FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
NOT FOR
RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO
SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS
OF SUCH JURISDICTION
THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION.
18 April
2024
SmartSpace Software Plc
("SmartSpace" or the "Company")
RESULTS OF COURT MEETING AND GENERAL
MEETING
Introduction
On 14 March 2024, the boards of SmartSpace and
Welcome UK Bidco Limited ("Bidco"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Sign In Solutions Inc., announced that they had reached agreement
on the terms and conditions of a recommended cash acquisition to be
made by Bidco, proposed to be implemented by means of a
Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the
Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme") between SmartSpace and its
shareholders (or, if Bidco so elects, with the consent of the
Panel, a Takeover Offer). A scheme document in relation to the
Scheme (the "Scheme
Document") was published by SmartSpace on 27 March 2024.The
SmartSpace Board is pleased to announce that at the Court Meeting
and the General Meeting, each convened in relation to the proposed
Scheme and held earlier today:
· the
requisite majority in number of the Scheme Shareholders who voted
(either in person or by proxy) representing not less than 75 per
cent. in value of the Scheme Shares held by Scheme Shareholders who
voted, voted to approve the Scheme at the Court Meeting;
and
· the
requisite majority of SmartSpace Shareholders voted to pass the
special resolution at the General Meeting to approve the
implementation of the Scheme and the adoption of amended articles
of association for SmartSpace,
and accordingly the Scheme was
approved.
Details of the resolutions passed are set out
in the notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting at
Parts IX and X (respectively) of the Scheme Document, which is
available (subject to certain restrictions relating to persons in
Restricted Jurisdictions) on SmartSpace's website at
www.smartspaceplc.com/investors/disclaimer.
The total number of SmartSpace Shares in issue
at the Voting Record Time was 28,941,234. Consequently, the total
voting rights in SmartSpace at the Voting Record Time was
28,941,234 and the total number of voting Scheme Shares was
28,630,594 (being the Scheme Shares other than the SmartSpace
Shares in which the Executive Directors are interested) (the
"Scheme Shares". Scheme
Shareholders were entitled to one vote per Scheme Share held at the
Voting Record Time at the Court Meeting and SmartSpace Shareholders
were entitled to one vote per SmartSpace Share held at the Voting
Record Time at the General Meeting.
Voting results
of the Court Meeting
At the Court Meeting, a majority in number of
Scheme Shareholders who voted (either in person or by proxy),
representing 97.19 per cent. by value of those Scheme Shares
voted(1), voted to approve the Scheme. The resolution
proposed at the Court Meeting was passed on a poll vote. Details of
the votes cast are as follows:
Results of the Court
Meeting
|
Number of Scheme Shares
voted
|
% of Scheme Shares voted
|
Number of Scheme Shareholders who
voted
|
% of Scheme Shareholders who
voted
|
Number of Scheme Shares voted as a %
of all Scheme Shares(1)
|
For
|
16,492,609
|
97.19
|
36
|
92.31
|
57.60
|
Against
|
476,689
|
2.81
|
3
|
7.69
|
1.66
|
Total
|
16,969,298
|
100
|
39
|
100
|
59.26
|
(1) Excludes Scheme Shares beneficially held by the Executive
Directors, who have undertaken to be bound by the
Scheme.
Voting results
of the General Meeting
At the General Meeting, the special resolution
to authorise the implementation of the Scheme, and also approving
the adoption of amended articles of association for SmartSpace, was
duly passed on a poll vote. The results are detailed as
follows:
Results of the General
Meeting
|
Number of SmartSpace Shares
voted
|
% of SmartSpace
Shares voted**
|
For*
|
15,976,154
|
97.25
|
Against
|
451,753
|
2.75
|
Withheld
|
190,991
|
-
|
Total
|
16,427,907
|
100
|
* Includes discretionary
votes.
** A
vote withheld is not a vote in law and is not counted in the
calculation of the proportion of votes 'For' or 'Against' the
special resolution.
Expected
Timetable of Principal Events
The current expected timetable of
principal events for the implementation of the Scheme remains
consistent with that disclosed in the Scheme Document and is set
out again below. If any of the key dates set out in the expected
timetable change, an announcement will be made through a Regulatory
Information Service, with such announcement being available on
SmartSpace's website at www.smartspaceplc.com/investors/disclaimer.
Event
|
Time1 and/or
date2
|
Scheme Court Hearing to sanction the
Scheme
|
26 April
2024
|
Last day of dealings in, and for
registration of transfers of, SmartSpace Shares
|
30 April
2024
|
Scheme Record Time
|
6.00 p.m.
on 30 April 2024
|
Disablement of CREST in respect of
SmartSpace Shares
|
6.00 p.m.
on 30 April 2024
|
Effective Date of the Scheme
|
1 May
20243
|
Suspension of admission to trading
on AIM of, and dealings in, SmartSpace Shares
|
7.30 a.m.
on 1 May 2024
|
Cancellation of admission to
trading on AIM of SmartSpace Shares
|
7.00 a.m.
on 2 May 2024
|
Despatch of cheques, despatch of
electronic payments and crediting of CREST accounts for cash
consideration under the Scheme
|
within 14
days after the Effective Date
|
Long Stop Date
|
15 July
20244
|
|
| |
Notes:
1 All
references in this announcement to times are to times in London
(unless otherwise stated). The dates and times given are indicative
only and are based on SmartSpace's current expectations and may be
subject to change (including as a result of changes to the
regulatory timetable). If any of the times and/or dates above
change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified to
SmartSpace Shareholders by announcement through a Regulatory
Information Service.
2 The dates and times
associated with the Scheme are subject to change and will depend
on, among other things, the date on which the Conditions to the
Scheme are satisfied or, if capable of waiver, waived. In the event
that any of these dates is subject to change, SmartSpace will give
notice of the change by issuing an announcement through a
Regulatory Information Service.
3 This
will be the date on which the Scheme Court Order is delivered to
the Registrar of Companies, subject to the satisfaction (or, if
applicable, waiver) of the Conditions.
4 This
is the latest date by which the Acquisition may become Effective,
unless SmartSpace and Bidco agree, and (if required) the Court and
the Takeover Panel allow, a later date.
General
Capitalised terms used in this announcement,
unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings as set out in the
Scheme Document. All references to times in this announcement are
to London times unless otherwise stated.
The Company remains in an 'offer period' in
accordance with the rules of the Code and the attention of
SmartSpace shareholders is drawn to the continuing disclosure
requirements of Rule 8 of the Code, which are summarised
below.
ENDS
Enquiries
SmartSpace
Software Plc
Frank Beechinor (CEO)
Kris Shaw (CFO)
Lisa Baderoon
(Head of Investor Relations)
LBaderoon@smartspaceplc.com
|
via Lisa Baderoon
- Head of Investor Relations
+44(0) 7721 413 496
|
Canaccord
Genuity (Financial Adviser, Nominated Adviser and
Broker)
Adam James, Harry Rees
|
+44 (0) 20 7523 8000
|
About
SmartSpace Software Plc
SmartSpace Software Plc is a fast-growing
SaaS-based technology business, designing and building smart
software solutions. The Company's software solutions help transform
employee engagement with modules which include visitor management,
desk management, meeting room management and
analytics.
The operating brands of the Company group
comprise:
·
Space Connect - SaaS meeting room and desk booking
(www.spaceconnect.co)
·
SwipedOn - SaaS visitor management, desk booking
(www.SwipedOn.com)
For more information go
to: www.smartspaceplc.com.
Canaccord Genuity Limited, which is authorised and regulated
in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting as financial adviser
and corporate broker exclusively for SmartSpace and for no one else
in connection with the Offer and will not regard any other person
as its client in relation to the matters referred to in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than
SmartSpace for providing the protections afforded to clients of
Canaccord Genuity Limited, nor for providing advice in relation to
the Offer or any other matter referred to in this
announcement.
The person responsible for arranging the
release of this announcement on behalf of SmartSpace is Kris
Shaw.
LEI: 213800IQXZ3XYCMH6U90
Publication of this announcement
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the
Code, a copy of this announcement will be available (subject to
certain restrictions relating to persons resident in restricted
jurisdictions) on the Company's website at
www.smartspaceplc.com
by no later than 12 noon (London time) on 19 April
2024. The
content of the website referred to in this announcement is not
incorporated into and does not form part of this
announcement.
Notice to overseas investors
This announcement does not
constitute an offer to purchase any securities, or an offer to sell
or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall
there be any offer to purchase or sell securities in any
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful. The release, distribution or publication of this
announcement in jurisdictions other than the UK may be restricted
by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the UK should inform themselves about and
observe any applicable requirements.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any
person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant
securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange
offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of
which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be,
solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure (as
defined in the Code) following the commencement of the offer period
and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities
exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position
Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short
positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities
of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange
offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule
8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London
time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the
offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m.
(London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement
in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified.
Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree
company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline
for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a
Dealing Disclosure (as defined in the Code).
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any
person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of
relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities
exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals
in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any
securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain
details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and
short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant
securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any
securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these
details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing
Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by
no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the business day following
the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together
pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or
informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities
of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will
be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule
8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must
also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing
Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any
offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see
Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and Bidder
companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position
Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in
the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of
relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and
when any Bidder was first identified. You should contact the
Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are
in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening
Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.
Inside information
The information contained within
this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as
stipulated under the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations
2019. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside
information is now considered to be in the public
domain.
Requesting hard copy documents
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the
Takeover Code, SmartSpace Shareholders, persons with information
rights and participants in SmartSpace Share Plans may request a
hard copy of this announcement by contacting SmartSpace's
Registrars, Share Registrars, either in writing to of 3 The
Millennium Centre, Crosby Way, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7XX or by
calling the Shareholder Helpline on +44 (0)1252 821390. Calls
outside the UK will be charged at the applicable international
rate. Lines are open between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Friday
excluding public holidays in England and Wales. For persons who
receive a copy of this announcement in electronic form or via a
website notification, a hard copy of this announcement will not be
sent unless so requested. Such persons may also request that all
future documents, announcements and information to be sent to you
in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy
form.
Electronic Communications
Please be aware that addresses,
electronic addresses and certain other information provided by
SmartSpace Shareholders, persons with information rights and other
relevant persons for the receipt of communications from SmartSpace
may be provided to Bidco during the offer period as required under
Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Takeover Code to comply with Rule
2.11(c).
Rounding
Certain figures included in this
announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments.
Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in
different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in
certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of figures that
precede them.