THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDICES) AND THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND FOR INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION,
IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, AND DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN, INTO OR FROM THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF
SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE,
PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, OFFER OR SALE WOULD BE
UNLAWFUL.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES
NOT CONSTITUTE OR CONTAIN ANY INVITATION, SOLICITATION,
RECOMMENDATION, OFFER OR ADVICE TO ANY PERSON TO PURCHASE AND/OR
SUBSCRIBE FOR, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR DISPOSE OF ANY SECURITIES IN
ONDO INSURTECH PLC OR ANY OTHER ENTITY IN ANY JURISDICTION. NEITHER
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOR THE FACT OF ITS DISTRIBUTION, SHALL FORM THE
BASIS OF, OR BE RELIED ON IN CONNECTION WITH ANY INVESTMENT
DECISION IN RESPECT OF ONDO INSURTECH PLC.
THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY THE
COMPANY TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE
MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (REGULATION 596/2014/EU) AS IT FORMS PART
OF UK DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT
2018 ("UK MAR"). IN ADDITION, MARKET SOUNDINGS (AS DEFINED IN UK
MAR) WERE TAKEN IN RESPECT OF THE PLACING AND OTHER MATTERS
CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, WITH THE RESULT THAT CERTAIN
PERSONS BECAME AWARE OF SUCH INSIDE INFORMATION AS PERMITTED BY UK
MAR. UPON PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY
INFORMATION SERVICE THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE
IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. THEREFORE, UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT, THOSE PERSONS WHO RECEIVED INSIDE INFORMATION IN A
MARKET SOUNDING ARE NO LONGER IN POSSESSION OF INSIDE INFORMATION
RELATING TO THE COMPANY AND ITS SECURITIES.
13 May 2024
Ondo
InsurTech plc
("Ondo" or the "Company")
Proposed Placing to raise
approximately £3.0 million via an accelerated bookbuild,
and
Open Offer to raise up to a
further approximately £1.2 million
Ondo InsurTech plc (LSE: ONDO), a
leading company in claims prevention technology for home insurers,
today announces that it proposes to raise gross proceeds of
approximately £3.0 million by means of a Placing to new and
existing institutional investors. In addition to the Placing, the
Company proposes to raise up to a further approximately £1.2
million (before expenses), subject to the Board's discretion to
increase the size of the Open Offer, by way of an Open Offer
(together with the Placing, the "Fundraising").
The net proceeds from the Placing
will be used primarily to accelerate the Company's commercial
progress through:
· establishing an administration and service support centre in
the US;
· building and expanding operations across the US through direct
staff and dedicated service partnerships to support LeakBot
rollouts; and
· providing working capital to finance growth in rollouts in
line with existing US and European agreements.
The Placing will be conducted in
accordance with the terms and conditions set out in Appendix I to
this announcement through an accelerated bookbuild process (the
"Bookbuild") which will be
launched immediately following release of this placing announcement
(the "Announcement").
Highlights
· Proposed Placing of approximately £3.0 million with new and
existing institutional investors, and proposed Open Offer of up to
approximately £1.2 million, subject to the Board's discretion to
increase the size of the Open Offer, to existing Qualifying
Shareholders, in each case at the Issue Price.
· The
Fundraising will provide the Group with sufficient working capital
to deliver on the near-term contracts that have already been won
and to build the pipeline for future growth beyond existing
contracts.
· The
Issue Price of 14.0 pence represents a discount of approximately
3.45 per cent. to the closing mid-market price of 14.5 pence per
Share on 13 May 2024, being the last Business Day prior to the date
of this Announcement.
· The
Placing and Open Offer are conditional upon, among other things,
the passing of the Resolutions, the Placing Agreement not being
terminated in accordance with its terms and Admission becoming
effective.
· The
Placing is subject to the terms and conditions set out in Appendix
I.
· Details of the Placing and Open Offer will be set out in a
Prospectus to be sent to Shareholders shortly.
· Completion of the Placing and Open Offer is subject to,
inter alia, the
Resolutions being passed at a General Meeting of the Company,
expected to be held at 10.30 a.m. on 3 June 2024.
· Dowgate Capital Limited ("Dowgate") is acting as financial
adviser and Broker to the Company in connection with the
Fundraising.
Further information on the Fundraising
The Fundraising is conditional upon,
among other things, the passing by Shareholders of the Resolutions
at the General Meeting of the Company, expected to be held at 10.30
a.m. on 3 June 2024, Admission becoming effective and the Placing
Agreement not being terminated in accordance with its terms.
The Placing is conditional upon the
Prospectus having been approved by the FCA.
Placing
The Placing is subject to the Terms
and Conditions set out in Appendix I to this
Announcement.
Dowgate will commence the Placing
and the Placing will open immediately following the release of this
Announcement. The timing of the closing of the Bookbuild and
allocations are at the absolute discretion of the Company and
Dowgate. The number of Placing Shares to be placed in the Placing
at the Issue Price will be determined following closing of the
Bookbuild. Details of the result of the Placing and the number of
Placing Shares to be issued will be announced as soon as
practicable after the conditional close of the Placing.
Persons who choose to participate in
the Placing, by making an oral, electronic or written offer to
subscribe for Placing Shares, will be deemed to have read and
understood this Announcement in its entirety (including Appendix I)
and to be making such offer on the terms and subject to the
conditions herein, and to be providing the representations,
warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and undertakings contained
in Appendix I.
Open Offer
In addition to the Placing, the
Company is providing all Qualifying Shareholders with the
opportunity to subscribe for an aggregate of up to 8,669,476 Open
Offer Shares at the Issue Price to raise gross proceeds of up to
approximately £1.2 million. Qualifying Shareholders subscribing for
their full entitlement under the Open Offer may also request
additional Open Offer Shares through an excess application
facility. The Open Offer is not underwritten.
Subject to the fulfilment of the
conditions set out below and in the Prospectus, Qualifying
Shareholders may subscribe for Open Offer Shares on the basis
of
1 new Open Offer Share for every 10 Existing Shares
in proportion to their holding of
Existing Shares held on the Record Date. Shareholders subscribing
for their full entitlement under the Open Offer may also request
additional Open Offer Shares as an Excess Entitlement, up to the
total number of Open Offer Shares available to Qualifying
Shareholders under the Open Offer, further details of which are set
out below.
Application for Admission
Applications will be made for the
New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to listing on the Official List
(by way of a Standard Listing under Chapter 14 of the Listing
Rules) and to trading on London Stock Exchange's main market for
listed securities. It is expected that admission of the New
Ordinary Shares will become effective and dealings in the New
Ordinary Shares will commence at 8.00 a.m. on or around 5 June
2024.
Additional information
The New Ordinary Shares, when
issued, will be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the
Company's then Existing Shares, including the right to receive all
dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid on or in
respect of such shares after the date of issue.
Subject to approval of the
Prospectus by the FCA, a prospectus and circular convening a
General Meeting of the Company's Shareholders is expected to be
posted on or around 15 May 2024 and will provide details of, and
the background to the Fundraising, and will set out the reasons why
the Board believes that the Fundraising is in the best interests of
the Company and its Shareholders and to seek Shareholder approval
of the Resolutions.
Please refer to Appendix I to this
Announcement (which forms part of this Announcement) which sets out
further details of the Placing.
Unless otherwise stated, capitalised terms in this
Announcement have the meanings ascribed to them in Appendix II
(which forms part of this Announcement).
This Announcement should be read in
its entirety. In particular, you should read and understand the
information provided in the "Important Notices" section below and
the appendices to this Announcement (which form part of this
Announcement) which includes the terms and conditions of the
Fundraising.
Enquiries
Ondo InsurTech
plc
|
+44 (0)
800 783 9866
|
Craig Foster, CEO
|
|
Kevin Withington, CFO
|
|
|
|
Dowgate Capital Limited - Financial Adviser &
Broker
|
+44 (0)20
3903 7715
|
Corporate Finance
Russell Cook, Nicholas Chambers,
Charlie Hall
|
|
Corporate Broking
James Serjeant, Colin
Clime
|
|
|
|
Cassiopeia Services Limited - PR & Investor
Relations
|
+44 (0)
7949 690338
|
Stefania Barbaglio
|
|
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE
READ IN ITS ENTIRETY
Introduction
Ondo announces that it proposes to
raise gross proceeds of approximately £3.0 million by means of a
Placing to new and existing institutional investors. In addition,
the Company proposes to raise up to a further approximately £1.2 million (before
expenses), subject to the Board's discretion to increase the size
of the Open Offer, by way of an Open Offer.
The Fundraising is conditional upon,
amongst other things, the passing of the Resolutions and
Admission.
Background to and reasons for the
Fundraising
Ondo is a leading provider of water
leak detection technology to the home insurance and UK water
utility sectors through its proprietary LeakBot water leak
technology solution, developed over the last 10 years.
LeakBot is a patented self-install solution that, once
deployed and activated, monitors the home mains water system. The
device connects via the home wireless network and a mobile app for
the customer's smart phone.
If the LeakBot device detects a
leak, it notifies the customer via the LeakBot mobile app, the
mobile app provides guidance to the customer to identify the
potential leak alongside giving access to a team of expert LeakBot
engineers who will attend the property to 'find and fix' the
problem, leaving the property leak free. Service engineers are
either employed in-house by the Group, as in the UK and part of the
Scandinavian, or provided by third party providers, as is being
explored in the USA.
The LeakBot solution is supplied to
three main markets: the home insurance market in the UK,
Scandinavian and USA and separately to the UK water industry.
In all cases the LeakBot device is typically provided to the
household free of charge, with the insurer or water company paying
for the device and services. The Group has increasingly moved
to a recurring revenue model, particularly in the USA, where its
partners pay a monthly subscription on behalf of their customers
for the use of the LeakBot device as well as for repair services
when needed. This has materially increased the long term,
recurring nature of the Group's income and partners typically pay
for twelve months in advance, helping to manage the working capital
demands on the Group. All recently signed USA contracts are
on a $5 per month recurring basis, currently representing 2.5 per
cent. of registered users and 10 per cent. of Group recurring
revenues, despite the early stage of the rollout.
The primary market for LeakBot is
home insurance companies as part of a claims mitigation solution to
reduce the impact of water leaks and deliver claims savings to the
insurance industry. Nationwide (defined below) has estimated
that the average cost to them of a water claim is more than
$12,000. Between 20-30 per cent. of all household insurance claims
are caused by water leaks - equivalent to some £16 billion per year
in claims through the UK and USA. At a time of increasing
claims inflation, being able to mitigate risk via the Internet of
Things and other solutions is a key focus of the
industry.
Based on a pilot study conducted for
Portsmouth Water, LeakBot detected that approximately 30 per cent.
of all houses in which it is installed have a water leak of some
description. Independent research by Consumer Intelligence
published in June 2022 found LeakBot can reduce the cost of water
damage claims for insurers by 70 per cent., this is alongside
reducing the cost of unnecessary water usage for the homeowner and
environment benefit.
The LeakBot claims mitigation
solution is attracting significant interest in existing UK and
Nordic markets, alongside increasing interest from the USA with
recent contract wins with Nationwide and Selective (defined below).
The opportunity for significant expansion within the USA
market, with both new and existing partners, remains a key focus
for the Group. This is alongside the ongoing rollouts in
Scandinavia and the UK.
In addition to damage prevention,
water security is an increasingly dominant global environmental
concern. The LeakBot solution is attracting interest from UK
water utility companies as they seek to reduce water leaks, as
mandated by UK government. The LeakBot solution is able to
address these challenges with a cost effective, measurable solution
that can be deployed easily at scale into UK homes as part of a
programme to reduce overall water consumption. The LeakBot
solution has been piloted with several UK water companies,
including Portsmouth Water and Southern Water and is now being
deployed to up to 6,000 homes with South West Water.
As part of the ongoing development
of the water company opportunities, Ondo has been working with
several water companies to expand the deployments of LeakBots to
other parts of the UK alongside existing deployments. Ondo is
affiliated with Waterwise, an independent UK organisation
encouraging water efficiency for the benefit of people and the
planet.
This interest from UK water
companies is being developed alongside the core market of providing
a water claims prevention solution to major household insurance
companies in UK, Scandinavian and USA.
Ondo customers in the insurance
sector include:
Nationwide (top 10
USA)
Selective (USA)
Mutual of Enumclaw
(USA)
Pure Insurance (USA)
Admiral
(UK)
Hiscox (UK)
Direct Line
(UK)
Covea (UK)
LB Forsikring
(Denmark)
Topdanmark (Denmark)
Lansforsakringar (Sweden)
Alongside insurers, Ondo has signed
agreements with the following UK water utility
companies:
Portsmouth
Water
Southern Water
South West Water
To support its growth, both in the
UK and internationally, but in particular in the expanding USA
market, Ondo is developing its technology, operational and
marketing infrastructure. It has expanded its USA operations with
US wide third-party distribution capabilities in California, a
dedicated general manager for North America and a team of four
engineers covering four states. Currently, technical, operational
and additional customer support is provided from the UK and the
LeakBot product is manufactured in the UK. Following the Placing,
infrastructure in the USA will be expanded as the Group continues
to rollout into new states across the USA, with customer success
and operational leads employed centrally as well as engineers and
customer success teams within in each new state. Over time, the
support provided by the UK team will reduce. In addition, Ondo
management are assessing manufacturing capabilities in North
America.
At the same time, the Group is in
initial discussions with certain third party providers of plumbing
and home maintenance services across the USA, to provide additional
plumbing resources to enable Ondo to increase the pace and scale of
the rollout to more states. This approach, if successful,
will reduce resource required for further directly-hired engineers
within the USA. It would operate alongside the existing direct
hired model as Ondo management want to be confident that Ondo is
able to continue and maintain the high levels of customer service
that all Ondo customers currently receive.
While the LeakBot product and
platform are fully developed and operational, the Company is
continuing to develop the platform in line with the requirements of
new and existing partners. The Group in continuing with its
research and development program, albeit at a lower level of
capital spend than in previous years.
In the past 12 months Ondo has
signed contracts that have significantly increased the addressable
households that LeakBot could be deployed into. The Group now
has approximately 2.5 million addressable households through signed
contracts in live locations and a further 2.5 million addressable
households that can be accessed through existing customers by
adding plumbing services in additional locations. In
addition, the Group has a pipeline in the USA that would expand its
addressable households by a further 4.5 million homes. The
Group is working with a number of insurance company partners to
penetrate these addressable households through various combinations
of opt in and auto ship campaigns depending on the requirements of
the partner.
As a result, Ondo has a significant
number of opportunities from existing contracts combined with a
strong pipeline of opportunities in the USA, UK and
Scandinavia. The successful execution of the existing
opportunities alongside continuing to build the pipeline for the
future remains a key priority for the management team. The
Fundraising will provide the Group with sufficient working capital
to deliver on its near-term, visible opportunities.
Current trading and prospects
The Company announced on 16 April
2024 that progress reported for the first six months of the year to
31 March 2024 continued into the second half in line with
management expectations. As a result, the out turn for the
year to 31 March 2024 is expected to be in line with current market
forecasts. The Company continues to manage its cash resources
with care and at 31 March 2024 the Company had cash at bank of £0.4
million.
The Company also reported that the
Company has successfully launched with the four US insurance
companies across different US states: Nationwide, Selective, Mutual
of Enumclaw and Pure Underwriting. The Company further reported
that it has seen positive initial results from these partner
launches, with an excellent reception from both the insurers and
their customers. Based on these results and feedback to date
management are increasingly confident as to the prospects for
multiple state rollouts with the existing partners, and also in the
Company's ability to launch new insurers through the current
year.
Ondo also reiterated that it had
announced the extension of the contract with LB Forsikring and that
it continues to launch new activity with existing partners in
Denmark and Sweden. Ondo anticipates that it will be signing new
partnerships in the UK and Scandinavia in the current financial
year. In addition, LeakBot has been increasing deployments with
water companies in the UK, including the largest deal so far
announced on 26 February 2024 with South-West Water. South West
Water's initial order was for 6,000 LeakBots. To date, 1,400 units
have been deployed and the initial order is now expected to be
completed before end May 2024.
Placing
Dowgate is acting as sole broker in
connection with the Placing. The Company is proposing to
raise gross proceeds of approximately £3.0 million through the
proposed placing of the Placing Shares at the Issue Price to new
and existing institutional investors. The Placing is subject
to the terms and conditions set out in Appendix I to this
Announcement. Dowgate will commence the Bookbuild in respect of the
Placing immediately following the release of this Announcement. The
timing of the closing of the Bookbuild and allocations are at the
absolute discretion of Dowgate and the Company.
The Placing is subject to the
conditions and termination rights set out in the placing agreement
between the Company, the Directors and Dowgate (the
"Placing
Agreement"). Further details of the
Placing Agreement can be found in the terms and conditions
contained in Appendix I to this Announcement.
In accordance with the Placing
Agreement, Dowgate has agreed to use reasonable endeavours to
procure, as agent for the Company, Placees to subscribe for the
Placing Shares at the Issue Price.
The Issue Price of 14.0 pence per
share represents a discount of 3.45 per cent. to the closing price
of 14.5 pence per Share on 13 May 2024 (being the last business day
prior to this Announcement).
Open Offer
The Open Offer is conditional,
amongst other things, on the following conditions being satisfied;
(a) the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting without
material amendment; (b) the Placing Agreement becoming
unconditional in all respects (save for the condition relating to
Admission) and not having been rescinded or terminated in
accordance with its terms prior to Admission; and (c) Admission of
the New Ordinary Shares becoming effective by 8.00 a.m. on or
around 5 June 2024 (or such later date and/or time as the Company
and Dowgate may agree).
If these and the other conditions to
the Open Offer are not satisfied or waived (where capable of
waiver), the Open Offer will lapse and will not proceed and any
applications made by Qualifying Shareholders will be rejected.
In these circumstances, application monies received by the
Receiving Agent in respect of Open Offer Shares will be returned
(at the applicant's sole risk), without payment of interest, as
soon as reasonably practicable thereafter. Lapsing of the
Open Offer cannot occur after dealings in the Open Offer Shares
have begun.
The allotment and issue of the Open
Offer Shares is conditional on Admission of the Placing Shares but
the Placing is not conditional on Admission of the Open Offer
Shares; if Admission of the Placing Shares does not occur, then the
Open Offer will also not complete. However, if the Open Offer does
not complete, then this will not prevent the Placing from
completing.
Basic Entitlement
On and subject to the terms and
conditions of the Open Offer, the Company invites Qualifying
Shareholders to apply for their Basic Entitlement of Open Offer
Shares at the Issue Price. Each Qualifying Shareholder's Basic
Entitlement has been calculated on the following basis:
1 Open Offer Share for every
10 Existing Shares held at the Record Date
Basic Entitlements will be rounded
down to the nearest whole number of Shares.
Excess Entitlement
Qualifying Shareholders are also
invited to apply for additional Open Offer Shares (up to the total
number of Open Offer Shares available to Qualifying Shareholders
under the Open Offer) as an Excess Entitlement. Any Open
Offer Shares not issued to a Qualifying Shareholder pursuant to
their Basic Entitlement will be apportioned between those
Qualifying Shareholders who have applied for an Excess Entitlement
at the sole and absolute discretion of the Board, provided that no
Qualifying Shareholder shall be required to subscribe for more Open
Offer Shares than they have specified on the Application Form or
through CREST.
Qualifying Shareholders should note
that the Open Offer is not a "rights issue". Invitations to apply
under the Open Offer are not transferable unless to satisfy
bona fide market claims.
Qualifying non-CREST Shareholders should be aware that the
Application Form is not a negotiable document and cannot be traded.
Qualifying Shareholders should also be aware that in the Open
Offer, unlike in a rights issue, any Open Offer Shares not applied
for will not be sold in the market nor will they be placed for the
benefit of Qualifying Shareholders who do not apply for Open Offer
Shares under the Open Offer.
Expected timetable of principal events
Record Date
|
6.00 p.m.
on 13 May 2024
|
Announcement of
Fundraising
|
4.35 p.m.
on 13 May 2024
|
Announcement of result of
Placing
|
14 May
2024
|
Ex-Entitlement Date for Open
Offer
|
15 May
2024
|
Posting of Prospectus
|
15 May
2024
|
Open Offer opens
|
16 May
2024
|
Open Offer closes
|
30 May
2024
|
Announcement of result of Open
Offer
|
31 May
2024
|
General Meeting
|
3 June
2024
|
Announcement of result of General
Meeting
|
by 4.30
p.m. on 3 June 2024
|
Admission of New Ordinary
Shares
|
8.00 a.m.
on 5 June 2024
|
Important information
This Announcement is for information
purposes only and does not itself constitute an offer or invitation
to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any
securities in the Company and does not constitute investment
advice.
Neither this Announcement nor any
copy of it may be taken or transmitted, published or distributed,
directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia,
Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or to any persons in
any of those jurisdictions or any other jurisdiction where to do so
would constitute a violation of the relevant securities laws of
such jurisdiction. Any failure to comply with this restriction may
constitute a violation of the securities laws of any state or
territory of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or the
Republic of South Africa. The distribution of this Announcement in other jurisdictions may
be restricted by law and persons into whose possession this
Announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe, any
such restrictions.
Any failure to comply with these
restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of
any such jurisdiction. Neither this Announcement nor any part of it
nor the fact of its distribution shall form the basis of or be
relied on in connection with or act as an inducement to enter into
any contract or commitment whatsoever.
In particular, the Placing Shares
and the Open Offer Shares have not been and will not be registered
under the Securities Act, or under the securities laws or with any
securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction
of the United States, and accordingly the Placing Shares and the
Open Offer Shares may not be offered, sold, pledged or transferred,
directly or indirectly, in, into or within the United States except
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act and the securities laws of any relevant state or
other jurisdiction of the United States. There is no
intention to register any portion of the Fundraising in the United
States or to conduct a public offering of securities in the United
States or elsewhere.
Dowgate is authorised and regulated
in the United Kingdom by the FCA and is acting as financial adviser
and broker to the Company in respect of the Fundraising. Dowgate is
acting for the Company and for no-one else in connection with the
Fundraising, and will not be treating any other person as its
client in relation thereto, and will not be responsible for
providing the regulatory protections afforded to its customers nor
for providing advice in connection with the Fundraising or any
other matters referred to herein and apart from the
responsibilities and liabilities (if any) imposed on Dowgate, as
the case may be, by FSMA, any liability therefor is expressly
disclaimed. Any other person in receipt of this Announcement should
seek their own independent legal, investment and tax advice as they
see fit.
Forward-looking statements
This Announcement contains
statements about Ondo that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking
statements".
All statements, other than
statements of historical facts, included in this Announcement may
be forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements
preceded or followed by, or that include, the words "targets",
"plans", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may",
"should", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects", "would", "could",
"continue" or words or terms of similar substance or the negative
thereof, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
include, without limitation, statements relating to the following:
(i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings,
synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition,
dividend policy, losses and future prospects and (ii) business and
management strategies and the expansion and growth of the
operations of Ondo.
These forward-looking statements are
not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which may cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of any such person, or industry results, to be
materially different from any results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions
regarding the present and future business strategies of such
persons and the environment in which each will operate in the
future. Investors should not place undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements and, save as is required by law or
regulation (including to meet the requirements of the Listing
Rules, the Prospectus Rules, the FSMA and/or UK MAR), does not
undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any
forward-looking statements (including to reflect any change in
expectations with regard thereto or any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based).
All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements
attributed to Ondo or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified
in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. All
forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement are based
on information available to the Directors at the date of this
Announcement, unless some other time is specified in relation to
them, and the posting or receipt of this Announcement shall not
give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the
facts set forth herein since such date.
APPENDIX I
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE
PLACING
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY REGARDING THE
PLACING.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THIS
APPENDIX, APPENDIX II AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN
(TOGETHER THE "ANNOUNCEMENT") IS RESTRICTED AND IS
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, THE
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, CANADA, JAPAN, THE
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH
RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL
("RESTRICTED
JURISDICTIONS"). THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE FCA OR THE LONDON STOCK
EXCHANGE, NOR IS IT INTENDED THAT IT WILL BE SO
APPROVED.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE UK OR
ELSEWHERE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS DIRECTED ONLY
AT PERSONS WHOSE ORDINARY ACTIVITIES INVOLVE THEM IN ACQUIRING,
HOLDING, MANAGING AND DISPOSING OF INVESTMENTS (AS PRINCIPAL OR
AGENT) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THEIR BUSINESS AND WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND ARE: (A) IN THE
UNITED KINGDOM AND QUALIFIED INVESTORS (FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT REFERRED TO AS "UK
QUALIFIED INVESTORS") AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(e) OF
REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129 WHICH FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW PURSUANT
TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (THE "UK PROSPECTUS REGULATION") WHO ALSO
(I) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS
ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE
"ORDER") (INVESTMENT
PROFESSIONALS); (II) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(a) TO (d) (HIGH NET
WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.) OF THE ORDER;
OR (C) ARE PERSONS TO WHOM IT IS OTHERWISE LAWFUL TO COMMUNICATE IT
TO (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF
SECURITIES FOR SALE INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE PLACING SHARES AND
OPEN OFFER SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER
THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR WITH ANY
SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION OF THE
UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR TRANSFERRED,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT
PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT
SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND
IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR
OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. SUBJECT TO CERTAIN
EXCEPTIONS AND AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY, THE PLACING
SHARES AND OPEN OFFER SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD ONLY
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS" WITHIN THE
MEANING OF, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, REGULATION S UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT AND OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE
LAWS. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES AND OPEN OFFER
SHARES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED KINGDOM OR
ELSEWHERE. NO MONEY, SECURITIES OR OTHER CONSIDERATION FROM
ANY PERSON INSIDE THE UNITED STATES IS BEING SOLICITED AND, IF SENT
IN RESPONSE TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, WILL
NOT BE ACCEPTED. PERSONS RECEIVING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING
CUSTODIANS, NOMINEES AND TRUSTEES) MUST NOT FORWARD, DISTRIBUTE,
MAIL OR OTHERWISE TRANSMIT IT OR ANY PART OF IT IN OR INTO THE
UNITED STATES.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE
INFORMATION IN IT MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO
ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY
INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED
IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. PERSONS INTO WHOSE POSSESSION
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMES ARE REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY AND DOWGATE TO
INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT AND TO OBSERVE ANY SUCH RESTRICTIONS. THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR
SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN ONDO INSURTECH PLC.
The distribution of this
Announcement and/or the Placing and/or issue of, or subscription
for, the Placing Shares and Open Offer Shares, in certain
jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been
taken by the Company, Dowgate or any of their respective Affiliates
that would permit an offer of the Placing Shares and Open Offer
Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any
other offering or publicity material relating to such Placing
Shares and Open Offer Shares in any jurisdiction where action for
that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this
Announcement comes are required by the Company and Dowgate to
inform themselves about and to observe any such
restrictions.
This Announcement or any part of it
is for information purposes only and does not constitute or form
part of an offer to sell or issue or a solicitation of an offer or
invitation to buy or subscribe for or otherwise acquire any
securities in any jurisdiction including, without limitation, the
Restricted Jurisdictions or any other jurisdiction in which such
offer or solicitation is or may be unlawful. No public offering of
Placing Shares or Open Offer Shares is being made in any such
jurisdiction. No copy or part of this Announcement and the
information contained in it may be released, published or
distributed, directly or indirectly, to persons in a Restricted
Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction in which such release,
publication or distribution would be unlawful unless permitted
pursuant to an exemption under the relevant local law or regulation
in any such jurisdiction.
In connection with the Fundraising
and Admission, the final approved combined circular and prospectus
(the "Prospectus") prepared
by, and relating to, the Company is expected to be dated on or
around 15 May 2024. The Prospectus will, subject to approval by the
FCA, be published on the Company's website and made available to
you and will be despatched by the Company to its Shareholders
(other than those who have elected or have deemed to have elected
to receive soft copy, e-mail notifications or postal notifications
of the publication of documents). The Prospectus is not expected to
be approved and published prior to Placees entering into a legally
binding commitment in respect of the Placing with the Broker, as
agent of and on behalf of the Company. As such, any commitments
made under the Placing will be on the basis of this Announcement
and the terms and conditions in this Appendix I.
The Placing Shares and Open Offer
Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the US Securities
and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or other
regulatory authority in the United States, nor have any of the
foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the
Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of this Announcement. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United
States. The relevant clearances have not been, nor will they be,
obtained from the securities commission of any province or
territory of Canada, no prospectus has been lodged with, or
registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant clearances have
not been, and will not be, obtained from the South Africa Reserve
Bank or any other applicable body in the Republic of South Africa
in relation to the Placing Shares and Open Offer Shares and such
shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under or offered
in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or
territory of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the
Republic of South Africa or Japan. Accordingly, the Placing Shares
and Open Offer Shares may not (unless an exemption under the
relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold, resold or
delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States,
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or
Japan or any other jurisdiction in which such offer, sale, resale
or delivery would be unlawful.
Persons distributing any part of
this Announcement or the Prospectus must satisfy themselves that it
is lawful to do so. Persons (including, without limitation,
nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal
obligation to forward a copy of this Announcement and/or the
Prospectus should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.
Persons into whose possession this Announcement and/or the
Prospectus comes are required by the Company and Dowgate to inform
themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions.
By participating in the Bookbuilding
Process and the Placing, each person who is invited to and who
chooses to participate in the Placing (a "Placee") by making an oral and legally
binding offer to acquire Placing Shares will be deemed to have read
and understood this Announcement in its entirety, to be
participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on the
terms and conditions contained herein and to be providing the
representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and
undertakings contained in this Appendix I. Members of the public
are not eligible to take part in the Placing and no public offering
of Placing Shares or the Open Offer Shares is being or will be
made.
This Announcement may contain and
the Company may make verbal statements containing "forward-looking
statements" with respect to certain of the Group's plans and its
current goals and expectations relating to its future financial
condition, performance, strategic initiatives, objectives and
results. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such
as "aim", "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend",
"plan", "goal", "believe", "seek", "may", "could", "outlook" or
other words of similar meaning. By their nature, all
forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because
they relate to future events and circumstances which are beyond the
control of the Company, including amongst other things, United
Kingdom domestic and global economic business conditions,
market-related risks such as fluctuations in interest rates and
exchange rates, the policies and actions of governmental and
regulatory authorities, the effect of competition, inflation,
deflation, the timing effect and other uncertainties of future
acquisitions or combinations within relevant industries, the effect
of tax and other legislation and other regulations in the
jurisdictions in which the Group and its affiliates operate, the
effect of volatility in the equity, capital and credit markets on
the Group's profitability and ability to access capital and credit,
a decline in the Company's credit ratings; the effect of
operational risks; and the loss of key personnel. As a
result, the actual future financial condition, performance and
results of the Group may differ materially from the plans, goals
and expectations set forth in any forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement regarding
past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation
that such trends or activities will continue in the future. Undue
reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements
made in this Announcement by or on behalf of the Company, which
speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required
by applicable law or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims
any obligation or undertaking to publish any updates or revisions
to any forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement to
reflect any changes in the Company's expectations with regard
thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on
which any such statement is based.
Dowgate, which is authorised and
regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting as broker and
bookrunner exclusively to the Company and to no-one else in
connection with the Bookbuilding Process, Placing and Admission and
will not be responsible to anyone (including any Placees) other
than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its
clients, nor for providing advice in relation to the Bookbuilding
Process, the Placing, the Open Offer or Admission or any other
matters referred to in this Announcement.
No representation or warranty,
express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to,
and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by
Dowgate or by any of its Affiliates or agents as to, or in relation
to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement, the
Prospectus or any other written or oral information made available
to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers,
and any liability therefor is expressly disclaimed.
No statement in this Announcement or
the Prospectus is intended to be a profit forecast or estimate, and
no statement in this Announcement or the Prospectus should be
interpreted to mean that earnings per share of the Company for the
current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed
the historical published earnings per share of the
Company.
The price of shares and any income
expected from them may go down as well as up and investors may not
get back the full amount invested upon disposal of the shares. Past
performance is no guide to future performance, and persons needing
advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
The contents of this Announcement
and of the Prospectus are not to be construed as legal, business,
financial or tax advice. Each shareholder or prospective investor
should consult with his or her or its own legal adviser, business
adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser for legal, financial,
business or tax advice.
The contents of this Announcement
have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in the United
Kingdom or elsewhere. Recipients of this Announcement should
exercise caution in relation to the Placing if they are in any
doubt as to the contents of this Announcement and seek independent
professional advice.
The Placing Shares to be issued
pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to any stock exchange
other than the Official List of the FCA (by way of a Standard
Listing under Chapter 14 of the Listing Rules) and to trading on
the London Stock Exchange's Main Market.
Neither the content of the Company's
website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's
website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this
Announcement.
Information to
Distributors
UK product
governance
Solely for the purposes of Paragraph 3.2.7R regarding the
responsibilities of UK Manufacturers under the product governance
requirements contained within Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook
Production Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK
Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any
liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which
any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance
Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing
Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has
determined that such securities are: (i) compatible with an end
target market of investors who meet the criteria of investors who
meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible
counterparties, each as defined in the UK Product Governance
Requirements; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all
distribution channels as are permitted by UK Product Governance
Requirements (the "UK Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding
the UK Target Market Assessment, distributors (for the purposes of
UK Product Governance Requirements) should note that: (a) the price
of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or
part of their investment; (b) the Placing Shares offer no
guaranteed income and no capital protection; and (c) an investment
in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not
need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone
or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser)
are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an
investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any
losses that may result therefrom. The UK Target Market
Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any
contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation
to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that,
notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment, Dowgate will only
procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and
eligible counterparties.
For
the avoidance of doubt, the UK Target Market Assessment does not
constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for
the purposes of Chapter 9A or 10A respectively of the FCA Handbook
Conduct of Business Sourcebook; or (b) a recommendation to any
investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take
any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing
Shares.
Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target
market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining
appropriate distribution channels.
Publicly Available Information
Placees' commitments will be made
solely on the basis of the information contained in this
Announcement and any information publicly announced through a
Regulatory Information Service by or on behalf of the Company on or
prior to the date of this Announcement ("Publicly Available Information") (save
that in the case of Publicly Available Information, a Placee's
right to rely on that information is limited to the rights that
such Placee would have as a matter of law in the absence of this
paragraph). Placees' commitments will also be subject to the
further terms set forth in the form of confirmation to be provided
to individual prospective Placees.
Each Placee, by participating in the
Placing, acknowledges and agrees that the content of this
Announcement and the Prospectus is exclusively the responsibility
of the Company and confirms that it has neither received nor relied
on any information (other than (a) Publicly Available Information,
(b) the amount of the relevant Placing participation in the oral
and/or written confirmation given to Placees and (c) the form of
confirmation referred to above), representation, warranty or
statement made by or on behalf of Dowgate, the Company, their
respective Affiliates or any other person. None of Dowgate, the
Company, their respective Affiliates or any other person has or
shall have any liability for any Placee's decision to participate
in the Placing based on any other information, representation,
warranty or statement which Placees may have obtained or received
and, if given or made, such information, representation, warranty
or statement must not be relied upon as having been authorised by
Dowgate, the Company or any of their Affiliates.
Each Placee, by accepting a
participation in the Placing, acknowledges and agrees that it has
relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other
position of the Company in accepting a participation in the
Placing. Neither the Company nor
Dowgate is making any undertaking or warranty to any Placee
regarding the legality of an investment in the Placing Shares by
such Placee under any legal, investment or similar laws or
regulations. No Placee should consider any information in this
Announcement to be legal, tax or business advice. Each Placee
should consult its own solicitor, tax adviser and financial adviser
for independent legal, tax and financial advice regarding an
investment in the Placing Shares and/or Open Offer Shares. Nothing
in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for
fraudulent misrepresentation.
Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing
Shares
The Company has today entered into
the Placing Agreement with Dowgate and the Directors of the
Company, under which, on the terms and subject to the conditions
set out in the Placing Agreement, Dowgate, as agent for and on
behalf of the Company, has agreed to use its reasonable endeavours
to procure Placees for the Placing Shares at the Issue Price.
Dowgate will today commence the Bookbuild for the purpose of
determining the demand for participation in the Placing by Placees.
The exact number of Placing Shares to be allocated and issued to
each Placee shall be determined by Dowgate (in consultation with
and with the consent of the Company) following completion of the
Bookbuild. This Appendix I gives details of the terms and
conditions of, and the mechanics for participation in, the Placing.
The Placing is not being underwritten (in whole or in part) by
Dowgate or any other person.
The Placing Agreement contains
customary warranties given by the Company and the Directors to
Dowgate as to matters relating to the Company and its business and
a customary indemnity given by the Company to Dowgate in respect of
liabilities arising out of, or in connection with, the Placing and
Open Offer.
The Placing Shares and the Open
Offer Shares will, when issued, be subject to the articles of
association of the Company and credited as fully paid and will rank
pari passu in all respects with the Existing Shares, including the
right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared,
made or paid in respect of such Ordinary Shares after the date of
issue of the Placing Shares and Open Offer Shares. The Placing
Shares and Open Offer Shares will be issued free of any
encumbrance, lien or other security interest.
Each Placee agrees to indemnify on
demand and hold Dowgate, the Company, and their respective
affiliates harmless from any all costs, claims, liabilities and
expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in
connection with any breach of the acknowledgments,
undertakings, warranties and agreements set
forth in these terms and conditions and any contract
note.
The Placing is also conditional
upon, amongst other things, the Placing Agreement becoming
unconditional and the Placing Agreement not being terminated in
accordance with its terms. Further details of conditions in
relation to the Placing are set out below in the paragraph entitled
"Conditions of the Placing".
To the fullest extent permitted by
law, each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it will not be
entitled to exercise any remedy of rescission at any time. This
does not affect any other rights the Placee may have. Fractions of
Placing Shares and/or Open Offer Shares will not be
issued.
Application for admission to trading
Application will be made to the FCA
for admission of the Placing Shares to the Official List of the
Financial Conduct Authority (by way of a Standard Listing under
Chapter 14 of the Listing Rules) and to the London Stock Exchange
for admission of the Placing Shares to trading on the London Stock
Exchange's Main Market.
Application will also be made to
Euroclear for the entitlements to the Open Offer Shares to be
admitted as separate participating securities within
CREST.
It is expected that Admission will
take place no later than 8.00 a.m. on 5 June 2024 and that dealings
in the Placing Shares and the Open Offer Shares on the Main Market
will commence at the same time.
Payment for shares
Each Placee has a separate,
irrevocable and binding obligation to pay the Issue Price in
cleared funds for the number of Placing Shares duly allocated to
the Placee under the Placing in the manner and by the time directed
by Dowgate. If any Placee fails to pay as so directed and/or by the
time directed, the relevant Placee's application for Placing Shares
shall at Dowgate's discretion either be rejected or accepted in
which case the paragraph below entitled "Registration and Settlement" shall
apply to such application.
Principal terms of the Bookbuild and Placing
1 Dowgate is
acting as bookrunner and broker to the Placing, as agent for and on
behalf of the Company. Dowgate is authorised and regulated in the
United Kingdom by the FCA and is acting exclusively for the Company
and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this
Announcement and the Prospectus and will not be responsible to
anyone other than the Company for providing the protections
afforded to the customers of Dowgate or for providing advice in
relation to the matters described in this Announcement and the
Prospectus.
2 Dowgate is
receiving corporate finance fees and certain commissions on the
Placing.
3
Participation in the Placing will only be available to persons who
may lawfully be, and are, invited by Dowgate to participate.
Dowgate and any of its respective affiliates are entitled to
participate in the Placing as principal.
4 The price
per Placing Share (the "Issue
Price") is fixed at 14.0 pence and is payable to Dowgate by
all Placees.
5 The book
for the Placing will open with immediate effect. The accelerated
bookbuilding process (the "Bookbuilding Process"
or the "Bookbuild") is expected to
close not later than 2.00 p.m. (London time) on 14 May 2024, but
may be closed at such earlier or later time as Dowgate, in its
absolute discretion, determines and Dowgate may, in agreement with
the Company, also accept bids that are received after the Bookbuild
has closed. Further announcements will be made following the
closure of the Bookbuilding Process detailing the results of the
Bookbuilding Process.
6 Each
Placee's allocation is determined by Dowgate in consultation with
and with the consent of the Company and has been or will be
confirmed orally by Dowgate and a form of confirmation will be
dispatched as soon as possible thereafter. That oral confirmation
will give rise to an irrevocable, legally binding commitment by
that person (who at that point becomes a Placee), in favour of
Dowgate and the Company, under which it agrees to acquire the
number of Placing Shares allocated to the Placee at the Issue Price
and otherwise on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in
this Appendix I and in accordance with the Company's articles of
association. Except with Dowgate's written consent, such commitment
will not be capable of variation or revocation after the time at
which it is submitted.
7 Each
Placee's allocation and commitment will be evidenced by a form of
confirmation issued to such Placee by Dowgate. The terms and
conditions of this Announcement will be deemed incorporated in that
form of confirmation.
8 Each
Placee will have an immediate, separate, irrevocable and binding
obligation, owed to Dowgate (as agent for the Company), to pay to
Dowgate (or as it may direct) in cleared funds an amount equal to
the product of the Issue Price and the number of Placing Shares
such Placee has agreed to acquire and the Company has agreed to
allot and issue to that Placee.
9
Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's allocation(s) pursuant
to the Placing is/are confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares
to be acquired pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made
at the same time, on the basis explained below under "Registration
and Settlement".
10 All obligations
of Dowgate under the Placing will be subject to fulfilment of the
conditions referred to below under "Conditions of the Placing" and to the
Placing not being terminated on the basis referred to below under
"Termination of the
Placing".
11 By
participating in the Placing, each Placee will agree that its
rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will terminate
only in the circumstances described below and will not be capable
of rescission or termination by that Placee.
12 To the fullest
extent permissible by law and applicable FCA rules, none of (a)
Dowgate; (b) any of Dowgate's affiliates, agents, directors,
officers, consultants, (c) to the extent not contained within (a)
or (b), any person connected with Dowgate as defined in the FSMA
((b) and (c) being together "affiliates" and individually an
"affiliate" of Dowgate),
(d) any person acting on Dowgate's behalf, shall have any liability
(including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties)
to the Placees or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a
Placee or otherwise. In particular, neither Dowgate nor any
of its affiliates shall have any liability (including, to the
extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of
their conduct of the Placing or of such alternative method of
effecting the Placing as Dowgate and the Company may
agree.
Registration and Settlement
Each Placee allocated Placing Shares
in the Placing will be sent a form of confirmation in accordance
with the standing arrangements in place with Dowgate stating the
number of Placing Shares allocated to it, the Issue Price, the
aggregate amount owed by such Placee to Dowgate and settlement
instructions. Each Placee agrees that it will do all things
necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed in
accordance with either the standing CREST or certificated
settlement instructions that it has in place with
Dowgate.
A Placee's entitlement to receive
any Placing Shares under the Placing will be conditional on
Dowgate's receipt of payment in full for such Placing Shares by the
relevant time to be stated in the form of confirmation referred to
above, or by such later time and/or date as Dowgate and the Company
may in their absolute discretion determine, or otherwise in
accordance with that confirmation's terms.
Each Placee will be deemed to agree
that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and
payment is completed as directed by Dowgate in accordance with
either the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions
which they have in place with Dowgate.
Settlement of transactions in the
Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00BNVVGD77) following Admission will take
place within the CREST system, subject to certain exceptions.
Admission is expected to occur on 5 June 2024 unless otherwise
notified by Dowgate and settlement through CREST of the Placing
Shares is expected to take place on 5 June 2024 unless otherwise
notified by Dowgate. Admission and settlement may occur at an
earlier date. In the event of any difficulties or delays in the
admission of the Placing Shares to CREST or the use of CREST in
relation to the Placing, the Company and Dowgate may agree that the
Placing Shares should be issued in certificated form. Dowgate
therefore reserves the right to require settlement for, and
delivery of, the Placing Shares to Placees by such other means as
it deems necessary, if delivery or settlement is not possible or
practicable within the CREST system within the timetable set out in
this Announcement or would not be consistent with the regulatory
requirements in the Placee's jurisdiction. As Dowgate intends
that the proceeds from the issue of Placing Shares will be paid
within one Business Day of the delivery of the Placing Shares, it
is agreed that Dowgate will use the CASS Delivery Versus Payment
exemptions (as set out in CASS 6.1.12R and CASS 7.11.14R within the
FCA Handbook Client Assets Sourcebook) with regard to settlement of
the Placing Shares and/or monies relating to the
Placing.
Interest is chargeable daily on
payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance
with the arrangements set out above, in respect of either CREST or
certificated deliveries, at the rate of 2 percentage points above
the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") as determined by
Dowgate.
Each Placee agrees that, if it does
not comply with these obligations: (a) the Company may elect at its
discretion to be released from all obligations with respect to the
issue of all or any such Placing Shares to such Placee; and/or (b)
Dowgate may sell (and is irrevocably authorised by such Placee to
do so) all or any Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf and then
retain from the proceeds, for the account and benefit of Dowgate
(i) any amount up to the total amount due to it as, or in respect
of, subscription monies, or as interest on such monies, for any
Placing Shares, (ii) any amount required to cover any stamp duty or
stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties)
arising on the sale of such Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf,
and (iii) any amount required to cover dealing costs and/or
commissions necessarily or reasonably incurred by it in respect of
such sale; and (c) such Placee shall remain liable to Dowgate for
the full amount of any losses or shortfall and of any costs which
it may suffer or incur as a result of it (i) not receiving payment
in full for such Placing Shares by the required time, and/or (ii)
the sale of any such Placing Shares to any other person at whatever
price and on whatever terms actually obtained for such sale by or
for it. By communicating a bid for Placing Shares, each Placee
confers on Dowgate all such authorities and powers necessary to
carry out any such sale under this paragraph and agrees to ratify
and confirm all actions which Dowgate lawfully takes in pursuance
of such sale.
If Placing Shares are to be
delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees must ensure
that, upon receipt, the conditional form of confirmation is copied
and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that
organisation. Insofar as Placing Shares are registered in a
Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the name of any person
for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or that of a nominee for
such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below,
be so registered free from any liability to United Kingdom stamp
duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If there are any circumstances in
which any other stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax is payable in
respect of the issue of the Placing Shares, neither Dowgate nor the
Company shall be responsible for the payment thereof. Placees will
not be entitled to receive any fee or commission in connection with
the Placing.
Conditions of the Placing
The Placing is conditional upon the
Prospectus having been approved by the FCA, the Resolutions having
been passed and the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and
not having been terminated in accordance with its terms.
The obligations of Dowgate under the
Placing Agreement in respect of the Placing are, conditional upon,
inter alia:
1 the
Company having complied with all its obligations and having
satisfied all conditions to be performed or satisfied by it under
the Placing Agreement which fall to be performed or satisfied on or
prior to Admission;
2 the
Prospectus having been approved by the FCA by midday on 15 May 2024
(or such later date as may be agreed in writing between the Company
and Dowgate);
3 the
Resolutions having been passed;
4 there not
having arisen or occurred any matter, fact or circumstance or event
which in the opinion of Dowgate would result in a supplementary
prospectus being required to be released, other than with the
consent of Dowgate;
5 Admission
taking place not later than 8.00 a.m. on 5
June 2024 (or such later date as may be
agreed in writing between the Company and Dowgate),
(all conditions to the obligations
of Dowgate included in the Placing Agreement being together, and
some of which are summarised above, the (the "conditions")
If any of the conditions set out in
the Placing Agreement are not fulfilled within the required
timescales, or waived by Dowgate in its absolute discretion, then
the respective obligations of each party will cease
and the Placing Agreement is then
terminated in accordance with its terms, the Placing will lapse and
the Placee's rights and obligations shall cease and terminate at
such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by or on
behalf of the Placee (or any person on whose behalf the Placee is
acting) in respect thereof against Dowgate and/or the Company or
any of their respective affiliates. By participating in the
Placing, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations cease
and terminate only in the circumstances described above and under
"Termination of the Placing" below and will not be capable of
rescission or termination by it.
Certain conditions may be waived in
whole or in part by Dowgate, in its absolute discretion by notice
in writing to the Company and Dowgate may also agree in writing
with the Company to extend the time for satisfaction of any
condition. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees'
commitments as set out in this Announcement.
Dowgate may terminate the Placing
Agreement in certain circumstances, details of which are set out
below.
Neither Dowgate, the Company nor any
of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers,
employees shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other
person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in
respect of any decision any of them may make as to whether or not
to waive or to extend the time and/or date for the satisfaction of
any condition to the Placing nor for any decision any of them may
make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in respect of the
Placing generally and by participating in the Placing each Placee
agrees that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of
Dowgate.
Termination of the Placing
Dowgate may terminate the Placing
Agreement, in accordance with its terms, at any time prior to an
Admission if, inter alia:
(a) the
Company fails, in any respect which Dowgate acting reasonably
considers to be material, to comply with its obligations under the
Placing Agreement or commits a breach of, inter alia, the rules and
regulations of the FCA, FSMA, UK MAR or any other applicable
law;
(b)
any of the warranties in the Placing Agreement have ceased to be
true or accurate in any respect by reference to the circumstances
subsisting at that time, or a matter has arisen that might
reasonably be expected to give rise to a claim under the
indemnities in the Placing Agreement, which Dowgate considers to be
material in the context of the Placing;
(c)
any statement contained in the Placing Documents (as defined in the
Placing Agreement) is or has become untrue, inaccurate or
misleading or a matter has arisen which would, if the Placing was
made at that time, constitute an omission from the Placing
Documents (as defined in the Placing Agreement) or any of them and
which in any respect Dowgate acting reasonably considers to be
material in the context of the Placing;
(d)
in the opinion of Dowgate, there shall have been any material
adverse change (whether or not foreseeable at the date of the
Placing Agreement) in the condition, earnings, business,
management, property, assets, rights, results of operations of the
Company or the Group, which is material in the context of the
Company or the Group taken as a whole, whether or not arising in
the ordinary course of business;
(e)
there shall develop, occur or come into effect:
(i) a
banking moratorium declared by the UK authorities;
(ii) any
outbreak or escalation of hostilities or acts of terrorism or
declaration of a national emergency or war by, the United
Kingdom;
(iii) any other crisis
of national or international effect which in the opinion of Dowgate
acting reasonably is materially adverse.
If the Placing Agreement is
terminated in accordance with its terms, the rights and obligations
of each Placee in respect of the Placing as described in this
Announcement shall cease and terminate at such time and no claim
can be made by any Placee against Dowgate and/or the Company or any
of their respective affiliates in respect thereof.
By participating in the Placing,
each Placee agrees with the Company and Dowgate that the exercise
by the Company or Dowgate of any right of termination or any other
right or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be
within the absolute discretion of the Company or Dowgate and that
neither of the Company nor Dowgate need make any reference to such
Placee and that neither Dowgate, the Company, nor any of their
respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees
shall have any liability to such Placee (or to any other person
whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) whatsoever in
connection with any such exercise.
By participating in the Placing,
each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations terminate only
in the circumstances described above and under the "Conditions of
the Placing" section above and will not be capable of rescission or
termination by it after the issue by Dowgate of a form of
confirmation confirming each Placee's allocation and commitment in
the Placing.
Representations, warranties and further
terms
By participating in the Placing,
each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) will be
deemed to make the following representations, warranties,
acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings (as the case may be)
to Dowgate and the Company, in each case as a fundamental term of
its application for Placing Shares:
(a)
it has read and understood this Announcement in its entirety
(including this Appendix) and acknowledges that its participation
in the Placing will be governed by the terms and conditions of the
Placing as referred to and included in this
Announcement;
(b)
it is a Relevant Person (as defined above) and undertakes that it
will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that
are allocated to it for the purposes of its business;
(c)
in the case of a Relevant Person in the United Kingdom who acquires
any Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing:
(i) it is a UK
Qualified Investor; and
(ii) in the case of any
Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that
term is used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus
Regulation:
· the Placing
Shares acquired by and/or subscribed for by it in the Placing have
not been acquired and/or subscribed for on a non-discretionary
basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired or subscribed for
with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in the United
Kingdom other than UK Qualified Investors or in circumstances which
may give rise to an offer of securities to the public other than an
offer or resale, in the United Kingdom, to UK Qualified Investors,
or in circumstances in which the prior consent of Dowgate has been
given to each such proposed offer or resale; or
· where
Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in the
United Kingdom other than UK Qualified Investors, the offer of
those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the UK Prospectus
Regulation as having been made to such persons; and
(d)
(i) it and the person(s), if any, for whose account or
benefit it is acquiring the Placing Shares is, and at the time the
Placing Shares are acquired will be, outside of the United States;
(ii) it and the person(s), if any, for whose account or benefit it
is acquiring the Placing Shares is otherwise acquiring the Placing
Shares in an "offshore transaction" meeting the requirements of
Regulation S; and (iii) it is aware of the restrictions on the
offer and sale of the Placing Shares pursuant to Regulation
S;
(e)
it, and the person(s), if any, for whose account or benefit it is
subscribing for the Placing Shares, is not subscribing for and/or
purchasing Placing Shares as a result of any "directed selling
efforts" as defined in Regulation S or as a result of any form of
"general solicitation" or "general advertising" within the meaning
of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act;
(f) unless
otherwise specifically agreed with Dowgate, it and/or the person on
behalf it is participating is not, and at the time the Placing
Shares are subscribed for, neither it nor the beneficial owner of
the Placing Shares will be, a national or resident of, or a
corporation, partnership or other entity organised under the laws
of, or with an address in, any Restricted Jurisdiction or any other
jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make or accept an offer to
acquire the Placing Shares;
(g)
the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered or
otherwise qualified, for offer and sale nor will an offering
document, prospectus, offering memorandum or admission document be
cleared or approved in respect of any of the Placing Shares under
the securities legislation of any Restricted Jurisdiction and,
subject to certain exceptions, may not be offered, sold,
transferred, delivered or distributed, directly or indirectly, in
or into those jurisdictions or in any country or jurisdiction where
any such action for that purpose is required;
(h)
it understands, and each account it represents has been advised
that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered
under the Securities Act or under the securities laws of any state
or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered,
sold, acquired, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or
indirectly, within, or into or in the United States except pursuant
to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the
registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance
with any securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the
United States;
(i) that no
action has been or will be taken by the Company, Dowgate or any
person acting on behalf of the Company or Dowgate that would, or is
intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in the
United States or in any country or jurisdiction where any such
action for that purpose is required;
(j) it has
not offered or sold and, prior to the expiry of a period of six
months from Admission, will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to
persons in the United Kingdom, except to Relevant Persons or
otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and which will
not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within
the meaning of section 85(1) of FSMA;
(k)
if in the United Kingdom, unless otherwise agreed by Dowgate, it is
a "professional client" or an "eligible counterparty" within the
meaning of Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business
Sourcebook ("COBS") and it
is purchasing Placing Shares for investment only and not with a
view to resale or distribution;
(l) it has
not distributed, forwarded, transferred or otherwise transmitted,
and will not distribute, forward, transfer or otherwise transmit
any materials relating to the Placing Shares (including this
Announcement or the Prospectus or any part of it, or any other
presentational or other materials) and it will be acquiring the
Placing Shares for its own account as principal or for a
discretionary account or accounts (with respect to which it has the
authority to make the statements set out in this Announcement or
the Prospectus) for investment purposes only and it does not have
any contract, understanding or arrangement with any person to sell,
pledge, transfer or grant a participation therein to such person or
any third person with respect to any Placing Shares; save that if
it is a private client stockbroker or fund manager, it confirms
that in purchasing Placing Shares it is acting under the terms of
one or more discretionary mandates granted to it by private clients
and it is not acting on an execution only basis or under specific
instructions to purchase Placing Shares for the account of any
third party;
(m) the
Ordinary Shares are admitted to the Official List of the FCA (by
way of a Standard Listing under Chapter 14 of the Listing Rules)
and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market, and that
the Company is therefore required to publish certain business and
financial information in accordance with the Listing Rules and UK
MAR, which includes a description of the nature of the Company's
business and the Company's most recent balance sheet and profit and
loss account and that it is able to obtain or access such
information without undue difficulty, and is able to obtain access
to such information or comparable information concerning any other
publicly traded company, without undue difficulty;
(n)
in accepting its participation in the Placing, it is relying solely
on this Announcement and the Publicly Available Information (save
that in the case of Exchange Information and Publicly Available
Information, a Placee's right to rely on that information is
limited to the right that such Placee would have as a matter of law
in the absence of this paragraph) and not on any other information
given, or representation, warranty or statement made at any time,
by any person concerning the Company, the Placing Shares or the
Placing. It agrees that neither the Company nor Dowgate, nor any of
their respective Affiliates nor persons acting on their behalf will
have any liability for any other information, warranty or
representation. It irrevocably and unconditionally waives any
rights it may have in respect of any other information, warranty or
representation;
(o)
it has made its own assessment of the Company, the Placing Shares
and the terms and conditions of the Placing and has relied on its
own investigation of the business, financial or other position of
the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing and has
satisfied itself that the information is still current;
(p)
neither Dowgate nor any of its Affiliates nor any person acting on
their behalf has provided, and will not provide it with, any
material or information regarding the Placing Shares or the
Company; nor has it requested that Dowgate or any of its Affiliates
nor any person acting on their behalf provide it with any such
material or information; nor is it relying on any investigation
that Dowgate, any of its Affiliates or any person acting on their
behalf may have conducted with respect to the Placing Shares or the
Company;
(q)
the content of this Announcement is exclusively the responsibility
of the Company and neither Dowgate nor any of its Affiliates nor
any person acting on their behalf will be responsible for or shall
have any liability for any information, representation or statement
relating to the Company contained in this Announcement or any
information previously published by or on behalf of the Company and
neither Dowgate nor any of its Affiliates nor any person acting on
their behalf will be liable for any Placee's decision to
participate in the Placing based on any information, representation
or statement contained in this Announcement or
otherwise;
(r) it has
such knowledge and experience in financial, business and
international investment matters as is required to evaluate the
merits and risks of subscribing for Placing Shares. It further
represents and warrants that it is experienced in investing in
securities of this nature and is aware that it may be required to
bear, and is able to bear, the economic risk of, and is able to
sustain, a complete loss in connection with the Placing. It also
represents and warrants that it has had sufficient time to consider
and has conducted its own investigation with respect to its
subscription for Placing Shares, including the associated tax,
legal and other economic considerations, and has relied upon its
own examination and due diligence of the Company and its affiliates
taken as a whole, and the terms of the Placing, including the
merits and risks involved;
(s)
it has not relied on any confidential price sensitive information
concerning the Company in making its investment decision to
participate in the Placing and is not purchasing Placing Shares on
the basis of material non-public information or inside information
(as defined under UK MAR);
(t) if it has
received any confidential price sensitive information (including
inside information as defined under UK MAR) about the Company in
advance of the Placing, it warrants that it has received such
information within the market soundings regime provided for in
Article 11 of UK MAR and has not: (a) dealt in the securities of
the Company; (b) encouraged or required another person to deal in
the securities of the Company; or (c) disclosed such information to
any person, prior to the information being made publicly
available;
(u)
it is aware of its obligations regarding insider dealing,
including, without limitation, as contained within the Criminal
Justice Act 1993 and UK MAR, and confirms that it has and will
continue to comply with those obligations;
(v)
it has the funds available to pay for the Placing Shares for which
it has agreed to subscribe and acknowledges, agrees and undertakes
that it will pay the total subscription amount in accordance with
the terms of this Announcement at the due time and on the due date
set out herein, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be
placed with other Placees or sold at such price as Dowgate and the
Company determine;
(w)
it has not relied on any information relating to the Company
contained in any research reports prepared by Dowgate and its
Affiliates or any person acting on their behalf and understands
that (a) neither Dowgate nor any of its Affiliates nor any person
acting on their behalf has or shall have any liability for publicly
available information relating to the Company or any representation
made in relation to the Company; (b) neither Dowgate nor any of its
Affiliates, nor any person acting on their behalf, has or shall
have any liability for any additional information that has
otherwise been made available to such Placee, whether at the date
of this Announcement or otherwise; and (c) neither Dowgate nor any
of its Affiliates, nor any person acting on their behalf, makes any
representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth,
accuracy or completeness of such information, whether at the date
of this Announcement or otherwise;
(x)
it and/or each person on whose behalf it is participating (a) is
entitled to acquire Placing Shares under the laws and regulations
of all relevant jurisdictions which apply to it; (b) has fully
observed such laws and regulations and obtained all such
governmental and other guarantees and other consents and
authorities (including, without limitation, in the case of any
person on whose behalf it is acting, all necessary consents and
authorities to agree to the terms set out or referred to in this
Announcement including this Appendix) which may be required
thereunder and has complied with all necessary formalities; (c) has
all necessary capacity and authority and is entitled to commit to
its participation in the Placing and to perform its obligations in
relation thereto and will honour such obligations, and to make the
representations and agreements contained in this Appendix; (d) has
paid any issue, transfer or other taxes due in connection with its
participation in the Placing in any territory; (e) has not taken
any action which will or may result in the Company or Dowgate or
any of their Affiliates or any person acting on their behalf being
in breach of the legal and/or regulatory requirements of any
territory in connection with the Placing; and (f) if it is a
pension fund or investment company, is aware of and acknowledges
that it is required to comply with all applicable laws and
regulations with respect to its subscription for Placing
Shares;
(y)
it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only
communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or
inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of
section 21 of FSMA) relating to the Placing Shares in circumstances
in which it is permitted to do so pursuant to section 21 of FSMA
and it acknowledges and agrees that this Announcement has not been
approved by Dowgate in its capacity as an authorised person under
section 21 of FSMA and it may not therefore be subject to the
controls which would apply if it was made or approved as a
financial promotion by an authorised person;
(z) it is
aware of, has complied with and will comply with all applicable
laws with respect to anything done by it, or on its behalf, in
relation to the Placing Shares (including, without limitation, all
relevant provisions of FSMA and the Financial Services
Act 2012) in respect of anything done in, from or
otherwise involving the United Kingdom;
(aa) it is
aware of and has complied with its obligations in connection with
money laundering and terrorist financing under the Proceeds of
Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2000, the Terrorism Act 2006, the
Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001, the Money Laundering,
Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the
Payer) Regulations 2017, any Money Laundering Sourcebook of the FCA
and related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued,
administered or enforced by any government agency having
jurisdiction in respect thereof and the Money Laundering Sourcebook
of the FCA (together, the "Money
Laundering Regulations") and, if it is making payment on
behalf of a third party, that satisfactory evidence has been
obtained and recorded by it to verify the identity of the third
party as required by the Money Laundering Regulations;
(bb) in order to
ensure compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations, Dowgate or
the Company's registrars may, in their absolute discretion, require
verification of its identity. Pending the provision to Dowgate or
the Company's registrars, as applicable, of evidence of identity,
definitive certificates in respect of the Placing Shares may be
retained at Dowgate's absolute discretion or, where appropriate,
delivery of the Placing Shares to it in uncertificated form, may be
retained at Dowgate's or the Company's registrars', as the case may
be, absolute discretion. If within a reasonable time after a
request for verification of identity, Dowgate (for itself and as
agent on behalf of the Company) or the Company's registrars have
not received evidence satisfactory to them, Dowgate and/or the
Company may, at its absolute discretion, terminate its commitment
in respect of the Placing, in which event the monies payable on
subscription will, if already paid, be returned without interest to
the account of the drawee's bank from which they were originally
debited;
(cc) its
participation in the Placing will not give rise to an offer being
required to be made by it, or any person with whom it is acting in
concert, pursuant to Rule 9 of the City Code on Takeovers and
Mergers;
(dd)
neither Dowgate, nor any of its Affiliates nor any person
acting on their behalf is making any recommendations to it or
advising it regarding the suitability or merits of any transaction
it may enter into in connection with the Placing and
participation in the Placing is on the basis that it is not and
will not be a client of Dowgate and Dowgate has any duties or
responsibilities to it for providing the protections afforded to
its clients or customers, and further that neither
Dowgate, nor any of its Affiliates nor any person acting on their
behalf has any duties or responsibilities to it for providing
advice in relation to the Placing or in respect of any
representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities contained
in the Placing Agreement or for the exercise or performance of any
of Dowgate's rights and obligations thereunder, including any right
to waive or vary any condition or exercise any termination right
contained therein;
(ee) it
irrevocably appoints Dowgate and any of its duly authorised
officers as its agent for the purposes of executing and delivering
to the Company and/or its registrars any documents on its behalf
necessary to enable it to be registered as the holder of any of the
Placing Shares agreed to be taken up by it under the
Placing;
(ff)
any person who confirms to Dowgate on behalf of a Placee an
agreement to subscribe for Placing Shares and/or who authorises
Dowgate to notify the Placee's name to the Company's registrars,
has authority to do so on behalf of the Placee;
(gg) the person
whom it specifies for registration as holder of the Placing Shares
will be (i) itself; or (ii) its nominee, as the case may be.
Neither Dowgate, the Company nor any of their respective Affiliates
will be responsible for any liability to stamp duty or stamp duty
reserve tax or other similar duties or taxes (together with any
interest, fines or penalties) resulting from a failure to observe
this requirement. Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of
such Placee agrees to indemnify the Company, Dowgate and their
respective Affiliates in respect of the same on an after-tax basis
on the basis that the Placing Shares will be allotted to the CREST
stock account of Dowgate who will hold them as nominee on behalf of
such Placee until settlement in accordance with its standing
settlement instructions;
(hh) (i)
the allocation, allotment, issue and delivery to it, or the person
specified by it for registration as holder of Placing Shares will
not give rise to a liability under any of sections 67, 70, 93 or 96
of the Finance Act 1986 (depositary receipts and clearance
services); (ii) it is not participating in the Placing as nominee
or agent for any person to whom the allocation, allotment, issue or
delivery of the Placing Shares would give rise to such a liability;
and (iii) the Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection
with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to issue or
transfer Placing Shares into a clearance service;
(ii) it
agrees to participate in the Placing on the basis that the Placing
Shares will be allotted to the CREST stock account of Dowgate who
will hold them as nominee on behalf of such Placee until settlement
in accordance with its standing settlement
instructions;
(jj) any
money held in an account with Dowgate on behalf of the Placee
and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee will not be
treated as client money within the meaning of the relevant rules
and regulations of the FCA made under FSMA. The Placee acknowledges
that such money will not be subject to the protections conferred by
the client money rules; as a consequence, this money will not be
segregated from Dowgate's money in accordance with the client money
rules and will be used by Dowgate in the course of its business;
and the Placee will rank only as a general creditor of
Dowgate;
(kk)
Dowgate will invoke the CASS Delivery Versus Payment exemptions (as
set out in CASS 6.1.12R and CASS 7.11.14R within the FCA Handbook
Client Assets Sourcebook) with regard to settlement of the Placing
Shares and/or monies relating to the Placing;
(ll) neither
it nor, as the case may be, its clients expects Dowgate to have any
duties or responsibilities to such persons similar or comparable to
the duties of "best execution" and "suitability" imposed by the
COBS, and Dowgate is not acting for it or its clients, and Dowgate
will not be responsible for providing the protections afforded to
customers of Dowgate or for providing advice in respect of the
transactions described in this Announcement;
(mm) time is of the
essence as regard its obligations in respect of its participation
in the Placing under these terms and conditions;
(nn) the
basis of any Placee's allocation in the Placing will be determined
together by Dowgate and the Company in their absolute discretion.
The right is reserved to reject in whole or in part and/or to scale
back any participation in the Placing;
(oo) its
commitment to subscribe for Placing Shares on the terms set out in
this Announcement including this Appendix will continue
notwithstanding any amendment that may in future be made to the
terms of the Placing and Placees will have no right to be consulted
or require that their consent be obtained with respect to the
conduct of the Placing;
(pp) Dowgate and
its Affiliates acting as an investor for its or their own
account(s) may subscribe for and/or purchase Placing Shares and, in
that capacity may retain, purchase, offer to sell or otherwise deal
for its or their own account(s) in the Placing Shares, any other
securities of the Company or other related investments in
connection with the Placing or otherwise. Accordingly, references
in this Announcement to the Placing Shares being offered,
subscribed, acquired or otherwise dealt with should be read as
including any offer to, or subscription, acquisition or dealing by,
Dowgate and/or any of its respective Affiliates acting as an
investor for its or their own account(s). Each Placee further
acknowledges that Dowgate and its Affiliates may enter into
financing arrangements and swaps with investors in connection with
which Dowgate and any of its Affiliates may from time to time
acquire, hold or dispose of such securities of the Company,
including the Placing Shares. Neither Dowgate nor the Company
intends to disclose the extent of any such investment or
transaction otherwise than in accordance with any legal or
regulatory obligation to do so;
(qq) it will (or
will procure that its nominee will) if applicable, make
notification to the Company of any interest in the Ordinary Shares
in accordance with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules
published by the FCA;
(rr)
any documents or communications sent to a Placee will be sent at
the Placee's risk and may be sent to any address notified by it to
Dowgate;
(ss) the
exercise by Dowgate of any right or discretion under the Placing
Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of Dowgate and
need not have any reference to it and shall have no liability to it
whatsoever in connection with any decision to exercise or not to
exercise any such right and each Placee agrees that it has no
rights against Dowgate or the Company, or any of their respective
Affiliates, under the Placing Agreement pursuant to the Contracts
(Rights of Third Parties Act) 1999;
(tt)
the Company, Dowgate and others will rely upon the truth and
accuracy of the confirmations, acknowledgements, representations,
warranties, indemnities, agreements and undertakings in this
Announcement ("Placing
Confirmations") and, if any of the foregoing Placing
Confirmations is or becomes no longer true or accurate, the Placee
shall promptly notify Dowgate;
(uu) if it
is subscribing for the Placing Shares as a fiduciary or agent for
one or more investor accounts, it is duly authorised and has full
power and authority to make, and does make, the Placing
Confirmations on behalf of each such account and it acknowledges
that it is and will remain liable to Dowgate and the Company for
the performance of all its obligations as a Placee in respect of
the Placing (regardless of the fact that it is acting for or on
behalf of another person);
(vv) it
agrees to indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold harmless each of
the Company, Dowgate, their respective Affiliates and any person
acting on their behalf from any and all costs, claims, liabilities
and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or
in connection with any breach by it of the Placing Confirmations;
and
(ww) its
participation in the Placing, these terms and conditions and any
contractual or non-contractual obligations arising out of, or in
relation thereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of England and Wales and the courts of England and
Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide any
proceedings which may arise out of or in connection with these
terms and conditions, except that enforcement proceedings in
respect of the Placee's obligation to make payment for the Placing
Shares (together with any interest chargeable thereon) may be taken
by Dowgate or the Company in any jurisdiction.
The Placing Confirmations referred
to above are given to each of the Company and Dowgate (for their
own benefit and, where relevant, the benefit of their respective
Affiliates) and any person acting on their behalf, are irrevocable
and shall not be capable of termination by a Placee in any
circumstances and will survive completion of the Placing and
Admission.
Each Placee, and any person acting
on behalf of the Placee, acknowledges that Dowgate does not owe any
fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any
representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the
Placing Agreement.
The rights and remedies of Dowgate
and the Company under these terms and conditions are in addition to
any rights and remedies which would otherwise be available to each
of them and the exercise or partial exercise of one or more
remedies will not prevent the exercise of others. The provisions of
this Announcement may be waived, varied or modified as regards
specific Placees or on a general basis by Dowgate.
No claim shall be made against the
Company, Dowgate or their respective Affiliates or any other person
acting on their behalf by a Placee to recover any damage, cost,
charge or expense which it may suffer or incur by reason of or
arising from the carrying out by it of any work to be done by it
pursuant to this Announcement or the performance of its obligations
pursuant to this Announcement or otherwise in connection with the
Placing.
The agreement to settle a Placee's
subscription (and/or the subscription of a person for whom such
Placee is contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty
reserve tax depends on the settlement relating only to a
subscription by it and/or such person direct from the Company for
the Placing Shares in question. Such agreement assumes that the
Placing Shares are not being subscribed for in connection with
arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to transfer the
Placing Shares into a clearance service. If there are any such
arrangements, or the settlement relates to any other subsequent
dealing in the Placing Shares, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax
may be payable, for which neither the Company nor Dowgate will be
responsible, and the Placee to whom (or on behalf of whom, or in
respect of the person for whom it is participating in the Placing
as an agent or nominee) the allocation, allotment, issue or
delivery of Placing Shares has given rise to such UK stamp duty or
stamp duty reserve tax undertakes to pay such UK stamp duty or
stamp duty reserve tax forthwith and to indemnify on an after-tax
basis and to hold harmless the Company and Dowgate in the event
that the Company and/or Dowgate have incurred any such liability to
UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If this is the case, each
Placee should seek its own advice and notify Dowgate
accordingly.
In addition, Placees should note
that they will be liable for any capital duty, stamp duty and all
other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary
or other duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or
penalties relating thereto) payable outside the UK by them or any
other person on the acquisition by them of any Placing Shares or
the agreement by them to acquire any Placing Shares.
All times and dates in this
Announcement may be subject to amendment. Dowgate shall notify the
Placees and any person acting on behalf of the Placees of any such
changes.
The information contained in this
Announcement is given at the date of its publication (unless
otherwise marked) and is subject to updating, revision and
amendment from time to time.
Data Protection
The processing of a Placee's
personal data by the Company will be carried out in compliance with
the applicable data protection legislation and with its Privacy
Notice, a copy of which can be found on the Company's website
at www.ondoplc.com/privacy-cookie-policy
Each Placee acknowledges that it has
read and understood the processing activities carried out by the
Company as informed in the referred Privacy Notice.
APPENDIX II
DEFINITIONS
Admission
|
admission of the New Ordinary Shares
to the Official List (by way of a Standard Listing) and to trading
on the Main Market;
|
Application Form
|
the application form relating to the
Open Offer for use by Qualifying non-CREST Shareholders;
|
Basic Entitlement
|
the pro rata entitlement for Qualifying
Shareholders to subscribe for Open Offer Shares, in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the Open Offer;
|
Broker or Dowgate
|
Dowgate Capital Limited;
|
Business Day
|
a day (other than a Saturday or a
Sunday) on which banks are open for business in London,
UK;
|
certificated or in certificated form
|
a Share recorded on the Company's
register of members as being held in certificated form (i.e. not in
CREST);
|
Company
|
Ondo Insurtech plc, a company
incorporated in England and Wales with company number
13218816;
|
CREST
|
the relevant system (as defined in
the CREST Regulations) for the paperless settlement of trades and
the holding of uncertificated securities, operated by Euroclear, in
accordance with the same regulations;
|
CREST Regulations
|
the Uncertificated Securities
Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 01/378), as amended from time to
time;
|
Directors
|
the Directors of the
Company
|
EU
|
the Member States of the European
Union;
|
Euroclear
|
Euroclear UK & International
Limited;
|
Excess Entitlement
|
Open Offer Shares in excess of the
Basic Entitlement, but not in excess of the total number of Open
Offer Shares, allocated to a Qualifying Shareholder pursuant to the
Open Offer, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Open Offer;
|
Existing Shares
|
the 86,694,763 Shares in issue on
the date of this Announcement;
|
FCA
|
the Financial Conduct
Authority;
|
FSMA
|
the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000, as amended from time to time;
|
Fundraising
|
together, the Placing and the Open
Offer;
|
General Meeting
|
the general meeting of the Company
to be held at 10.30 a.m. on 3 June 2024 at Hill Dickinson LLP, The
Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2EW;
|
Group
|
the Company and its subsidiary
undertakings;
|
Listing Rules
|
the listing rules made by the FCA
under section 73A of FSMA as amended from time to time;
|
London Stock Exchange
|
London Stock Exchange Group
plc;
|
Main Market
|
the regulated market of the London
Stock Exchange for listed securities;
|
New
Ordinary Shares
|
the new Shares to be issued and
allotted pursuant to the Fundraising, being the Placing Shares and
the Open Offer Shares together;
|
Official List
|
the official list of the
FCA;
|
Open Offer
|
the conditional invitation to
Qualifying Shareholders to apply for the Open Offer Shares at the
Issue Price on the terms and conditions outlined in this
Announcement and the Prospectus;
|
Open Offer Shares
|
up to 8,669,476 new Shares to be
issued pursuant to the Open Offer;
|
Overseas Shareholders
|
Shareholders with registered
addresses, or who are citizens or residents of, or incorporated in,
countries outside of the United Kingdom;
|
Placing
|
the conditional placing of the
Placing Shares by Dowgate as placing agent for the
Company;
|
Placing Agreement
|
the conditional agreement dated 13
May 2024 between the Company and the Broker relating to the
Placing;
|
Placing Shares
|
the new Shares to be issued pursuant
to the Placing;
|
Issue Price
|
the price payable per New Ordinary
Share, being 14.0 pence;
|
Prospectus
|
the combined circular and prospectus
published by the Company pursuant to the Prospectus Regulation
Rules on or around the date of this announcement together with any
supplementary prospectus published in connection with
it;
|
Prospectus Regulation Rules
|
the prospectus regulation rules of
the FCA made in accordance with section 73A of FSMA;
|
Qualifying CREST Shareholders
|
Qualifying Shareholders holding
Existing Shares which, on the register of members of the Company on
the Record Date, are in uncertificated form in CREST;
|
Qualifying non-CREST Shareholders
|
Qualifying Shareholders holding
Existing Shares which, on the register of members of the Company on
the Record Date, are in certificated form;
|
Qualifying Shareholders
|
holders of Existing Shares other
than Overseas Shareholders, whose names appear on the register of
members of the Company on the Record Date as holders of Existing
Shares and who are eligible to be offered Open Offer Shares under
the Open Offer in accordance with the terms and conditions set out
in this Announcement;
|
Receiving Agent or Registrar
|
Neville Registrar
Limited;
|
Record Date
|
6.00 p.m. on 13 May 2024;
|
Regulatory Information Service
|
a service approved by the FCA for
the distribution to the public of regulatory announcements and
included within the list maintained on the FCA's website,
http://www.fca.org.uk/
|
Resolutions
|
the resolutions being proposed to
Shareholders at the General Meeting and set out in the notice of
General Meeting included at the end of Prospectus;
|
Scandinavia
|
being Denmark, Norway, and
Sweden;
|
Shareholders
|
the holders of the Shares and/or New
Shares, as the context requires;
|
Shares
|
the ordinary shares of £0.05 each in
the capital of the Company;
|
Standard Listing
|
a standard listing under Chapter 14
of the Listing Rules;
|
UK
Prospectus Regulation
|
the UK version of the EU Prospectus
Regulation (2017/1129) which is part of UK law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended and supplemented
from time to time (including, but not limited to, by the UK
Prospectus Amendment Regulations 2019 and The Financial Services
and Markets Act 2000 (Prospectus) Regulations 2019));
|
uncertified or in uncertificated form
|
recorded on the relevant register of
the share or security concerned as being held in uncertificated
form in CREST and title to which, by virtue of the CREST
Regulations, may be transferred by means of CREST;
|
United Kingdom or UK
|
the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland;
|
United States or US or USA
|
the United States of America, its
territories and possessions;
|