03:50 Mon 25 Jun 2018
Angle PLC - Proposed Placing of New Ordinary Shares
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN (TOGETHER, THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM
FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE OR SOLICITATION TO BUY, SUBSCRIBE FOR OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE SHARES IN ANGLE PLC IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH ANY SUCH, OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
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("ANGLE" or the "Company")
Proposed Placing of 23,970,000 New Ordinary Shares at
Proposed Subscription of 30,000 New Ordinary Shares at 50 pence per share
ANGLE Founder and Chief Executive,
"The new funding will allow us to strengthen our leadership position in the emerging multi-billion dollar liquid biopsy market. The additional funding will strengthen the business in discussions with corporate partners, extend the cash runway significantly past the expected timescale for FDA clearance and will enable us to prepare for revenue growth. We are grateful for the strong support of our existing shareholders and welcome the investment of our new investors."
Fundraising highlights:
• Placing and subscription to raise £12.0 million (before expenses) at a price of 50 pence per New Ordinary Share.
• Placing of the New Ordinary Shares is to consist of a VCT and EIS placing of 8,160,000 New Ordinary Shares ("EIS/VCT Placing Shares") and a general placing of 15,810,000 New Ordinary Shares ("General Placing Shares").
• The Placing is being conducted through an accelerated book build process, which will open with immediate effect following this Announcement.
• A subscriber, a member of staff, also intends to subscribe for 30,000 New Ordinary Shares ("Subscription Shares").
• Proceeds of Fundraising together with existing cash balances to be used to progress FDA studies, clearance and metastatic breast cancer applications, progress work on the ovarian cancer pelvic mass triage application, progress development of prostate cancer applications, undertake certain incremental product development improvements as well as covering ongoing operating expenses.
• Issue Price represents a discount of approximately 8.76 per cent to the closing mid-market price of an Ordinary Share of 54.8 pence on 22
• Placing Shares and Subscription Shares will represent approximately 17.01 per cent of the Company's Enlarged Issued Share Capital.
• The issue of both the Placing Shares and the Subscription Shares are subject to the passing of the Resolutions at a General Meeting. In addition, the issue of certain of the Placing Shares (the "EIS/VCT Placing Shares") is conditional upon the Company receiving advance assurance from HMRC that investment in the Company will qualify for EIS and VCT tax reliefs (the "Advance Assurance") and on EIS/VCT Admission. The issue of the General Placing Shares is conditional upon General Admission and the EIS/VCT Admission.
• The General Meeting is expected to be held at
• Further details of the Placing are set out in the appendix to this Announcement.
For further information on ANGLE:
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+44 (0) 1483 343434 |
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finnCap Ltd (NOMAD and Joint Broker) Corporate Finance - Corporate Broking -
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+44 (0) 20 7220 0500 |
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+44 (0) 203 705 9330
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FTI Consulting |
+44 (0) 203 727 1000 +1 212 850 5612 |
This Announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 ("MAR"). Prior to publication, certain information contained within this Announcement was deemed to constitute inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of MAR. In addition, market soundings (as defined in MAR) were taken in respect of the Placing with the result that certain persons became aware of inside information (as defined in MAR), as permitted by MAR. Due to the publication of this Announcement, those persons that received inside information in a market sounding are no longer in possession of such inside information relating to the Company and its securities.
Important notice
Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this Announcement.
This Announcement does not constitute, or form part of, a prospectus relating to the Company, nor does it constitute or contain any invitation or offer to any person, or any public offer, to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares in the Company or advise persons to do so in any jurisdiction, nor shall it, or any part of it form the basis of or be relied on in connection with any contract or as an inducement to enter into any contract or commitment with the Company.
The content of this Announcement has not been approved by an authorised person within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA"). This Announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. The information in this Announcement is subject to change.
This Announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into
finnCap is authorised and regulated by the
In connection with the Placing, finnCap,
Forward-looking Statements
This Announcement includes "forward-looking statements" which include all statements other than statements of historical facts, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, or any statements proceeded by, followed by or that include the words "targets", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "anticipates", "would", "could" or similar expressions or negatives thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Company's control that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. No undue reliance should be placed upon forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements speak only as at the date of this Announcement. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless required to do so by applicable law or the AIM Rules for Companies.
1. Introduction
The Board announces today that it proposes to raise
The Fundraising is conditional, inter alia, on the passing of the Resolutions by the Shareholders at the General Meeting.
Application will be made to the
The Issue Price represents a discount of approximately 8.76 per cent. to the closing mid-market price of
2. Background to the Company, reasons for the Fundraising and use of proceeds
ANGLE is a leading player in the liquid biopsy market commercialising a platform technology that can capture rare cells circulating in blood, such as cancer cells, even when they are as few in number such as one cell in one billion blood cells, and harvest these cells for analysis. Such cancer cells are known as circulating tumour cells ("CTCs"). ANGLE's cell separation technology, known as the ParsortixTM system, harvests CTCs through a liquid biopsy, with the patient only subjected to a simple blood test.
The Parsortix system is the subject of granted patents in
The analysis of the CTCs that can be harvested from patient blood using the Company's Parsortix system has the potential to help deliver personalised cancer care offering profound improvements in clinical and health economic outcomes in the treatment and diagnosis of various forms of cancer. The Parsortix system is designed to be compatible with existing major medtech analytical platforms and to act as a companion diagnostic for use by major pharma in helping to identify patients that will benefit from a particular drug and then monitoring the drug's effectiveness.
ANGLE has established formal collaborations with world-class cancer centres and is working with these cancer centres to demonstrate key applications for its Parsortix system's non-invasive cancer diagnostic system as a liquid biopsy. The Company's key collaborators include:
The Company has also announced a co-marketing agreement with QIAGEN which will initially target prostate cancer research use applications for CTCs. In addition, ANGLE has entered into an agreement with Abbott in relation to the use of its HER2 FISH in the Company's FDA clinical study and a joint research programme with Philips, funded by EU research funding.
3. Use of Proceeds
The net proceeds of the Fundraising, together with the Company's existing cash reserves, which were
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·
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· ongoing operating expenses.
4. Current trading and prospects
During the year ended
Whilst the Company has made some sales, these are establishment revenues mainly to leading translational researchers and have remained limited prior to FDA clearance being received. In the year ended
The Company expects to publish its preliminary results for the year ended
5. The Placing and Subscription
The Company proposes to raise £12.0 million (before expenses) through the issue and allotment, conditional on Admission, of the Fundraising Shares, almost all of which will be raised through the Placing at the Issue Price through finnCap and
A staff member intends to enter into a Subscription Agreement with the Company to subscribe for 30,000 New Ordinary Shares whereby he will subscribe, conditional on General Admission, for an aggregate of 30,000 New Ordinary Shares at the Issue Price thereby raising a further £15,000 (before expenses). The Subscription Shares will represent approximately 0.02 per cent. of the Enlarged Issued Share Capital (assuming all the Fundraising Shares are issued) and will rank pari passu with the Existing Ordinary Shares. The Subscription is not being underwritten.
Application will be made to the
Shareholders should note that it is possible that EIS/VCT Admission occurs but that General Admission does not. If General Admission does not occur then the Company will not receive the relevant net proceeds in respect of such Admission and the Company may not be able to finance the activities referred to in this document. Shareholders should also note that if Advance Assurance is not received by
The EIS/VCT Placing is conditional, inter alia, upon:
i. the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional in all respects in relation to the EIS/VCT Placing (save for EIS/VCT Admission) and not having been terminated;
ii. the Resolutions being passed at the General Meeting;
iii. the receipt by the Company of the Advance Assurance; and
iv. EIS/VCT Admission becoming effective by not later than
The General Placing and Subscription are conditional, inter alia, upon:
i. the Resolutions being passed at the General Meeting;
ii. the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional in all respects in relation to the General Placing and the Subscription (save for General Admission) and not having been terminated;
iii. the EIS/VCT Placing becoming unconditional in all respects; and
iv. General Admission becoming effective by not later than
Pursuant to the terms of the Placing Agreement, finnCap and
finnCap and/or
6. General Meeting
A Circular explaining the background to and reasons for the Fundraising containing the Notice of General Meeting is expected to be posted to shareholders following the close of the Bookbuilding process. A copy of the Circular and the Notice of General Meeting will thereafter be made available on the Company's website: www.angleplc.com. The Notice of General Meeting will convene the General Meeting of the Company for
Resolution 1 will be proposed to grant the Directors authority to allot unissued shares in the capital of the Company in respect of the Fundraising; and
Resolution 2 will be proposed, conditional on passing Resolution 1, to disapply statutory pre-emption rights to empower the Directors to allot equity securities pursuant to the power conferred by Resolution 1 on a non-pre-emptive basis in respect of the Fundraising.
The authorities granted pursuant to the Resolutions will expire on
Section 551 of the Act provides that the directors of a company cannot allot new shares in its capital without the approval of its shareholders. The purpose of Resolution 1 is to give the Directors authority to allot Ordinary Shares for the purpose of the Fundraising. The purpose of Resolution 2 is to disapply statutory pre-emption rights for the purpose of the Fundraising.
If passed, these authorities will enable the Directors to effect the Fundraising in respect of the New Ordinary Shares on a non-pre-emptive basis.
Resolution 1 will be an ordinary resolution and requires a majority of more than 50 per cent. of the Shareholders voting to be passed.
Resolution 2 will be a special resolution and requires the approval of not less than 75 per cent. of the Shareholders voting to be passed. If the Resolutions are not passed by the requisite majority, the Fundraising will not proceed.
7. EIS/VCT
The following information is based upon the laws and practice currently in force in the
The Company has obtained assurance from HMRC in
Potential shareholders or Shareholders who are in any doubt as to their tax position or who are subject to tax in jurisdictions other than the
These details are intended only as a general guide to the current tax position under
8. EIS
The Company intends to operate so that it qualifies for the taxation advantages offered under EIS. The main advantages are as follows:
i. Individuals can claim a tax credit of 30 per cent. of the amount invested in the Company against their
ii.
iii. There is no tax on capital gains made upon disposal after the three year period ("Qualifying Period") of shares in an EIS qualifying company on which income tax relief has been given and not withdrawn.
iv. If a loss is made on disposal of the Fundraising Shares at any time, the amount of the loss (after allowing for any income tax relief initially obtained) can be set off against either the individual's gains for the tax year in which the disposal occurs, or, if not so used, against capital gains of a subsequent tax year, or against the individual's income of the tax year of the disposal or of the previous tax year.
v. Provided a Shareholder has owned Fundraising Shares in the Company for at least two years and certain conditions are met at the time of transfer, 100 per cent. business property relief will be available, which reduces the inheritance tax liability on the transfer of EIS/VCT Placing Shares to nil.
The amount of relief an investor may gain from an EIS investment in the Company will depend on the investor's individual circumstances.
Qualifying Period
In order to retain the EIS reliefs, an investor must hold their shares for at least three years. A sale or other disposal (other than an inter-spousal gift or a transfer on death) will result in any income tax relief that has been claimed being clawed back by HMRC. Additionally, any capital gains deferred will come back into charge and the capital gains tax exemption will be lost. It is the investor's responsibility to disclose a disposal to HMRC.
An individual can only be eligible for EIS relief on the purchase of shares if all shares held by that investor are either risk based shares (that is shares for which an EIS 3 compliance statement has been issued) or subscriber shares.
Additionally, if the Company ceases to meet certain qualifying conditions within three years from the date of the share issue, the tax reliefs will be lost. This will be shown as the "Termination Date" on the EIS3 certificate which the Company will issue to investors following formal approval of the share issue by HMRC.
Advance Assurance of EIS Status
In order for investors to claim EIS reliefs relating to their shares in the Company, the Company has to meet a number of rules regarding the kind of company it is, the amount of money it can raise, how and when that money must be employed for the purposes of the trade, and the trading activities carried on. The Company must satisfy HMRC that it meets these requirements and is therefore a qualifying company.
Although the Company currently expects to satisfy the relevant conditions for EIS investment, neither the Directors nor the Company gives any warranty or undertaking that relief will be available in respect of any investment in the EIS/VCT Placing Shares.
9.VCT
The Company has applied for and has previously obtained assurance from HMRC that the Placing Shares will be 'eligible shares' for the purposes of investment by VCTs. The status of the Placing Shares as a qualifying holding for VCTs will be conditional, inter alia, upon the Company continuing to satisfy the relevant requirements. Although the Company currently expects to satisfy the relevant conditions for VCT investment, neither the Directors nor the Company gives any warranty or undertaking that relief will be available in respect of any investment in the EIS/VCT Placing Shares.
As the rules governing EIS and VCT reliefs are complex and interrelated with other legislation, if Shareholders and potential shareholders are in any doubt as to their tax position, require more detailed information than the general outline above, or are subject to tax in a jurisdiction other than the
Expected Timetable of Principal Events
Announcement of the Fundraising, Bookbuild commences |
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Announcement of the result of the Bookbuild via a RIS |
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Posting of the Circular and Form of Proxy |
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Latest time and date for the receipt of completed Forms of Proxy |
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General Meeting |
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Announcement of result of General Meeting via |
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Admission and dealings in the EIS/VCT Placing Shares to commence on AIM |
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Admission and dealings in the General Placing Shares and Subscription
Shares to commence on AIM
Certain of the events in the above timetable are conditional upon, inter alia, the approval of the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting and, upon the receipt by the Company of the Advance Assurance.
Each of the times and dates in the above timetable is subject to change. If any of the above times and/or dates change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified to Shareholders by announcement through a
Definitions
"Act" |
the Companies Act 2006 (as amended from time to time)
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"Admission" |
EIS/VCT Admission in the case of the EIS/VCT Placing Shares and General Admission in the case of General Placing Shares and Subscription Shares
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"Advance Assurance" |
written confirmation from HMRC to the Company that inter alia, on the basis of information provided by the Company, shares in issue in the Company will rank as "eligible shares" and will meet the requirements for relief under HMRC's VCT and EIS schemes, for the time being and in so far as such requirements relate to the Company
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"AIM" |
the market of that name operated by
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"AIM Rules" |
the rules for companies with a class of securities admitted to AIM and their nominated advisers governing the admission to and operation of AIM as published by
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"Bookbuild" or "Bookbuilding" |
the offering of Placing Shares to placees by way of an accelerated bookbuild by finnCap and
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"BST" |
British Standard Time
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"Business Day" |
a day not being a Saturday or a Sunday or a bank or public holiday in England on which clearing banks are open for business in the City of London
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"Circular" |
the circular in relation to the Fundraising to be dispatched to Shareholders following completion of the Bookbuild
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"Company" or "ANGLE" |
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"CREST" |
the Relevant System (as defined by the CREST Regulations) for the paperless settlement of share transfers and the holding of shares in uncertificated form in respect of which Euroclear is the Operator (as defined by the CREST Regulations)
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"CREST Regulations" |
the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (as amended) (SI 2001/3755)
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"Directors" or "Board" |
the directors of the Company, or any duly authorised committee thereof
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"EIS" |
the Enterprise Incentive Scheme under Part 5 of the Income Tax Act 2007
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"EIS/VCT Admission" |
admission of the EIS/VCT Placing Shares to trading on AIM becoming effective in accordance with the AIM Rules
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"EIS/VCT Placing" |
the conditional placing of the EIS/VCT Placing Shares to the Placees pursuant to the Placing Agreement
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"EIS/VCT Placing Shares" |
the 8,160,000 New Ordinary Shares to be issued, conditional on EIS/VCT Admission, in connection with the EIS/VCT Placing
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" |
the Company's issued share capital immediately after completion of the Fundraising
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"Euroclear" |
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"Existing Ordinary Shares" |
the 117,086,522 existing Ordinary Shares at the date of this document
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"FCA" |
the
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"Financial Promotion Order" |
the
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"finnCap" |
finnCap Ltd, nominated adviser and joint broker to the Placing and Subscription
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"Form of Proxy" |
the form of proxy to be enclosed with the Circular for use by Shareholders in connection with the General Meeting
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"Fundraising" |
together the Placing and Subscription
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"Fundraising Shares" |
the New Ordinary Shares to be issued, conditional on, inter alia, Admission in connection with the Fundraising
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"General Admission" |
admission of the General Placing Shares and Subscription Shares to trading on AIM becoming effective in accordance with the AIM Rules
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"General Meeting" |
the general meeting of the Company expected to be convened for
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"General Placing" |
the conditional placing of the General Placing Shares to the Placees pursuant to the Placing Agreement
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"General Placing Shares" |
the 15,810,000 New Ordinary Shares to be issued, conditional on, inter alia, Admission, in connection with the General Placing
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"Group" |
the Company, its subsidiaries and its subsidiary undertakings
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"HMRC" |
Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs
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"Issue Price" |
the price of
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" |
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"New Ordinary Shares" |
the new Ordinary Shares to be issued and allotted pursuant to the Placing and the Subscription
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"Notice of General Meeting" |
the notice of the General Meeting, to be set out in the Circular
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"Ordinary Shares" |
the ordinary shares of
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"Placees" |
subscribers for Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing Agreement
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"Placing" |
the conditional placing of the EIS/VCT Placing Shares and General Placing Shares to the Placees pursuant to the Placing Agreement
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"Placing Agreement" |
the conditional agreement dated
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"Placing Shares" |
the 8,160,000 New Ordinary Shares to be issued, conditional on EIS/VCT Admission, in connection with the EIS/VCT Placing and the 15,810,000 New Ordinary Shares to be issued, conditional on General Admission, in connection with the General Placing
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"Prospectus Rules" |
the Prospectus Rules published by the FCA
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"Resolutions" |
the resolutions set out in the Notice of General Meeting
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"Shareholders" |
holders of Ordinary Shares
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"Subscriber" |
the subscriber for New Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Subscription Agreement
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"Subscription" |
the subscription proposed to be made by the Subscriber for 30,000 New Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Subscription Agreement
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"Subscription Agreement" |
the agreement proposed to be made between the Company and the Subscriber
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"Subscription Shares" |
the 30,000 New Ordinary Shares to be issued, conditional on, inter alia, General Admission in connection with the Subscription
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"subsidiaries" and "subsidiary undertakings"
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have the meaning set out in section 1162 of the Act |
"UK" or "United Kingdom" |
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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"U.S." |
the United States of America, each state thereof, its territories and possessions, and all areas subject to its jurisdiction
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"VCT" |
a
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" |
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"£" and "p" |
pounds and pence sterling, respectively, the lawful currency of the United Kingdom |
APPENDIX
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING
For Invited Placees only - Important Information
1. Introduction
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPENDIX AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, (TOGETHER, THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND OR ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SAME WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. PERSONS INTO WHOSE POSSESSION THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) COMES ARE REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY, FINNCAP AND WG PARTNERS TO INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT AND TO OBSERVE ANY SUCH RESTRICTIONS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS DIRECTED ONLY AT: (A) PERSONS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(1)(E) OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE ("QUALIFIED INVESTORS"); AND (B) PERSONS WHO (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE "ORDER"); OR (II) ARE PERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) ("HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC") OF THE ORDER; OR (C) ARE PERSONS WHO ARE OTHERWISE LAWFULLY PERMITTED TO RECEIVE IT WITHOUT REQUIRING THE COMPANY TO ISSUE A PROSPECTUS APPROVED BY COMPETENT REGULATORS (ALL SUCH PERSONS REFERRED TO IN (A), (B) AND (C), TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS"). 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 APPENDIX AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN RELATE IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS APPENDIX DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY.
THE CONTENT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY AN AUTHORISED PERSON WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (AS AMENDED). RELIANCE ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENGAGING IN ANY INVESTMENT ACTIVITY MAY EXPOSE AN INDIVIDUAL TO A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF LOSING ALL OF THE PROPERTY OR OTHER ASSETS INVESTED.
EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF A SUBSCRIPTION FOR OR PURCHASE OF THE PLACING SHARES.
THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 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 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 APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. THE PLACING 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 IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OR ELSEWHERE.
This Announcement or any part of it does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for, any securities in the United States (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia), Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in any such jurisdiction.
The Placing Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the
Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual right or other legal obligations to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.
By participating in the Bookbuild and the Placing, each Placee 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.
Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing.
In this Appendix:
(a) "you" or "Placee" means any person who becomes committed through the Bookbuild to subscribe for Placing Shares; and
(b) terms defined elsewhere in this Announcement have the same meanings, unless the context requires otherwise.
Various dates referred to in this Announcement are stated on the basis of the expected timetable for the Placing. It is possible that some of these dates may be changed. It is expected that the EIS/VCT Placing Shares will be allotted, conditional upon, inter alia, EIS/VCT Admission, on
2. Details of the Placing
finnCap and
No element of the Placing is underwritten.
The Placing of the Placing Shares is conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional in all respects.
The Placing Shares will, when issued, be subject to the articles of association of the Company, be credited as fully paid and rank pari passu in all respects with the Existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive dividends and other distributions declared or made following each Admission.
Applications will be made to the
3. Bookbuild
Each of finnCap and
The Bookbuild is expected to close at or before
The Company, finnCap and
4. Participation and settlement
Participation in the Bookbuild is only available to persons who are invited to participate in it by finnCap or
If you are invited to participate in the Bookbuild and wish to do so, you should communicate your bid by telephone to your usual broking contact at finnCap. Each bid should state the number of Placing Shares which you wish to subscribe for at the Issue Price. If your bid is successful, in whole or in part, your allocation will be confirmed orally following the close of the Bookbuild. finnCap's oral confirmation of your allocation will constitute a legally binding commitment on your part to subscribe for the number of Placing Shares allocated to you at the Issue Price on the terms and subject to the conditions set out or referred to in this Appendix and subject to the Company's constitution.
A person who submits a bid in the Bookbuild will not be able, without finnCap's agreement, to vary or revoke the bid before the close of the Bookbuild. Such a person will not be able, after the close of the Bookbuild, to vary or revoke a submitted bid in any circumstances.
If you are allocated Placing Shares in the Bookbuild, you will be sent a written confirmation stating (i) the number of Placing Shares allocated to you, (ii) the aggregate amount you will be required to pay for those Placing Shares at the Issue Price, (iii) relevant settlement information, and (iv) settlement instructions. Settlement instructions will accompany each written confirmation and, on receipt, should be confirmed back to finnCap by the date and time stated in it. Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares will take place within the CREST system, subject to certain exceptions, on a "delivery versus payment" (or "DVP") basis. finnCap reserves the right to require settlement for and/or delivery to any Placee of any Placing Shares to be made by such other means as it may deem appropriate if delivery or settlement is not possible or practicable within the CREST system within the timetable set out in this Announcement. If your Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, you should ensure that the written confirmation is copied and delivered promptly to the appropriate person within that organisation.
Each Placee's obligations to subscribe and pay for Placing Shares under the Placing will be owed to each of the Company and finnCap. No commissions will be paid to or by Placees in respect of their agreement to subscribe for any Placing Shares.
Placees' commitments in respect of Placing Shares will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in this Announcement and on the terms contained in it. No admission document for the purposes of the AIM Rules nor any prospectus is required to be published, or has been or will be published, in relation to the Placing or the Placing Shares.
5. Placing conditions
Under the terms of the Placing Agreement, finnCap and
The Placing is conditional on inter alia (i) finnCap's and
finnCap or
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 in respect thereof.
6. Placees' warranties and undertakings
By communicating a bid to finnCap under the Bookbuild you will irrevocably acknowledge and confirm and warrant and undertake to, and agree with, each of the Company and finnCap, in each case as a fundamental term of your application for Placing Shares, that:
(a) you agree to and accept all the terms set out in this Announcement;
(b) your rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will terminate only in the circumstances referred to in this Announcement and will not be subject to rescission or termination by you in any circumstances;
(c) this Announcement, which has been issued by the Company, is within the sole responsibility of the Company;
(d) you have not been, and will not be, given any warranty or representation in relation to the Placing Shares or to the Company or to any other member of its Group in connection with the Placing, other than by the Company as included in this Announcement or to the effect that the Company is not now in breach of its obligations under the
(e) you have not relied on any representation or warranty in reaching your decision to subscribe for Placing Shares under the Placing, save as given or made by the Company as referred to in the previous paragraph;
(f) you are not a client of finnCap or
(g) you have not been, and will not be, given any warranty or representation by any finnCap Person or WG Partners Person in relation to any Placing Shares, the Company or any other member of its Group and no finnCap Person nor WG Partners Person will have any liability to you for any information contained in this Announcement, the content of which is exclusively the responsibility of the Company, or which has otherwise been published by the Company or for any decision by you to participate in the Placing based on any such information or on any other information provided to you;
(h) you will pay the full subscription sum at the Issue Price as and when required in respect of all Placing Shares finally allocated to you and will do all things necessary on your part to ensure that payment for such shares and their delivery to you or at your direction is completed in accordance with the standing CREST instructions (or, where applicable, standing certificated settlement instructions) that you have in place with finnCap or that you put in place with finnCap;
(i) you are permitted to subscribe for Placing Shares in accordance with the laws of all relevant jurisdictions which apply to you and you have complied, and will fully comply, with all such laws (including where applicable, the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (as amended) and the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations) and have obtained all governmental and other consents (if any) which may be required for the purpose of, or as a consequence of, such subscription, and you will provide promptly to finnCap or
(j) you have complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the
(k) you are a Relevant Person or a person to whom this Announcement may otherwise be lawfully communicated;
(l) you are acting as principal only in respect of the Placing or, if you are acting for any other person (i) you are duly authorised to do so, (ii) you are and will remain liable to the Company and/or finnCap and
(m) nothing has been done or will be done by you in relation to the Placing or to any Placing Shares that has resulted or will result in any person being required to publish a prospectus in relation to the Company or to any Ordinary Shares in accordance with FSMA or the UK Prospectus Rules or in accordance with any other laws applicable in any part of the
(n) you will not treat any Placing Shares in a manner that would contravene any legislation applicable in any territory or jurisdiction and no aspect of your participation in the Placing will contravene any legislation applicable in any territory or jurisdiction or cause the Company or finnCap or
(o) (in this paragraph "US person" and other applicable terms have the meanings that they have in Regulation S made under the Securities Act) (i) none of the Placing Shares have been or will be registered under that Act or under the securities laws of any State of or other jurisdiction within the United States, (ii) subject to certain exceptions, no Placing Shares may be offered or sold, resold, or delivered, directly or indirectly, into or within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any US person, (iii) you are (unless otherwise expressly agreed with finnCap or
(p) finnCap and
(q) time is of essence as regards your obligations under this Appendix;
(r) this Appendix and any contract which may be entered into between you and finnCap and
(s) each right or remedy of the Company or finnCap or
(t) any document that is to be sent to you in connection with the Placing will be sent at your risk and may be sent to you at any address provided by you to finnCap or WG Partners;
(u) if you have received any confidential price sensitive information about the Company in advance of the Placing, you have 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;
(v) you irrevocably appoint any duly authorised officer of finnCap as your agent for the purpose of executing and delivering to the Company and/or its registrars any documents on your behalf necessary to enable you to be registered as the holder of any of the Placing Shares for which you agree to subscribe upon the terms of this Announcement; and
(w) By participating in the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) agrees to indemnify and hold the Company, finnCap, WG Partners and each finnCap Person and WG Partners Person harmless from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any breach of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings given by the Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) in this Appendix or incurred by finnCap, WG Partners, any finnCap Person, WG Partners Person or the Company arising from the performance of the Placee's obligations as set out in this Announcement, and further agrees that the provisions of this Appendix shall survive after the completion of the Placing.
7. Payment default
Your entitlement to receive any Placing Shares will be conditional on finnCap's receipt of payment in full for such shares by the relevant time to be stated in the written confirmation referred to above, or by such later time and date as finnCap may decide, and otherwise in accordance with that confirmation's terms. finnCap may waive this condition, and will not be liable to you for any decision to waive it or not.
If you fail to make such payment by the required time for any Placing Shares (1) the Company may release itself, and (if it decides to do so) will be released from, all obligations it may have to allot and/or issue any such Placing Shares to you or at your direction which are then unallotted and/or unissued, (2) the Company may exercise all rights of lien, forfeiture and set-off over and in respect of any such Placing Shares to the full extent permitted under its constitution or by law and to the extent that you then have any interest in or rights in respect of any such shares, (3) the Company or, as applicable, finnCap may sell (and each of them is irrevocably authorised by you to do so) all or any of such shares on your behalf and then retain from the proceeds, for the account and benefit of the Company or, where applicable, finnCap (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 and (ii) any amount required to cover dealing costs and/or commissions necessarily or reasonably incurred by it in respect of such sale and (4) you will remain liable to the Company and to finnCap for the full amount of any losses 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 are actually obtained for such sale by or for it. Interest may be charged in respect of payments not received by finnCap for value by the required time referred to above at the rate of two percentage points above the base rate of National Westminster Bank plc.
8. Overseas jurisdictions
The distribution of this Announcement and the offering and/or issue of shares pursuant to the Placing in certain jurisdictions is restricted by law. FSMA Qualified Investors who seek to participate in the Placing must inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. In particular, this document does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation, nor a solicitation of any offer or invitation, to subscribe for or acquire or sell or purchase or otherwise deal in Ordinary Shares in the United States, Canada, Japan, the Republic of Ireland, the Republic of South Africa or Australia or in any other jurisdiction in which any such offer, invitation or solicitation is or would be unlawful. New Ordinary Shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended or under the securities laws of any State of or other jurisdiction within the United States, and, subject to certain exceptions, may not be offered or sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, any US persons (as defined in Regulation S under that Act). No public offering of New Ordinary Shares is being or will be made in the United States.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
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