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities
laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the
Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the
violation of such restrictions by any person.
Copies of this announcement and any documentation relating to
the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or
indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in
or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving
such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must
not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in or into or
from any Restricted Jurisdiction. If the Acquisition is implemented
by way of Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable
law or regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be made, directly or
indirectly, in or into or by use of the mails or any other means or
instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile, email or
other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or
foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national, state or other
securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover
Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means,
instrumentality or facilities or from within any Restricted
Jurisdiction.
The New Mustang Shares to be issued pursuant to the
Acquisition have not been and will not be registered under the
United States Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) nor under any of
the relevant securities laws of any Restricted Jurisdiction.
Accordingly, the New Mustang Shares may not be offered, sold or
delivered, directly or indirectly, into any Restricted
Jurisdiction, except pursuant to exemptions from applicable
requirements of any such jurisdiction.
Rules 26.1 and 26.2
Disclosure
Pursuant to Rules 26.1 and 26.2 of the Takeover
Code, a copy of
this announcement and the documents required to be published will
be available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons
resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Mustang's website at
www.mustangplc.com and at Cykel's website at www.cykel.ai
by no later than 12 noon (London
time) on the Business Day following the date of this announcement).
For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of the websites referred
to in this announcement, and the contents of any websites
accessible from hyperlinks on such websites are not incorporated
into and does not form part of this announcement.
Requesting Hard Copy
Documents
Pursuant to Rule 30.3 of the
Takeover Code, a person so entitled may request a copy of
this announcement and any information incorporated into it by
reference to another source in hard copy form by writing to Neville
Registrars of Neville House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, B62 8HD. A
person may also request that all future documents, announcements
and information to be sent to that person in relation to the Offer
should be in hard copy form.
Rule 2.9
Disclosure
In
accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Takeover Code, Cykel confirms that, as at the close of business on 9
May 2024 (being the last Business Day prior to the date of this
announcement), it has 205,183,350 ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each
in issue and 59,385,170 warrants to subscribe for ordinary shares
of 0.1 pence (48,000,000 warrants are exercisable at 1 pence per
share until 25 October 2026 and 11,385,170 warrants are exercisable
at 3 pence per share until 25 October 2028). The Shares of Cykel
are admitted to trading on the AQSE Growth Market. The
International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) of the Cykel
Shares is GB00BPTJZN05.
In
accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Takeover Code, Mustang confirms
that, as at the close of business on 9 May 2024 (being the last
Business Day prior to the date of this announcement), it has
12,161,966 ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each in issue, 636,986
warrants to subscribe for ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each
(exercisable at 30 pence per share until 15 November 2024) and
£200,000 10% unsecured convertible loan notes in issue (which have
a maturity date of 31 May 2024 and are convertible into Mustang
ordinary shares of 0.1 pence per share at a conversion price of 6
pence per share). The of Mustang Shares are admitted to trading on
the Main Market. The International Securities Identification Number
(ISIN) of the Mustang Shares is GB00BJ9MHH56.
No Profit Forecasts or
Estimates
No
statement in this announcement is intended, or is to be construed,
as a profit forecast, profit estimate, or quantified financial
benefits statement or estimate for any period and no statement in
this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or
earnings per share for Mustang or Cykel for the current or future
financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical
published earnings or earnings per share for Mustang or for
Cykel.
Other Disclosure Requirements
of the Takeover Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is
interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an
offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any
offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been
announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash)
must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement
of the offer period. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain
details of the person's interests and short positions in, and
rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of the offeree
company. An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule
8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London
time) on the 10th Business Day following the
commencement of the offer period. Relevant persons who deal in the
relevant securities of the offeree company prior to the deadline
for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a
Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover Code, any person who is, or
becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant
securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange
offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any
relevant securities of the offeree company. A Dealing Disclosure
must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's
interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any
relevant securities of the offeree company, save to the extent that
these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A
Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be
made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the Business Day
following the date of the relevant dealing.
If
two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an
interest in relevant securities of an offeree company, they will be
deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule
8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree
company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be
made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons
acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4 of
the Takeover Code).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of
whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing
Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on
the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including
details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the
offer period commenced and when any offeror was first
identified. You should contact the Panel's Market
Surveillance Unit on +44(0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as
to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure
or a Dealing Disclosure.
Disclaimers
Capital Plus Partners Ltd ("Capital Plus Partners"), which is
authorised and regulated by the FCA in the UK, is acting as
financial adviser and Rule 3 adviser exclusively for Cykel and no
one else in connection with the Offer and the matters set out in
this Announcement and will not be responsible to any person other
than Cykel for providing the protections afforded to clients of
Capital Plus Partners, nor for providing advice in relation to the
Offer, the content of this Announcement or any matter referred to
herein.
Guild Financial Advisory Limited ("Guild"), which is
authorised and regulated by the FCA in the UK, is acting as
financial adviser and Rule 3 adviser exclusively for Mustang and no
one else in connection with the Offer and the matters set out in
this Announcement and will not be responsible to any person other
than Mustang for providing the protections afforded to clients of
Guild, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the
content of this Announcement or any matter referred to
herein.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this announcement have been
subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for
the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly
and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an
arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede
them.
Forward-looking
Statements
This announcement (including any information incorporated by
reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the
Acquisition, and other information published by Mustang and Cykel
may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the
financial condition, results of operations and business of Mustang
and/or Cykel and certain plans and objectives of Mustang and/or
Cykel with respect thereto. These forward-looking statements can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical
or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words
such as "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend",
"plan", "goal", "believe", "hope", "aims", "continue", "will",
"may", "should", "would", "could", or other words of similar
meaning. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments
made by Mustang and/or Cykel in the light of their experience and
their perception of historical trends, current conditions, future
developments and other factors they believe appropriate. By their
nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty,
because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will
occur in the future and the factors described in the context of
such forward-looking statements in this document could cause actual
results and developments to differ materially from those expressed
in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although it is
believed that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such
expectations will prove to have been correct and you are therefore
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements which speak only as at the date of this document.
Neither Mustang nor Cykel assumes any obligation to update or
correct the information contained in this announcement (whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise), except as
required by applicable law.
There are several factors which could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied in
forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements are changes in the global, political,
economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces,
future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax rates and future
business combinations or dispositions.
Neither Mustang nor Cykel, nor any of their respective
associates or directors, officers, employees or advisers, provides
any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of
the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements
in this announcement will actually occur. Given the uncertainties
and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of
this announcement. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking
statements attributable to Mustang or Cykel or any of their
respective members, directors, officers, employees or advisers or
any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their
entirety by the cautionary statement above. Mustang and Cykel
disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking or other
statements contained in this announcement, except as required by
applicable law or regulation, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
General
No
person should construe the contents of this announcement as legal,
financial or tax advice. If you are in any doubt about the contents
of this announcement or the action you should take, you are
recommended to seek your own independent financial advice
immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor,
accountant or independent financial adviser duly authorised under
FSMA if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from
another appropriately authorised independent financial
adviser.
NOT FOR
RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN
WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO
WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF
SUCH JURISDICTION.
THE FOLLOWING
ANNOUNCEMENT IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT A PROSPECTUS OR PROSPECTUS
EQUIVALENT DOCUMENT AND INVESTORS SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY INVESTMENT
DECISION IN RELATION TO THE ACQUISITION AND NEW MUSTANG SHARES
EXCEPT ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION IN THE SCHEME DOCUMENT AND
THE MUSTANG CIRCULAR AND PROSPECTUS WHICH ARE PROPOSED TO BE
PUBLISHED IN DUE COURSE.
THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE UK
VERSION OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO 596/2014 WHICH IS PART OF
ENGLISH LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018,
AS AMENDED. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A
REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW
CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10 May
2024
RECOMMENDED ALL SHARE
OFFER
FOR
CYKEL AI
PLC
BY
MUSTANG ENERGY
PLC
to be effected by means of a
scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the
Companies Act 2006
1
Introduction
The boards of Mustang Energy Plc
("Mustang") and Cykel AI Plc ("Cykel") are pleased to announce that
they have reached agreement on the terms and conditions of a
recommended all share offer to be made by Mustang to acquire the
entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Cykel (the
"Offer" or the "Acquisition"). It is intended that the Acquisition
be implemented by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the "Scheme"). Mustang reserves
the right to elect, with the consent of the Panel, to implement the
Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer as an alternative to the
Scheme.
2
The Acquisition
Under the terms of the Acquisition,
each Cykel Shareholder will be entitled to receive:
1.911 New Mustang Shares in
exchange for each 1 Cykel Share
Based on this exchange ratio
("Exchange Ratio") and a valuation of £1 million for the current
entire issued share capital of Mustang, the Acquisition implies an
offer value of 9.37 pence per Scheme Share and values the entire
issued ordinary share capital of Cykel at approximately £19.22
million.
On this basis, the Acquisition
represents:
•
A premium of approximately 1.30% to the Closing
Price of 9.25 pence per Cykel Share on 17 January 2024 (being the
last Business Day prior to the suspension of trading in Cykel
Shares); and
•
A discount of approximately 3.20% to the
three-month (less one week) VWAP of 9.68 pence per Cykel Share on
17 January 2024 (being the last Business Day prior to the
suspension of trading in Cykel Shares).
Upon completion of the Acquisition,
Cykel Shareholders will hold approximately 95.05% of the entire
issued ordinary share capital of the Combined Group and Mustang
Shareholders will hold approximately 4.95% of the entire issued
ordinary share capital of the Combined Group (based on the existing
issued ordinary share capital of Cykel and of Mustang, in each case
as at the Latest Practicable Date).
The New Mustang Shares to be issued
to Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the Scheme will be issued
credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the
Mustang Shares in issue at the time the New Mustang Shares are
issued pursuant to the Scheme, including the right to receive all
dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid on Mustang
Shares by reference to a record date falling on or after the
Effective Date (but will not, for the avoidance of doubt, carry the
right to receive any dividends and other distributions for which
the record date is before the Effective
Date).
Fractions of New Mustang Shares will
not be issued to Scheme Shareholders and entitlements will be
rounded down to the nearest whole number of New Mustang Shares so
that all fractions of New Mustang Shares will be
disregarded.
The New Mustang Shares will be issued
in registered form and will be capable of being held in both
certificated form and uncertificated form.
Application will be made to the
FCA and the London Stock Exchange for the New Mustang Shares to be
admitted to listing on the Official List and to trading on the Main
Market. It is expected that Admission will become effective, and
that dealings for normal settlement in the New Mustang Shares will
commence, at 8.00 am on the Business Day immediately following the
Effective Date.
Subject to the Conditions and further
terms set out in Appendix 1 to this announcement and to be
set out in full in the Scheme Document, the Scheme
Shares will be acquired by Mustang fully paid and free from all
liens, equitable interests, charges, encumbrances, rights of
pre-emption and any other third party rights or interests of any
nature and together with all rights existing at the date of this
announcement or thereafter attaching thereto, including (without
limitation) the right to receive and retain, in full, all dividends
and other distributions (if any) declared, made or paid or any
other return of capital (if any), made on or after the date of this
announcement in respect of the Cykel Shares.
The Acquisition will be subject to
the Conditions and certain further terms set out in Appendix 1 to
this announcement, including, among other things: (a) the Admission
Condition having been satisfied; (b) the approval of the Mustang
Resolutions by the Mustang Shareholders at the Mustang General
Meeting; (c) the approval of Scheme Shareholders at the Court
Meeting and the passing of the Resolution by the Cykel Shareholders
at the General Meeting; (d) the sanction of the Scheme by the
Court; and (e) the Scheme becoming Effective no later than the Long
Stop Date. In order to become Effective, the Scheme must be
approved by a majority in number of Scheme Shareholders present and
voting (and entitled to vote), either in person or by proxy, at the
Court Meeting representing at least 75% in value of the Scheme
Shares voted by such holders.
The Scheme Document will include
full details of the Scheme, together with an explanatory statement
providing details of the Offer, and the notices convening the Court
Meeting and the General Meeting. The Scheme Document will also
contain the expected timetable of the Acquisition and will specify
the necessary actions to be taken by Cykel Shareholders. The Scheme
Document will be sent to Cykel Shareholders within 28 days of the
date of this announcement (or such later date as Cykel, Mustang and
the Panel agree).
Mustang expects to send the Mustang
Circular and the Prospectus to Mustang Shareholders on or around
the date of the Scheme Document, summarising the background to, and
reasons for, the Acquisition, and including a notice convening the
Mustang General Meeting.
3
Background to and reasons for the
Acquisition
The Cykel Board and the Mustang
Board believe that there is a compelling strategic and financial
rationale for the Acquisition which will benefit the shareholders,
clients, commercial counterparties and other stakeholders of the
Combined Group.
Cykel was incorporated on 22 August
2023 and was admitted to trading on the Access segment of the Aquis
Stock Exchange Growth Market on 25 October 2023. Trading in the
Cykel Shares was suspended on 18 January 2024 due to the
transformational nature of the Acquisition.
Cykel is an early stage company that
intends to grow quickly through the operation of a software
business engaged in the development of advanced artificial
intelligence (AI) products, aiming to offer these to consumers
through a "software as a service" (SaaS) model.
The rise of potent Natural Language
Processing (NLP) text generators, exemplified by OpenAI's "GPT-4",
is believed to serve as a catalyst for the widespread adoption of
AI-driven business applications. As NLP-based text generators gain
mainstream prominence, Cykel anticipates organisations embracing
specialised "value add" applications that augment their business
operations. This strategic orientation underscores Cykel's
expectation of a burgeoning market for business applications
propelled by the maturation of NLP technology.
Cykel has developed an AI-Powered
Task Operating System as a Google Chrome extension. This core
software, including all front and back end coding, integration work
with third party providers, and publishing of Cykel's extension was
completed in Q4 2023. Cykel's AI-Powered Task Operating System
(Task OS) is designed to bring AI capabilities to the world of task
management, providing users with a platform for streamlined
workflows, intelligent task prioritisation, and cross-platform
integration.
Mustang was formed to undertake an
acquisition of a target company, business or asset(s) with
operations in the energy or natural resources sectors. As a result
of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Mustang announced that it would
expand its search for appropriate acquisition targets to the entire
value chain of the energy industry and would also consider
potential acquisitions outside of the energy and natural resources
industries.
The Combined Group intends to expand
in the following areas:
· B2B
Sales: Cykel intends to market directly to B2B companies and expand
its marketing in the UK, Europe and North America. The goal is to
grow a client base materially in 2024 based on the successful
launch of the product in Q1 2024.
· Partnerships: Cykel intends to market through partnerships
with organisations that are selling to the B2B software
market.
· Technology: Cykel intends to offer more software features as
it expands its client base. The technology roadmap will be driven
primarily by user feedback from both customers and project
partners.
Cykel's AI software aims to be
available on a "freemium" basis. As such, the basic usage tier will
be free, but Software as a Service fees will be incurred over a
certain amount of requests per month.
The Cykel Directors and the Mustang
Directors believe that the Combined Group's admission to the Main
Market will not only enable greater liquidity of the Combined
Group's shares, but also will enhance the Combined Group's
corporate profile, which would in turn enhance the Combined Group
in its market perception, contracting with third parties and
attracting talent.
The Acquisition would allow the Cykel
Shareholders to exchange their Cykel Shares for New Mustang Shares,
being shares in the Combined Group. Upon completion of the
Acquisition, the Combined Group will be admitted to the Main
Market. The Cykel Directors believe that the Cykel Shareholders
will achieve greater liquidity by holding shares in the Combined
Group, rather than in Cykel alone. The Acquisition is an
opportunity to achieve an admission to listing on the Official List
and trading on the Main Market earlier than the Cykel Directors
initially expected.
Upon completion of the Acquisition
and the admission to trading on the Official List, the Mustang
Directors will resign and the Cykel Directors will be appointed to
the board of the Combined Group. The Mustang Concert Party and
Cykel Directors have no intention to change:
(i) the future
business for the Combined Group, including research and
development. The Acquisition will not have any impact on the
current activities of Cykel. The Combined Group will undertake the
activities of Cykel;
(ii) the employees
or pension schemes of the Combined Group. As at the date of this
announcement, Mustang only has one employee, who is also a Mustang
Director, and who will resign on completion of the Acquisition and
the admission of the Combined Group to trading on the Official
List, and it does not have any pension schemes. Other than as
aforementioned, the Acquisition is not expected to have any
repercussions on employment or pensions for the Combined Group. The
Combined Group will be led by Cykel Directors who will be appointed
at Admission and the Mustang Directors will resign;
(iii) the strategic plans
for the Combined Group's places of business, including on the
location of the headquarters;
(iv) employer
contributions into any pension scheme(s), the accrual of benefits
for existing members, or the admission of new members. As at the
date of this announcement, neither Mustang nor Cykel has any
pension schemes;
(v) redeployment of
the Combined Group's fixed assets; and/or
(vi) the continuation of
the Mustang Shares being admitted to listing on the standard
listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main
Market (subject to Admission occurring).
4
Background to and reasons for the recommendation
The Cykel Directors and the Mustang
Directors believe that the Acquisition will deliver material value
for both sets of shareholders and that there is a compelling
strategic and financial rationale for the Acquisition which will
benefit the shareholders, clients, commercial counterparties and
other stakeholders of the Combined Group. The Cykel Directors and
the Mustang Directors believe that the Acquisition is an
opportunity for the Combined Group to achieve readmission to
listing on the Official List and to trading on the Main Market on
the basis of the Transitional Rules, following which the Combined
Group will be well placed to carry out Cykel's business
strategy.
5
Recommendation
The Mustang Directors, who have been
so advised by Guild Financial as to the financial terms of the
Acquisition, consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and
reasonable. In providing its advice to the Mustang Directors, Guild
has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Company
Directors. Guild is providing independent financial advice to the
Mustang Directors for the purpose of Rule 3 of the Takeover
Code.
The Cykel Directors, who have been
so advised by Capital Plus Partners as to the financial terms of
the Acquisition, consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair
and reasonable and in the best interests of the Cykel Shareholders
taken as a whole. In providing its advice to the Cykel Directors,
Capital Plus Partners has taken into account the commercial
assessments of the Cykel Directors. Capital Plus Partners is
providing independent financial advice to the Cykel Directors for
the purpose of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
Accordingly, the Cykel Directors
unanimously recommend that the Cykel Shareholders vote or procure
votes in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the
Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting (or, in the event
that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to
accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer), as all the
Cykel Directors holding Cykel Shares have irrevocably undertaken to
do in respect of their own beneficial holdings of 53,500,000 Cykel
Shares (representing, in aggregate, approximately 26.07% of the
Cykel Shares in issue on the Latest Practicable Date).
6
Irrevocable undertakings
In addition to the irrevocable
undertakings from the Cykel Directors, Mustang has received
irrevocable undertakings from certain other Cykel Shareholders to
vote or procure votes in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the
Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting (or, in the event
that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to
accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer) in respect of
58,500,000 Cykel Shares, representing approximately 28.15% of the
Cykel Shares in issue as the Latest Practicable Date.
In aggregate, Mustang has received
irrevocable undertakings to vote or procure votes in favour of the
Acquisition in respect of 112,000,000 Cykel Shares, representing,
in aggregate, approximately 54.58% of the Cykel Shares in issue as
at the Latest Practicable Date.
In addition to the irrevocable
undertakings noted above, Mustang has received irrevocable
undertakings to vote or procure the vote in favour of the Mustang
Resolutions in respect of 5,171,600 Mustang Shares, representing
45.52% of the Mustang Shares in issue as at the Latest Practicable
Date.
Full details of the irrevocable
undertakings received by Mustang are set out in Appendix 3 to this
announcement.
7
Information on Mustang
Mustang was formed to undertake an
acquisition of a target company, business or asset(s) with
operations in the energy or natural resources sectors. As a result
of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Mustang announced that it would
expand its search for appropriate acquisition targets to the entire
value chain of the energy industry and would also consider
potential acquisitions outside of the energy and natural resources
industries.
On 29 July 2019, Mustang completed
its IPO and was admitted to listing on the Official List by way of
a Standard Listing and to trading on the Main Market. Mustang
raised £750,000 (before expenses) in conjunction with the IPO
through a placing.
In March 2021, Mustang completed a
placing raising gross proceeds of £167,160.
Mustang attempted an acquisition of
VRFB Holdings Limited. On 9 August 2023, Mustang announced that it
was unable to meet the conditions of that proposed acquisition, and
the conditional acquisition agreements therefore
terminated.
The Acquisition will allow Mustang
to carry out the purpose for which it was incorporated and admitted
to listing on the Official List and to trading on the Main
Market.
Further details in relation to
Mustang will be contained in the Scheme Document.
8
Information on Cykel
Cykel is an early stage company that
intends to grow quickly through the operation of a software
business engaged in the development of advanced artificial
intelligence (AI) products, aiming to offer these to consumers
through a "software as a service" (SaaS) model. Cykel intends to
leverage the expertise of its board of directors, software
development experience and networks in the technology sector
including companies like IronPoint Technologies (sold to the Active
Network), Strangeloop Networks (sold to Radware) and CTO AI Inc. to
drive value creation and to establish the business. In addition,
Cykel Directors believe it has a proven capability in transaction
origination and strategic business plan execution to achieve
significant growth.
In September 2023, Cykel raised
initial capital of c. £568,500, which enabled it to formulate its
business plan, specifically for product development, marketing and
operations. On 25 October 2023 Cykel was admitted to trading on the
Access Segment of the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market and raised
£1,750,000.50 through its fundraise. Trading in the Cykel Shares was suspended on 18 January 2024
due to the transformational
nature of the
Acquisition.
Cykel has developed an AI-Powered
Task Operating System as a Google Chrome extension. As announced by
Cykel on 4 December 2023, this core software, including all front
and back end coding, integration work with third party providers,
and publishing of Cykel's extension was completed in Q4 2023.
Cykel's AI-Powered Task Operating System (Task OS) is designed to
bring AI capabilities to the world of task management, providing
users with a platform for streamlined workflows, intelligent task
prioritisation, and cross-platform integration.
Following successful completion of
the "version one" development, Cykel entered into the "beta launch"
stage of its software in December 2023, with a "VIP" product launch
for 5 beta clients. Following the "VIP" product launch, Cykel
intends to complete a full product launch of the software, to occur
in Q2 2024.
9
Conditions to the Scheme and the Acquisition
It is intended that the Acquisition
will be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of
arrangement between Cykel and the Scheme Shareholders under Part 26
of the Companies Act, although Mustang reserves the right to elect
(with the consent of the Panel) to implement the Acquisition by way
of a Takeover Offer as an alternative to the Scheme.
The effect of the Scheme is to
provide for Mustang to become the holder of the entire issued and
to be issued ordinary share capital of Cykel. To become Effective,
the Scheme must be approved at the Court Meeting by a majority in
number of Scheme Shareholders present and voting (and entitled to
vote), either in person or by proxy, at the Court Meeting and who
represent 75 per cent or more in value of the Scheme Shares voted
by those Scheme Shareholders. In respect of the approval of the
Scheme, Scheme Shareholders will be entitled to cast one vote for
each Scheme Share held. The Scheme also requires the Resolution to
be approved by the requisite majority of Cykel Shareholders at the
General Meeting.
Once the necessary approvals have
been obtained at the Mustang General
Meeting, the Court Meeting and the General
Meeting, and the other Conditions (save for the Condition set out
at paragraph 4 of Part A of Appendix 1) have been satisfied or, if
applicable, waived, the Scheme must be sanctioned by the Court
(with or without modification but subject to any modification being
on terms reasonably acceptable to Mustang and Cykel). The Scheme
will only become Effective once a copy of the Scheme Court Order is
delivered to the Registrar of Companies for
registration.
The Acquisition is subject to the
Conditions and further terms set out in Appendix 1 to this
announcement and to the full terms and conditions that will be set
out in the Scheme Document, including, among other
things:
a) the
Admission Condition having been satisfied;
b)
the approval of the Mustang Resolutions by the
Mustang Shareholders at the Mustang General Meeting;
c) the
Scheme becoming Effective by 11.59 p.m. (London time) on the Long
Stop Date (or such later date as may be
agreed between Mustang and Cykel and the Panel (and that the Court
may allow));
d) the approval of
the Scheme by a majority in number of Scheme Shareholders present
and voting (and entitled to vote), either in person or by proxy, at
the Court Meeting and who represent at least 75% in value of the
Scheme Shares voted by such holders;
e) the passing of
the Resolution by the requisite majority of Cykel Shareholders at
the General Meeting;
f) the
sanction of the Scheme by the Court (with or without modification
(but subject to such modification being acceptable to Mustang and
Cykel)); and
g) a copy of
the Scheme Court Order is delivered to the Registrar of
Companies.
The Scheme Document will include
full details of the Scheme, together with notices of the Court
Meeting, the General Meeting (and the associated Forms of Proxy)
and the expected timetable. It will also specify the action to be
taken by Scheme Shareholders.
Subject to the satisfaction of the
Conditions, the Scheme is expected to become effective during the
second quarter of 2024.
The Scheme will be governed by
English law and will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Court
and the applicable requirements of the Takeover Code, the Panel,
the London Stock Exchange, the Aquis Rules, the FCA and the
Registrar of Companies.
Mustang expects to send the Mustang
Circular and the Prospectus to Mustang Shareholders on or around
the
date of the Scheme Document,
summarising the background to, and reasons for, the Acquisition,
and
including a notice convening the
Mustang General Meeting.
10
Right to switch to a Takeover Offer
Mustang reserves the right to elect
(with the consent of the Panel) to implement the Acquisition by way
of a Takeover Offer as an alternative to the Scheme. In such event,
the Takeover Offer will be implemented on substantially the same
terms, so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the
Scheme, subject to appropriate amendments to reflect the change in
method of effecting the Acquisition.
Further, in such circumstances, if
sufficient acceptances of the Takeover Offer are received and/or
sufficient Cykel Shares are otherwise acquired, it is the intention
of Mustang to apply the provisions of the Companies Act to acquire
compulsorily any outstanding Cykel Shares to which such Takeover
Offer relates.
11
Admission of the New Mustang Shares
Application will be made to the FCA
and the London Stock Exchange for the New Mustang Shares to
be
admitted to listing on the Official
List and to trading on the Main Market. It is expected that
Admission will
become effective and that dealings
for normal settlement in the New Mustang Shares will commence at
8.00
am on the first Business Day
following the Effective Date.
12
Cancellation of admission to trading on the AQSE Growth Market and
re-registration as a private limited company
Trading in the Cykel Shares on the
AQSE Growth Market was suspended on 18 January 2024. It is intended
that an application will be made to Aquis for the cancellation of
admission to trading of Cykel Shares on the AQSE Growth Market,
with effect from or shortly after the Effective Date.
Share certificates in respect of
Cykel Shares will cease to be valid and should be destroyed on the
Effective Date. In addition, entitlements held within CREST to
Cykel Shares will be cancelled on the Effective Date.
It is Mustang's intention that, in
due course and following the cancellation of admission to trading
on the AQSE Growth Market, Cykel will be re-registered as a private
limited company.
13
Disclosure of Interests
As at the Latest Practicable Date,
neither Mustang, nor any of its directors, nor, so far as Mustang
is aware, any person acting in concert (within the meaning of the
Takeover Code) with any of them for the purposes of the Acquisition
has:
· any
interest in or right to subscribe for any relevant securities of
Cykel;
· any
short positions in respect of relevant securities of Cykel (whether
conditional or absolute and whether in the money or otherwise),
including any short position under a derivative, any agreement to
sell or any delivery obligation or right to require another person
to purchase or take delivery;
· borrowed or lent any relevant securities of Cykel (including,
for these purposes, any financial collateral arrangements of the
kind referred to in Note 4 on Rule 4.6 of the Takeover Code), save
for any borrowed relevant securities of Cykel which had been either
on-lent or sold; or
· entered into any dealing arrangement of the kind referred to
in Note 11 on the definition of acting in concert in the Takeover
Code.
"Interests in securities" for these
purposes and within the meaning of the Takeover Code arise, in
summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether absolute
or conditional, to changes in the price of securities (and a person
who only has a short position in securities is not treated as
interested in those securities). In particular, a person will be
treated as having an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership, voting
rights or control of securities, or by virtue of any agreement to
purchase, option in respect of, or derivative referenced to,
securities.
14
Documents available for inspection
Copies of the following documents
are available, or will be made available promptly and by no later
than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the date
of this announcement, on www.mustangplc.com
and www.cykel.ai subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident
in Restricted Jurisdictions:
a) this
announcement
b) the irrevocable
undertakings listed in Appendix 3; and
c) the
consent letters from each of Capital Plus Partners and Guild
referred to in paragraph 16
below.
For the avoidance of doubt, the
contents of any website referred to in this announcement, and the
contents of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on such
websites are not incorporated into and do not form part of this
announcement.
15
Overseas shareholders
The availability of the Acquisition
and the distribution of this announcement to Cykel Shareholders who
are not resident in the UK may be affected by the laws of the
relevant jurisdiction in which they are located. Such persons
should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or
regulatory requirements of their jurisdiction. Cykel
Shareholders who are in any doubt regarding such matters should
consult an appropriate independent professional adviser in the
relevant jurisdiction without delay.
This announcement does not
constitute an offer for sale of any securities or an offer or an
invitation to purchase any securities. Cykel Shareholders are
advised to read carefully the Scheme Document and related Forms of
Proxy once they have been despatched.
Further information for Cykel
Shareholders resident, or located, in overseas jurisdictions will
be set out in the Scheme Document.
16
General
Holders of the Cykel Warrants will
be offered to cancel their Cykel Warrants in exchange for the issue
of new warrants in Mustang. Holders of the Cykel Warrants will be
contacted regarding the effect of the Acquisition on their rights
under the Cykel Warrants and this proposal will be made to such
participants.
The Acquisition will be made on the
terms and subject to the Conditions and further terms set out in
Appendix 1 to this announcement and the full terms and conditions
to be set out in the Scheme Document. The bases and sources of
certain information contained in this announcement are set out in
Appendix 2. Appendix 3 contains the details of the irrevocable
undertakings received by Mustang in relation to the Acquisition.
Certain terms used in this announcement are defined in Appendix
4.
The Scheme Document will include
full details of the Scheme, together with an explanatory statement
providing details of the Acquisition, and the notices convening the
Court Meeting and the General Meeting. The Scheme Document will
also contain the expected timetable of the Acquisition and will
specify the necessary actions to be taken by Cykel Shareholders.
The Scheme Document will be sent to Cykel Shareholders within 28
days of the date of this announcement (or such later date as Cykel,
Mustang and the Panel agree).
The Cykel Directors are responsible
for arranging this announcement on behalf of Cykel. The Mustang
Directors are responsible for arranging this announcement on behalf
of Mustang. The LEI of Cykel is 9845003CB9FEA73A3E09.
The LEI of Mustang is
213800QEO6L6JAS62H02
Each of Capital Plus Partners and
Guild has given and not withdrawn its written consent to
publication of this announcement with the inclusion in this
announcement of references to its name in the form and context in
which they appear.
IMPORTANT
NOTICES
Further
information
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not
intended to and does not constitute or form part of any offer to
sell or subscribe for or any invitation or the solicitation of an
offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the
solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant
to the Offer or otherwise. The Acquisition will be made solely
pursuant to the terms of the Scheme Document, which will contain
the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details
of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition, together with the
accompanying Forms of Proxy. Any vote in respect of the Scheme or
other response in relation to the Offer should be made only on the
basis of the information contained in the Scheme
Document.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement
in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by
law and therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves
about, and observe any applicable legal or regulatory
requirements. In particular, the ability of persons who are
not resident in the United Kingdom to vote their Cykel Shares with
respect to the Scheme at the Court Meeting, or to appoint another
person as proxy to vote at the Court Meeting on their behalf, may
be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they
are located. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions
may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any
responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions
by any person. This announcement has been prepared for the purposes
of complying with English law and the Takeover Code and the
information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have
been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance
with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom. This
announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus
equivalent document.
The Scheme Document (including notices of the Court Meeting
and the General Meeting), together with the relevant Forms of
Proxy, will be published as soon as practicable and in any event
within 28 days of this announcement (unless otherwise agreed with
the Panel).
Mustang and Cykel encourage Cykel Shareholders to read the
Scheme Document (or any further documentation published in
connection with the Acquisition) carefully when it becomes
available because it will contain important information in relation
to the Acquisition. Any response in relation to the Acquisition
should be made only on the basis of the information contained in
the Scheme Document.
Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation
relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be,
directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed
or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons
receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and
trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it
in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. If the Acquisition
is implemented by way of Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted
by applicable law or regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be
made, directly or indirectly, in or into or by use of the mails or
any other means or instrumentality (including, without limitation,
facsimile, email or other electronic transmission, telex or
telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of
a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted
Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer will not be capable of
acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities or
from within any Restricted Jurisdiction.
The New Mustang Shares to be issued pursuant to the
Acquisition have not been and will not be registered under the
United States Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) nor under any of
the relevant securities laws of any Restricted Jurisdiction.
Accordingly, the New Mustang Shares may not be offered, sold or
delivered, directly or indirectly, into any Restricted
Jurisdiction, except pursuant to exemptions from applicable
requirements of any such jurisdiction.
Rule 26.1
Disclosure
Pursuant to Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this
announcement will be available at www.mustangplc.com and
www.cykel.ai by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business
Day following the date of this announcement. The content of the
websites referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into
and does not form part of this announcement.
Requesting Hard Copy
Documents
Pursuant to Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, a person so
entitled may request a copy of this announcement and any
information incorporated into it by reference to another source in
hard copy form by writing to Neville Registrars of
Neville House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, B62 8HD.
A person may
also request that all future documents, announcements and
information to be sent to that person in relation to the Offer
should be in hard copy form.
Rule 2.9
Disclosure
In
accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Takeover Code, Cykel confirms that,
as at the close of business on 9 May 2024 (being the last Business
Day prior to the date of this announcement), it has 205,183,350
ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each in issue
and 59,385,170
warrants to subscribe for ordinary shares of 0.1 pence (48,000,000
warrants are exercisable at 1 pence per share until 25 October 2026
and 11,385,170 warrants are exercisable at 3 pence per share until
25 October 2028).The International Securities
Identification Number (ISIN) of the Cykel Shares is
GB00BPTJZN05.
In
accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Takeover Code, Mustang confirms that, as at the close of business on 9 May
2024 (being the last Business Day prior to the date of this
announcement), it has 12,161,966 ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each
in issue, 636,986 warrants to subscribe for ordinary shares of 0.1
pence each (exercisable at 30 pence per share until 15 November
2024) and £200,000 10% unsecured convertible loan notes in issue
(which have a maturity date of 31 May 2024 and are convertible into
Mustang ordinary shares of 0.1 pence per share at a conversion
price of 6 pence per share). The International Securities
Identification Number (ISIN) of the Mustang Shares is
GB00BJ9MHH56.
No Profit Forecasts or
Estimates
No
statement in this announcement is intended, or is to be construed,
as a profit forecast, profit estimate, or quantified financial
benefits statement or estimate for any period and no statement in
this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or
earnings per share for Mustang or Cykel for the current or future
financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical
published earnings or earnings per share for Mustang or for
Cykel.
Other Disclosure Requirements
of the Takeover Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is
interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an
offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any
offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been
announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash)
must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement
of the offer period. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain
details of the person's interests and short positions in, and
rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of the offeree
company. An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule
8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London
time) on the 10th Business Day following the commencement of the
offer period. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities
of the offeree company prior to the deadline for making an Opening
Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing
Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover Code, any person who is, or
becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant
securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange
offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any
relevant securities of the offeree company. A Dealing Disclosure
must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's
interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any
relevant securities of the offeree company, save to the extent that
these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A
Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be
made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the Business Day
following the date of the relevant dealing.
If
two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an
interest in relevant securities of an offeree company, they will be
deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule
8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree
company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be
made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons
acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4 of
the Takeover Code).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of
whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing
Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on
the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including
details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the
offer period commenced and when any offeror was first
identified. You should contact the Panel's Market
Surveillance Unit on +44(0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as
to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure
or a Dealing Disclosure.
Disclaimers
Capital Plus Partners Ltd ("Capital Plus Partners"), which is
authorised and regulated by the FCA in the UK, is acting as
financial adviser and Rule 3 adviser exclusively for Cykel and no
one else in connection with the Offer and the matters set out in
this Announcement and will not be responsible to any person other
than Cykel for providing the protections afforded to clients of
Capital Plus Partners, nor for providing advice in relation to the
Offer, the content of this Announcement or any matter referred to
herein.
Guild Financial Advisory Limited ("Guild"), which is
authorised and regulated by the FCA in the UK, is acting as
financial adviser and Rule 3 adviser exclusively for Mustang and no
one else in connection with the Offer and the matters set out in
this Announcement and will not be responsible to any person other
than Mustang for providing the protections afforded to clients of
Guild, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the
content of this Announcement or any matter referred to
herein.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this announcement have been
subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for
the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly
and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an
arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede
them.
Forward-looking
Statements
This announcement (including any information incorporated by
reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the
Offer, and other information published by Mustang and Cykel may
contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the
financial condition, results of operations and business of Mustang
and/or Cykel and certain plans and objectives of Mustang and/or
Cykel with respect thereto. These forward-looking statements can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical
or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words
such as "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend",
"plan", "goal", "believe", "hope", "aims", "continue", "will",
"may", "should", "would", "could", or other words of similar
meaning. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments
made by Mustang and/or Cykel in the light of their experience and
their perception of historical trends, current conditions, future
developments and other factors they believe appropriate. By their
nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty,
because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will
occur in the future and the factors described in the context of
such forward-looking statements in this document could cause actual
results and developments to differ materially from those expressed
in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although it is
believed that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such
expectations will prove to have been correct and you are therefore
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements which speak only as at the date of this document.
Neither Mustang nor Cykel assumes any obligation to update or
correct the information contained in this announcement (whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise), except as
required by applicable law.
There are several factors which could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied in
forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements are changes in the global, political,
economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces,
future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax rates and future
business combinations or dispositions.
General
If
you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement or the
action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own
independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker,
bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial
adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are resident in the
United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorised
independent financial adviser.
APPENDIX 1
CONDITIONS TO AND CERTAIN
FURTHER TERMS OF THE SCHEME AND THE ACQUISITION
Part A
Long Stop Date
1 The
Acquisition will be conditional upon the Scheme becoming
unconditional and becoming Effective, subject to the provisions of
the Takeover Code, by no later than 11.59 pm on the Long Stop Date
or such later date (if any) as Mustang and Cykel may agree, with
the consent of the Panel, and (if required) the Court may
allow.
Scheme approval
2 The
Scheme will be conditional upon:
(a)
(i) its approval
by a majority in number of the Scheme Shareholders who are on the
register of members of Cykel (or the relevant class or classes
thereof, if applicable) at the Voting Record Time and who are,
present and voting (and entitled to vote), either in person or by
proxy, at the Court Meeting and at any separate class meeting which
may be required (or at any adjournment of such meeting) and who
represent at least 75% in value of the Scheme Shares voted by those
Scheme Shareholders; and
(ii) such Court Meeting
(and any separate class meeting which may be required) being held
on or before the 22nd day after the expected date of the Court
Meeting to be set out in the Scheme Document (or such later date as
may be agreed by Mustang and Cykel, with the consent of the Panel,
and the Court may allow (if required));
(b)
(i) the Resolution
being duly passed by the requisite majority of Cykel Shareholders
at the General Meeting (or at any adjournment of that General
Meeting); and
(ii) such General
Meeting being held on or before the 22nd day after the expected
date of such meeting to be set out in the Scheme Document (or such
later date as may be agreed by Mustang and Cykel with the consent
of the Panel, and the Court may allow (if required));
and
(c)
(i) the sanction
of the Scheme by the Court (with or without modification, but
subject to any modification being on terms acceptable to Cykel and
Mustang) and the delivery of a copy of the Scheme Court Order to
the Registrar of Companies; and
(ii) the Sanction
Hearing being held on or before the 22nd day after the expected
date of such hearing to be set out in the Scheme Document (or such
later date as may be agreed by Mustang and Cykel with the consent
of the Panel, and the Court may allow (if required)).
Other conditions
In addition, subject as stated in
paragraph 3 below and to the requirements of the Panel, Mustang and
Cykel have agreed that the Acquisition will be conditional upon the
following Conditions and, accordingly, the Scheme Court Order will
not be delivered to the Registrar of Companies unless such
Conditions (as amended if appropriate) have been satisfied (and
continue to be satisfied pending the commencement of the Sanction
Hearing) or, where relevant, waived:
Mustang Shareholder Approval Condition
3 the
passing at the Mustang General Meeting (or at any adjournment
thereof) by no later than the Long Stop Date of the Mustang
Resolutions to:
(a) authorise the
allotment and issue of New Mustang Shares to Scheme Shareholders
(and any other Cykel Shareholders whose Cykel Shares are issued
after the Scheme becomes Effective);
(b) approve the proposed
Acquisition; and
(c) approve, by the
Independent Mustang Shareholders, the waiver granted by the Panel
of the obligation that would otherwise arise on any member of the
Mustang Concert Party (as defined in the Mustang Circular and
comprising some of the Scheme Shareholders) to make a general offer
to Mustang Shareholders pursuant to Rule 9 of the Takeover Code as
a result of the issue to the Mustang Concert Party of the New
Mustang Shares;
Admission to listing and trading
4 the
FCA and the London Stock Exchange having acknowledged to Mustang or
its agent (and such acknowledgement not having been withdrawn) that
the New Mustang Shares will be admitted to listing on the Official
List and to trading on the Main Market by no later than the Long
Stop Date;
Notifications, waiting periods and
Authorisations
5 all
notifications, filings or applications which are necessary or
reasonably considered appropriate or desirable by Mustang having
been made in connection with the Acquisition and all necessary
waiting periods (including any extensions thereof) under any
applicable legislation or regulation of any jurisdiction having
expired, lapsed or been terminated (as appropriate) and all
statutory and regulatory obligations in any jurisdiction having
been complied with in each case in respect of the Acquisition and
its implementation and all Authorisations reasonably necessary or
appropriate for or in respect of the Acquisition and, except
pursuant to Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act, the
Acquisition of any shares or other securities in, or control or
management of, Cykel having been obtained in terms and in a form
reasonably satisfactory to Mustang from all appropriate Third
Parties or (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing)
from any person or bodies with whom Cykel has entered into
contractual arrangements and all such Authorisations necessary,
appropriate or desirable to carry on the business of Cykel in any
jurisdiction having been obtained and all such Authorisations
remaining in full force and effect and filings necessary for such
purpose have been made and at the time at which the Acquisition
becomes otherwise unconditional and there being no notice or
intimation of an intention to revoke, suspend, restrict, modify or
not to renew such Authorisations;
General antitrust and regulatory
6 no
antitrust regulator or Third Party having given notice of a
decision to take, institute, implement or threaten any action,
proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference (and in each
case, not having withdrawn the same), or having required any action
to be taken or otherwise having done anything, or having enacted,
made or proposed any statute, regulation, decision, order or change
to published practice or having taken any other steps (and in each
case, not having withdrawn the same) and there not continuing to be
outstanding any statute, regulation, decision or order which would
or might reasonably be expected to, in any case to an extent or in
a manner which is or would be material in the context of the
Acquisition:
(a) require, prevent or
materially delay the divestiture or materially alter the terms
envisaged for such divestiture by Mustang or by Cykel of all or any
part of its businesses, assets or property or impose any limitation
on the ability of all or any of them to conduct their businesses
(or any part thereof) or to own, control or manage any of their
assets or properties (or any part thereof);
(b) except pursuant to
Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act, require Mustang or Cykel
to acquire or offer to acquire any shares, other securities (or the
equivalent) or interest in Cykel or any asset owned by any third
party (other than in connection with the implementation of the
Acquisition);
(c) impose any material
limitation on, or result in a material delay in, the ability of
Mustang directly or indirectly to acquire, hold or to exercise
effectively all or any rights of ownership in respect of shares,
loans or securities convertible into shares or any other securities
in Cykel or on the ability of Cykel or Mustang directly or
indirectly to hold or exercise effectively all or any rights of
ownership in respect of shares, loans or securities convertible
into shares or any other securities (or the equivalent) in, or to
exercise voting or management control over, Cykel;
(d) otherwise adversely
affect any or all of the business, assets, profits, financial or
trading position or prospects of Cykel or Mustang;
(e) result in Cykel or
Mustang ceasing to be able to carry on business under any name
under which it presently carries on business;
(f) make the
Scheme or the Acquisition, its implementation or the acquisition of
any shares or other securities in, or control or management of,
Cykel by Mustang void, unenforceable and/or illegal under the laws
of any relevant jurisdiction, or otherwise, directly or indirectly
prevent or prohibit, restrict, restrain, or delay or otherwise
materially interfere with the implementation of, or impose
additional conditions or obligations with respect to, or otherwise
challenge, impede, interfere or require material amendment of the
Scheme and/or the Acquisition or the acquisition of any shares or
other securities in, or control or management of, Cykel by
Mustang;
(g) require, prevent or
materially delay a divestiture by Mustang of any shares or other
securities (or the equivalent) in Cykel;
(h) impose any
limitation on the ability of Mustang or Cykel to conduct, integrate
or co-ordinate all or any part of its business with all or any part
of the business of Mustang and/or Cykel;
(i) require Cykel
or Mustang to terminate or vary in any material way any material
contract to which Cykel or Mustang is a party;
(j) require
Mustang or Cykel or any of their respective affiliates to: (i)
invest, contribute or loan any capital or assets to; or (ii)
guarantee or pledge capital assets for the benefit of Cykel or
Mustang; or
(k) otherwise materially
adversely affect any or all of the business, assets, profits or
prospects of Cykel or Mustang, and all applicable waiting and other
time periods (including any extensions thereof) during which any
such antitrust regulator or Third Party could decide to take,
institute, implement or threaten any such action, proceeding, suit,
investigation, enquiry or reference or take any other step under
the laws of any jurisdiction in respect of the Acquisition or the
acquisition of any Cykel Shares or otherwise intervene having
expired, lapsed or been terminated;
Certain matters arising as a result of any arrangement,
agreement etc.
7
except as Disclosed, there being no provision of any arrangement,
agreement, lease, licence, franchise, permit or other instrument to
which Cykel or Mustang is a party or by or to which
any such member or any of its assets is or may be
bound, entitled or subject to or any event or circumstance which,
as a consequence of the Acquisition or the proposed acquisition or
the acquisition by Mustang or Cykel of any shares or other
securities (or the equivalent) in Cykel or Mustang, would or might
reasonably be expected to result in, in each case to an extent
which is material in the context of the Acquisition:
(a) any monies borrowed
by, or any other indebtedness or liabilities, actual or contingent,
of, or any grant available to, Cykel or Mustang being or becoming
repayable, or capable of being declared repayable, immediately or
before its or their stated maturity date or repayment date, or the
ability of any such member to borrow monies or incur any
indebtedness being withdrawn or inhibited or being capable of
becoming or being withdrawn or inhibited;
(b) save in the ordinary
course of business, the creation or enforcement of any mortgage,
charge or other security interest over the whole or any part of the
business, property, assets or interests of Cykel or Mustang or any
such mortgage, charge or other security interest (whenever created,
arising or having arisen) being enforced or becoming
enforceable;
(c) any such
arrangement, agreement, lease, licence, franchise, permit or other
instrument being terminated or becoming capable of being terminated
or adversely modified or the rights, liabilities, obligations or
interests of Cykel or Mustang being terminated or adversely
modified or affected or any obligation or liability arising or any
adverse action being taken or arising thereunder;
(d) any liability of
Cykel or Mustang to make any severance, termination, bonus or other
payment to any of its directors, or other officers;
(e) the rights,
liabilities, obligations, interests or business of Cykel or Mustang
under any such arrangement, agreement, licence, permit, lease or
instrument or the interests or business of Cykel or Mustang in or
with any other person or body or firm or company (or any
arrangement or agreement relating to any such interests or
business) being or becoming capable of being terminated, or
adversely modified or affected or any onerous obligation or
liability arising or any adverse action being taken
thereunder;
(f) Cykel or
Mustang ceasing to be able to carry on business under any name
under which it presently carries on business;
(g) the business,
assets, profits, value of, or the financial or trading position or
prospects of, Cykel or Mustang being prejudiced or adversely
affected; or
(h) the creation or
acceleration of any material liability (actual or contingent) by
Cykel or Mustang other than trade creditors or other liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business or in connection with
the Acquisition,
and, except as Disclosed, no event
having occurred which, under any provision of any arrangement,
agreement, licence, permit, franchise, lease or other instrument to
which Cykel or Mustang is a party or by or to which any such member
or any of its assets are bound, entitled or subject, would or might
result in any of the events or circumstances as are referred to in
Conditions (a) to (h);
Certain events occurring since 31 December 2023 in
respect of Cykel or Mustang
8
except as Disclosed, neither Cykel nor
Mustang having since 31 December 2023:
(a) issued or agreed to
issue or authorised or proposed or announced its intention to
authorise or propose the issue, of additional shares of any class,
or securities or securities convertible into, or exchangeable for,
or rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or acquire, any
such shares, securities or convertible securities or transferred or
sold or agreed to transfer or sell or authorised or proposed the
transfer or sale of Cykel Shares or Mustang Shares out of treasury
(except, where relevant, (i) the issue of Cykel Shares on the
exercise of any of the Cykel Warrants; (ii) the issue of Mustang
Shares on the exercise of any of the Mustang Director Options, the
Kamran Sattar CLN, the April 2024 CLNs or the BMN
Warrants);
(b) recommended,
declared, paid or made or proposed to recommend, declare, pay or
make any bonus issue, dividend or other distribution (whether
payable in cash or otherwise);
(c) other than pursuant
to the Acquisition (and except for transactions in the ordinary
course of business) implemented, effected, authorised or proposed
or announced its intention to implement, effect, authorise or
propose any Acquisition, reconstruction, amalgamation, scheme,
commitment or offer or disposal of assets or shares or loan capital
(or equivalent), in each case to an extent which is material in the
context of the Acquisition;
(d) except for
transactions in the ordinary course of business, disposed of, or
transferred, mortgaged or created any security interest over any
material asset or any right, title or interest in any asset or
authorised, proposed or announced any intention to do so, in each
case to an extent which is material in the context of the
Acquisition;
(e) issued, authorised
or proposed or announced an intention to authorise or propose, the
issue of any debentures or become subject to any contingent
liability or incurred or increased any indebtedness which is
material in the context of the Acquisition;
(f) entered into
or varied or authorised, proposed or announced its intention to
enter into or vary any contract, arrangement, agreement,
transaction or commitment (whether in respect of capital
expenditure or otherwise) which is of a long term, unusual or
onerous nature or magnitude or which is or which involves or could
involve an obligation of a nature or magnitude which is or could be
materially restrictive on the business of Cykel or Mustang to an
extent which is or is reasonably likely to be material to Cykel or
Mustang;
(g) entered into or
varied the terms of, or made any offer (which remains open for
acceptance) to enter into or vary the terms of any contract,
service agreement, commitment or arrangement with any director
except for salary increases, bonuses or variations of terms in the
ordinary course, or senior executive of Mustang or
Cykel;
(h) proposed, agreed to
provide or modified the terms of any share option scheme, incentive
scheme or other benefit relating to the employment or termination
of employment of any employee of Mustang or Cykel which are
material in the context of the Acquisition;
(i) purchased,
redeemed or repaid or announced any proposal to purchase, redeem or
repay any of its own shares or other securities or reduced or,
except in respect of the matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (a)
above, made any other change to any part of its share
capital;
(j) except in the
ordinary course of business, waived, compromised or settled any
claim which is material to Mustang or Cykel or in the context of
the Acquisition;
(k) terminated or varied
the terms of any agreement or arrangement between Mustang or Cykel
and any other person in a manner which would or might reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial
position of Mustang or Cykel;
(l) (except as
disclosed on publicly available registers) made any alteration to
its memorandum or articles of association or other constitutional
documents (other than in connection with the Scheme) which is
material in the context of the Acquisition;
(m) been unable, or admitted
in writing that it is unable, to pay its debts or commenced
negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to
rescheduling or restructuring any of its indebtedness, or having
stopped or suspended (or threatened to stop or suspend) payment of
its debts generally or ceased or threatened to cease carrying on
all or a substantial part of its business which is material in the
context of the Acquisition;
(n) taken or proposed
any steps, corporate action or had any legal proceedings instituted
or threatened against it in relation to the suspension of payments,
a moratorium of any indebtedness, its winding-up (voluntary or
otherwise), dissolution, reorganisation or for the appointment of a
receiver, administrator, manager, administrative receiver, trustee
or similar officer of all or any of its assets or revenues or any
analogous or equivalent steps or proceedings in any jurisdiction or
appointed any analogous person in any jurisdiction or had any such
person appointed;
(o) made, authorised,
proposed or announced an intention to propose any change in its
loan capital;
(p) entered into,
implemented or authorised the entry into, any joint venture, asset
or profit sharing arrangement, partnership, composition,
assignment, reconstruction, amalgamation, commitment, scheme or
other similar transaction or arrangement (other than the Scheme)
which is material in the context of the Acquisition;
(q) having taken (or
agreed or proposed to take) any action which requires or would
require, the consent of the Panel or the approval of Cykel
Shareholders in general meeting in accordance with, or as
contemplated by, Rule 21.1 of the Takeover Code; or
(r) entered into
any agreement, arrangement, commitment or contract or passed any
resolution or made any offer (which remains open for acceptance)
with respect to or announced an intention to, or to propose to,
effect any of the transactions, matters or events referred to in
this Condition 5 which is material in the context of the
Acquisition;
No
adverse change
9
except as Disclosed, since 31 December 2023 in respect of Cykel or
Mustang, there having been:
(a) no adverse change
and no circumstance having arisen which would be expected to result
in any adverse change or deterioration in, the business, assets,
value, financial or trading position or profits or prospects or
operational performance of Cykel or Mustang which is material in
the context of the Acquisition;
(b) no litigation,
arbitration proceedings, prosecution or other legal proceedings
having been threatened, announced or instituted by or against or
remaining outstanding against or in respect of, Cykel or Mustang or
to which Cykel or Mustang is or may become a party (whether as
claimant, defendant or otherwise) having been threatened,
announced, instituted or remaining outstanding by, against or in
respect of, Cykel or Mustang, in each case which is or might
reasonably be expected to be material in the context of the
Acquisition;
(c) no enquiry, review
or investigation by, or complaint or reference to, any Third Party
against or in respect of Cykel or Mustang having been threatened,
announced or instituted or remaining outstanding by, against or in
respect of Cykel or Mustang, in each case which might reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on Cykel or Mustang or
is material in the context of the Acquisition
(d) no contingent or
other liability having arisen or become apparent to Mustang or
Cykel increased which is reasonably likely to affect adversely the
business, assets, financial or trading position or profits or
prospects or operational performance of Cykel or Mustang to an
extent which is material in the context of the
Acquisition;
(e) no steps having been
taken and no omissions having been made which are reasonably likely
to result in the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or
modification of any licence held by Cykel or Mustang which is
necessary for the proper carrying on of its business and the
withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of which
might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
Cykel or Mustang or is material in the context of the Acquisition;
and
(f) neither Cykel
nor Mustang having conducted its business in material breach of any
applicable laws or regulations to an extent which might reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect on Cykel or Mustang
taken as a whole or is material in the context of the
Acquisition;
No
discovery of certain matters regarding information or
liabilities
10 except as Disclosed,
neither Mustang nor Cykel there having discovered that:
(a) any financial,
business or other information concerning Cykel or Mustang publicly
announced before the Rule 2.7 Announcement Date or disclosed at any
time before the date of Rule 2.7 Announcement Date is misleading,
contains a misrepresentation of any fact, or omits to state a fact
necessary to make that information not misleading and which is, in
any case, material in the context of the Acquisition; or
(b) Cykel or Mustang is
subject to any liability, contingent or otherwise which is material
in the context of Cykel or Mustang taken as a whole or material in
the context of the Acquisition;
Anti-corruption, sanctions and criminal
property
11 except as Disclosed,
neither Cykel nor Mustang having discovered that, to an extent that
is material in the context their respective business taken as a
whole:
(a) Cykel or Mustang is
or has at any time engaged in any activity, practice or conduct
that would constitute an offence under the Bribery Act 2010, the US
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any other
applicable anti-corruption legislation; or any person that performs
or has performed services for or on behalf of Cykel or Mustang is
or has at any time engaged in any activity, practice or conduct in
connection with the performance of such services which would
constitute an offence under the Bribery Act 2010, the US Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any other applicable
anti-corruption legislation;
(b) any asset of Cykel
or Mustang constitutes criminal property as defined by section
340(3) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (but disregarding
paragraph (b) of that definition) or proceeds of crime under any
other applicable law, rule, or regulation concerning money
laundering or proceeds of crime or Cykel or Mustang is found to
have engaged in activities constituting money laundering under any
applicable law, rule, or regulation concerning money
laundering;
(c) any past or present
member, director, officer or employee of Cykel or Mustang, or any
other person for whom any such person may be liable or responsible,
has engaged in any business with, made any investments in, made any
funds or assets available to or received any funds or assets from:
(i) any government, entity or individual in respect of which US, UK
or European Union persons, or persons operating in those
territories, are prohibited from engaging in activities or doing
business, or from receiving or making available funds or economic
resources, by applicable US, UK or European Union laws or
regulations, including the economic sanctions administered by the
United States Office of Foreign Assets Control or HM Treasury &
Customs; or (ii) any government, entity or individual targeted by
any of the economic sanctions of the United Nations, the United
States, the United Kingdom, the European Union or any of its member
states; or
(d) Cykel or Mustang has
engaged in any transaction or conduct which would cause Mustang or
Cykel to be in breach of any applicable law or regulation upon
completion of the Acquisition, including the economic sanctions of
the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control or HM Treasury
& Customs, or any government, entity or individual targeted by
any of the economic sanctions of the United Nations, the United
States, the United Kingdom, the European Union or any of its member
states.
Part B
Further Terms of the Acquisition
1
Conditions 2(a), 2(b) and 3 to 11 (inclusive) of Part A above must
each be fulfilled, determined by Cykel or Mustang (as applicable) to
be or to remain satisfied or (if capable of waiver) be waived by
Cykel or Mustang (as applicable) prior to the commencement of the
Sanction Hearing, failing which the Scheme will, with the consent
of the Panel, lapse.
2
Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Part B, subject to the
requirements of the Panel and the Takeover Code, Mustang reserves
the right at its sole discretion to waive:
(a) the deadline set out
in Condition 1 of Part A above, and any deadlines set out in
Condition 2 of Part A above for the timing of the Court Meeting,
the General Meeting and the Sanction Hearing. If any such deadline
is not met, Mustang shall make an announcement by 8.00 am on the
Business Day following such deadline confirming whether it has
invoked or waived the relevant Condition or agreed with Cykel to
extend the deadline in relation to the relevant Condition;
and
(b) in whole or in part,
all or any of Conditions 5 to 11 (inclusive) of Part A above (only
so far as such Conditions relate to Cykel).
3
Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Part B, subject to the
requirements of the Panel and the Takeover Code, Cykel reserves the
right in its sole discretion to waive:
(a) the deadline set out
in Condition 3 of Part A above. If such deadline is not met, Cykel
shall make an announcement by 8.00 am on the Business Day following
such deadline confirming whether it has invoked the relevant
Condition or agreed with Mustang to extend the deadline in relation
to the relevant Condition; and
(b) in whole or in part,
all or any of the Conditions 5 to 11 (inclusive) of Part A above
(only so far as such Conditions relate to Mustang):
4 Save
as set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 in this Part B, the Conditions in
paragraphs 1 to 3 in Part A, above cannot be waived.
5
Neither Cykel nor Mustang shall be under any obligation to waive or
treat as satisfied any of the Conditions that it is entitled (with
the consent of the Panel and subject to the requirements of the
Takeover Code) to invoke, by a date earlier than the latest date
specified above for the fulfilment or waiver thereof, notwithstanding
that the other Conditions may at such earlier date have been waived
or fulfilled and that there are at such earlier date no
circumstances indicating that any of such Conditions may not be
capable of fulfilment.
6 If
Mustang is required by the Panel to make an offer for Cykel Shares
under the provisions of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, Mustang may
make such alterations to any of the above Conditions and terms of
the Acquisition as are necessary to comply with the provisions of
that Rule.
7
Under Rule 13.5(a) of the Takeover Code, Mustang may only invoke a
Condition that is subject to Rule 13.5(a) of the Takeover Code so
as to cause the Acquisition not to proceed, to lapse or to be
withdrawn with the consent of the Panel.
8
Under Rule 13.6(a) of the Takeover Code, Cykel may only invoke a
Condition that is subject to Rule 13.6(a) of the Takeover Code so
as to cause the Acquisition not to proceed, to lapse or to be
withdrawn with the consent of the Panel.
9 The
Panel will normally only give its consent to the invocation of
Conditions pursuant to paragraph 5 if the circumstances which give
rise to the right to invoke the Condition are of material
significance to Mustang or Cykel (as applicable) in the context of
the Acquisition. This will be judged by reference to the facts of
each case at the time that the relevant circumstances arise.
Conditions 1, 2(a), 2(b) and (c) of Part A above and, if
applicable, any acceptance condition if the Acquisition is
implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, are not subject to Rule
13.5(a) of the Takeover Code.
10 Any Condition that is
subject to Rule 13.5(a) of the Takeover Code may be waived by
Mustang.
11 Fractions of New
Mustang Shares will not be allotted or issued to Scheme
Shareholders.
12 The New Mustang
Shares to be issued pursuant to the Acquisition have not been and
will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of
1933 (as amended) nor under any of the relevant securities laws of
any Restricted Jurisdiction. Accordingly, the New Mustang Shares
may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, into
any Restricted Jurisdiction, except pursuant to exemptions from
applicable requirements of any such jurisdiction.
13 The New Mustang Shares will be issued credited as fully paid
and will rank pari passu
in all respects with Mustang Shares in issue at the time that the
New Mustang Shares are issued pursuant to the Acquisition,
including the right to receive and retain dividends and other
distributions declared, made or paid by reference to a record date
falling on or after the Effective Date. Applications will be made
to the FCA and the London Stock Exchange for the New Mustang Shares
to be admitted to listing on the Official List and to trading on
the Main Market.
Certain further terms
14 Mustang reserves the
right to elect to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover
Offer as an alternative to the Scheme (subject to the Panel's
consent). In such event, the Acquisition will be implemented on the
same terms (subject to appropriate amendments including (without
limitation) the inclusion of an acceptance condition which, unless
otherwise agreed in writing between Mustang and Cykel or otherwise
required by the Panel, will be set at 90% (or such lesser
percentage as may be agreed between Mustang and Cykel in writing
after, to the extent necessary, consultation with the Panel, being
in any case more than 75% of the voting rights attaching to Cykel
Shares) of shares to which the Acquisition relates and those
required by, or deemed appropriate by, Mustang under applicable
law, so far as applicable) as those which would apply to the
Scheme. Further, if sufficient acceptances of such Takeover Offer
are received and/or sufficient Cykel Shares are otherwise acquired,
it is the intention of Mustang to apply the provisions of the
Companies Act to acquire compulsorily any outstanding Cykel Shares
to which such Takeover Offer relates.
15 The Cykel Shares to
be acquired pursuant to the Acquisition will be acquired with full
title guarantee, fully paid and free from all liens, equities,
charges, encumbrances, options, rights of pre-emption and any other
third party rights and interests of any nature and together with
all rights now or hereafter attaching or accruing to them,
including, without limitation, voting rights and the right to
receive and retain in full all dividends and other distributions
(if any) declared, made or paid, or any other return of value
(whether by reduction of share capital or share premium account or
otherwise) made, on or after the Effective Date.
16 Neither Cykel nor
Mustang will announce, declare, make or pay any dividend or other
distribution on or after this Announcement Date and prior to the
Effective Date.
17 The availability of
New Mustang Shares pursuant to the Acquisition to persons not
resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the
relevant jurisdictions. Any person who is subject to the laws of
any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform
themselves about and observe any applicable requirements. Further
information in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be set out in
the Scheme Document.
18 The Acquisition is
not being made or implemented, directly or indirectly, in, into or
from, or by use of the mails of, or by any means of instrumentality
(including, but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other
electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or
foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or
other securities exchange of, any Restricted
Jurisdiction.
19 This announcement and
any rights and liabilities arising hereunder are, and the
Acquisition, the Scheme and the Forms of Proxy will be governed by
the laws of England and will be subject to the jurisdiction of the
courts of England and Wales. The Scheme will be subject to
the Conditions and further terms set out in this Part A. The
Acquisition and the Scheme will be subject to the applicable
requirements of the Companies Act, the Takeover Code, the Panel,
the London Stock Exchange, the Listing Rules, the Aquis Rules, the
FCA and the Registrar of Companies.
20 Each of the
Conditions will be regarded as a separate Condition and will not be
limited by reference to any other Condition.
APPENDIX 2
BASES AND
SOURCES
Sources of information and bases of
calculation
The equity value of Cykel's entire
issued share capital has been calculated on the basis of
205,183,350 Cykel Shares, being the number of Cykel Shares in issue
as at the last Business Day prior to the commencement of the Offer
Period. References in this document to the "entire issued ordinary
share capital of Cykel" are each based on this aggregate number of
Cykel Shares.
As at the Latest Practicable Date,
Cykel has outstanding warrants in respect of in aggregate
59,385,170 Cykel Shares. These warrants are not included in the
entire issued share capital or the equity value of
Cykel.
The equity value of Mustang's entire
issued ordinary share capital has been calculated on the basis of
12,161,966 Mustang Shares, being the number of Mustang Shares in
issue as at the last Business Day prior to the commencement of the
Offer Period.
As at the Latest Practicable Date,
Mustang has outstanding options and/or warrants in respect of in
aggregate 1,886,986 Mustang Shares.
As at the Latest Practicable Date,
neither Cykel nor Mustang holds any ordinary shares in
treasury.
The enlarged issued ordinary share
capital of the Combined Group (being 412,507,529 Mustang Shares)
has been calculated on the basis of:
(a) 12,161,966 Mustang
Shares;
(b) 1,400,000 new Mustang Shares to
be issued in settlement of the Fee Shares;
(c) 6,840,182 new Mustang Shares to
be issued in relation to the Kamran Sattar CLN and the April 2024
CLN; and
(d) 392,105,381 New Mustang
Shares which would be issued under the terms of the Acquisition,
and references in this document to the "entire issued ordinary
share capital of the Combined Group" are each based on such number
of Mustang Shares including for the purposes of calculating the
aggregate holdings of Cykel Shareholders in the entire issued
ordinary share capital of the Combined Group following completion
of the Acquisition.
The percentage of the enlarged
issued ordinary share capital of the Combined Group that will be
owned by Cykel Shareholders following completion of the Acquisition
is calculated by dividing the number of New Mustang Shares to be
issued pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition by the enlarged
issued share capital of the Combined Group and multiplying the
resulting amount by 100 to produce a percentage.
The percentage of the enlarged
issued ordinary share capital of the Combined Group that will be
owned by the existing Mustang Shareholders following completion of
the Acquisition is calculated by dividing the number that is equal
to the enlarged issued share capital of the Combined Group less the
New Mustang Shares to be issued pursuant to the terms of the
Acquisition by the enlarged issued share capital of the Combined
Group and multiplying the resulting amount by 100 to produce a
percentage.
The Closing Price on any particular
date is taken from the website of AQSE with respect to Cykel and
the Daily Official List with respect to Mustang.
As at the Latest Practicable Date
there were 205,183,350 Scheme Shares in issue.
Unless otherwise stated, the
financial information relating to Cykel is extracted from the
admission document published by Cykel on 24 October
2023.
Unless otherwise stated, the
financial information relating to Mustang is extracted from
Mustang's Annual Report & Financial Statements for the period
ended 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2023.
Certain figures included in this
document have been subject to rounding adjustments.
The International Securities
Identification Number (ISIN) of Cykel's ordinary shares is
GB00BPTJZN05.
The International Securities
Identification Number (ISIN) of Mustang's ordinary shares is
GB00BJ9MHH56.
In this announcement:
1. As at the
Latest Practicable Date Cykel had in issue 205,183,350 Cykel Shares.
2.
As at the Latest Practicable Date Mustang had in
issue 12,161,966 Mustang Shares.
3. As at the
Latest Practicable Date, Cykel has outstanding warrants in respect
of in aggregate 59,385,170 Cykel Shares. These warrants are not
included in the entire issued share capital or the equity value of
Cykel.
4. The
equity value of Mustang's entire issued ordinary share capital has
been calculated on the basis of 12,161,966 Mustang Shares, being
the number of Mustang Shares in issue as at the last Business Day
prior to the commencement of the Offer Period.
5. As
at the Latest Practicable Date, Mustang has outstanding options
and/or warrants in respect of in aggregate 1,886,986 Mustang
Shares; 1,400,000 Mustang Shares to be issued in settlement of the
Fee Shares; and 6,840,183 Mustang Shares to be issued in relation
to the Kamran Sattar CLN and the April 2024 CLN. These shares are
not included in the entire issued share capital or the equity value
of Mustang.
6. Unless
otherwise stated, all prices and Closing Prices of Cykel Shares are
closing middle market quotations derived from the website of
AQSE.
7. Unless
otherwise stated, all prices and Closing Prices of Mustang Shares
are closing middle market quotations derived from the website of
the LSE.
8. Unless
otherwise stated, the financial information relating to Cykel is
extracted from the admission document published by Cykel on 24
October 2023.
9. Unless
otherwise stated, the financial information relating to Mustang is
extracted from Mustang's Annual Report & Financial Statements
for the periods ended 31 December 2022 and 31 December
2023.
10. Certain figures contained
in this announcement have been subject to rounding
adjustments.
APPENDIX 3
DETAILS OF IRREVOCABLE
UNDERTAKINGS
Irrevocable undertakings from the Cykel
Directors
The Cykel Directors holding Cykel
Shares have each given irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour
of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution to be
proposed at the General Meeting (or in the event that the
Acquisition is implemented by a Takeover Offer, to accept or
procure acceptance of such Takeover Offer) in relation to the
following Cykel Shares currently held by them as well as any
further Cykel Shares which they may acquire, and to cancel their
Cykel Warrants in exchange for the issue of new warrants over
ordinary shares in Mustang following the Effective Date:
Name
|
Number of Cykel
Shares for which
undertaking is
given
|
Percentage of entire issued share capital
at Last
Practicable Date
|
Number of Cykel
Warrants for which
undertaking is
given
|
Jonathan Bixby (held by Toro
Consulting Ltd, Jonathan Bixby and Shannon Wall (Jonathan Bixby's
wife) are beneficial owners of Toro Consulting Ltd)
|
50,000,000
|
24.37%
|
26,000,000
|
Nicholas Lyth
|
3,500,000
|
1.71%
|
9,000,000
|
Jonathan Hives
|
0
|
0%
|
2,000,000
|
Robert Mayfield
|
0
|
0%
|
2,000,000
|
Total
|
53,500,000
|
26.07%
|
39,000,000
|
These irrevocable undertakings cease
to be binding if, among other things: 1. Mustang
announces, with the consent of the Panel, that it does not intend
to proceed with the Acquisition and no new, revised or replacement
scheme of arrangement or Takeover Offer is announced by Mustang in
accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code at the same
time;
2. the Scheme Document or offer
document (as applicable) is not published within 28 days of the
date of this announcement or such later time as may be agreed by
the Panel;
3. the Scheme has not become
Effective by 5.00 pm on the Long Stop Date (or such later time and
date as Mustang and Cykel may agree with the approval of the Court
and/or Panel if required);
4. any competing offer for the
entire issued and to be issued share capital of Cykel is declared
unconditional
or any competing scheme of
arrangement in respect of Cykel becomes effective in accordance
with its
terms; and/or
5. the Acquisition lapses or is
withdrawn and no new, revised or replacement offer or scheme has
then been announced in its place in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the
Takeover Code, or is announced by Mustang in
accordance with Rule 2.7 of the
Takeover Code within five Business Days.
Irrevocable undertakings from certain Cykel
Shareholders
The following Cykel Shareholders
have each given irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the
Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution to be proposed at
the General Meeting (or in the event that
the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to
accept or procure acceptance of such Takeover Offer) in relation to
the following Cykel Shares currently held by them as well as, in
some cases, any further Cykel Shares which they may acquire, and to
cancel their Cykel Warrants in exchange for the issue of new
warrants over ordinary shares in Mustang following the Effective
Date:
Name
|
Number of Cykel Shares for which undertaking is
given
|
Percentage of entire issued share capital at Latest
Practicable Date
|
Number of Cykel
Warrants for which
undertaking is
given
|
Alpha Capital Group Ltd
|
6,000,000
|
2.92%
|
0
|
California Two Pizza Ventures
Inc
|
7,000,000
|
3.41%
|
0
|
Crowdform Ltd
|
10,000,000
|
4.87%
|
0
|
Fidelio Partners Pte Ltd
|
20,000,000
|
9.75%
|
0
|
Nicholas Nugent
|
5,000,000
|
2.44%
|
0
|
First Sentinel Corporate Finance
Limited
|
4,000,000
|
1.95%
|
6,051,834
|
Brian Stockbridge
|
2,500,000
|
1.22%
|
0
|
Ewan Collinge
|
2,000,000
|
0.97%
|
2,500,000
|
Leo Mercier
|
2,000,000
|
0.97%
|
2,500,000
|
Total
|
58,500,000
|
28.51%
|
11,051,834
|
These irrevocable undertakings cease
to be binding if amongst other things:
1. Mustang announces, with the
consent of the Panel, that it does not intend to proceed with the
Acquisition and no new, revised or replacement scheme of
arrangement or Takeover Offer is announced by Mustang in accordance
with Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code at the same time;
2. the Scheme Document or offer
document (as applicable) is not published within 28 days of the
date of this announcement or such later time as may be agreed by
the Panel;
3. the Scheme has not become
Effective by 5.00 pm on the Long Stop Date (or such later time and
date as Mustang and Cykel may agree with the approval of the Court
and/or Panel if required);
4. any competing offer for the
entire issued and to be issued share capital of Cykel is declared
unconditional
or any competing scheme of
arrangement in respect of Cykel becomes effective in accordance
with its
terms; and/or
5. the Acquisition lapses or is
withdrawn and no new, revised or replacement offer or scheme has
then been announced in its place in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the
Takeover Code, or is announced by Mustang in
accordance with Rule 2.7 of the
Takeover Code within five Business Days.
Irrevocable undertakings from the Mustang
Directors
The following Mustang Directors have
given irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the Mustang
Resolutions to be proposed at the Mustang General Meeting which
will be convened in connection with the Acquisition in relation to
the following Mustang Shares currently held by them (or their close
relatives, related trusts and connected persons) as well as any
further Mustang Shares which they may acquire:
Name
|
Number of Mustang Shares for which undertaking is
given
|
Percentage of the entire issued share capital of Mustang at
Latest Practicable Date
|
Dean Lloyd Gallegos
|
1,630,000
|
13.4%
|
Peter Wale
|
340,000
|
2.8%
|
Simon Holden
|
340,000
|
2.8%
|
Alan Broome
|
140,000
|
1.15%
|
Total
|
2,450,000
|
20.14%
|
These irrevocable undertakings cease
to be binding if, among other things:
1. Mustang announces, with the
consent of the Panel, that it does not intend to proceed with the
Acquisition and no new, revised or replacement scheme of
arrangement or Takeover Offer is announced by Mustang in accordance
with Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code at the same time;
2. the Mustang Circular is not
released by 5 p.m. on 30 May 2024;
3. the Scheme Document (or offer
document, as applicable) is not published within 28 days of the
date of this announcement or such later time as may be agreed by
the Panel;
4. if the Acquisition is structured
as a Scheme, the Scheme has not become Effective by 5.00 pm on 30
June2024 (or such later time and date as Mustang and Cykel may
agree with the approval of the Court and/or Panel if
required);
5. any competing offer for the
entire issued and to be issued share capital of Cykel is declared
unconditional or any competing scheme of arrangement in respect of
Cykel becomes effective in accordance with its terms;
and/or
6. the Acquisition lapses or is
withdrawn and no new, revised or replacement offer or scheme has
then been announced in its place in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the
Takeover Code, or is announced by Mustang in accordance with Rule
2.7 of the Takeover Code within five Business Days.
Irrevocable undertakings from certain Mustang
Shareholders
The following Mustang Shareholders
have each given irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the
Mustang Resolutions to be proposed at the Mustang General Meeting
which will be convened in connection with
the Acquisition in relation to the following Mustang Shares
currently held by them as well as any further Mustang Shares which
they may acquire:
Name
|
Number of Mustang Shares for which undertaking is
given
|
Percentage of the entire issued share capital of Mustang at
Latest Practicable Date
|
Acacia Resources Limited
|
2,471,600
|
20.32%
|
Matthew Lumb
|
250,000
|
2.06%
|
|
|
|
Total
|
2,721,600
|
22.38%
|
These irrevocable undertakings cease
to be binding if, among other things:
1. Mustang announces, with the
consent of the Panel, that it does not intend to proceed with the
Acquisition and no new, revised or replacement scheme of
arrangement or Takeover Offer is announced by Mustang in accordance
with Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code at the same time;
2. the Mustang Circular is not
released by 5 p.m. on 30 May 2024;
3. the Scheme Document (or offer
document, as applicable) is not published within 28 days of the
date of this announcement or such later time as may be agreed by
the Panel;
4. if the Acquisition is structured
as a Scheme, the Scheme has not become Effective by 5.00 pm on 30
June 2024 (or such later time and date as Mustang and Cykel may
agree with the approval of the Court and/or Panel if
required);
5. any competing offer for the
entire issued and to be issued share capital of Cykel is declared
unconditional
or any competing scheme of
arrangement in respect of Cykel becomes effective in accordance
with its
terms; and/or
6. the Acquisition lapses or is
withdrawn and no new, revised or replacement offer or scheme has
then been announced in its place in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the
Takeover Code, or is announced by Mustang in
accordance with Rule 2.7 of the
Takeover Code within five Business Days.
APPENDIX 4
DEFINITIONS
"Acquisition"
|
|
the proposed acquisition by Mustang
of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of
Cykel, other than Excluded Shares (if any), to be effected by means
of the Scheme or, should Mustang so elect, with the consent of the
Panel, by means of a Takeover Offer, and where context admits, any
subsequent revision, variation, extension or renewal
thereof.
|
"Admission"
|
|
the admission of the Mustang Shares
and the New Mustang Shares to the standard listing segment of the
Official List and to trading on the London
Stock Exchange's Main Market for
listed securities.
|
"Admission Condition"
|
|
the FCA and the London Stock
Exchange having acknowledged to Mustang or its agent (and such
acknowledgement not having been withdrawn) that the New Mustang
Shares will be admitted to listing on the Official List and to
trading on the Main Market by no later than the Long Stop
Date.
|
"Appendices"
|
|
the appendices to this
announcement
|
"April 2024 CLN"
|
|
the convertible loan notes executed
by Mustang pursuant to which Jonas Chow, Matthew Lumb and Penelope
Szeto subscribed for notes with an aggregate principle amount of
£200,000 for a consideration of £133,333.33.
|
"AQSE"
|
|
Aquis Stock Exchange.
|
"AQSE Growth Market"
|
|
the multilateral trading facility
operated by Aquis that is registered as an SME Growth Market in
accordance with article 33 of MiFiD
|
"Aquis"
|
|
Aquis Stock Exchange Limited, a
recognised investment exchange under section 290 of
FSMA.
|
"Aquis Rules"
|
|
the AQSE Growth Market Access
Rulebook, which sets out the admission requirements and continuing
obligations of companies seeking admission to, and whose shares are
admitted to trading on, the Access Segment of the AQSE Growth
Market
|
"Authorisation(s)"
|
|
regulatory authorisations, orders,
grants, recognitions, confirmations,
consents, licences, clearances,
certificates, permissions or approvals, in each
case of a Third Party.
|
"BMN Warrant
Instrument"
|
|
the warrant instrument executed by
Mustang constituting the BMN Warrants.
|
"BMN Warrants"
|
|
the 636,986 warrants issued to
Bushveld Minerals Limited pursuant to the
BMN Warrant Instrument.
|
"Business Day"
|
|
a day (other than a Saturday, Sunday
or a public or bank holiday in the UK) on which banks are open for
general business in London, United Kingdom.
|
|
|
|
"Capital Plus Partners"
|
|
Capital Plus Partners Limited of 180
Piccadilly, London, W1J 9HF.
|
"certificated" or "in certificated
form"
|
|
in relation to a Scheme Share, one
which is not in uncertificated form (that is, not in
CREST).
|
"Closing Price"
|
|
the closing price for Cykel Shares
taken from the website of AQSE or for Mustang Shares taken from the
Daily Official List.
|
"Combined Group"
|
|
the enlarged group following the
Scheme becoming Effective, comprising Mustang and Cykel.
|
"Companies Act"
|
|
the Companies Act 2006, as amended
from time to time
|
"Conditions"
|
|
the conditions to the implementation
of the Scheme, as set out in Appendix 1 (Conditions to and Certain
Further Terms of the Scheme and the Acquisition).
|
"Court"
|
|
the High Court of Justice in England
and Wales.
|
"Court Meeting"
|
|
the meeting or meetings of Scheme
Shareholders (or any class or classes thereof) convened pursuant to
an order of the Court pursuant to section 896 of the Companies Act
for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, approving the
Scheme (with or without modification), including any adjournment,
postponement or reconvention of it.
|
"CREST"
|
|
the relevant system (as defined in
the CREST Regulations) in respect of which Euroclear is the
Operator (as defined in the CREST Regulations) for the paperless
settlement of trades in securities and the holding of
uncertificated securities.
|
"CREST Regulations"
|
|
the Uncertificated Securities
Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/3755), as amended.
|
"Cykel" or the "Company
|
|
Cykel AI Plc, a company incorporated
in England and Wales with registered number 15088392.
|
"Cykel Board"
|
|
the board of directors of
Cykel.
|
"Cykel Directors"
|
|
the directors of Cykel.
|
"Cykel Shareholders"
|
|
the holders of Cykel Shares from
time to time.
|
"Cykel Shares"
|
|
the issued and fully paid ordinary
shares of 0.1 pence each in the capital of Cykel.
|
"Cykel Warrants"
|
|
the warrants to subscribe for
59,385,170 ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each in
Cykel, being (i) 48,000,000 warrants
exercisable at 1 pence per share until 25
October 2026; and (ii) 11,385,170
warrants exercisable at 3 pence per share
until 25 October 2028.
|
"Daily Official List"
|
|
the Daily Official List published by
the London Stock Exchange.
|
"Dealing Disclosure"
|
|
an announcement pursuant to Rule 8
of the Takeover Code containing details
of dealings in interests in relevant
securities of a party to an offer.
|
"Disclosed"
|
|
(a) in respect of the information
fairly disclosed by, or on behalf of Cykel: (i) in its audited interim accounts dated 31 December 2023;
(ii) in the admission document published by
Cykel on 24 October 2023; (iii) in the Mustang Circular to be
published on or around the date of this announcement; (iv) in this
announcement; (v) in any other announcement to a Regulatory
Information Service by, or on behalf of Cykel before the
publication of this announcement; and/ or (vi) as otherwise fairly
disclosed in writing prior to the Rule 2.7 Announcement Date to
Mustang (or its officers, employees, agents or advisers (in their
capacity as such)); and
(b) in respect of the information
fairly disclosed by, or on behalf of Mustang: (i) in Mustang's
Annual Report & Financial Statements for the period ended 31
December 2023; (ii) in Mustang's interim results for the six month
period ended 30 June 2023; (iii) in the Mustang Circular to be
published on or around the date of this announcement; (iv) in this
announcement; (v) in any other announcement to a Regulatory
Information Service by, or on behalf of Mustang before the
publication of this announcement; and/ or (vi) as otherwise fairly
disclosed in writing prior to the Rule 2.7 Announcement Date to
Cykel (or its officers, employees, agents or advisers (in their
capacity as such)).
|
"Druces Fee Shares"
|
|
the 700,000 Mustang Shares to be
issued as settlement for fees pursuant to the engagement letter
with Druces LLP.
|
"Effective"
|
|
In the context of the
Acquisition:
(a) if the Acquisition
is implemented by way of the Scheme, the Scheme having become
effective in accordance with its terms, upon the delivery of the
Scheme Court Order to the Registrar of Companies for registration;
or
(b) if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer,
the Takeover Offer having been declared or become unconditional in
accordance with the requirements of the Takeover Code.
|
"Effective Date"
|
|
the date on which this Scheme
becomes effective in accordance with its terms.
|
"Euroclear"
|
|
Euroclear UK & International
Limited.
|
"Exchange Ratio"
|
|
1.911 New Mustang Shares for each
Cykel Share.
|
"Excluded Shares"
|
|
means any (i) any Cykel Shares
registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by Mustang (if
any) at the Scheme Record Time, and (ii) any Cykel Shares held as
treasury shares (as defined in section 724(5) of the Companies Act)
(if any in either case) at the Scheme Record Time.
|
"FCA" or "Financial Conduct
Authority"
|
|
the Financial Conduct Authority of
the United Kingdom or its successor from time to time, acting in
its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI
of FSMA.
|
"Fee Shares"
|
|
the Druces Fee Shares, the Finder's
Fee Shares and the First Sentinel Fee Shares.
|
"Finder's Fee Shares"
|
|
the 300,000 Ordinary Shares issued
as settlement for a fee pursuant to the Finder's Fee Agreement,
further details of which are set out in paragraph 6.8 of Part
II.
|
"First Sentinel"
|
|
First Sentinel Corporate Finance
Limited.
|
"First Sentinel Fee
Shares"
|
|
the 400,000 Ordinary Shares issued
as settlement for fees pursuant to the engagement letter with First
Sentinel Corporate Finance Limited.
|
"Forms of Proxy"
|
|
the form of proxy for use at the
Court Meeting and the form of proxy for use
at the General Meeting (or either of
them as the context may require), which
will accompany the Scheme
Document.
|
"FSMA"
|
|
the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000 (as amended from time to time).
|
"General Meeting"
|
|
the general meeting of Cykel
Shareholders to be convened in connection with
the Scheme to consider and, if
thought fit, to approve the Resolution (with or
without amendment), which is
expected to be held as soon as the preceding
Court Meeting shall have concluded
or been adjourned, and including any adjournment, postponement or
reconvening thereof.
|
"Guild" or "Guild
Financial"
|
|
Guild Financial Advisory
Limited
|
"holder"
|
|
a registered holder and includes any
person(s) entitled by transmission.
|
"Independent Mustang
Shareholders"
|
|
the Mustang Shareholders, excluding
the Mustang Concert Party (if the Mustang Concert Party hold any
Mustang Shares) and Richard Corsie.
|
"Kamran Sattar CLN"
|
|
on 22 November 2023, Mustang
executed a convertible loan note instrument pursuant to which
Kamran Sattar subscribed for a principal amount of £200,000. The
notes were subscribed for in one tranche of £200,000 on 22 November
2023. The notes have an interest rate of 10% per annum, a
conversion price of 6 pence and are to be redeemed either by Kamran
Sattar serving a conversion notice, or Mustang serving a conversion
notice to take effect no later than 31 May 2024.
|
"Latest Practicable Date"
|
|
9 May 2024, being the latest
practicable date before the publication of this
announcement.
|
"Listing Rules"
|
|
the listing rules made by the FCA
pursuant to section 73A of FSMA, as amended from time to
time.
|
"London Stock Exchange"
|
|
London Stock Exchange plc, together
with any successor thereto.
|
"Long-Stop Date"
|
|
11.59 pm on 31 December 2024, or
such later date as may be agreed in writing by Cykel and Mustang
(with the Panel's consent and as the Court may approve (if such
approval is required)).
|
"Main Market"
|
|
the London Stock Exchange's main
market for listed securities.
|
"Mustang"
|
|
Mustang Energy Plc, a company
incorporated in England and Wales with registered number
11155663.
|
"Mustang Board" or "Mustang
Directors"
|
|
the board of directors of
Mustang.
|
"Mustang Circular"
|
|
the circular to be sent by Mustang
to Mustang Shareholders in connection
with the Acquisition, which will
include a notice convening the Mustang
General Meeting.
|
"Mustang Concert Party"
|
|
Toro Consulting Ltd (beneficially
owned by Jonathan Bixby (a director and the founder of Cykel) and
Shannon Wall (Jonathan Bixby's wife), Nicholas Lyth (a director of
Cykel), Jonathan Hives (a director of Cykel), Robert Mayfield (a
director of Cykel), Fidelio Partners Pte Ltd, California Two Pizza
Ventures Inc. First Sentinel Corporate Finance Ltd, Brian
Stockbridge (director of First Sentinel Corporate Finance Ltd),
Alpha Capital Group Limited (company controlled by Andrew Blaylock,
director of Clear Capital Markets Ltd), AB Trading and Investing
Ltd (company owned by Andrew Blaylock, director of Clear Capital
Markets Ltd), B Roberts Equity Trading Ltd (company owned by Bob
Roberts, director of Clear Capital Markets Ltd), Daniel Pellard
(director of Clear Capital Markets Ltd) and Clear Capital Markets
Ltd (Broker to Cykel's admission to the AQSE).
|
"Mustang Director
Options"
|
|
the 8,325,000 options granted by
Mustang to the Mustang Directors excluding those granted to a
former director of Mustang, Jacqueline Yee.
|
"Mustang General Meeting"
|
|
the general meeting of Mustang
Shareholders expected to be convened for
11 am on 20 June 2024 to consider
and, if thought fit, pass, among others, the
Mustang Resolutions, including any
adjournments thereof.
|
"Mustang Resolutions"
|
|
the shareholder resolutions:(a) of
Mustang Shareholders to authorise the allotment and issue
of
New Mustang Shares to Scheme
Shareholders (and any other Cykel
Shareholders whose Cykel Shares are
issued after the Scheme
becomes Effective); and
(b) of the Independent Mustang
Shareholders to approve the waiver
granted by the Panel of the
obligation that would otherwise arise on
any member of the Mustang Concert
Party to make a general offer to Mustang
Shareholders pursuant to Rule 9 of
the Takeover Code as a result of
the issue to the Mustang Concert
Party of the New Mustang Shares;
in each case, proposed to be passed
at the Mustang General Meeting and to
be set out in the notice of the
Mustang General Meeting contained in the
Mustang Circular.
|
"Mustang Shares"
|
|
the issued and fully paid ordinary
shares of one penny each in the capital of Mustang and any further
shares in the capital of Mustang which are unconditionally allotted
or issued before the Scheme becomes Effective.
|
"Mustang Shareholders"
|
|
holders of Mustang
Shares.
|
"Neville Registrars"
|
|
Cykel's registrars, Neville
Registrars Limited of Neville House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, B62
8HD.
|
"New Mustang Shares"
|
|
the new Mustang Shares to be issued
pursuant to the Scheme.
|
"Offer"
|
|
the offer by Mustang to acquire the
entire issued and to be issued ordinary
share capital of Cykel, other than
Excluded Shares (if any), to be effected by
means of the Scheme or, should
Mustang so elect, with the consent of the
Panel, by means of a Takeover Offer,
and where context admits, any
subsequent revision, variation,
extension or renewal thereof.
|
"Offer Period"
|
|
the offer period (as defined by the
Takeover Code) relating to Cykel, which
commenced on 19 January 2024 and
ending on the earlier of: (i) the Effective
Date and/or (ii) the date on which
the Scheme lapses or is withdrawn (or such
other date as the Takeover Code may
provide or the Panel may decide".
|
"Official List"
|
|
the Official List of the
FCA.
|
"Opening Position
Disclosure"
|
|
has the same meaning as in Rule 8 of
the Takeover Code.
|
"Overseas Shareholders"
|
|
Cykel Shareholders who are resident
in, ordinarily resident in, or citizens or nationals of,
jurisdictions outside of the UK or who are nominees of, or
custodians or trustees for, residents, citizens or nationals of
countries other than the UK.
|
"Panel"
|
|
the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers,
or any successor to it.
|
"Prospectus"
|
|
the prospectus issued by Mustang on
or around the date of this document in
connection with
Admission.
|
"Registrar of Companies"
|
|
the Registrar of Companies in
England and Wales
|
"Resolution"
|
|
the special resolution relating to
the Scheme to be proposed for the approval of the Cykel
Shareholders at the General Meeting.
|
"Restricted Jurisdiction"
|
|
any jurisdiction where the relevant
action would constitute a violation of the
relevant laws and regulations of
such jurisdiction or would result in a
requirement to comply with any
governmental or other consent or any
registration, filing or other
formality which Cykel or Mustang regards as
unduly onerous.
|
"Rule 2.7 Announcement
Date"
|
|
the date of this
announcement.
|
"Sanction Hearing"
|
|
the hearing of the Court at which
the Scheme Court Order will be sought.
|
"Scheme" or "Scheme of
Arrangement"
|
|
the proposed scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act between Cykel and the Scheme
Shareholders in connection with the Acquisition, with or subject to
any modification, addition or condition which Cykel and Mustang may
agree and, if required, approved or imposed by the
Court.
|
"Scheme Court Order"
|
|
the order of the Court sanctioning
the Scheme under section 899 of the
Companies Act.
|
"Scheme Document"
|
|
the document to be sent to Cykel
Shareholders containing and setting out, among other things, the
full terms and conditions of the Scheme and containing the notices
convening the Court Meeting and General Meeting.
|
"Scheme Record Time"
|
|
6.00 pm on the Business Day
immediately prior to the Effective Date.
|
"Scheme Shareholders"
|
|
holders of Scheme Shares at any
relevant date or time and a "Scheme Shareholder" shall mean any of
those Scheme Shareholders.
|
"Scheme Shares"
|
|
all Cykel Shares:
(A) in issue at the date
of the Scheme Document;
(B) (if any) issued
after the date of the Scheme Document but before the Voting Record
Time; and
(C) (if any) issued at
or after the Voting Record Time and before the Scheme Record Time
on terms that the original or any subsequent holders thereof are
bound by the Scheme or in respect of which such holders are, or
shall have agreed in writing to be, so bound,
in each case remaining in issue at
the Scheme Record Time, but excluding the Excluded
Shares.
|
"Takeover Code" or "Code"
|
|
the City Code on Takeovers and
Mergers from time to time issued, amended and interpreted by the
Panel.
|
"Takeover Offer"
|
|
subject to the consent of the Panel,
should the Acquisition be implemented
by way of a takeover offer as
defined in Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the
Companies Act, the offer to be made
by or on behalf of Mustang to acquire
the entire issued and to be issued
share capital of Cykel, other than Excluded
Shares and, where the context
admits, any subsequent revision, variation,
extension or renewal of such
Takeover Offer.
|
"Transitional Rules"
|
|
Listing Rule TR 16 in respect of
Listing Rules 2.2.7R(1).
|
"Third Party"
|
|
any relevant central bank,
government or governmental, quasi-governmental,
supranational, statutory,
regulatory, environmental, administrative, fiscal or
investigative body, court, trade
agency, association, institution,
environmental body, employee
representative body, any entity owned or
controlled by any relevant
government or state, or any other body or person
whatsoever in any
jurisdiction.
|
"uncertificated" or in
"uncertificated form"
|
|
in relation to a Scheme Share, one
which is recorded on the relevant register as being held in
uncertificated form (that is, in CREST).
|
"UK" or "United Kingdom"
|
|
the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland.
|
"Voting Record Time"
|
|
6.30 pm on the day which is two days
(excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the
date of the Court Meeting and General Meeting or any adjournment of
them (as the case may be).
|
"£" or "GBP" or "pence" or
"p"
|
|
pounds sterling or pence, the lawful
currency of the United Kingdom
|
For the purposes of this
announcement, associated
undertaking, parent undertaking, subsidiary undertaking and
undertaking have the respective meanings given thereto by
the Companies Act.
(A) Times are to London time, unless otherwise
stated;
(B) The
singular includes the plural and vice
versa;
(C) "Sterling", "£",
"pence" "penny" and "p" are to the lawful currency of the United
Kingdom;
(D) Legislation is to
the legislation of England and Wales unless the contrary is
indicated;
(E) Any provision of any legislation
(including, for these purposes, the Takeover Code) shall include
any amendment, modification, re-enactment or extension of
it.
(F) "includes" shall mean "includes
without limitation", and references to "including" and any other
similar term shall be interpreted accordingly.