
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION
of
by
to be implemented by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
PUBLICATION OF SCHEME DOCUMENT
On
Publication of the Scheme Document
HEIT is pleased to announce that a circular relating to the Scheme (the "Scheme Document") has been published today, setting out, among other things, a letter from the Chair of HEIT, the full terms and conditions of the Scheme, an explanatory statement from
The Scheme Document will be published on HEIT's website at www.heitp.co.uk/investors/heit-offer and subject to any restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, hard copies of the Scheme Document (or, depending on a HEIT Shareholder's communication preference, a letter or email giving details of the website where the Scheme Document may be accessed) and Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting are being sent to HEIT Shareholders today, and being sent or made available to other persons with information rights (for information purposes only).
Capitalised terms used in this announcement (the "Announcement") shall, unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings as set out in the Scheme Document. All references to times in this Announcement are to
Summary of the terms of the Acquisition and the Scheme
The Acquisition will be implemented by the acquisition of the Scheme Shares by BidCo pursuant to a scheme of arrangement between HEIT and the Scheme Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act.
Under the terms of the Acquisition, which is subject to the satisfaction (or where applicable, waiver) of the Conditions and to the further terms set out in the Scheme Document, each Scheme Shareholder at the Scheme Record Time will be entitled to receive:
for each Scheme Share:
The Acquisition values the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of HEIT at approximately
· a 5 per cent. premium to the Drax Offer of 88.0 per HEIT Share;
· a 42 per cent. premium to the Closing Price of
· a 94 per cent. premium to the Closing Price of
· a 0.02 per cent. premium to the
Recommendation
The HEIT Directors, who have been so advised by Panmure Liberum as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the HEIT Directors, Panmure Liberum has taken into account the commercial assessments of the HEIT Directors. Panmure Liberum is providing independent financial advice to the HEIT Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
Accordingly, the HEIT Directors believe that the Acquisition (including the Scheme) is in the best interests of HEIT Shareholders as a whole and unanimously recommend that the Scheme Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the HEIT Shareholders vote in favour of the Special Resolution at the General Meeting (or, in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer).
As announced by HEIT on
Notices of the Court Meeting and General Meeting and action to be taken
The Scheme will require the approval of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting and HEIT Shareholders at the separate General Meeting, both of which will be held on
Notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting are set out in Part XI (Notice of Court Meeting) and Part XII (Notice of General Meeting) of the Scheme Document, respectively. Entitlement to attend, speak and vote at these Meetings and the number of votes which may be cast thereat will be determined by reference to the
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT, FOR THE COURT MEETING IN PARTICULAR, AS MANY VOTES AS POSSIBLE ARE CAST (WHETHER IN PERSON OR BY PROXY) SO THAT THE COURT MAY BE SATISFIED THAT THERE IS A FAIR REPRESENTATION OF SCHEME SHAREHOLDER OPINION. WHETHER OR NOT YOU INTEND TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS, YOU ARE THEREFORE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO SIGN AND RETURN YOUR FORMS OF PROXY BY POST OR APPOINT A PROXY ELECTRONICALLY ONLINE AT WWW.INVESTORCENTRE.CO.UK/EPROXY, THROUGH CREST OR (FOR INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS) VIA THE PROXYMITY PLATFORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT IN ANY EVENT SO AS TO BE RECEIVED BY COMPUTERSHARE NOT LATER THAN
Timetable
The Scheme Document contains an expected timetable of principal events relating to the Scheme, which is also set out in the Appendix to this Announcement. Subject to obtaining the approval of the requisite majority of eligible Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting, the requisite majority of HEIT Shareholder at the General Meeting and the satisfaction or waiver of the other Conditions set out in the Scheme Document, including the sanctioning of the Scheme by the Court, it is currently expected that the Effective Date will be
Cancellation of admission to trading of HEIT Shares
The last day of dealings in HEIT Shares for normal settlement on the
Prior to the Scheme becoming Effective, HEIT will apply for the cancellation of the admission to trading of the HEIT Shares on the specialist fund segment of the
Information for HEIT Shareholders
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this Announcement, the Scheme Document and the documents required to be published under Rule 26 of the Takeover Code are or will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on HEIT's website at www.heitp.co.uk/investors/heit-offer and on BidCo's website at www.foresight.group/heit by no later than 12 noon (
For the avoidance of doubt, neither the contents of these websites nor any website accessible from hyperlinks is incorporated into or forms part of this Announcement or the Scheme Document.
For information purposes only, the Scheme Document will also be sent, or made available to, persons with information rights.
A copy of the Scheme Document will also be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism, where it will be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.
Shareholder Helpline
If you have any questions about this Announcement, the Scheme Document, the Court Meeting or the General Meeting, or are in any doubt as to how to submit your proxies electronically online at www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy, through CREST or (for institutional investors) via the Proxymity platform or to complete the Forms of Proxy, please call HEIT's registrar, Computershare, on +44 (0) 370 703 6003. Lines are open from
Enquiries:
Foresight |
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+44 20 3667 8100 |
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H-Advisors Maitland (PR Advisers to BidCo and Foresight) |
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+44 782 783 6246 +44 781 710 5562 +44 782 586 1759 +44 782 725 4561 |
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+44 20 7653 4000 |
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via |
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Corporate Finance: M&A: |
+44 20 3100 2222 |
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+44 20 7710 7600 |
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Camarco (PR Advisers to HEIT) |
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+44 20 3757 4980 |
Appendix
Expected timetable of principal events
Event |
Time and/or date1 |
Publication of the Scheme Document |
|
Latest time for lodging Forms of Proxy or submitting proxy instructions online at www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy, through CREST or (for institutional investors) via the Proxymity platform for the: |
|
Court Meeting (blue form) |
|
General Meeting (white form) |
|
Voting Record Time for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting |
|
Court Meeting |
|
General Meeting |
|
The following dates and times associated with the Scheme are indicative only and are subject to change.1 |
|
Event |
Time and/or date1 |
Last day of dealings in HEIT Shares for normal settlement |
|
Court Sanction Hearing |
|
Last day for the registration of transfers of HEIT Shares |
|
Scheme Record Time |
|
Disablement in CREST of HEIT Shares |
|
Suspension of dealings in HEIT Shares |
|
Effective Date of the Scheme |
|
Cancellation of trading of HEIT Shares on the specialist fund segment of the |
By |
Latest date for despatch of cheques, making of electronic payments and crediting of CREST accounts for cash consideration due under the Acquisition |
Within 14 days of the Effective Date |
Long-Stop Date(6) |
|
Notes:
1 The dates and times given are indicative only and are based on current expectations and are subject to change. References to times are to
2 It is requested that blue Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting be lodged by
3 In order to be valid, white Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting must be received by Computershare by
4 If either the Court Meeting or the General Meeting is adjourned, the Voting Record Time for the relevant adjourned Meeting will be
5 Or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting concludes or is adjourned.
6 This is the latest date by which the Scheme may become Effective. However, the Long-Stop Date may be extended to such later date: (i) as may be agreed in writing by BidCo and HEIT (with the Panel's consent if required and (if required) as the Court may allow); or (ii) at the direction of the Panel under the Note on Section 3 of Appendix 7 to the Takeover Code.
Important notices
Further information
This Announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, an offer to sell or an invitation to purchase any securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise, nor shall there be any purchase, sale, issuance or exchange of securities or such solicitation in any jurisdiction in which such offer, invitation, solicitation, purchase, sale, issuance or exchange is unlawful.
The Acquisition shall be made solely by means of the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, any document by which the Takeover Offer is made) which, together with the Forms of Proxy (or forms of acceptance, if applicable), contains (or will contain) the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the resolutions proposed in connection with the Acquisition. Any vote, approval, decision in respect of, or other response to, the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document (or if the Acquisition is to be implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document). HEIT and BidCo urge HEIT Shareholders to read the Scheme Document carefully because it contains important information relating to the Acquisition.
The statements contained in this Announcement are made as at the date of this Announcement, unless some other time is specified in relation to them, and the release of this Announcement shall not give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the facts set out in this Announcement since such date. This Announcement is an advertisement and does not constitute a prospectus or a prospectus equivalent document.
No person should construe the contents of this Announcement as legal, financial or tax advice. If you are in any doubt about the contents of this Announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are resident in the
Overseas Shareholders
This Announcement and the accompanying documents have been prepared in connection with proposals in relation to a scheme of arrangement in accordance with and for the purpose of complying with English law, the Takeover Code, the Market Abuse Regulation, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and (to the extent the Company has voluntarily elected to comply therewith) the
The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement and/or any accompanying documents (in whole or in part), directly or indirectly, in, into or from jurisdictions other than the
Neither this Announcement nor any of the accompanying documents do, or are intended to, constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, invitation or solicitation is unlawful.
Unless otherwise determined by BidCo or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from 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, instrumentality or from within any Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this Announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and persons receiving this Announcement and all such documents relating to the Acquisition (including, without limitation, agents, custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of, or acceptance of, the Acquisition. If the Acquisition is implemented (with the consent of the Panel) by way of a Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, email 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 Takeover Offer may not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities or from or within any Restricted Jurisdiction.
The availability of the Acquisition to persons not resident in the
Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders are contained in the Scheme Document.
Additional Information for HEIT Shareholders resident in
The Acquisition relates to the shares of an English company and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under, and governed by, the laws of
The financial information included in this Announcement and Scheme Document has been prepared in accordance with
If, in the future, BidCo exercises its right to implement the Acquisition by means of a Takeover Offer which is to be made into
The receipt of cash by a US holder as consideration for the transfer of its Scheme Shares pursuant to the Scheme will likely be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and may also be a taxable transaction under applicable state and local tax laws, as well as non-US and other tax laws. Each US holder of Scheme Shares is urged to consult their own appropriately qualified independent professional tax adviser immediately regarding the particular tax consequences and information reporting requirements of the Scheme applicable to them, including under applicable
HEIT and BidCo are each incorporated under the laws of
In accordance with normal
Neither this Announcement nor the Scheme Document constitutes or forms a part of any offer to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, any securities in
Neither the
Further details in relation to US investors in HEIT are contained in the Scheme Document.
Forward looking statements
This Announcement and the Scheme Document (including information incorporated by reference into the Scheme Document), any oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by HEIT, BidCo, any member of the
The forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement and the Scheme Document include statements relating to the expected effects of the Acquisition on HEIT, BidCo, the
Although HEIT and BidCo believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, none of HEIT, BidCo, any member of the
There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the ability to complete the Acquisition; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory and shareholder approvals and the satisfaction of other Conditions on the proposed terms and timetable; changes in the global and domestic political, economic, business and competitive environments and in market and regulatory forces, circumstances or conditions; changes in future exchange and interest rates; changes in tax law or rates; future business combinations or disposals; and any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected in the forward-looking statements. If any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialises or if any one or more of the assumptions proves incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors.
Neither HEIT, nor BidCo, nor any member of the
Other than in accordance with their legal or regulatory obligations, none of HEIT, BidCo, any member of the
No profit forecasts, profit estimates or quantified financial benefits statements
No statement in this Announcement or the Scheme Document, or incorporated by reference into the Scheme Document, is intended to constitute a profit forecast, profit estimate or quantified financial benefits statement for any period and no statement in this Announcement or the Scheme Document should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share for HEIT, BidCo or any member of the
Right to switch to Takeover Offer
BidCo reserves the right to elect to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer as an alternative to the Scheme (subject to the Panel's consent and in compliance with the Takeover Code).
Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover 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) applies must be made by no later than
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover 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.
Electronic communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain other information provided by HEIT Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from HEIT 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) of the Takeover Code.
Publication on website and availability of hard copies
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this Announcement, the Scheme Document and the documents required to be published under Rule 26 of the Takeover Code are or will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on HEIT's website at www.heitp.co.uk/investors/heit-offer and on BidCo's website at www.foresight.group/heit by no later than 12 noon (
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, HEIT Shareholders and persons with information rights may request a hard copy of this Announcement or the Scheme Document (and any information incorporated into the Scheme Document by reference to another source) by contacting HEIT's registrar, Computershare,
HEIT Shareholders and persons with information rights may also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent to them in relation to the Acquisition should be sent to them in hard copy form, again by writing to the address set out above or by calling the telephone number above.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this Announcement and Scheme Document have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables or paragraphs may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an exact arithmetic aggregation of figures that precede them.
Rule 2.9 Disclosure
In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, HEIT confirms that as at the date of this announcement, it has in issue and admitted to trading on the main market of the
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