THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPENDICES AND THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION
OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH
AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A
BREACH OF THE RELEVANT SECURITIES LAWS OF SUCH
JURISDICTION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A PROSPECTUS OR OFFERING
MEMORANDUM OR AN OFFER IN RESPECT OF ANY SECURITIES AND IS NOT
INTENDED TO PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR ANY INVESTMENT DECISION IN
RESPECT OF CYANCONNODE HOLDINGS PLC OR OTHER EVALUATION OF ANY
SECURITIES OF CYANCONNODE HOLDINGS PLC OR ANY OTHER ENTITY AND
SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS A RECOMMENDATION THAT ANY INVESTOR
SHOULD SUBSCRIBE FOR OR PURCHASE ANY SUCH
SECURITIES.
THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE READ IN ITS ENTIRETY. IN PARTICULAR, YOU
SHOULD READ AND UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN APPENDIX I
WHICH CONTAINS THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE
PLACING.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES
OF THE UK VERSION OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU
NO. 596/2014) AS IT FORMS PART OF UNITED KINGDOM
DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018
("UK MAR"). IN
ADDITION, MARKET SOUNDINGS (AS DEFINED IN UK MAR) WERE TAKEN IN
RESPECT OF CERTAIN OF THE MATTERS CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT,
WITH THE RESULT THAT CERTAIN PERSONS BECAME AWARE OF SUCH INSIDE
INFORMATION, AS PERMITTED BY UK MAR. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND SUCH PERSONS SHALL THEREFORE CEASE TO BE IN
POSSESSION OF INSIDE INFORMATION.
9 September 2024
CyanConnode Holdings
plc
("CyanConnode" or the
"Company" and together with its subsidiaries, the
"Group")
Proposed Placing and
Subscription, including a Strategic Investment of £3 million, to
raise approximately £5 million
CyanConnode (AIM:CYAN.L), a world
leader in narrowband radio frequency ("RF") mesh networks, is pleased to
announce that it is proposing to raise approximately
£5 million, in aggregate, before expenses, by way of a placing
(the "Placing") of new
ordinary shares of 2p each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") (the "Placing Shares") to new and
existing institutional investors, and a subscription (the
"Subscription") by a new
strategic investor, Axia Investments Limited
("Axia") and
certain of the Company's directors ("Directors") and other investors for new
Ordinary Shares (the "Subscription
Shares") (the Placing and the Subscription together being
the "Fundraising").
The Placing will be effected by
way of an accelerated bookbuild (the "Bookbuild") at a price of 9 pence
(the "Issue Price") per
Placing Share. The Placing is subject to
the terms and conditions set out in the appendix to this
announcement (which forms part of this announcement, such
announcement and the appendix together being the "Announcement"). The subscription price
is the same as the Issue Price.
The Bookbuild will open with
immediate effect following the release of this Announcement.
A further announcement confirming the closing of the Bookbuild and
the aggregate number of new Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant
to the Placing and the Subscription is expected to be made in due
course.
John Cronin and David Johns-Powell,
being Directors of the Company, have indicated their intention to
participate in the Subscription for £275k in aggregate. Heather
Peacock, also a Director of the Company, has indicated her
intention to participate in the Placing (via a self-invested
personal pension plan) for £20k.
Highlights
·
The Company intends to raise approximately £5
million, in aggregate, before expenses, pursuant to the
Fundraising;
·
Certain Directors intend to subscribe for up to
3,277,777 new Ordinary Shares in both the Subscription and the
Placing, raising up to £295k in aggregate;
·
Axia intends to subscribe for 33,333,333 new
Ordinary Shares in the Subscription, raising £3 million;
·
The Issue Price represents a premium of
17.6 per cent. to the closing price on 7.7 pence September
2024, being the last trading date prior to this
Announcement;
·
The net proceeds of the Fundraising will be used
to provide ongoing working capital for growth, to further
strengthen the Company's balance sheet and to fund the setup of a
hardware product design lab in India, which will enable a ramp up
of operations.
Your attention is drawn to the
additional information set out below.
Enquiries:
CyanConnode Holdings plc
|
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 865
750
|
John Cronin, Executive
Chairman
|
www.cyanconnode.com
|
|
|
Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser)
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409 3494
|
James Harris / Richard Johnson /
David Asquith
|
|
|
|
Zeus Capital Limited (Joint Broker)
|
Tel: +44
(0)20 3829 5000
|
Simon Johnson / Louisa
Waddell
|
|
|
|
Panmure Liberum (Joint
Broker)
Rupert Dearden / James Sinclair-Ford
/ John More / Rauf Munir /
Freddie Wooding
|
Tel: +44
(0) 20 7886 2500
|
Additional information
About CyanConnode
CyanConnode (AIM:CYAN.L), is a world
leader in Narrowband Radio Frequency (RF) Smart Mesh Networks,
which are used for machine to machine (M2M) communication. As
well as being self-forming and self-healing, CyanConnode's RF Smart
Mesh Networks are designed for rapid deployment, whilst giving
exceptional performance and competitive total cost of
ownership.
CyanConnode's award-winning Omnimesh
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) platform has gained
considerable commercial traction, especially in India which is a
key market for the Company.
Through a global partner eco-system,
which is vendor agnostic, CyanConnode has several routes to market,
therefore it is well positioned to capitalise upon increasing
global demand for smart metering solutions.
For more information, please
visit www.CyanConnode.com
Background to
the Fundraising and Business Update
The Company announced its full year results to
31 March 2024 ("FY24") on
25 July 2024, with an increase of approximately 60% in revenue to
£18.7 million in FY24 from £11.7 million in the year ended 31 March
2023, the highest annual revenue for the Group to date after four
consecutive years of growth as a result of increased order book and
acceleration of deployments in India. Broker revenue expectation
for the year ended 31 March 2025 shows a further 74% growth to £34
million revenue generation and EBITDA profitability.
In August 2024 the Company was approached by an
adviser for Axia, a family office private investment fund regarding
a potential investment in the Company. Following discussions
between the Company and the adviser, Axia has now agreed to invest
£3 million in the Company pursuant to the Subscription. In
addition, it has been agreed that they will have observer rights on
the Board of the Company, which will be formalised between the
parties in due course.
Use
of Proceeds
As the Company continues to go
through a period of significant growth and, in order to maintain
momentum and enable further expansion, the net proceeds of the
Fundraising will be used to:
·
Provide ongoing working capital for
growth;
·
Strengthen the Company's balance sheet to enhance
commercial engagement with key stakeholders; and
·
Fund the setup of a hardware product design lab in
India, to enable a ramp up of operations, in that market, including
development of additions to the Omnimesh product suite.
The
Placing
In connection with the Placing,
Panmure Liberum Limited ("Panmure Liberum") and Zeus Capital Limited
("Zeus") are acting as
joint bookrunners (together, the "Joint Bookrunners"). Strand Hanson
Limited ("Strand Hanson")
is acting as nominated adviser to the Company. The timing for the close of the Bookbuild and the allocation
of the Placing Shares will be determined by the Joint Bookrunners
and the Company.
The final number of Placing Shares
to be issued pursuant to the Placing will be determined following
closure of the Bookbuild. The Placing Shares and the
Subscription Shares, when issued, will be fully paid and will
rank pari
passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary
Shares. The Placing is not being underwritten.
The Placing has been arranged by the
Joint Bookrunners in accordance with the terms and conditions set
out in the Appendix to this Announcement and the terms of
conditions of the Placing Agreement (as defined below), the
principal terms of which are set out in the Appendix to this
Announcement. The Bookbuild is expected to close not later than
5.00 p.m. (London (UK) time) on 9 September 2024, but may be closed
at such earlier or later time as the Joint Bookrunners, at their
absolute discretion (following consultation with the Company),
determine.
Details of the result of the Placing
will be announced as soon as practicable after closure of the
Bookbuild. Attention is drawn to the detailed terms and
conditions of the Placing described in the appendix. By
choosing to participate in the Placing and by making an oral and
legally binding offer to subscribe for Placing Shares, investors
will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its
entirety and to be making such offer on the terms and subject to
the conditions in it, and to be providing the representations,
warranties and acknowledgements contained in the
appendix.
The Fundraising is being carried out
under the Company's existing share authorities and is not
conditional upon the approval of the Company's
shareholders.
To
bid in the Bookbuild, Placees should communicate their bid by
telephone or in writing to their usual sales contact at the Joint
Bookrunners.
The
Subscription
In addition to the investment by Axia, John
Cronin and David Johns-Powell, being Directors of the Company,
and certain other investors have indicated their intention to
subscribe for new Ordinary Shares at the Issue Price pursuant to
the terms and conditions of subscription letters to be entered into
between the relevant persons and the Company on or about the date
hereof.
The subscription funds are expected to be
received by no later than 11 September 2024. Further details
relating to the Subscription, including the total number of new
Ordinary Shares to be subscribed for and the aggregate gross
proceeds of the Subscription, will be announced as soon as
practicable after closure of the Bookbuild.
Admission, settlement and CREST
Application will be made for the new
Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to the Fundraising to be
admitted to trading on AIM. ("Admission")
Admission of the new Ordinary Shares
is expected to take place on or before 8.00 a.m. on 12 September
2024 (or such later date as the Company, the
Joint Bookrunners and Strand Hanson may agree, but in any event not
later than 8.00 a.m. on 18 October 2024).
The Placing is conditional upon,
among other things, those matters set out in the paragraph headed
"Conditions of the Placing" in the appendix, and the Placing
Agreement (as defined below) not being terminated
in accordance with its
terms.
Neither the Subscription nor the
Placing are being made available to the public and are only
available to Relevant Persons (as defined below).
Appendix
TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY IN RELATION TO THE
PLACING
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX, AND
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN (TOGETHER THE "ANNOUNCEMENT") IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT
FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES,
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, NEW ZEALAND
OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR
DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN
APPROVED BY THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, NOR IS IT INTENDED THAT IT
WILL BE SO APPROVED.
NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE NEW ORDINARY SHARES
IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES, UNITED KINGDOM OR ELSEWHERE.
ALL OFFERS OF THE NEW ORDINARY SHARES WILL BE MADE PURSUANT TO AN
EXEMPTION UNDER THE UK VERSION OF REGULATION (EU) NO 2017/1129 OF
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL OF 14 JUNE 2017, WHICH
IS PART OF UK LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT
2018, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, (THE "UK PROSPECTUS REGULATION") FROM THE
REQUIREMENT TO PRODUCE A PROSPECTUS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING
DISTRIBUTED TO PERSONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ONLY IN CIRCUMSTANCES
IN WHICH SECTION 21(1) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT
2000, AS AMENDED ("FSMA")
DOES NOT APPLY.
NO PROSPECTUS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN
CONNECTION WITH THE MATTERS CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND NO
SUCH PROSPECTUS IS REQUIRED (IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROSPECTUS
REGULATION) TO BE PUBLISHED. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE
DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHO ARE: (A) IF IN A MEMBER STATE OF THE
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA"), QUALIFIED INVESTORS (WITHIN THE
MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(E) OF REGULATION (EU) NO 2017/1129 OF THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL OF 14 JUNE 2017 (THE
"EU PROSPECTUS
REGULATION")) ("QUALIFIED
INVESTORS"); AND (B) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED
INVESTORS (WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(E) OF THE UK PROSPECTUS
REGULATION) WHO ARE PERSONS WHO (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN
MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF
"INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS" IN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL
SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS
AMENDED (THE "ORDER"); (II)
ARE PERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) ("HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC") OF
THE ORDER; OR (III) ARE PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE BE
LAWFULLY COMMUNICATED; (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO
AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN MUST
NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS (I) IN THE EEA WHO ARE NOT
QUALIFIED INVESTORS; OR (II) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WHO ARE NOT
RELEVANT PERSONS. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST
SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY INVESTMENT OR
INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO (I) PERSONS
IN THE EEA WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS AND (II) PERSONS IN THE
UNITED KINGDOM WHO ARE RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY
WITH QUALIFIED INVESTORS IN THE EEA AND RELEVANT PERSONS IN THE
UNITED KINGDOM.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED BY, AND IS
THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF, THE COMPANY. NO REPRESENTATION OR
WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IS OR WILL BE MADE AS TO, OR IN
RELATION TO, AND NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY IS OR WILL BE
ACCEPTED BY THE DIRECTORS OR THE COMPANY, OR BY ANY OF ITS OR THEIR
RESPECTIVE PARTNERS, EMPLOYEES, ADVISERS, AFFILIATES OR AGENTS AS
TO OR IN RELATION TO, THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT OR ANY OTHER WRITTEN OR ORAL INFORMATION MADE
AVAILABLE TO OR PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TO ANY INTERESTED PARTY OR ITS
ADVISERS, AND ANY LIABILITY THEREFORE IS EXPRESSLY
DISCLAIMED.
DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN CERTAIN
JURISDICTIONS MAY BE RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED BY LAW OR REGULATION.
PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT
IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX,
DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR THE SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF
ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES
FOR SALE INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN
AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT
1933 (THE "SECURITIES ACT")
OR WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR
JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD,
RESOLD, TRANSFERRED OR DELIVERED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE
UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN
EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND, IN EACH CASE,
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 OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN "OFFSHORE
TRANSACTIONS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF, AND IN RELIANCE ON, 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, THE UNITED KINGDOM OR
ELSEWHERE.
THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT
BE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR NEW
ZEALAND AND THE PLACING SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, RESOLD, OR
DELIVERED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, WITHIN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN,
THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR NEW ZEALAND, OR IN ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DO SO, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE
EXEMPTION.
EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS ADVISERS AS
TO LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE
PLACING SHARES. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, ANY
PART OF IT OR ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT MAY BE RESTRICTED BY
LAW IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS, AND ANY PERSON INTO WHOSE POSSESSION
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, ANY PART OF IT OR ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
IT COMES SHOULD INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT, AND OBSERVE, SUCH
RESTRICTIONS.
Solely for the purposes of the product
governance requirements of Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Product
Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK Product Governance Requirements")
and/or any equivalent requirements elsewhere to the extent
determined to be applicable, and disclaiming all and any liability,
whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any
"manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance
Requirements and/or any equivalent requirements elsewhere to the
extent determined to be applicable) may otherwise have with respect
thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval
process, which has determined that the Placing Shares are: (i)
compatible with an end target market of retail investors and
investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and
eligible counterparties, each as defined in Chapter 3 of the FCA
Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; and (ii) eligible for
distribution through all permitted distribution channels (the
"Target Market
Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment,
distributors should note that the price of the Placing Shares may
decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment;
the Placing Shares do not offer guaranteed income and/or capital
protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible
only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital
protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate
financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits
and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources
to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target
Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any
contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation
to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the
Target Market Assessment, the Brokers will only procure investors
who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible
counterparties (as defined in Chapter 3 of COBS).
For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market
Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or
appropriateness for the purposes of Chapters 9A and 10A
(respectively) of COBS; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or
group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other
action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares.
Persons who are invited to and who choose to
participate in the Placing by making an oral or written offer to
acquire Placing Shares, including any individuals, funds or others
on whose behalf a commitment to acquire Placing Shares is given
(the "Placees"), will be
deemed: (i) to have read and understood this Announcement,
including this Appendix, in its entirety; and (ii) to be
participating and making an offer for Placing Shares on the terms
and conditions and to be providing the representations, warranties,
acknowledgements and undertakings, contained in this
Appendix.
In particular each such Placee represents,
warrants and acknowledges that:
(a) if it is in the United Kingdom, it is
a Relevant Person and if it is in the EEA, it is a Qualified
Investor, and in each case undertakes that it will acquire, hold,
manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it
for the purposes of its business;
(b) it is acquiring the Placing Shares
for its own account or is acquiring the Placing Shares for an
account with respect to which it has authority to exercise, and is
exercising, investment discretion and has authority to make and
does make the representations, warranties, indemnities,
acknowledgements, undertakings and agreements contained in this
Announcement;
(c) it understands (or if acting
for the account of another person, such person has confirmed that
such person understands) the resale and transfer restrictions set
out in this Appendix; and
(d) if it is a financial intermediary, as
that term is used in Article 5(1) of the Prospectus Regulation and
Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, any Placing Shares
subscribed for or acquired by it in the Placing will not be
acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they
be subscribed for or acquired with a view to their offer or resale
to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of
securities to the public other than an offer or resale to Qualified
Investors in a member state of the EEA which has implemented the EU
Prospectus Regulation or to Relevant Persons in the United Kingdom,
or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the Brokers has
been given to each such proposed offer or resale.
Details of the
Placing Agreement, the Placing Shares, and the
Bookbuild
Zeus Capital Limited and Panmure Liberum
Limited are acting as joint brokers and bookrunners in connection
with the Placing (the "Brokers") and Strand Hanson Limited
("Strand Hanson") is acting
as nominated adviser to the Company in connection with the Placing.
The Brokers and Strand Hanson have entered into a placing agreement
with the Company (the "Placing
Agreement") under which, on the terms and subject to the
conditions set out in the Placing Agreement, each of the Brokers,
as agents for and on behalf of the Company, has conditionally and
severally agreed to use its respective reasonable endeavours to
procure Placees for the Placing Shares. The Placing is not being
underwritten by either of the Brokers or any other person. Strand
Hanson has conditionally agreed to make the applications for
Admission (as defined below).
The Brokers will today commence the
bookbuilding process to determine demand for participation in the
Placing by potential Placees. This Appendix gives details of the
terms and conditions of, and the mechanics for participation in,
the Placing. No commissions will be paid to Placees or by Placees
in respect of any Placing Shares.
The Brokers shall be entitled to effect the
Placing by such alternative method to the Bookbuild as they may, in
their absolute discretion, following consultation with the Company,
determine.
The Placing Shares will, as from the date when
they are issued, be fully paid up and rank pari passu in all
respects with the existing Ordinary Shares then in
issue.
The Placing Agreement contains certain
undertakings, warranties and indemnities given by the Company for
the benefit of each of the Brokers and Strand Hanson. The
Brokers and Strand Hanson have absolute discretion as to whether or
not to bring an action against the Company for breach of these
undertakings, warranties and indemnities.
The Brokers and Strand Hanson have the right to
terminate the Placing Agreement in certain circumstances, details
of which are set out below.
Application
for admission to trading
Application will be made to the London Stock
Exchange for the Placing Shares and the Subscription Shares to be
admitted to trading on AIM ("Admission").
It is expected that Admission will become
effective and that dealings in the Placing Shares and the
Subscription Shares will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 12 September 2024
(the "Admission Date") (or
such later date as the Company, the Brokers and Strand Hanson may
agree, but in any event not later than 8.00 a.m. on 18 October
2024) (the "Long Stop
Date").
Participation
in, and principal terms of, the Placing
1. The Brokers are acting
severally as brokers and bookrunners to the Placing, as agents for
and on behalf of the Company for the purpose of procuring Placees
at the Issue Price for the Placing Shares.
2. Participation in the
Placing will only be available to persons who may lawfully be, and
are, invited to participate by the Brokers. The Brokers and
their affiliates are entitled to enter bids as principals in the
Bookbuild.
3. The final number of
Placing Shares will be agreed between the Brokers and the Company
following completion of the Bookbuild. The final number of Placing
Shares to be issued will be announced on a Regulatory Information
Service following completion of the Bookbuild.
4. To bid in the Bookbuild,
prospective Placees should communicate their bid by telephone or in
writing to their usual sales contact at Zeus Capital Limited or
Panmure Liberum Limited. Each bid should state the number of
Placing Shares which the prospective Placee wishes to subscribe for
at the Issue Price. Bids may be scaled down by the Brokers on the
basis referred to in paragraph 7 below. Each Broker reserves the
right not to accept bids or to accept bids in part rather than in
whole. The acceptance of the bids shall be at the Brokers' absolute
discretion, subject to agreement with the Company.
5. The Bookbuild is expected
to close no later than 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 9 September 2024,
but may be closed earlier or later, at the discretion of the
Brokers. The Brokers may, in agreement with the Company, accept
bids (either in whole or in part) that are received after the
Bookbuild has closed.
6. Each Placee's allocation
of Placing Shares will be confirmed to Placees orally or in writing
by the Brokers following the close of the Bookbuild, and a trade
confirmation or contract note will be dispatched as soon as
possible thereafter. The terms of this Appendix are deemed to be
incorporated in the form of confirmation. Either Broker's
confirmation to such Placee will constitute an irrevocable legally
binding commitment upon such person (who will at that point become
a Placee) in favour of the Brokers and the Company, pursuant to
which such Placee agrees to subscribe for and acquire the number of
Placing Shares allocated to it and to pay or procure payment of the
Issue Price in respect of such Placing Shares on the terms and
conditions set out in this Appendix and in accordance with the
Company's corporate documents. Except with the consent of the
Brokers, such commitment will not be capable of variation,
revocation, termination or rescission at either the time of such
oral confirmation or any time thereafter.
7. Subject to paragraphs 3
and 4 above, after consultation with and subject to agreement with
the Company as to the allocation of the Placing Shares to Placees,
the Brokers will, in effecting the Placing, determine the identity
of the Placees and the basis of allocation of the Placing
Shares.
8. A bid in the Bookbuild
will be made on the terms and subject to the conditions in this
Appendix and, after confirmation (oral or otherwise) by the
Brokers, will be legally binding on the Placee on behalf of which
it is made and except with the Brokers' consent will not be capable
of variation, revocation, termination or rescission after the time
at which it is submitted. Each Placee will also have an immediate,
separate, irrevocable and binding obligation, owed to the Brokers,
to pay or procure payment to it (or as it may direct) in cleared
funds an amount equal to the product of the Issue Price and the
number of Placing Shares that such Placee has agreed to acquire and
the Company has agreed to allot and issue to that
Placee.
9. If a Placee subscribes for
Placing Shares, such Placee understands and acknowledges
that:
(i)
its obligations and rights under the Placing in respect of such
Placing Shares are conditional on the Placing having become
unconditional in accordance with the Placing Agreement;
and
(ii)
it is anticipated that the Placing Shares will be allotted and
issued at or before 8.00 a.m. on the Admission Date and it is
anticipated that Admission will occur, and dealings in respect of
the Placing Shares will commence, at 8.00 a.m. on the Admission
Date.
10. Except as required by law or
regulation, no press release or other announcement will be made by
the Brokers or the Company using the name of any Placee (or its
agent), in its capacity as Placee (or agent), other than with such
Placee's prior written consent.
11. Irrespective of the time at which a
Placee's allocation pursuant to the Placing is confirmed,
settlement for all Placing Shares to be acquired pursuant to the
Placing will be required to be made at the same time, on the basis
explained below under "Registration and Settlement".
12. All obligations under the Bookbuild
and Placing will be subject to fulfilment or (where applicable and
permissible by law) waiver of the conditions referred to below
under "Conditions of the Placing" and to the Placing not being
terminated on the basis referred to below under "Right to terminate
under the Placing Agreement".
13. By participating in the Bookbuild,
each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations in respect of
the Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described
below and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the
Placee after confirmation (oral or otherwise) by the
Brokers.
14. To the fullest extent permissible by
law neither of the Brokers nor the Company nor any of their
respective affiliates or persons acting on behalf of any of them
shall have any responsibility or liability to any Placees (or to
any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or
otherwise). In particular, neither of the Brokers nor the Company,
nor any of their respective affiliates or persons acting on behalf
of any of them shall have any responsibility or liability
(including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties)
in respect of the Brokers' conduct of the Bookbuild or of such
alternative method of effecting the Placing as the Broker and the
Company may agree. Nothing in this paragraph excludes liability of
any person for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation made by that
person.
Conditions of
the Placing
The Placing is conditional, amongst others,
upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having
been terminated in accordance with its terms.
The Brokers' and Strand Hanson's obligations
under the Placing Agreement in respect of the Placing are
conditional on certain conditions, including inter alia:
(a) none of the warranties or
undertakings provided in the Placing Agreement by the Company being
or having become untrue, inaccurate or misleading at any time
before Admission and no fact or circumstance having arisen which
would constitute a breach of any such warranties;
(b) the Company having complied with
certain specified obligations under the Placing Agreement (to the
extent such obligations fall to be performed prior to Admission)
including the Company allotting, conditional on Admission
occurring, the Placing Shares subject to the Company's articles of
association;
(c) the subscription agreements
governing the terms of the Subscription not having been terminated
or amended prior to Admission, having become unconditional in all
respects save for any conditions relating to the Placing Agreement
or Admission and the aggregate subscription monies in respect of
the Subscription Shares from each of the Subscribers having been
received by the Company in clear funds prior to
Admission;
(d) the delivery by the Company to the
Brokers and Strand Hanson of certain documentary conditions
precedent; and
(e) Admission occurring at 8:00 a.m.
(London time) on 12 September 2024 (or such later time and/or date,
not being later than 8:00 a.m. (London time) on 18 October 2024 as
the Company, the Brokers and Strand Hanson may otherwise
agree).
If: (i) any of the conditions contained in the
Placing Agreement, including those described above, are not
fulfilled or (where applicable and permissible by law) waived or
extended in writing by each of the Brokers and Strand Hanson by the
relevant times or dates specified (or such later times or dates as
the Company and the Brokers may agree); or (ii) prior to Admission
the Placing Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms
including, inter alia, in the circumstances specified below, the
Placing will lapse and the Placees' rights and obligations
hereunder in relation to the relevant Placing Shares shall cease
and terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can
be made by it in respect thereof.
The Brokers and Strand Hanson may, in their
discretion, extend the time for satisfaction of, or, where
applicable and permissible by law, waive compliance by the Company
with, the whole or any part of certain of the Company's obligations
in relation to the conditions in the Placing Agreement. Any such
extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out
in this Announcement.
The Brokers shall have no liability to any
Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee
or otherwise) in respect of any decision they may make as to
whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or date for the
satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision
they may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in respect
of the Placing generally and by participating in the Placing each
Placee agrees that any such decision is within the absolute
discretion of the Brokers.
During the period of 40 days after the later of
the commencement of the Placing and the closing of the Placing, the
Placing Shares may not be offered, sold or delivered within the
United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons
(other than Placing Shares sold pursuant to an exemption from, or
in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of
the Securities Act) and an offer or sale of the Placing Shares
within the United States during this period by any dealer (whether
or not participating in the Placing) may violate the registration
requirements of the Securities Act, if such offer or sale is made
otherwise than pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction
not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities
Act. Terms used in this paragraph have the respective meanings
given to them by Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Right to
terminate under the Placing Agreement
The Brokers and Strand Hanson may, after having
to the extent practicable in the circumstances consulted with the
Company, terminate the Placing and the Placing Agreement at any
time prior to Admission, in accordance with the terms of the
Placing Agreement in certain limited circumstances including, inter
alia, if:
(a) any statement contained in the
Placing documents has, in the opinion of the Brokers and Strand
Hanson (acting reasonably), been discovered to be materially
untrue, incorrect or misleading; or
(b) there has, in the opinion of the
Brokers and Strand Hanson (acting reasonably), been a material
breach of any of the warranties or any other obligations on the
part of the Company under the Placing Agreement which is material
in the context of the Placing.
The Brokers and Strand Hanson may also, after
having to the extent practicable in the circumstances consulted
with the Company, terminate the Placing and the Placing Agreement
at any time prior to Admission, in accordance with the terms of the
Placing Agreement if, at any time prior to Admission inter alia,
there happens, develops or comes into effect:
(a) any occurrence of any kind which (by
itself or together with any other such occurrence) in the
reasonable opinion of the Brokers and Strand Hanson is likely to
materially and adversely affect the market's position or prospects
of the CyanConnode group taken as a whole; or
(b) any other crisis of international or
national effect or any change in any currency exchange rates or
controls or in any financial, political, economic or market
conditions or in market sentiment which, in any such case, in the
reasonable opinion of the Brokers and Strand Hanson is materially
adverse to the Placing.
By participating in the Placing, Placees agree
that the exercise by the Brokers and/or Strand Hanson of any right
of termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement
shall be within the absolute discretion of the Brokers and Strand
Hanson (acting in accordance with the terms of the Placing
Agreement) and that the Brokers need not make any reference to, or
consult with, Placees and that neither the Brokers nor Strand
Hanson shall have any liability to Placees whatsoever in connection
with any such exercise.
No
Prospectus
No offering document or prospectus has been or
will be submitted to be approved by the FCA or any other regulatory
authority or will be submitted to the London Stock Exchange in
relation to the Placing.
Placees' commitments will be made solely on the
basis of the information contained in this Announcement (including
this Appendix) released by the Company today and subject to the
further terms set forth in any contract note to be provided to
individual Placees.
Each Placee, by accepting a participation in
the Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement
(including this Appendix) and all other publicly available
information previously published by the Company by notification to
a Regulatory Information Service is exclusively the responsibility
of the Company and confirms that it has neither received nor relied
on any other information, representation, warranty or statement
made by or on behalf of the Company or the Brokers or Strand Hanson
or any other person and neither the Company nor the Brokers nor
Strand Hanson nor any other person will be liable for any Placee's
decision to participate in the Placing based on any other
information, representation, warranty or statement which the
Placees may have obtained or received. Each Placee acknowledges and
agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business,
financial or other position of the CyanConnode group in accepting a
participation in the Placing. Nothing in this paragraph shall
exclude the liability of any person for fraud or fraudulent
misrepresentation by that person.
Registration
and Settlement
Settlement of the Placing Shares (ISIN:
GB00BF93WP34) following Admission will take place within the system
administered by Euroclear UK & International Limited
("CREST"). Subject to
certain exceptions, the Brokers and the Company reserve the right
to require settlement for, and delivery of, the Placing Shares (or
any part thereof) to Placees by such other means that they deem
necessary if delivery or settlement is not possible or practicable
within the CREST system within the timetable set out in this
Announcement or would not be consistent with the regulatory
requirements in the Placee's jurisdiction.
Each Placee allocated Placing Shares in the
Placing will be sent a trade confirmation in accordance with the
standing arrangements in place with its respective Broker, stating
the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Issue Price,
the aggregate amount owed by such Placee to its respective Broker
and settlement instructions. Each Placee agrees that it will do all
things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed
in accordance with the standing CREST or certificated settlement
instructions in respect of the Placing Shares that it has in place
with its respective Broker.
It is expected that settlement for the Placing
Shares will be on 12 September 2024 in accordance with the
instructions set out in the trade confirmation.
Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does
not comply with these obligations, its respective Broker may sell
any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such
Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for that Placee's
respective Broker's account and benefit, an amount equal to the
aggregate amount owed by the Placee. The relevant Placee will,
however, remain liable for any shortfall below the aggregate amount
owed by it and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty
reserve tax (together with any penalties) or other similar taxes
imposed in any jurisdiction which may arise upon the sale of such
Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a
custodian or settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the trade
confirmation is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant
person within that organisation.
Insofar as Placing Shares are registered in a
Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the name of any person
for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or that of a nominee for
such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below,
be so registered free from any liability to UK stamp duty or stamp
duty reserve tax. If there are any circumstances in which any stamp
duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes or duties
(including any interests and penalties relating thereto) is payable
in respect of the allocation, allotment, issue, sale, transfer or
delivery of the Placing Shares (or, for the avoidance of doubt, if
any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax is payable in connection
with any subsequent transfer of or agreement to transfer Placing
Shares), neither the Brokers nor the Company shall be responsible
for the payment thereof.
Representations, Warranties and Further
Terms
By participating in the Placing each Placee
(and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) irrevocably
acknowledges, confirms, undertakes, represents, warrants and agrees
(as the case may be) with each of the Brokers, Strand Hanson and
the Company, in each case as a fundamental term of its applications
for Placing Shares, the following:
1. that it has read and
understood the Announcement, including this Appendix, in its
entirety and that its acquisition of Placing Shares is subject to
and based upon all the terms, conditions, representations,
warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings and other
information contained herein and undertakes not to redistribute or
duplicate this Announcement (including this Appendix);
2. that no offering document
or prospectus has been or will be prepared in connection with the
Placing and represents and warrants that it has not received and
will not receive a prospectus or other offering document in
connection with the Placing or the Placing Shares or Admission or
otherwise;
3. that the Placing does not
constitute a recommendation or financial product advice and that
the Brokers and Strand Hanson have had no regard to its particular
objectives, financial situation or needs;
4. that none of the Brokers,
Strand Hanson, the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates,
agents, directors, officers or employees has provided, nor will
provide, it with any material regarding the Placing Shares, or the
Company other than this Announcement; nor has it requested any of
the Brokers, Strand Hanson, the Company, any of their respective
affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of them to provide
it with any such information;
5. that the existing Ordinary
Shares are quoted on AIM and that the Company is therefore required
to publish certain business and financial information in accordance
with the rules and practices under the AIM Rules, which includes a
description of the Company's business and the Company's financial
information, including balance sheets and income statements, and
that it is able to obtain or access such information, or comparable
information concerning other publicly traded companies, in each
case without undue difficulty;
6. that the content of this
Announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and
that neither the Brokers nor Strand Hanson, nor their affiliates or
any person acting on behalf of them, has or shall have any
liability for any information, representation or statement
contained in, or omission from, this Announcement or any
information previously published by or on behalf of the Company,
pursuant to applicable laws, and will not be liable for any
Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any
information, representation or statement contained in this
Announcement or otherwise. Each Placee further represents, warrants
and agrees with each of Brokers, Strand Hanson and the Company that
the only information on which it is entitled to rely and on which
such Placee has relied in committing itself to acquire Placing
Shares is contained in this Announcement and any information
previously published by the Company by notification to a Regulatory
Information Service, such information being all that such Placee
deems necessary or appropriate and sufficient to make an investment
decision in respect of the Placing Shares and that it has neither
received nor relied on any other information given, or
representations, warranties or statements made, by the Brokers,
Strand Hanson, or the Company nor any of their respective
affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees and that none
of the Brokers, Strand Hanson or the Company or any such affiliate,
agent, director, officer or employee will be liable for any
Placee's decision to accept an invitation to participate in the
Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or
statement, provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the
liability of any person for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
made by that person;
7. that it may not rely, and
has not relied, on any investigation that the Brokers or Strand
Hanson, or any of their affiliates or any person acting on their
behalf, may have conducted with respect to the Placing Shares or
the Company, and none of such persons has made any representation,
express or implied, with respect to the Company, the Placing
Shares, or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the
information in this Announcement or any other publicly available
information;
8. that it has conducted its
own investigation of the Company and made its own assessment of the
Placing Shares and has received all information it believes
necessary or appropriate in connection with its investment in the
Placing Shares;
9. that it has made its own
assessment and has satisfied itself concerning the relevant tax,
legal, currency and other economic considerations relevant to its
investment in the Placing Shares;
10. that none of the Brokers or Strand
Hanson, or their representative affiliates nor any person acting on
behalf of any of them has or shall have any liability for any
information made publicly available by or in relation to the
Company or any representation, warranty or statement relating to
the Company or the CyanConnode group contained therein or
otherwise, provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the
liability of any person for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
made by that person;
11. that: (i) it is and, at the time the
Placing Shares are subscribed for, will be outside the United
States and subscribing for the Placing Shares in an "offshore
transaction" in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation
S; (ii) if acquiring the Placing Shares for the account of one or
more other persons, it has full power and authority to make the
representations, warranties, agreements, undertakings and
acknowledgements herein on behalf of each such person; (iii) it is
not acquiring the Placing Shares as a result of any "directed
selling efforts" as defined in Regulation S or as a result of any
"general solicitation" or "general advertising" within the meaning
of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D of the Securities Act; and (iv) it
will not publish, distribute or transmit this Announcement or any
other document or information related to the Placing, by any means
or media, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into
or from the United States;
12. that it understands that the Placing
Shares have not been, nor will be, registered under the Securities
Act and the Placing Shares may not be offered, sold, resold or
transferred, directly or indirectly, in or into or from the United
States, except in accordance with Regulation S or pursuant to an
exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the
registration requirements of the Securities Act;
13. that in making any decision to
acquire Placing Shares it: (i) has such knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters to be capable of evaluating the
merits and risks of subscribing for or purchasing the Placing
Shares; (ii) will not look to the Brokers nor Strand Hanson for all
or part of any loss it may suffer as a result of any such
subscription or purchase; (iii) is experienced in investing in
securities of this nature in this sector and is aware that it may
be required to bear, and is able to bear, the economic risk of an
investment in the Placing Shares; (iv) is able to sustain a
complete loss of an investment in the Placing Shares; and (v) has
no need for liquidity with respect to its investment in the Placing
Shares;
14. unless otherwise specifically agreed
with the Brokers, that it is not and at the time the Placing Shares
are subscribed for or acquired, neither it nor the beneficial owner
of the Placing Shares will be, a resident of Australia, Canada,
Japan, South Africa or New Zealand and further acknowledges that
the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under
the securities legislation of Australia, Canada, Japan, South
Africa or New Zealand and, subject to certain exceptions, the
Placing Shares may not be offered, sold, transferred, delivered or
distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into any of those
jurisdictions;
15. represents and warrants that the
issue to it, or the person specified by it for registration as
holder, of Placing Shares, will not give rise to a liability under
any of sections 67, 70, 93 or 96 of the Finance Act 1986
(depositary receipts and clearance services);
16. represents and warrants that it has
complied with its obligations: (i) under the Criminal Justice Act
1993 and UK MAR; (ii) under EU MAR; (iii) in connection with
the laws of all relevant jurisdictions which apply to it and it has
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 2017) and that it is not a person: (a)
with whom transactions are prohibited under the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act 1977 or any economic sanction programmes administered
by, or regulations promulgated by, the Office of Foreign Assets
Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury; (b) named on the
Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets maintained by HM
Treasury of the United Kingdom; or (c) subject to financial
sanctions imposed pursuant to a regulation of the European Union or
a regulation adopted by the United Nations ((i), (ii), (iii), (a)
and (b), together, the "Regulations") and rules and guidance on
anti-money laundering produced by the FCA and, if it is making
payment on behalf of a third party, that satisfactory evidence has
been obtained and recorded by it to verify the identity of the
third party as required by the Regulations; and it is permitted to
subscribe for Placing Shares in accordance with the laws of all
relevant jurisdictions which apply to it and it has 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 2017);
17. that it is acting as principal only
in respect of the Placing or, if it is acting for any other person
it is duly authorised to do so and has full power to make the
acknowledgments, warranties, representations, undertakings, and
agreements herein on behalf of each such person;
18. if a financial intermediary, as that
term is used in Article 5(1) of the Prospectus Regulation and
Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, that the Placing
Shares subscribed for or acquired by it in the Placing will not be
subscribed for or acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf
of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale
to, persons in a Member State of the EEA other than Qualified
Investors or persons in the United Kingdom other than Relevant
Persons, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the
Brokers has been given to the offer or resale;
19. that it has not offered or sold and
will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the United
Kingdom, except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them
in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as
principal or agent) for the purposes of their business or otherwise
in circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result
in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning
of section 85(1) of the FSMA;
20. that it has not offered or sold and
will not, prior to Admission, offer or sell any Placing Shares to
persons in the EEA except to persons whose ordinary activities
involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of
investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their
business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted in
and which will not result in an offer to the public (within the
meaning of the Prospectus Regulation) in any member state of the
EEA;
21. that it has only communicated or
caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be
communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment
activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) relating to
the Placing Shares in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the
FSMA does not require approval of the communication by an
authorised person;
22. that it has complied and will comply
with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything
done by it in relation to the Placing Shares in, from or otherwise
involving the United Kingdom;
23. that, if in a member state of the
EEA, unless otherwise specifically agreed with its respective
Broker in writing, it is a "Qualified Investor";
24. that, if in the United Kingdom, it is
a Relevant Person;
25. that no action has been or will be
taken by any of the Company, the Brokers, or any person acting on
behalf of the Company or the Brokers that would, or is intended to,
permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in any country or
jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is
required;
26. that it and any person acting on its
behalf is entitled to acquire the Placing Shares under the laws of
all relevant jurisdictions and that it has fully observed such laws
and obtained all such governmental and other guarantees, permits,
authorisations, approvals and consents which may be required
thereunder and complied with all necessary formalities to enable it
to commit to this participation in the Placing and to perform its
obligations in relation thereto (including, without limitation, in
the case of any person on whose behalf it is acting, all necessary
consents and authorities to agree to the terms set out or referred
to in this Appendix) and will honour such obligations and that, to
the best of its knowledge and belief it has not taken any action or
omitted to take any action which will or may result in the Brokers,
the Company or any of their respective directors, officers, agents,
employees or advisers acting in breach of the legal or regulatory
requirements of any jurisdiction in connection with the
Placing;
27. that it (and any person acting on its
behalf) will make or procure payment in respect of the Placing
Shares allocated to it in accordance with this Appendix on the due
time and date set out herein, failing which the relevant Placing
Shares may be placed with other acquirers or sold as the Brokers
may in their joint discretion determine (in agreement with the
Company) and without liability to such Placee, who will remain
liable for any amount by which the net proceeds of such sale fall
short of the product of the relevant Issue Price and the number of
Placing Shares allocated to it and may be required to bear any
stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes (together
with any penalties) which may arise upon such placing or sale of
such Placee's Placing Shares;
28. that neither Broker, nor any of their
affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees are making any
recommendations to it or advising it regarding the suitability of
any transactions it may enter into in connection with the Placing
and that its participation in the Placing is on the basis that it
is not and will not be a client of the Brokers in connection with
its participation in the Placing and that the Brokers have no duty
nor responsibility to it for providing the protections afforded to
its clients or customers or for providing advice in relation to the
Placing nor in respect of any representations, warranties,
undertakings or indemnities contained in the Placing Agreement nor
for the exercise or performance of any of their respective rights
and obligations thereunder including any rights to waive or vary
any conditions or exercise any termination right;
29. that the person whom it specifies for
registration as holder of the Placing Shares will be: (i) itself;
or (ii) its nominee, as the case may be. Neither the Brokers nor
the Company will be responsible for any liability to stamp duty or
stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes resulting from a
failure to observe this requirement;
30. that these terms and conditions and
any agreements entered into by it pursuant to the terms and
conditions set out in this Appendix, and all non-contractual or
other obligations arising out of or in connection with them, shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England
and Wales and it submits (on behalf of itself and on behalf of any
person on whose behalf it is acting) to the exclusive jurisdiction
of the English courts as regards any claim, dispute or matter
arising out of any such contract (including an dispute regarding
the existence, validity or termination of such contract or relating
to any non-contractual or other obligation arising out of or in
connection with such contract), except that enforcement proceedings
in respect of the obligation to make or procure payment for the
Placing Shares may be taken by the Company and/or the Brokers in
any jurisdiction in which the relevant Placee is incorporated or in
which any of its securities have a quotation on a recognised stock
exchange;
31. except as set out in paragraph 32
below, represents and warrants that it has neither received nor
relied on any 'inside information' (for the purposes of UK MAR and
section 56 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993) concerning the Company
prior to or in connection with accepting the invitation to
participate in the Placing and is not purchasing Placing Shares on
the basis of material non-public information;
32. if it has received any 'inside
information' (for the purposes of UK MAR and section 56 of the
Criminal Justice Act 1993) in relation to the Company and its
securities, confirms that it has received such information within
the market soundings regime provided for in article 11 of UK MAR
and associated delegated regulations and it has not: (i) dealt (or
attempted to deal) in the securities of the Company; (ii)
encouraged, recommended or induced another person to deal in the
securities of the Company; or (iii) unlawfully disclosed inside
information to any person, prior to the information being made
publicly available;
33. that its purchase of Placing Shares
is in full compliance with applicable laws and
regulations;
34. that the Company, the Brokers, Strand
Hanson and their respective affiliates and others will rely upon
the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations,
warranties, acknowledgements, agreements, and undertakings which
are given to the Brokers on its own behalf and Strand Hanson on its
own behalf and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable and it
irrevocably authorises the Company, the Brokers and Strand Hanson
to produce this Announcement, pursuant to, in connection with, or
as may be required by any applicable law or regulation,
administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect
to the matters set forth herein;
35. that neither the Company nor the
Brokers nor Strand Hanson owes any fiduciary or other duties to any
Placee in respect of any acknowledgments, confirmations,
undertakings, representations, warranties or indemnities in the
Placing Agreement;
36. that its commitment to take up
Placing Shares on the terms set out in this Announcement (including
this Appendix) will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may
now or in the future be made to the terms and conditions of the
Placing and that Placees will have no right to be consulted or
require that their consent be obtained with respect to the Company
or the Brokers' conduct of the Placing;
37. that time shall be of the essence as
regards to its obligations pursuant to this Appendix;
and
38. that, to the fullest extent
permissible by law, it acknowledges and agrees to the disclaimers
contained in the Announcement, including this Appendix.
The foregoing representations, warranties,
agreements, undertakings, acknowledgements and confirmations are
given for the benefit of the Company as well as each of the Brokers
and Strand Hanson and are irrevocable.
The agreement to allot and issue Placing Shares
to Placees (and/or to persons for whom such Placee is contracting
as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax relates
only to their allotment and issue to Placees, or such persons as
they nominate as their agents, direct from the Company for the
Placing Shares in question. Such agreement also assumes that the
Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with
arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to issue or transfer
the Placing Shares into a clearance service. If there are any such
arrangements, or the settlement relates to any other dealing in the
Placing Shares, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other
similar taxes may be payable, for which neither the Company nor the
Brokers will be responsible and the Placees shall indemnify the
Company and the Brokers on an after-tax basis for any stamp duty or
stamp duty reserve tax paid by them in respect of any such
arrangements or dealings. If this is the case, each Placee should
seek its own advice and notify the Brokers accordingly. Placees are
advised to consult with their own advisers regarding the tax
aspects of their subscription for Placing Shares.
Neither the Company nor the Brokers are liable
to bear any transfer taxes that arise on a sale of Placing Shares
subsequent to their acquisition by Placees or for transfer taxes
arising otherwise than under the laws of the United Kingdom. Each
Placee should, therefore, take its own advice as to whether any
such transfer tax liability arises and notify its respective Broker
accordingly. Furthermore, each Placee agrees to indemnify on an
after-tax basis and hold the Brokers and the Company and their
respective affiliates harmless from any and all interest, fines or
penalties in relation to stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax and all
other similar duties or taxes to the extent that such interest,
fines or penalties arise from the default or delay of that Placee
or its agent.
In addition, Placees should note that they will
be liable for any stamp duty and all other stamp, issue,
securities, transfer, registration, documentary or other duties or
taxes (including any interest, fines or penalties relating thereto)
payable outside the UK by them or any other person on the
acquisition by them of any Placing Shares or the agreement by them
to acquire any Placing Shares.
Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of
the Placee acknowledges and agrees that the Brokers and any of
their affiliates may, at their absolute discretion, agree to become
a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing
Shares.
When a Placee or person acting on behalf of the
Placee is dealing with the Brokers, any money held in an account
with either of the Brokers on behalf of the Placee and/or any
person acting on behalf of the Placee will not be treated as client
money within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the FCA
made under the FSMA. The Placee acknowledges that the money will
not be subject to the protections conferred by the client money
rules; as a consequence, this money will not be segregated from the
Brokers' money in accordance with the client money rules and will
be used by Brokers in the course of their own businesses and the
Placee will rank only as a general creditor of the
Brokers.
All times and dates in this Announcement may be
subject to amendment. The Brokers shall notify the Placees and any
person acting on behalf of the Placees of any changes.