Not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, in, into or from any jurisdiction (including the united states) where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations of such jurisdiction.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RECOMMENDED OFFER
for
by
IRWELL FINANCIAL SERVICES BIDCO LIMITED
(a newly formed company indirectly owned by a limited partnership
managed by
TO BE IMPLEMENTED BY MEANS OF A SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT
UNDER PART 26 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2006
Results of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting
On
The circular in relation to the Scheme, including notices convening the Court Meeting and the General Meeting in connection with the Offer, was published on
Results of Court Meeting and General Meeting
The Independent Directors of
· the requisite majority of Voting Scheme Shareholders voted (either in person or by proxy) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting; and
· the requisite majority of Frenkel Topping Shareholders voted (either in person or by proxy) in favour of the Resolution at the General Meeting.
Details of the resolutions passed at the Meetings are set out in the Notice of Court Meeting and Notice of General Meeting contained in Parts 15 and 16 of the Scheme Document which is available on
Voting results for Court Meeting
The table below sets out the results of the poll at the Court Meeting. Each Voting Scheme Shareholder present and voting (either in person or by proxy) was entitled to one vote per Voting Scheme Share held at the Voting Record Time.
|
|
Number of Voting Scheme Shareholders who voted2 |
Percentage1 of Voting Scheme Shareholders who voted2 |
Number of Voting Scheme Shares voted |
Percentage1 of Voting Scheme Shares voted |
Number of Voting Scheme Shares voted as a percentage of the issued share capital of |
|
FOR |
34 |
87.18% |
61,839,085 |
94.40% |
68.97% |
|
AGAINST |
5 |
12.82% |
3,671,486 |
5.60% |
4.09% |
|
TOTAL |
36 |
100% |
65,510,571 |
100% |
73.06% |
1All percentages rounded to two decimal places
2 Where a Voting Scheme Shareholder has cast some of their votes "for" and some of their votes "against" the resolution, such Voting Scheme Shareholder has been counted as having voted both "for" and "against" the resolution for the purposes of determining the number and percentage of Voting Scheme Shareholders who voted as set out in this row.
Voting results for General Meeting
The table below sets out the results of the poll at the General Meeting. Each Frenkel Topping Shareholder present and voting (either in person or by proxy) was entitled to one vote per Frenkel Topping Share held at the Voting Record Time.
|
Resolution |
VOTES FOR |
%1 |
VOTES AGAINST |
%1 |
VOTES TOTAL |
% OF ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL VOTED |
VOTES WITHHELD2 |
|
To authorise the directors to take all such action as they consider necessary or appropriate to give effect to the Scheme as set out in the Notice of General Meeting, among other things, amending the articles of association of |
100,190,480 |
96.45 |
3,691,538 |
3.55 |
103,882,018 |
81.15 |
0 |
1 All percentages rounded to two decimal places.
2 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 resolution.
The total number of
Update on Conditions
The outcome of the Court Meeting and General Meeting means that Conditions 2.1.1 and 2.1.3 (as set out in Part A of Part 3 of the Scheme Document) have been satisfied.
Expected Timetable of Principal Events
The Offer remains subject to the satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the remaining Conditions set out in Part 3 of the Scheme Document, including receipt of regulatory approval by the FCA, the Court's sanction of the Scheme at the Court Sanction Hearing and the delivery of a copy of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies.
The expected timetable of principal events remains as announced by
|
Event |
Expected time/date |
|
|
Court Hearing to sanction the scheme |
A date (D) to be determined following satisfaction or (if applicable) waiver of the Conditions set out in Part A of Part 3 of the Scheme Document |
|
|
Last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers of, and disablement in CREST of, |
At close of business on D+1 Business Day |
|
|
Scheme Record Time |
|
|
|
Suspension of dealings in |
|
|
|
Effective Date |
D+2 Business Days |
|
|
Cancellation of admission to trading of |
By |
|
|
Latest date for despatch of cheques and for settlement through CREST or other form of payment in respect of consideration due under the Scheme |
within 14 days of the Effective Date |
|
|
Long Stop Date |
|
|
Enquiries:
|
|
Tel: +44 (0)207 640 3200 |
|
(Financial Adviser to the
|
Tel: +44 (0)207 409 3494
|
|
|
Tel: +44 (0)161 886 8000
|
|
Cavendish (Financial and Rule 3 Adviser, Nominated Adviser and Broker to
|
Tel: +44 (0)207 220 0500 |
Important Notices
Cavendish
Further information
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to, and does not, constitute, or form part of, an offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Offer or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of the securities of
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus, prospectus equivalent document or exempted document nor does this announcement, or the information contained herein, constitute a solicitation of proxies.
The statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date of this announcement, unless some other time is specified in relation to them, and publication of this announcement shall not give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the facts set forth in this announcement since such date.
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) if you are resident in the
Overseas jurisdictions
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into jurisdictions other than the
The availability of the Offer to Frenkel Topping Shareholders who are not resident in, and citizens of, the
Unless otherwise determined by Irwell Bidco or required by the Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Offer will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into, from, or by the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of, any Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the Scheme by any such use, means or instrumentality or from within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Offer are not being, and may not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents (including, without limitation, agents, custodians, nominees and trustees) may not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of the Offer. If the Offer is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Offer may not be made directly or indirectly, in, into, from, or by the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of, any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Offer may not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities.
The issue of Irwell Holdco Units to holders of Scheme Shares in Restricted Jurisdictions would necessitate compliance with any special requirements under the laws of such Restricted Jurisdictions. Accordingly, the Alternative Offer is not being made available to Restricted Overseas Shareholders who shall instead receive the Cash Offer consideration, notwithstanding any election made by them for the Alternative Offer.
Additional information for US investors
Frenkel Topping Shareholders in
The CVRs, Irwell Holdco Ordinary Shares, Irwell Holdco Preference Shares and Irwell Midco 1 Loan Notes referred to in this announcement have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of
Frenkel Topping Shareholders located or resident in
By electing to receive Irwell Holdco Units pursuant to the Alternative Offer, Frenkel Topping Shareholders will be deemed to represent and warrant, on behalf of themselves and any person on whose behalf they beneficially hold their
It may be difficult for US holders of
None of the securities referred to in this announcement have been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any State securities commission in
The receipt of the Fixed Consideration and the CVR Consideration pursuant to the Offer in
The Offer may, in the circumstances provided for in this announcement, instead be carried out by way of a Takeover Offer under the laws of
If, in the future, with the consent of the Panel, Irwell Bidco were to elect to implement the Offer by means of a Takeover Offer, such Offer will be made in accordance with the Code. Such a Takeover Offer may be made in
Forward-looking statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by reference into this announcement), statements made regarding the Offer, and other information to be published by Harwood, Irwell Bidco and/or
The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement include statements with respect to the expected effects of the Acquisition, including in relation to the financial condition, results of operations and business of
There are a number of factors which could affect the future operations of
Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement. Neither Irwell Bidco nor
Other than in accordance with their legal or regulatory obligations, neither Harwood, Irwell Bidco nor
Electronic communications and requesting hard copy documents
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and other certain information provided by Frenkel Topping Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, Frenkel Topping Shareholders, persons with information rights and participants in the Frenkel Topping Share Option Schemes may request a hard copy of this announcement by contacting
Rounding
Certain figures in this announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
Dealing and Opening Position Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period 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) of the Code applies must be made by no later than
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. 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
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 offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.
Publication on websites
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Harwood's website at www.harwoodpe.co.uk and on
General
If the Offer is effected by way of a Takeover Offer, and such a Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional and sufficient acceptances are received, Irwell Bidco intends to exercise its rights to apply the provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act 2006 so as to acquire compulsorily the remaining
Investors should be aware that Irwell Bidco may purchase
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