TIDMLTG TIDMNETD
RNS Number : 0320W
Learning Technologies Group PLC
03 February 2017
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED TO
CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE
MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE
IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES,
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD
CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH
JURISDICTION.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3 February 2017
PROPOSED RECOMMED CASH OFFER
by
LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES GROUP PLC
for
NETDIMENSIONS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
The board of Directors of Learning Technologies Group plc
("LTG"), the integrated e-learning services and technologies
provider, is pleased to announce that it has reached agreement with
the board of NetDimensions (Holdings) Limited ("NetDimensions"),
the integrated enterprise talent management software platform
provider, on the terms of a proposed recommended all cash offer for
the entire issued and to be issued share capital of NetDimensions
("Offer").
Highlights
-- Under the terms of the Offer, NetDimensions Shareholders will be entitled to receive:
for each NetDimensions Share 100 pence in cash ("Offer Price")
-- The Offer Price represents a premium of approximately:
o 27.4 per cent. to the Closing Price of 78.5 pence per
NetDimensions Share on the Latest Practicable Date;
o 118.6 per cent. to the Closing Price of 45.75 pence per
NetDimensions Share on 4 October 2016, being the last Business Day
prior to the announcement by NetDimensions of an unsolicited
approach regarding a potential transaction; and
o 29.9 per cent. to the volume weighted average Closing Price of
77 pence per NetDimensions Share for the 30 trading days ended on
the Latest Practicable Date.
-- The entitlement to receive the Offer Price under the terms of the Offer values the Offer at approximately GBP53.6 million (on a fully diluted basis assuming a cash buy-out or cashless exercise of the outstanding "in the money" options over NetDimensions Shares).
-- LTG has received irrevocable undertakings to accept, or
procure acceptance, of the Offer from those NetDimensions Directors
who are also NetDimensions Shareholders (together with the trustees
of trusts in which they have an interest and certain members of
their families), in respect of a total of 8,964,027 NetDimensions
Shares, representing approximately 17.48 per cent. of
NetDimensions' issued share capital on the Latest Practicable Date.
These undertakings demonstrate the strength of the commitment to
and support for the Offer of those NetDimensions Directors (in
their capacity as NetDimensions Shareholders) in light of the
premium referred to above.
-- In addition, irrevocable undertakings to accept, or procure
acceptance, of the Offer have also been received by LTG from
certain NetDimensions Shareholders as set out in Appendix III to
this Announcement in respect of 20,027,480 NetDimensions Shares in
aggregate, representing approximately 39.06 per cent. of
NetDimensions' issued share capital on the Latest Practicable Date.
These undertakings will cease to be binding in circumstances where
the Offer is not made to NetDimensions Shareholders by 5.00 p.m. on
21 February 2017 or if a third party announces a competing offer to
acquire the entire issued share capital of NetDimensions which is
at a price equal to or greater than 110 pence per NetDimensions
Share.
-- Accordingly, LTG has received irrevocable undertakings to
accept, or procure acceptance of, the Offer in respect of a total
of 28,991,507 NetDimensions Shares representing, in aggregate,
approximately 56.54 per cent. of NetDimensions' issued share
capital on the Latest Practicable Date.
-- LTG is also pleased to announce a proposed placing to raise
approximately GBP46.5 million by way of a conditional placing of up
to 124,000,000 Placing Shares at a price of 37.5 pence per ordinary
share with existing and new institutional investors and certain
Directors. The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing,
assuming that it is fully subscribed, will represent approximately
22.74 per cent. of LTG's enlarged issued share capital on the
Latest Practicable Date.
-- The Offer is conditional upon completion of the Placing, with
the balance of the Offer to be funded by a GBP5 million facility
from LTG's Chairman Andrew Brode and the remainder by a GBP3.5
million overdraft from Barclays Bank PLC. The Offer is also
conditional upon the consent of Barclays Bank PLC and, inter alia,
LTG not being in breach of its existing banking facilities with
Barclays Bank PLC.
-- LTG will today post an explanatory circular to its
Shareholders in relation to the Placing which includes a Notice of
General Meeting for a General Meeting to be held on 20 February
2017 at which the Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if
thought fit, approve the Resolutions that will grant the Directors
the authority to allot the Placing Shares and the power to disapply
pre-emption rights with respect to the Placing.
-- The Directors believe that the Placing and the passing of the
Resolutions are in the best interests of LTG and its Shareholders,
taken as a whole. Accordingly, the Directors unanimously recommend
that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions, having
irrevocably undertaken to do so in respect of their own holdings of
LTG ordinary shares, totalling 240,816,383 LTG ordinary shares,
being approximately 57.15 per cent. of LTG's existing issued share
capital.
-- The making of the Offer by LTG remains subject to Shareholder
approval of the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting
(which relate to granting the Directors the authority to allot the
Placing Shares and the power to disapply pre-emption rights with
respect to the Placing as opposed to approving the Offer).
Approvals and timetable
-- The Offer is subject to a number of Conditions, further
details of which are set out in Appendix I to this
announcement.
-- The Offer is proposed to be implemented by means of a
Takeover Offer. LTG reserves the right to implement the Offer by
way of a Scheme or a by way of a Merger.
-- The Offer is expected to complete within two months of the
date of this announcement subject to the Conditions being
satisfied. An indicative timetable of key dates is set out in this
announcement.
-- Subject to the passing of the Resolutions, it is expected
that the Offer Document will be posted to NetDimensions
Shareholders on 21 February 2017.
Commenting on the Offer, Andrew Brode, Chairman of LTG,
said:
"Since LTG's inception in 2013, the board of Directors'
strategic aim has been to build a dynamic portfolio of
complementary businesses and an international e-learning business
of scale. We have made great strides towards achieving this
ambition, whilst consistently delivering significant earnings
growth both organically and through selective acquisition. Most
recently, the LTG Group announced that it had achieved strong cash
generation and profit ahead of market expectations in the year
ended 31 December 2016, as well as significant growth in the
overall percentage of recurring revenues, and that it had entered
2017 with significant momentum.
Given the management's proven track record of creating value
through acquisition, the board of Directors is confident that the
Offer for NetDimensions represents another opportunity for us to
generate significant additional value for new and existing
shareholders, at the same time as enhancing the range and scope of
LTG's services across the globe."
Commenting on the Offer, Graham Higgins, Chairman of
NetDimensions, said:
"The board of NetDimensions is very pleased to have reached
agreement on the terms of a proposed recommended cash offer by LTG,
a business we know well, having collaborated on customer
assignments with them in the past. The Offer, once made, will
present an opportunity to crystallise value and provide liquidity
for our shareholders as a whole."
This summary should be read in conjunction with and is subject
to the full text of the attached announcement (including the
Appendices). The Offer will be subject to the Conditions and
further terms set out in Appendix I to this announcement and the
terms and conditions which will be set out in the Offer Document,
when issued.
The sources and bases of information contained in this
announcement are set out in Appendix II to this announcement and
the definitions of certain expressions used in this announcement
are set out in Appendix IV to this announcement.
Enquiries
Learning Technologies Group plc +44 (0)20 7402 1554
Andrew Brode, Chairman
Jonathan Satchell, Chief Executive Officer
Canaccord Genuity, Financial Adviser to LTG +44 (0)20 7665
4500
Simon Bridges
Numis Securities, Nominated Adviser and Broker to LTG +44 (0)20
7260 1000
Stuart Skinner / Michael Wharton (Nominated Adviser)
Ben Stoop (Corporate Broker)
Hudson Sandler Limited, PR Adviser to LTG +44 (0)20 7796
4133
Andrew Hayes / Cat Valentine / Bertie Berger
NetDimensions (Holdings) Limited +852 2122 4500
Graham Higgins, Chairman
Jay Shaw, Chief Executive Officer
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited, Financial Adviser, +44 (0)20 7886
2500
Nominated Adviser and Broker to NetDimensions
Andrew Godber / Peter Steel / James Greenwood / William Wickham
(Corporate Finance)
Erik Anderson (Corporate Broking)
Walbrook PR Limited, PR Adviser to NetDimensions + 44 (0)20 7933
8780
Paul Cornelius / Sam Allen / Nick Rome
netdimensions@walbrookpr.com
Further information
This announcement is for information purposes only and does not
constitute, or form part of, any offer for or invitation to sell or
purchase any securities, or any solicitation of any offer for,
securities in any jurisdiction. This announcement does not
constitute a prospectus or a prospectus equivalent document. The
Offer, if made, will be made solely pursuant to the Offer Document
(or, if the Offer is implemented by means of a Scheme or a Merger,
the Scheme Document or the Merger Document, as the case may be)
which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Offer,
including details of how to accept the Offer. NetDimensions
Shareholders are advised to read the formal documentation in
relation to the Offer carefully once it has been despatched.
Placing
Members of the general public are not eligible to take part in
the Placing. This announcement and any offer of securities to which
it relates are only addressed to and directed at persons who (i)
have professional experience in matters relating to investments who
fall within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act
2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) ("Order"); or
(ii) fall within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order or (iii) are
persons to whom an offer of the Placing Shares may otherwise
lawfully be made (all such persons together being referred to as
"Relevant Persons"). The information regarding the Placing set out
in this announcement must not be acted on or relied on by persons
who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity
to which this announcement relates is available only to Relevant
Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons.
This announcement (including the Appendices) does not constitute
or form part of any offer or any solicitation to purchase or
subscribe for securities in the United States. The Placing Shares
have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities
Act of 1933, as amended ("US Securities Act"), or under the
securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United
States, and, absent registration, may not be offered or sold in the
United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the US
Securities Act and the securities laws of any relevant state or
other jurisdiction of the United States. There will be no public
offering of the Placing Shares in the United States or
elsewhere.
The Placing Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the
US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities
commission or other regulatory authority in the United States, nor
have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the
merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of this
announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offence in the United States.
No prospectus or offering document has been or will be prepared
in connection with the Placing. Any investment decision to buy
securities in the Placing must be made solely on the basis of
publicly available information. Such information is not the
responsibility of and has not been independently verified by LTG,
Canaccord Genuity, Numis Securities or any of their agents or
affiliates.
The distribution of this announcement and the offering or sale
of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by
law. No action has been taken by LTG, Canaccord Genuity, Numis
Securities or their agents or affiliates that would, or which is
intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in any
jurisdiction or possession or distribution of this announcement or
any other offering or publicity material relating to the Placing
Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is
required. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are
required by LTG, Canaccord Genuity, Numis Securities to inform
themselves about and to observe any applicable restrictions.
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 LTG, Canaccord Genuity, Numis Securities
or by their 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. However, nothing in this announcement shall
be effective to limit or exclude liability for fraud or which
otherwise, by law or regulation, cannot be so limited or
excluded.
Overseas jurisdictions
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in
jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by
law and, therefore, any persons who are subject to the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves
about, and observe, any applicable requirements. Failure to comply
with any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the
securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement has
been prepared to comply with the requirements of the laws of
England and the Cayman Islands, the AIM Rules and the rules of the
London Stock Exchange and information disclosed may not be the same
as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had
been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside
England.
The Offer will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into,
and will not be capable of acceptance in or from, Canada, Australia
or Japan. In addition it is not currently intended that the Offer
will be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of
mails or any means or instrumentality (including, without
limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone or internet) of
interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national
securities exchange of, the United States and it is not currently
intended that the Offer will be capable of acceptance by any such
use, means, instrumentality or facility or from within the United
States. Accordingly, copies of this announcement are not being, and
must not be, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in
or into or from the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.
Custodians, nominees and trustees should observe these restrictions
and should not send or distribute the document in or into the
United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.
Important notices
Canaccord Genuity, which is authorised and regulated in the UK
by the FCA, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to LTG in
relation to the Transaction and no-one else and will not be
responsible to anyone other than LTG for providing the protections
offered to clients of Canaccord Genuity nor for providing advice in
relation to the Transaction or the contents of this announcement,
or any matter referred to herein.
Numis Securities, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by
the FCA, is acting exclusively as nominated adviser and broker to
LTG and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than LTG
for providing the protections afforded to clients of Numis
Securities nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set
out in this announcement, the contents of this announcement, or any
matter referred to herein.
The LTG Directors accept responsibility for the information
contained in this announcement, other than the information for
which responsibility is taken by the NetDimensions Directors
pursuant to the paragraph immediately below. To the best of the
knowledge and belief of the LTG Directors (who have taken all
reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information
contained in this announcement for which they accept responsibility
is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely
to affect the import of such information.
The NetDimensions Directors accept responsibility for the
information contained in this announcement relating to the
NetDimensions Group, themselves, their respective immediate
families, related trusts and connected persons and the
recommendations and opinions of the NetDimensions Directors
relating to the Offer contained in paragraph 5 (Information on
NetDimensions) of this announcement. To the best of the knowledge
and belief of the NetDimensions Directors (who have taken all
reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information
contained in this announcement for which they accept responsibility
is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely
to affect the import of such information.
Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains a number of forward-looking
statements relating to the LTG Group and the NetDimensions Group
with respect to, among other matters, the following: financial
condition; results of operations; the respective businesses of the
LTG Group and the NetDimensions Group; the economic conditions in
which the LTG Group and the NetDimensions Group operate; benefits
of the Transaction and management plans and objectives including
future capital expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic
performance, indebtedness, losses and future prospects and effects
of government regulations. LTG and NetDimensions consider any
statements that are not historical facts to be "forward-looking
statements". Without limitation, any statements preceded or
followed by or that include the words "targets", "plans",
"believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may",
"anticipates", "estimates", "projects" or words or terms of similar
substance or the negative thereof, identify forward looking
statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number
of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those suggested by them. Due to such risks
and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on such forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
financial performance. Such forward looking statements involve
known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could significantly
affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions.
Many factors could cause actual results, performance or
achievements to differ materially from those projected or implied
in any forward looking statements. Due to such uncertainties and
risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
announcement.
Neither LTG nor any member of the LTG Group, nor NetDimensions
nor any member of the NetDimensions Group, nor any of their
respective members, associates, directors, officers, employees,
advisers or persons acting on their behalf, provides any
representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the
events expressed or implied in any forward looking statements in
this announcement will actually occur.
Other than in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory
obligation, neither LTG nor any member of the LTG Group, nor
NetDimensions nor any member of the NetDimensions Group nor any of
their respective members, associates, directors, officers,
employees, advisers or persons acting on their behalf, is under any
obligation and each of them expressly disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or
other statements contained herein, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
applicable law.
Except as expressly provided in this announcement, no forward
looking or other statements have been reviewed by the auditors of
LTG or NetDimensions. All subsequent oral or written forward
looking statements attributable to LTG or NetDimensions, any member
of the LTG Group or the NetDimensions Group or any of their
respective members, associates, directors, officers, employees,
advisers or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly
qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above.
No profit forecast
Any statements in this announcement regarding the benefits of
the Transaction are not and do not constitute a profit forecast for
any period, nor should any statements be interpreted to mean that
earnings or earnings per share will necessarily be greater or
lesser than the historical published earnings per share of LTG or
NetDimensions as appropriate.
Application of the City Code
By virtue of its status as a company incorporated in the Cayman
Islands, the City Code does not apply to NetDimensions.
NetDimensions Shareholders are reminded that whilst the
NetDimensions Articles reflect certain provisions of the City Code,
the provisions do not provide shareholders with the full
protections offered by the City Code, the Panel does not have
responsibility for ensuring compliance with such provisions and the
Panel is not able to answer shareholders queries in relation to
NetDimensions.
Number of NetDimensions securities in issue
NetDimensions confirms that, as at the date of this
announcement, it has 51,273,865 ordinary shares, or NetDimensions
Depositary Interests representing ordinary shares, of $0.001 each
in issue and admitted to trading on AIM under ISIN reference
KYG6427F1019. The NetDimensions Depositary Interests trade under
the same ISIN reference.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this announcement have been
subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for
the same category presented in different places in this
announcement may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in
certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures
that precede them.
Contents of this announcement
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement
or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own
independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker,
bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial
adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000 (as amended) if you are resident in the United Kingdom,
or, if not, from another appropriately authorised independent
financial adviser.
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED TO
CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE
MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE
IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES,
AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN OR ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD
CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH
JURISDICTION.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3 February 2017
PROPOSED RECOMMED CASH OFFER
by
LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES GROUP PLC
for
NETDIMENSIONS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
1. Introduction
The board of Directors of Learning Technologies Group plc
("LTG"), the integrated e-learning services and technologies
provider, is pleased to announce that it has reached agreement with
the board of NetDimensions (Holdings) Limited ("NetDimensions"),
the integrated enterprise talent management software platform
provider, on the terms of a proposed recommended all cash offer for
the entire issued and to be issued share capital of NetDimensions
("Offer").
The sources and bases of information contained in this
announcement are set out in Appendix II to this announcement and
the definitions of certain expressions used in this announcement
are set out in Appendix IV to this announcement.
2. The Offer
Under the terms of the Offer, NetDimensions Shareholders will be
entitled to receive:
for each NetDimensions Share 100 pence in cash ("Offer Price")
The Offer Price represents a premium of approximately:
-- 27.4 per cent. to the Closing Price of 78.5 pence per
NetDimensions Share on the Latest Practicable Date;
-- 118.6 per cent. to the Closing Price of 45.75 pence per
NetDimensions Share on 4 October 2016, being the last Business Day
prior to the announcement by NetDimensions of an unsolicited
approach regarding a potential transaction; and
-- 29.9 per cent. to the volume weighted average Closing Price
of 77 pence per NetDimensions Share for the 30 trading days ended
on the Latest Practicable Date.
The entitlement to receive the Offer Price under the terms of
the Offer values the Offer at approximately GBP53.6 million (on a
fully diluted basis assuming a cash buy-out or cashless exercise of
the outstanding "in the money" options over NetDimensions
Shares).
The Offer is conditional upon completion of the Placing, with
the balance of the Offer to be funded by a GBP5 million facility
from LTG's Chairman Andrew Brode and the remainder by a GBP3.5
million overdraft from Barclays Bank PLC. The Offer is also
conditional upon the consent of Barclays Bank PLC and, inter alia,
LTG not being in breach of its existing banking facilities with
Barclays Bank PLC.
3. Background to and reasons for the Offer
LTG believes that NetDimensions is a strong strategic fit and
that NetDimensions' track record and high levels of client service
will be complementary to LTG's existing platforms and provide
numerous operational and financial benefits. LTG anticipates
delivering run-rate EBITDA margin of at least 30 per cent. on
NetDimensions' revenue by the end of 2017 which will make the
acquisition significantly earnings accretive in the 2018 financial
year.
LTG believes that the Offer represents an attractive opportunity
to:
-- complete the range of capabilities required for a full service offering;
-- expand its geographic reach, particularly in the Asia Pacific region;
-- deepen its expertise in highly regulated sectors such as
financial services, defence and security and government and support
ambition in the pharma/health, energy and aviation sectors;
-- extend its partner-base;
-- achieve savings of approximately $8 million per annum (before
tax) across the combined businesses from, inter alia, synergies,
elimination of duplicate listing costs, greater buying power,
reduction in sales and marketing costs and improved utilisation of
chargeable staff. Non recurring costs of up to $1 million will be
incurred in 2017 to deliver these benefits; and
-- take the LTG Group to a more than GBP50 million revenue
business with approximately 44 per cent. recurring revenue on a pro
forma basis.
4. Information on LTG
LTG was listed on AIM in 2013 to provide a comprehensive and
integrated range of e-learning services and technologies to
corporate and government clients. LTG's businesses are at the
forefront of innovation and best-practice in the learning
technology sector, and have received numerous awards for their
performance. LTG has grown organically through gains in market
share and sector growth, augmented with acquisition of
complementary businesses. The ambition is to grow through strategic
acquisition and diversification, with the objective of providing a
truly exceptional portfolio of services and products for our
existing and new clients across the globe.
5. Information on NetDimensions
NetDimensions was established in 1999 and is a global enterprise
solutions provider of talent and learning management systems.
NetDimensions provides companies, government agencies, and other
organisations with talent management solutions to personalise
learning, share knowledge, enhance performance, foster
collaboration, and manage compliance programs for employees,
customers, partners, and suppliers. Inherent capabilities of
NetDimensions' integrated Talent Suite provide organisations with
solutions for mobile learning, social collaboration, compliance and
extended enterprise management.
6. Irrevocable undertakings
In aggregate, LTG has received irrevocable undertakings to
accept or procure acceptance of the Offer in respect of a total of
28,991,507 NetDimensions Shares, representing 56.54 per cent. of
NetDimensions' entire issued share capital at the Latest
Practicable Date.
LTG has received irrevocable undertakings to accept the Offer
from the NetDimensions Directors who hold NetDimensions Shares
(together with the trustees of trusts in which they have an
interest and certain members of their families) in respect of their
entire beneficial holdings of NetDimensions Shares amounting to a
total of 8,964,027 NetDimensions Shares (as set out in Appendix III
to this announcement) representing approximately 17.48 per cent. of
NetDimensions' entire issued share capital at the Latest
Practicable Date. These undertakings demonstrate the strength of
the commitment to and support for the Offer of those NetDimensions
Directors (in their capacity as NetDimensions Shareholders).
Each of the above irrevocable undertakings has been entered into
by the relevant NetDimensions Director only as a shareholder of
NetDimensions and not in their capacity as a director; nothing
contained in the undertakings requires any of the relevant
NetDimensions Directors to take or not to take any decision or
action in their capacity as a NetDimensions Director.
LTG has also received irrevocable undertakings to accept the
Offer from certain NetDimensions Shareholders in respect of their
entire beneficial holdings of NetDimensions Shares amounting to a
total of 20,027,480 NetDimensions Shares (as set out in Appendix
III to this announcement) representing approximately 39.06 per
cent. of NetDimensions' entire issued share capital at the Latest
Practicable Date.
The above irrevocable undertakings will cease to be binding
if:
-- the Offer is not made to NetDimensions Shareholders by 5.00
p.m. on 21 February 2017, unless otherwise agreed; or
-- the Offer, having been announced, lapses or is withdrawn.
Furthermore, the irrevocable commitment given by certain
NetDimensions Shareholders (as set out in Appendix III to this
announcement) will also cease to be binding in the event that a
third party announces a competing offer to acquire the entire
issued share capital of NetDimensions which is at a price equal to
or greater than 110 pence per NetDimensions Share.
Further details of these irrevocable undertakings are set out in
Appendix III to this announcement.
7. Financing
The terms of the Offer value the Offer at approximately GBP53.6
million (on a fully diluted basis assuming a cash buy-out or
cashless exercise of the outstanding "in the money" options over
NetDimensions Shares) which LTG expects to fund through a
combination of the following:
-- the use of the net proceeds of the Placing, being approximately GBP45.1 million;
-- drawdown under a new GBP5 million debt facility with Barclays
Bank PLC ("New Debt Facility"), the arrangement and terms of which
are expected to be finalised prior to the Offer becoming or being
declared unconditional in all respects. In the interim, and in the
event that such New Debt Facility is not forthcoming in the time
available (or at all), Andrew Brode has extended a subordinated
unsecured loan facility of GBP5 million to LTG on the terms
described below ("AB Facility"); and
-- the drawdown under an on demand overdraft facility of up to
GBP3.5 million to be provided by Barclays Bank PLC ("Overdraft"),
further details of which are set out below.
As required under the terms of LTG's existing loan agreement
with Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Bank PLC has consented to the
Company entering into the AB Facility (and the drawdown of funds
under such facility) and, subject to the satisfaction of certain
conditions prior to completion (including LTG not being in breach
of its existing loan agreement with Barclays Bank PLC), the
proposed acquisition of NetDimensions.
Placing
LTG has today, through its broker, Numis Securities,
conditionally raised GBP46.5 million through a placing of new
ordinary shares of LTG with new and existing institutional
investors. Under the conditional placing, LTG is expected to issue
124,000,000 new ordinary shares of 0.375 pence each ("Placing
Shares") at an issue price of 37.5 pence per Placing Share
("Placing").
The Placing is supported by existing and new institutional
investors and is being carried out for the purposes of partially
funding the Offer.
Assuming the Offer is made, the contractual obligations of the
placees in the Placing ("Placees") will be conditional upon the
placing agreement entered into between Numis Securities and LTG
("Placing Agreement") becoming unconditional in all respects by
8.00 a.m. on 30 March 2017 (or such later time and/or date as may
be agreed by Numis Securities, being not later than 8.00 a.m. on
the Longstop Date) and not having been terminated prior to
Admission.
The Placing Agreement is conditional, among other things, on the
Offer, having been made, becoming or being declared unconditional
in all respects (save for the admission of the Placing Shares). If
the Offer, having been made, does not become or is not declared
unconditional in all respects (save for Admission of the Placing
Shares), the Placing will not proceed.
The Placing Shares, when issued and fully paid, will be
identical to, and rank in full with, the existing ordinary shares
in LTG for all dividends or other distributions declared, made or
paid after Admission and will rank pari passu in all respects with
the existing ordinary shares. No temporary documents of title will
be issued.
The Placing Agreement is also conditional on the passing of
Resolutions to be put to shareholders at the General Meeting to
give effect to the Placing (being resolutions to disapply
pre-emption rights in respect of the Placing and to convey
authority for the Directors to allot the Placing Shares), LTG
entering into the AB Facility (and related subordination
agreement), the Overdraft and admission of the Placing Shares to
trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Other conditions to the Placing Agreement include:
-- the delivery by LTG of certain customary documents and letters;
-- LTG having complied with its obligations under the Placing
Agreement to the extent that the same fall to be performed prior to
Admission; and
-- the warranties contained in the Placing Agreement being true
and accurate and not misleading at all times before and on
Admission.
The Placing is not being underwritten. However, binding placing
commitments have been entered into with the Placees, pursuant to
which they have conditionally agreed to take up their allocation of
Placing Shares.
Numis Securities, in its absolute discretion, also has the right
to terminate its obligations under the Placing Agreement if, among
other things, at any time on or prior to Admission, any of the
following circumstances arise:
-- there has been a breach of the warranties, representations or
other obligations of LTG contained in the Placing Agreement;
-- in the opinion of Numis Securities, there shall have been any
development or event which will or is likely to have a material
adverse effect on the condition (financial, operation, legal or
otherwise), prospects, management, business affairs or financial
position of the LTG Group (inclusive of NetDimensions), taken as a
whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business;
and
-- for certain events of force majeure.
LTG will today post an explanatory circular to its Shareholders
in relation to the Placing which includes a Notice of General
Meeting for a General Meeting to be held on 20 February 2017 at
which the Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought
fit, approve the Resolutions that will grant the Directors the
authority to allot the Placing Shares and the power to disapply
pre-emption rights with respect to the Placing.
The Directors believe that the Placing and the passing of the
Resolutions are in the best interests of LTG and its Shareholders,
taken as a whole. Accordingly, the Directors unanimously recommend
that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions, having
irrevocably undertaken to do so in respect of their own holdings of
LTG ordinary shares, totalling 240,816,383 LTG ordinary shares,
being approximately 57.15 per cent. of LTG's existing issued share
capital.
AB Facility
Utilisation of the AB Facility is conditional, among other
things, upon the Offer becoming or being declared unconditional in
all respects, a subordination agreement having been entered into
with Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Bank PLC having given its
consent to LTG's drawdown under the AB Facility. The terms of the
AB Facility include, among other things: (i) a facility of up to
GBP5 million available for drawdown within 6 months; (ii) repayable
in a single repayment within 1 month from the final instalment of
LTG's existing loan facility from Barclays Bank PLC or the
termination of such facility if earlier ("Termination Date") or
earlier at the discretion of LTG; (iii) interest will be accrued at
a fixed rate of 8 per cent. per annum and paid in full on the
Termination Date; (iv) a commitment fee of 2 per cent. per annum of
any undrawn balance paid in full on the Termination Date; and (v)
an arrangement fee of 1.5 per cent of the total facility to be paid
on entering into the AB Facility. If the Offer, having been made,
does not become or is not declared unconditional in all respects,
LTG will not have use of the AB Facility for any purpose.
Overdraft
Barclays Bank PLC has given credit approval to an on demand
overdraft facility of up to GBP3.5 million which (subject to
definitive documents being entered into) will be available for
drawdown by LTG before the Offer becomes or is declared
unconditional and which the Directors intend to repay from the cash
reserves of the Enlarged Group following completion of the
Offer.
8. Directors' proposed participation in the Placing
The following Directors have confirmed that they support the
Placing and they have agreed to participate in the Placing and
subscribe for the following number of Placing Shares:
Director Number of Value of Total ordinary Percentage
Placing Placing shares of of LTG's
Shares Shares LTG following enlarged
at the Placing issued share
Placing capital
Price (GBP) (assuming
that the
Placing
is fully
subscribed)
Andrew Brode 2,666,666 1,000,000 115,881,671 21.25%
Harry Hill 140,000 52,500 2,168,000 0.40%
Leslie-Ann
Reed 1,866,666 700,000 2,966,666 0.54%
Peter Gordon 233,333 87,500 2,233,333 0.41%
Neil Elton 46,666 17,500 206,666 0.04%
TOTAL 4,953,331 1,857,500 123,456,336 22.64%
9. Offer-related arrangements
Confidentiality Agreement
LTG and NetDimensions entered into the Confidentiality Agreement
pursuant to which LTG has undertaken to, amongst other things: (i)
keep confidential information made available by NetDimensions
confidential and not to disclose it to third parties (other than to
permitted disclosees) unless required by law or regulation; and
(ii) comply with customary non-solicitation provisions.
Waiver Agreement
NetDimensions and the NetDimensions Directors entered into the
Waiver Agreement pursuant to which the NetDimensions Directors and
NetDimensions have undertaken and confirmed that in their opinion
the takeover provisions pursuant to Article 142 of the
NetDimensions Articles do not apply in making the Offer and, upon
the Offer becoming or being declared unconditional in all respects
in accordance with its terms, to the extent that there is any such
alleged or actual breach of Article 142, such breach shall be
waived.
10. Related party transactions
Andrew Brode is a Director and substantial Shareholder, holding
in aggregate 113,215,005 ordinary shares of LTG representing
approximately 26.89 per cent. of the voting rights and,
consequently Mr Brode is considered to be a related party of LTG
pursuant to Rule 13 of the AIM Rules. The AB Facility which has
been entered into between the Company and Mr Brode (and the related
subordination agreement with the Company and Barclays Bank PLC to
be entered into in connection therewith) constitutes a related
party transaction for the purposes of the AIM Rules. The Directors
(other than Mr Brode) consider, having consulted with Numis
Securities, that the terms of the AB Facility are fair and
reasonable insofar as LTG's shareholders are concerned.
The Directors proposing to participate in the Placing
("Participating Directors"), as described in paragraph 8 above, are
each considered to be related parties of LTG pursuant to Rule 13 of
the AIM Rules. The Participating Directors' subscription for
Placing Shares constitutes a related party transaction for the
purposes of the AIM Rules. The Directors (other than the
Participating Directors) consider, having consulted with Numis
Securities, that the participation in the Placing by the
Participating Directors is fair and reasonable insofar as LTG's
shareholders are concerned.
11. Management and employees
LTG attaches great importance to the skills and experience of
the management and employees of NetDimensions, and LTG believes
that the Transaction will create an exciting opportunity for the
NetDimensions management and employees to join LTG. LTG's plans for
NetDimensions do not involve any material change in the conditions
of employment of NetDimensions' employees. Subject to any changes
which may be agreed with individuals, the existing employment
rights of all NetDimensions employees will be respected following
completion of the Offer.
12. Share options
The Offer will extend to any NetDimensions Shares not already
owned or agreed to be acquired by LTG and which are unconditionally
allotted or issued and fully paid (or credited as fully paid) on or
before the date on which the Offer closes to acceptances (or such
earlier date as LTG may decide), including the exercise or release
of existing options or awards granted in relation to any such
shares allotted or issued, following the Offer becoming or being
declared unconditional in all respects. If the Offer becomes or is
declared unconditional in all respects, to the extent options
remain unexercised or have not lapsed, LTG intends to make
appropriate proposals to the holders of such options or awards to
enable a cash buy-out or cashless exercise of such options.
13. Compulsory acquisition, de-listing and cancellation of trading
If LTG receives (within 4 months of making the Offer)
acceptances from not less than 90 per cent. in value of the
NetDimensions Shares under the Offer and assuming that all of the
other Conditions have been satisfied or waived (if capable of being
waived), LTG intends to exercise its rights pursuant to the
relevant provisions of Cayman Companies Law to acquire compulsorily
any remaining NetDimensions Shares to which the Offer relates on
the same terms as the Offer by giving notice to the holders of any
such remaining NetDimensions Shares. The holders of any remaining
NetDimensions Shares are entitled to apply for relief to the Grand
Court of the Cayman Islands, however, unless the Grand Court orders
otherwise, LTG will proceed to acquire compulsorily any remaining
NetDimensions Shares to which the Offer relates on the same terms
as the Offer. In calculating whether the threshold has been reached
in connection with a compulsory acquisition, any treasury shares
held by NetDimensions shall be treated as having been acquired by
the LTG.
Assuming that the Offer, having been made, becomes or is
declared unconditional in all respects and subject to any
applicable requirements of the AIM Rules (including the receipt by
LTG of valid acceptances of the Offer in excess of 75 per cent. in
nominal value of the NetDimensions Shares), LTG intends to procure
that NetDimensions applies to the London Stock Exchange for the
cancellation of the admission of the NetDimensions Shares to
trading on AIM.
The cancellation of trading of the NetDimensions Shares will
significantly reduce the liquidity and marketability of any
NetDimensions Shares not acquired by LTG.
It is also intended that, assuming that the Offer becomes or is
declared unconditional in all respects and, assuming the
cancellation of trading of NetDimensions Shares on AIM,
NetDimensions will continue as an exempted company in accordance
with the relevant provisions of the Cayman Companies Law.
14. Indicative timetable of key events
The following comprises an expected timetable of key events:
Event Expected time/date
Posting of Circular and Friday 3 February
Notice of General Meeting
General Meeting Monday 20 February
Publication of firm offer Monday 20 February
announcement
Publication of Offer Document Tuesday 21 February
and form of acceptance
First Closing Date* Tuesday 14 March
Anticipated date on which Expected to be on or
the Offer will become before Tuesday 28 March
or be declared unconditional
in all respects (save
for Admission)
Anticipated closing of Expected to be on or
Transaction and Admission before Thursday 30 March
of Placing Shares
Settlement of consideration No later than 14 calendar
to NetDimensions Shareholders days after the Offer
who accept the Offer prior becoming or being declared
to the Offer becoming unconditional in all
or being declared unconditional respects
in all respects
* The Offer shall remain open for acceptance for a minimum of 14
calendar days from the First Closing Date or the date the Offer
becomes or is declared unconditional as to acceptances, whichever
is later. Not less than 14 calendar days' notice will be given in
respect of the closure of the Offer.
Each of the times and dates above is subject to change. Any such
change will be notified by an announcement on a Regulatory
Information Service.
15. General
The Offer will comply with the applicable rules and regulations
of the London Stock Exchange and AIM. The Offer will be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of England and will
be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England
and to the Conditions and further terms set out in Appendix I, and
the full terms and conditions to be set out in the Offer
Document.
It is currently intended that the Offer will be implemented by
means of a Takeover Offer, although LTG reserves the right to
implement the Offer by way of a Scheme or a Merger.
Your attention is drawn to the Appendices which form part of
this announcement. The Conditions and a summary of further terms in
relation to the Offer set out in Appendix I to this announcement
form part of, and should be read in conjunction with, this
announcement. Appendix IV to this announcement contains definitions
of certain terms used in this announcement.
This announcement does not constitute an offer or an invitation
to purchase or subscribe for any securities.
Enquiries
Learning Technologies Group plc +44 (0)20 7402 1554
Andrew Brode, Chairman
Jonathan Satchell, Chief Executive Officer
Canaccord Genuity, Financial Adviser to LTG +44 (0)20 7665
4500
Simon Bridges
Numis Securities, Nominated Adviser and Broker to LTG +44 (0)20
7260 1000
Stuart Skinner / Michael Wharton (Nominated Adviser)
Ben Stoop (Corporate Broker)
Hudson Sandler Limited, PR Adviser to LTG +44 (0)20 7796
4133
Cat Valentine / Bertie Berger
NetDimensions (Holdings) Limited +852 2122 4500
Graham Higgins, Chairman
Jay Shaw, Chief Executive Officer
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited, Financial Adviser, +44 (0)20 7886
2500
Nominated Adviser and Broker to NetDimensions
Andrew Godber / Peter Steel / James Greenwood / William Wickham
(Corporate Finance)
Erik Anderson (Corporate Broking)
Walbrook PR Limited, PR Adviser to NetDimensions + 44 (0)20 7933
8780
Paul Cornelius / Sam Allen / Nick Rome
netdimensions@walbrookpr.com
Further information
This announcement is for information purposes only and does not
constitute, or form part of, any offer for or invitation to sell or
purchase any securities, or any solicitation of any offer for,
securities in any jurisdiction. This announcement does not
constitute a prospectus or a prospectus equivalent document. The
Offer, if made, will be made solely pursuant to the Offer Document
(or, if the Offer is implemented by means of a Scheme or a Merger,
the Scheme Document or the Merger Document, as the case may be)
which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Offer,
including details of how to accept the Offer. NetDimensions
Shareholders are advised to read the formal documentation in
relation to the Offer carefully once it has been despatched.
Placing
Members of the general public are not eligible to take part in
the Placing. This announcement and any offer of securities to which
it relates are only addressed to and directed at persons who (i)
have professional experience in matters relating to investments who
fall within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act
2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) ("Order"); or
(ii) fall within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order or (iii) are
persons to whom an offer of the Placing Shares may otherwise
lawfully be made (all such persons together being referred to as
"Relevant Persons"). The information regarding the Placing set out
in this announcement must not be acted on or relied on by persons
who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity
to which this announcement relates is available only to Relevant
Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons.
This announcement (including the Appendices) does not constitute
or form part of any offer or any solicitation to purchase or
subscribe for securities in the United States. The Placing Shares
have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities
Act of 1933, as amended ("US Securities Act"), or under the
securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United
States, and, absent registration, may not be offered or sold in the
United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the US
Securities Act and the securities laws of any relevant state or
other jurisdiction of the United States. There will be no public
offering of the Placing Shares in the United States or
elsewhere.
The Placing Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the
US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities
commission or other regulatory authority in the United States, nor
have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the
merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of this
announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offence in the United States.
No prospectus or offering document has been or will be prepared
in connection with the Placing. Any investment decision to buy
securities in the Placing must be made solely on the basis of
publicly available information. Such information is not the
responsibility of and has not been independently verified by LTG,
Canaccord Genuity, Numis Securities or any of their agents or
affiliates.
The distribution of this announcement and the offering or sale
of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by
law. No action has been taken by LTG, Canaccord Genuity, Numis
Securities or their agents or affiliates that would, or which is
intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in any
jurisdiction or possession or distribution of this announcement or
any other offering or publicity material relating to the Placing
Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is
required. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are
required by LTG, Canaccord Genuity, Numis Securities to inform
themselves about and to observe any applicable restrictions.
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 LTG, Canaccord Genuity, Numis Securities
or by their 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. However, nothing in this announcement shall
be effective to limit or exclude liability for fraud or which
otherwise, by law or regulation, cannot be so limited or
excluded.
Overseas jurisdictions
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in
jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by
law and, therefore, any persons who are subject to the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves
about, and observe, any applicable requirements. Failure to comply
with any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the
securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement has
been prepared to comply with the requirements of the laws of
England and the Cayman Islands, the AIM Rules and the rules of the
London Stock Exchange and information disclosed may not be the same
as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had
been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside
England.
The Offer will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into,
and will not be capable of acceptance in or from, Canada, Australia
or Japan. In addition it is not currently intended that the Offer
will be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of
mails or any means or instrumentality (including, without
limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone or internet) of
interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national
securities exchange of, the United States and it is not currently
intended that the Offer will be capable of acceptance by any such
use, means, instrumentality or facility or from within the United
States. Accordingly, copies of this announcement are not being, and
must not be, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in
or into or from the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.
Custodians, nominees and trustees should observe these restrictions
and should not send or distribute the document in or into the
United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.
Important notices
Canaccord Genuity, which is authorised and regulated in the UK
by the FCA, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to LTG in
relation to the Transaction and no-one else and will not be
responsible to anyone other than LTG for providing the protections
offered to clients of Canaccord Genuity nor for providing advice in
relation to the Transaction or the contents of this announcement,
or any matter referred to herein.
Numis Securities, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by
the FCA, is acting exclusively as nominated adviser and broker to
LTG and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than LTG
for providing the protections afforded to clients of Numis
Securities nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set
out in this announcement, the contents of this announcement, or any
matter referred to herein.
The LTG Directors accept responsibility for the information
contained in this announcement, other than the information for
which responsibility is taken by the NetDimensions Directors
pursuant to the paragraph immediately below. To the best of the
knowledge and belief of the LTG Directors (who have taken all
reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information
contained in this announcement for which they accept responsibility
is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely
to affect the import of such information.
The NetDimensions Directors accept responsibility for the
information contained in this announcement relating to the
NetDimensions Group, themselves, their respective immediate
families, related trusts and connected persons and the
recommendations and opinions of the NetDimensions Directors
relating to the Offer contained in paragraph 5 (Information on
NetDimensions) of this announcement. To the best of the knowledge
and belief of the NetDimensions Directors (who have taken all
reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information
contained in this announcement for which they accept responsibility
is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely
to affect the import of such information.
Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains a number of forward-looking
statements relating to the LTG Group and the NetDimensions Group
with respect to, among other matters, the following: financial
condition; results of operations; the respective businesses of the
LTG Group and the NetDimensions Group; the economic conditions in
which the LTG Group and the NetDimensions Group operate; benefits
of the Transaction and management plans and objectives including
future capital expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic
performance, indebtedness, losses and future prospects and effects
of government regulations. LTG and NetDimensions consider any
statements that are not historical facts to be "forward-looking
statements". Without limitation, any statements preceded or
followed by or that include the words "targets", "plans",
"believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may",
"anticipates", "estimates", "projects" or words or terms of similar
substance or the negative thereof, identify forward looking
statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those suggested by them. Due to such risks and
uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
such forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
financial performance. Such forward looking statements involve
known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could significantly
affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions.
Many factors could cause actual results, performance or
achievements to differ materially from those projected or implied
in any forward looking statements. Due to such uncertainties and
risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
announcement.
Neither LTG nor any member of the LTG Group, nor NetDimensions
nor any member of the NetDimensions Group, nor any of their
respective members, associates, directors, officers, employees,
advisers or persons acting on their behalf, provides any
representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the
events expressed or implied in any forward looking statements in
this announcement will actually occur.
Other than in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory
obligation, neither LTG nor any member of the LTG Group, nor
NetDimensions nor any member of the NetDimensions Group nor any of
their respective members, associates, directors, officers,
employees, advisers or persons acting on their behalf, is under any
obligation and each of them expressly disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or
other statements contained herein, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
applicable law.
Except as expressly provided in this announcement, no forward
looking or other statements have been reviewed by the auditors of
LTG or NetDimensions. All subsequent oral or written forward
looking statements attributable to LTG or NetDimensions, any member
of the LTG Group or the NetDimensions Group or any of their
respective members, associates, directors, officers, employees,
advisers or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly
qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above.
No profit forecast
Any statements in this announcement regarding the benefits of
the Transaction are not and do not constitute a profit forecast for
any period, nor should any statements be interpreted to mean that
earnings or earnings per share will necessarily be greater or
lesser than the historical published earnings per share of LTG or
NetDimensions as appropriate.
Application of the City Code
By virtue of its status as a company incorporated in the Cayman
Islands, the City Code does not apply to NetDimensions.
NetDimensions Shareholders are reminded that whilst the
NetDimensions Articles reflect certain provisions of the City Code,
the provisions do not provide shareholders with the full
protections offered by the City Code, the Panel does not have
responsibility for ensuring compliance with such provisions and the
Panel is not able to answer shareholders queries in relation to
NetDimensions.
Number of NetDimensions securities in issue
NetDimensions confirms that, as at the date of this
announcement, it has 51,273,865 ordinary shares, or NetDimensions
Depositary Interests representing ordinary shares, of $0.001 each
in issue and admitted to trading on AIM under ISIN reference
KYG6427F1019. The NetDimensions Depositary Interests trade under
the same ISIN reference.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this announcement have been
subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for
the same category presented in different places in this
announcement may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in
certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures
that precede them.
Contents of this announcement
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement
or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own
independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker,
bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial
adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000 (as amended) if you are resident in the United Kingdom,
or, if not, from another appropriately authorised independent
financial adviser.
Appendix I
Conditions and Certain Further Terms of the Offer
PART A: Conditions
The Offer will be subject to the following conditions:
1. LTG having acquired or agreed to acquire (including by way of
acceptance of the Offer) not less than 90 per cent. (or such lower
percentage above 50 per cent. as LTG may decide) in nominal value
of the NetDimensions Shares by 3.00 p.m. (London time) on the First
Closing Date (or such later date(s) as LTG may decide provided that
no such date(s) shall be later than the Longstop Date).
2. The Waiver Agreement not having been breached, revoked,
rescinded or terminated by NetDimensions.
3. Evidence in a form satisfactory to LTG of NetDimensions
having cash reserves of at least $5 million.
4. With respect to the consent which has been given by Barclays
Bank PLC in relation to the acquisition by LTG of NetDimensions,
the conditions to such consent having been satisfied or waived, and
such consent not having been breached, varied, revoked, rescinded
or terminated.
5. With respect to the consent which has been given by Barclays
Bank PLC in relation to LTG entering into the AB Facility, such
consent not having been breached, varied, revoked, rescinded or
terminated.
6. The subordination agreement entered into between Barclays
Bank PLC, Andrew Brode and LTG with respect to the AB Facility not
having been breached, varied, revoked, rescinded or terminated.
7. Barclays Bank PLC having entered into definitive
documentation with respect to the Overdraft and such documents not
having been breached, varied, revoked, rescinded or terminated.
8. Admission of the Placing Shares having occurred.
9. All material notifications, filings or applications which are
necessary or reasonably considered appropriate in connection with
the Offer having been made by not later than 1.00 p.m. on the First
Closing Date and all necessary waiting periods (including any
extensions thereof) under any applicable legislation or regulation
of any jurisdiction having expired, lapsed or been terminated (as
appropriate) and all statutory and regulatory obligations in any
jurisdiction having been complied with in each case in respect of
the Offer and all material authorisations, orders, recognitions,
grants, consents, clearances, confirmations, certificates,
licences, permissions and approvals ("Authorisations") deemed
necessary or reasonably appropriate by LTG in any jurisdiction for
or in respect of the Offer having been obtained in terms and in a
form satisfactory to LTG from any appropriate Governmental Entities
or (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) from any
person or bodies with whom any member of the NetDimensions Group
has entered into contractual
arrangements and all such Authorisations necessary or reasonably
appropriate to carry on the business of any member of the
NetDimensions Group in any jurisdiction having been obtained and
all such Authorisations remaining in full force and effect at the
time at which the Offer becomes otherwise wholly unconditional and
there being no notice or written intimation of an intention to
revoke, suspend, restrict, modify or not to renew such
Authorisations.
10. No Governmental Entities having given notice of a decision
to take, institute, implement or threaten any action, proceeding,
suit, investigation, inquiry or reference (and in each case, not
having withdrawn the same), or having required any action to be
taken or otherwise having done anything, or having enacted, made or
proposed any statute, regulation, decision, order or change to
published practice (and in each case, not having withdrawn the
same) and there not continuing to be outstanding any statute,
regulation, decision or order which would or might reasonably be
expected to (in any case which is material in the context of the
Offer) relating to any antitrust or other such approvals.
11. Since 31 December 2015 and save as Disclosed:
(a) there having been no adverse change or deterioration in the
business, assets, financial or trading positions or profit or
prospects of any member of the NetDimensions Group which in any
case is material in the context of the NetDimensions Group taken as
a whole;
(b) no contingent or other liability of any member of the
NetDimensions Group having arisen or become apparent or increased
which would adversely affect any member of the NetDimensions Group
to an extent which in any case is material in the context of the
NetDimensions Group taken as a whole; and
(c) no litigation, arbitration proceedings, regulatory
investigations, prosecution or other legal proceedings to which any
member of the NetDimensions Group is or may reasonably be expected
to become a party (whether as plaintiff, defendant or otherwise)
having been threatened in writing, announced, implemented or
instituted by or against or remaining outstanding against or in
respect of any member of the NetDimensions Group which in any case
would be material in the context of the NetDimensions Group taken
as a whole.
12. Since 31 December 2015 and save as Disclosed, LTG not having discovered:
(a) that any financial or business or other information
concerning the NetDimensions Group Disclosed at any time by or on
behalf of any member of the NetDimensions Group, whether publicly,
to any member of the LTG Group or its advisors or otherwise, is
misleading or contains any misrepresentation of fact or omits to
state a fact necessary to make any information contained therein
not misleading and which was not subsequently corrected before the
date of this announcement by disclosure either publicly (in the
event that such misleading information had been Disclosed publicly)
or otherwise to LTG to an extent which in any case is material in
the context of the NetDimensions Group taken as a whole;
(b) that any member of the NetDimensions Group is subject to any
liability (actual or contingent) and which in any case is material
in the context of the NetDimensions Group taken as a whole;
(c) any information which affects the import of any information
Disclosed at any time by or on behalf of any member of the
NetDimensions Group to an extent which is material in the context
of the NetDimensions Group taken as a whole;
(d) that any past or present member of the NetDimensions Group
has paid or agreed to pay any bribe including any "inducement fee",
given or agreed to give any similar gift or benefit or paid or
agreed to pay to a concealed bank account or fund to or for the
account of, any customer, supplier, government official or
employee, representative of a political party, or other person for
the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or otherwise engaged
in any activity, done such things (or omitted to do such things) in
contravention of the UK Bribery Act 2010, as amended, or the US
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 as amended in each case to an
extent which is material in the context of the Offer; or
(e) that any past or present member of the NetDimensions Group
has engaged in any business with or made any investments in, or
made any payments to, (i) any government, entity or individual with
which US or European Union persons are prohibited from engaging in
activities or doing business by US or European Union laws or
regulations including the economic sanctions administered by the
United States Office of Foreign Assets Control or (ii) any
government, entity or individual targeted by any of the economic
sanctions of the United Nations or the European Union or any of
their respective member states, in all cases to the extent such
laws, regulations or sanctions applied or apply to the relevant
member of the NetDimensions Group in each case to an extent which
is material in the context of the Offer.
13. Since 31 December 2015 and save as Disclosed, no member of
the NetDimensions Group having:
(a) issued or agreed to issue, or authorised or proposed or
announced its intention to authorise or propose the issue of,
additional shares of any class or securities or securities
convertible into, or exchangeable for, or rights, warrants or
options to subscribe for or acquire, any such shares, securities or
convertible securities or transferred or sold or agreed to transfer
or sell or authorised or proposed the transfer or sale of
NetDimensions Shares out of treasury;
(b) recommended, declared, paid or made or proposed to
recommend, declare, pay or make any bonus, dividend or other
distribution (whether payable in cash or otherwise) or dividends
(or other distributions whether payable in cash or otherwise)
lawfully paid or made by any wholly owned subsidiary of
NetDimensions to NetDimensions or any of its wholly owned
subsidiaries;
(c) other than pursuant to the Offer (and except for
transactions between NetDimensions and its wholly owned
subsidiaries or between the wholly owned subsidiaries of
NetDimensions and transactions in the ordinary course of business)
implemented, effected, authorised or proposed or announced its
intention to implement, effect, authorise or propose any merger,
demerger, reconstruction, amalgamation, scheme, commitment,
acquisition or disposal of assets or shares or loan capital (or the
equivalent thereof) in any undertaking or undertakings in any such
case to an extent which is material in the context of the
Offer;
(d) (except for transactions between NetDimensions and its
wholly owned subsidiaries or between the wholly owned subsidiaries
of NetDimensions) disposed of, or transferred, mortgaged or created
any security interest over any asset or any right, title or
interest in any asset or authorised, proposed or announced any
intention to do so which in any case is material in the context of
the Offer;
(e) (except for transactions between NetDimensions and its
wholly owned subsidiaries or between the wholly owned subsidiaries
of NetDimensions) issued, authorised or proposed or announced an
intention to authorise or propose the issue of, or made any change
in or to the terms of, any debentures or, except in the ordinary
course of business, become subject to any contingent liability or
incurred or increased any indebtedness which in any case is
material in the context of the Offer;
(f) entered into or varied or authorised, proposed or announced
its intention to enter into or vary any material contract,
arrangement, agreement, transaction or commitment (whether in
respect of capital expenditure or otherwise) except in the ordinary
course of business which is of a long term, unusual or onerous
nature or magnitude or which involves an obligation of a nature or
magnitude which is likely to be restrictive on the business of any
member of the NetDimensions Group and which in any case is material
in the context of the Offer;
(g) entered into or varied to a material extent the terms of, or
made any offer (which remains open for acceptance) to enter into or
vary to a material extent the terms of, any contract, service
agreement, commitment or arrangement with any director or senior
executive of any member of the NetDimensions Group save as agreed
by LTG;
(h) proposed, agreed to provide or modified to a material extent
the terms of any share option scheme, incentive scheme or other
benefit relating to the employment or termination of employment of
any employee of the NetDimensions Group save as agreed by LTG or
which is required pursuant to the making of the Offer;
(i) purchased, redeemed or repaid or announced any proposal to
purchase, redeem or repay any of its own shares or other securities
or reduced or, except in respect of the matters mentioned in
subparagraph (a) above, made any other change to any part of its
share capital, save as agreed by LTG or which is required pursuant
to the making of the Offer;
(j) waived, compromised or settled any claim (other than in the
ordinary course of business or between NetDimensions and its wholly
owned subsidiaries or between the wholly owned subsidiaries of
NetDimensions) which is material in the context of the Offer;
(k) terminated or varied the terms of any agreement or arrangement between any member of the NetDimensions Group and any other person in a manner which would have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the NetDimensions Group taken as a whole;
(l) other than pursuant to the Offer and as envisaged in
accordance with the terms of the Offer, made any alteration to its
memorandum or articles of association or other incorporation
documents in each case which is material in the context of the
Offer;
(m) except in relation to changes made or agreed as a result of,
or arising from, changes to legislation, made or agreed or
consented to any change to the terms of the trust deeds and rules
constituting the pension scheme(s) established for its directors,
employees or their dependants or any material change to the
benefits which accrue, or to the pensions which are payable,
thereunder, or to the basis on which qualification for, or accrual
or entitlement to, such benefits or pensions are calculated or
determined or to the basis upon which the liabilities (including
pensions) of such pension schemes are funded or made, or agreed or
consented to, in each case which is material in the context of the
NetDimensions Group taken as a whole;
(n) been unable, or admitted in writing that it is unable, to
pay its debts or commenced negotiations with one or more of its
creditors with a view to rescheduling or restructuring any of its
indebtedness, or having stopped or suspended (or threatened to stop
or suspend) payment of its debts generally or ceased or threatened
to cease carrying on all or a substantial part of its business, in
each case which is material in the context of the NetDimensions
Group taken as a whole;
(o) (other than in respect of a member of the NetDimensions
Group which is dormant and was solvent at the relevant time) taken
or proposed any steps, corporate action or had any legal
proceedings instituted or threatened against it in relation to the
suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, its
winding-up (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution, reorganisation or
for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, manager,
administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of all or any
material part of its assets or revenues or any analogous or
equivalent steps or proceedings in any jurisdiction or appointed
any analogous person in any jurisdiction or had any such person
appointed, in each case which is material in the context of the
NetDimensions Group taken as a whole;
(p) (except for transactions between NetDimensions and its
wholly owned subsidiaries or between the wholly owned subsidiaries
of NetDimensions) made, authorised, proposed or announced an
intention to propose any change in its loan capital, in each case
which is material in the context of the NetDimensions Group taken
as a whole;
(q) entered into, implemented or authorised the entry into, any
joint venture, asset or profit sharing arrangement, partnership or
merger of business or corporate entities, in each case which is
material in the context of the NetDimensions Group taken as a
whole;
(r) entered into any licence or other disposal of intellectual
property rights of any member of the NetDimensions Group which are
material in the context of the NetDimensions Group and outside the
normal course of business; or
(s) entered into any agreement, arrangement, commitment or
contract or passed any resolution or made any offer (which remains
open for acceptance) with respect to or announced an intention to,
or to propose to, effect any of the transactions, matters or events
referred to in this Condition 13.
PART B: Certain Terms of the Offer
1. LTG reserves the right to waive, in whole or in part, all or any of the Conditions.
2. The Conditions must be fulfilled or waived (if capable of
waiver) by LTG by no later than 11.59 p.m. on the Longstop Date.
LTG shall be under no obligation to waive (if capable of waiver),
to determine to be or remain satisfied or to treat as fulfilled any
of the Conditions by a date earlier than the latest date for the
fulfilment or waiver of that Condition notwithstanding that the
other Conditions of the Offer may at such earlier date have been
waived or fulfilled and that there are at such earlier date no
circumstances indicating that any of such Conditions may not be
capable of fulfilment.
3. LTG reserves the right to elect at any time prior to the
Offer becoming or being declared unconditional in all respects to
implement the Offer by way of a Scheme. In such event, such Scheme
will be implemented on the same terms (subject to any revisions) so
far as applicable, as those which would apply to the Offer.
4. LTG reserves the right to elect at any time to implement the
Offer by way of a Merger. In such event, such Merger will be
implemented on the same terms (subject to any revisions) so far as
applicable, as those which would apply to the Offer.
5. The Offer shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of England (notwithstanding that the transfer of shares in a Cayman company will also be subject to the laws of the Cayman Islands) and be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the England and to the Conditions set out above and in the formal Offer Document and to the provisions of this Part B. The Offer will comply with the applicable rules and regulations of the London Stock Exchange, AIM and any other applicable laws or regulations. If LTG elects to implement the Offer by way of a Scheme or a Merger, the Offer shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands and be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands and to the conditions set out above and in the formal Offer Document and to the provisions of this Part B.
6. NetDimensions Shares which will be acquired under the Offer
will be acquired fully paid and free from all liens, equities,
charges, encumbrances, options, rights of pre-emption and any other
third party rights and interests of any nature and together with
all rights now or hereafter attaching or accruing to them,
including voting rights and the right to receive and retain in full
all dividends and other distributions (if any) declared, made or
paid on or after the date of this announcement.
Appendix II
Bases and Sources
1. The value placed by the Offer of GBP53,584,460 is calculated
on the basis of the fully diluted number of NetDimensions Shares in
issue referred to below and on the assumption of a cash buy-out or
cashless exercise of the number of "in the money" options over
NetDimensions Shares referred to below.
2. References to the entire issued share capital of
NetDimensions are to the existing issued share capital of
51,273,865 NetDimensions Shares as sourced from NetDimensions'
shareholder register as at the Latest Practicable Date. The total
number of "in the money" options over NetDimensions Shares as
confirmed by NetDimensions as at the Latest Practicable Date is
5,231,000 and on the basis of a cash buy-out or cashless exercise
at the relevant exercise prices amounts to an aggregate value of
GBP2,310,595. Shares held in treasury (if any) have been excluded
from all calculations of percentage holdings of voting rights,
share capital and relevant securities. The International Securities
Identification Number for NetDimensions Shares is KYG6427F1019.
3. Unless otherwise stated, all prices and closing prices for
NetDimensions Shares are closing middle market quotations derived
from the AIM Appendix to the Daily Official List.
4. As at 5.00 p.m. on the Latest Practicable Date, NetDimensions
had no treasury shares in issue.
Appendix III
Details of irrevocable undertakings
NetDimensions Directors
The following NetDimensions Directors (together with the
trustees of trusts in which they have an interest and certain
members of their families) who are NetDimensions Shareholders have
given irrevocable undertakings to accept the Offer:
NetDimensions Number of NetDimensions Percentage of
Director (or related Shares NetDimensions'
trust or family entire issued
member) share capital
Jay Shaw 4,816,500 9.39%
Ray Ruff 3,791,388 7.39%
Matthew Chaloner 6,000 0.01%
Graham Higgins 236,639 0.46%
Anna Thompson 113,500 0.22%
TOTAL 8,964,027 17.48%
In addition, such irrevocable undertakings relate to options
with respect to an aggregate of 1,580,000 NetDimensions Shares
granted to certain NetDimensions Directors.
Other NetDimensions Shareholders
The following NetDimensions Shareholders have given irrevocable
undertakings to accept the Offer:
NetDimensions Number of NetDimensions Percentage of
Shareholder Shares NetDimensions'
entire issued
share capital
City Financial
Investment Company
Limited 2,630,500 5.13%
Herald Investment
Management Limited 4,771,000 9.30%
The Alphagen Volantis
Catalyst Fund
Limited 9,892,005 19.29%
The Alphagen Volantis
Fund Limited 2,733,975 5.33%
TOTAL 20,027,480 39.06%
All of the above irrevocable undertakings anticipate that any
offer will be made at the Offer Price.
Each of the above irrevocable undertakings has been entered into
by the relevant NetDimensions Director only as a shareholder of
NetDimensions and not in their capacity as a director; nothing
contained in the undertakings requires any of the NetDimensions
Directors to take or not to take any decision or action in their
capacity as a NetDimensions Director.
The above irrevocable undertakings will cease to be binding
if:
-- the Offer is not made to NetDimensions Shareholders by 5.00
p.m. on 21 February 2017, unless otherwise agreed; or
-- the Offer, having been announced, lapses or is withdrawn.
Furthermore, the irrevocable commitment given by certain
NetDimensions Shareholders (referred to under the heading "Other
NetDimensions Shareholders" above) will also cease to be binding in
the event that a third party announces a competing offer to acquire
the entire issued share capital of NetDimensions which is at a
price equal to or greater than 110 pence per NetDimensions
Share.
Appendix IV
Definitions
The following definitions apply throughout this announcement
unless the context otherwise requires:
"AB Facility" has the meaning given to it in
paragraph 7 above;
"Admission" means the admission of the Placing
Shares to trading on AIM in accordance
with the AIM Rules;
"AIM" means the AIM Market of the London
Stock Exchange;
"AIM Rules" means the AIM Rules for Companies
as published by the London Stock
Exchange;
"Authorisations" has the meaning given to it in
Condition 3 in Appendix I of
this announcement;
"Business Day" means a day (other than a Saturday
or Sunday) on which banks in
the City of London and the Cayman
Islands are generally open for
business;
"Canaccord Genuity" means Canaccord Genuity Limited;
"Cayman Companies means The Companies Law (2016
Law" Revision) of the Cayman Islands;
"City Code" means the UK City Code on Takeovers
and Mergers;
"Circular" means the explanatory circular
to shareholders published by
LTG on the date of this announcement;
"Closing Price" means the closing middle-market
quotation of a NetDimensions
Share as derived from the AIM
Appendix of the daily official
list of the London Stock Exchange;
"Conditions" means the conditions to the Offer
as set out in Appendix I to this
announcement and to be set out
in the Offer Document and "Condition"
means any one of them;
"Confidentiality means the confidentiality agreement
Agreement" between LTG and NetDimensions
entered into on 17 August 2016;
"Directors" means the directors of LTG from
time to time;
"Disclosed" means matters: (i) disclosed
in NetDimensions' annual report
and accounts for the year ended
31 December 2015; (ii) disclosed
in the interim results announcement
relating to NetDimensions' unaudited
consolidated financial statements
for the six month period ended
30 June 2016; (iii) publicly
announced by NetDimensions (by
the delivery of an announcement
to a Regulatory Information Service)
after such interim results announcement;
(iv) fairly disclosed in NetDimensions'
online data room prior to the
date of this announcement; or
(v) otherwise fairly disclosed
in writing by or on behalf of
NetDimensions to LTG or its advisers,
in each case prior to the date
of this announcement;
"Enlarged Group" means, assuming that the Offer
is declared or becomes unconditional
in all respects, together the
LTG Group and the NetDimensions
Group;
"FCA" means the Financial Conduct Authority
of the UK and any successor authorities;
"First Closing means 14 March 2017;
Date"
"General Meeting" means the general meeting of
LTG, convened for 11.00 a.m.
on 20 February 2017 or at any
adjournment thereof;
"Governmental means, anywhere in the world,
Entity" any supra national, national
or state government, any subdivision,
court, administrative agency
or commission or other authority
thereof, or any quasi governmental
body exercising any media or
communications regulatory or
competition authority;
"Latest Practicable means 2 February 2017, being
Date" the last Business Day prior to
this announcement;
"London Stock means London Stock Exchange plc
Exchange" or its successor;
"Longstop Date" means 1 May 2017 or such other
date as may be agreed between
LTG and NetDimensions;
"LTG" or the "Company" means Learning Technologies Group
plc;
"LTG Group" means LTG and its subsidiary
undertakings;
"Merger" means a merger of a wholly-owned
subsidiary of LTG and NetDimensions
pursuant to Section 233 of the
Cayman Companies Law;
"Merger Document" means the document to be despatched
to NetDimensions Shareholders
if the Offer is effected by way
of a Merger;
"NetDimensions" means NetDimensions (Holdings)
Limited;
"NetDimensions means American Depositary receipts
ADRs" in respect of underlying NetDimension
Shares issued by the NetDimension
US Depositary;
"NetDimensions means the memorandum and articles
Articles" of association of NetDimensions
in force from time to time;
"NetDimensions means Capita IRG Trustees Limited;
Depositary"
"NetDimensions means depositary interests in
Depositary Interests" respect of underlying NetDimensions
Shares issued by the NetDimensions
Depositary;
"NetDimensions means the directors of NetDimensions
Directors" from time to time;
"NetDimensions means NetDimensions and its subsidiary
Group" undertakings;
"NetDimensions means holders of NetDimensions
Shareholders" Shares (whether directly or,
as the context requires, as direct
or indirect holders of NetDimensions
Depositary Interests);
"NetDimensions includes:
Shares" (a) the existing unconditionally
allotted or issued and fully
paid issued ordinary shares of
$0.001 each in the capital of
NetDimensions and/or, where the
context so requires, the NetDimensions
Depositary Interests and the
NetDimensions ADRs; and
(b) where the context admits,
any further ordinary shares of
$0.001 each in the capital of
NetDimensions (and/or, where
the context so requires, the
NetDimensions Depositary Interests
and the NetDimensions ADRs) which
are unconditionally allotted
or issued and fully paid before
the date on which the Offer closes
or before such earlier date as
LTG may determine not being earlier
than the First Closing Date;
"NetDimensions means The Bank of New York Mellon;
US Depositary"
"New Debt Facility" has the meaning given to it in
paragraph 7 above;
"Notice of General means the notice convening the
Meeting" General Meeting as set out in
the Circular;
"Numis Securities" means Numis Securities Limited;
"Offer" means the proposed recommended
offer by LTG to acquire the entire
issued and to be issued share
capital of NetDimensions (other
than any NetDimensions Shares
already held by LTG (if any)),
to be effected by way of the
Takeover Offer and, where the
context admits, any subsequent
revision, variation, extension
or renewal thereof and any replacement
thereof by a Scheme or Merger;
"Offer Document" means the document to be despatched
to NetDimensions Shareholders
containing the details of the
Transaction and, where the context
so admits, includes any form
of acceptance, proxy, election,
direction, notice or other document
reasonably required in connection
with the Takeover Offer;
"Offer Price" means 100 pence per NetDimensions
Share;
"Overdraft" has the meaning given to it in
paragraph 7 of this announcement;
"Panel" means the Panel on Takeovers
and Mergers;
"Participating has the meaning given to it in
Directors" paragraph 10 of this announcement;
"Placees" has the meaning given to it in
paragraph 7 of this announcement;
"Placing" has the meaning given to it in
paragraph 7 of this announcement;
"Placing Agreement" has the meaning given to it in
paragraph 7 of this announcement;
"Placing Shares" has the meaning given to it in
paragraph 7 of this announcement;
"Regulatory Information means any of the services authorised
Service" from time to time by the FCA
for the purpose of disseminating
regulatory announcements;
"Resolutions" means the resolutions to be proposed
at the General Meeting, as set
out in the Notice of General
Meeting;
"Scheme" means a scheme of arrangement
under section 86 of the Cayman
Companies Law;
"Scheme Document" means the scheme circular to
be despatched to NetDimensions
Shareholders if the Offer is
effected by way of a Scheme;
"Shareholders" means holders of ordinary shares
in the capital of LTG (whether
directly or, as the context requires,
as direct or indirect holders
of depositary interests in respect
of underlying ordinary shares
in the capital of LTG);
"Takeover Offer" means a takeover offer proposed
to be made under section 88 of
the Cayman Companies Law in connection
with the Offer and upon and subject
to the Conditions;
"Transaction" means the Offer and the Placing
along with the other matters
described in this announcement;
"UK" or "United means the United Kingdom of Great
Kingdom" Britain and Northern Ireland
and its dependent territories;
"United States" means the United States of America
(including the states of the
United States and the District
of Columbia), its possessions
and territories and all areas
subject to its jurisdiction;
and
"Waiver Agreement" means a waiver agreement entered
into by NetDimensions and the
NetDimensions Directors on the
date of this announcement in
connection with Article 142 of
the NetDimensions Articles.
All references to legislation in this announcement are to
English legislation unless the contrary is indicated.
Any reference to any provision of any legislation shall include
and amendment, modification, re-enactment or extension thereof.
For the purpose of this announcement, "subsidiary undertaking",
"associated undertaking" and "undertaking" have their meaning under
the Companies Act 2006 (as amended) of the United Kingdom.
References to "GBP", "pound sterling" and "pence" are to the
lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
References to "$" are to the lawful currency of the United
States.
Words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice
versa, and words importing the masculine gender shall include the
feminine or neutral gender.
All times referred to in this announcement are to London times
unless otherwise specified.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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