TIDMSKR
RNS Number : 8566J
Sunkar Resources PLC
17 June 2014
Several minor typographical errors and corrections have been
made to the 'Recommended Cash Offer' announcement released today at
1 p.m. under RNS No 8272J.
All material details remain unchanged.
The full amended text is shown below.
17 June 2014
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF
SUCH JURISDICTION
RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER
by
SUN AVENUE PARTNERS CORP.("SAPC")
for
those Shares it does not already own in
SunkarRESOURCES PLC ("Sunkar")
Summary
-- SAPC and Sunkar wish to announce the terms of a recommended
cash offer to be made by SAPC for the entire issued and to be
issued ordinary share capital of Sunkar not already owned by SAPC
(the "Offer").
-- SAPC is the largest shareholder of Sunkar with a legal and
beneficial interest in 174,476,283 ordinary shares of 0.1 pence
each ("Sunkar Shares"), representing approximately 51.15 per cent.
of the entire issued share capital of Sunkar.
-- In addition, SAPC holds 1.28 million of US$1 convertible loan
notes ("CLNs"), which, if converted, would convert into 34,065,202
Sunkar Shares, subject to the Ministry of Industry and New
Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("MINT") waiving its
rights to acquire the Sunkar Shares arising on conversion of the
CLNs.
-- As separately announced today, SAPC has provided Sunkar with
ca. US$2.55 million of additional funding via an unsecured term
loan facility to which may be drawn down in principal amounts of
not less than US$50,000 and not more than US$500,000 (the "SAPC
Loan").
-- Under the terms of the Offer, Sunkar Shareholders will
receive 1.835 pence in cash per Sunkar Share.
-- The Offer at 1.835 pence for each Sunkar Share values the
whole of the issued ordinary share capital of Sunkar at
GBP6,259,375.05.
-- SAPC is an investment company incorporated in accordance with
the laws and regulations of the British Virgin Islands. SAPC is
wholly owned by Mr Almas Mynbayev, a businessman from
Kazakhstan.
-- The Sunkar Directors, who have been so advised by Strand
Hanson Limited, consider the terms of the Offer to be fair and
reasonable. In providing its advice to the Sunkar Directors, Strand
Hanson has taken into account the commercial assessments of the
Sunkar Board.
-- Accordingly, the Sunkar Board has unanimously agreed to
recommend that Sunkar Shareholders accept the Offer.
-- SAPC has received irrevocable undertakings to accept (or to
procure acceptance of) the Offer, from certain directors of Sunkar
who are also Sunkar Shareholders, in respect of a total of
41,841,299 Sunkar Shares, representing approximately 12.27 per
cent. of Sunkar's issued ordinary share capital, being:
(a) Nurdin Damitov, in respect of his entire interest of
21,427,799 Sunkar Shares, representing approximately 6.28 per cent.
of the existing issued share capital of Sunkar; and
(b) Serikjan Utegen, in respect of his entire interest of
20,413,500 Sunkar Shares, representing approximately 5.98 per cent.
of the existing issued share capital of Sunkar.
-- Both of these irrevocable undertakings are binding in all
circumstances (including in the event of a higher offer).
-- Accordingly, when taken together with Sunkar Shares already
owned by SAPC, SAPC either owns or controls or has received
irrevocable undertakings over, in aggregate, 216,317,582 Sunkar
Shares, representing approximately 63.42 per cent. of the issued
ordinary share capital of Sunkar, as at the date of this
announcement.
-- Sunkar's Non-Executive Chairman, Teck Soon Kong, holds a
beneficial interest in 2,000,000 Sunkar Shares but has been unable
to give any form of undertaking in respect of these as they are
held in a discretionary trust over which he does not exercise
control.
-- SAPC is on the same day disclosing the details required to be
disclosed by it under Rule 8.1(a) of the Code.
The Offer represents:
-- a discount of approximately 9.2 per cent. to the
middle-market quotation of a Sunkar Share at market close on 16
June 2014, the last dealing day before this announcement; and
-- a premium of approximately 7.9 per cent. over the market
makers' bid price of 1.7 pence per Sunkar Share at market close on
16 June 2014, being the last Business Day prior to the date of this
announcement.
The basis for these calculations is set out in Appendix II.
-- The Sunkar Shares will be acquired free from all liens,
charges, encumbrances and other interests and together with all
rights now and hereafter attaching thereto including the right to
receive all dividends and other distributions hereafter declared,
made or paid.
-- Commenting on the Offer, Teck Soon Kong, Chairman of Sunkar said:
"This Offer provides a certain cash exit and secures the future
of the Company, against the current backdrop of Sunkar's
particularly challenging financial position. Without the financial
support received from SAPC, Sunkar would, in all probability, have
had to enter into insolvency proceedings so, in the view of the
Sunkar Board, the Offer represents the best outcome for Sunkar
Shareholders and employees alike"
This summary should be read in conjunction with and is subject
to the full text of the following announcement including its
Appendices.
The Offer will be subject to the Conditions and certain further
terms of the Offer set out in Appendix I. Appendix II sets out the
source and bases of calculations used in this announcement.
Appendix III contains details of the irrevocable undertakings given
to SAPC. Appendix IV contains the definitions of certain terms used
in this summary and the full text of this announcement.
Enquiries:
On behalf of SAPC + 7 701 962 9959
Rustam Abdrakhmanov
Hub Capital Partners Limited - Financial Adviser to SAPC +44 (0) 20 7653 8740
David Davies
Sunkar Resources plc +44 (0) 20 7397 3730
Teck Soon Kong, Chairman
Strand Hanson Limited - Financial Adviser, Nomad +44 (0) 20 7409 3494
and Broker to Sunkar
Stuart Faulkner
Andrew Emmott
James Dance
Bankside Consultants - Financial PR to Sunkar +44 7703 167 065
Simon Rothschild
Hub Capital Partners Limited is acting exclusively as financial
adviser to SAPC and no-one else in connection with the Offer and
other matters described in this announcement, and will not be
responsible to anyone other than SAPC for providing the protections
afforded to clients of Hub Capital Partners Limited or for
providing advice in relation to the Offer, the contents of this
announcement or any other matter referred to herein.
Strand Hanson Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the
United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting
exclusively as financial adviser and nominated adviser to Sunkar
and no-one else in connection with the Offer and other matters
described in this announcement, and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Sunkar for providing the protections afforded to
clients of Strand Hanson Limited or for providing advice in
relation to the Offer, the contents of this announcement or any
other matter referred to herein.
You may request a hard copy of this announcement (and any
information incorporated by reference in this announcement) by
contacting Capita Asset Services during business hours on 0871 664
0321 from within the UK or +44 02 8639 3399 if calling from outside
the UK or by writing to them at The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road,
Beckenham Kent BR3 4TU. It is important that you note that unless
you make a request, a hard copy of this announcement and any such
information incorporated by reference in it will not be sent to
you. You may also request that all future documents, announcements
and information to be sent to you in relation to the Offer should
be in hard copy form.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT
INTENDED TO, AND DOES NOT, CONSTITUTE OR FORM ANY PART OF, AN OFFER
TO SELL OR AN INVITATION TO SUBSCRIBE FOR OR PURCHASE ANY
SECURITIES OR THE SOLICITATION OF ANY VOTE OR APPROVAL IN ANY
JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE, ISSUANCE OR TRANSFER OF
THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN ANY JURISDICTION
IN CONTRAVENTION OF APPLICABLE LAW. THE OFFER WILL BE MADE SOLELY
BY MEANS OF THE OFFER DOCUMENT, WHICH WILL CONTAIN THE FULL TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER, AND IN THE CASE OF SAPC SHARES HELD IN
CERTIFICATED FORM, THE FORM OF ACCEPTANCE. ANY ACCEPTANCE IN
RELATION TO THE OFFER SHOULD BE MADE ONLY ON THE BASIS OF THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE OFFER DOCUMENT. SHAREHOLDERS ARE
ADVISED TO READ THE OFFER DOCUMENT CAREFULLY, ONCE IT HAS BEEN
DESPATCHED.
The availability of the Offer and the release, publication and
distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the
United Kingdom may be restricted by the laws of those jurisdictions
and therefore persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom
into whose possession this announcement comes should inform
themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Failure to
comply with any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the
securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in
the Offer disclaim any responsibility or liability for the
violation of such restrictions by any person. Copies of this
announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Offer are
not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or
otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any
Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents
(including, without limitation, custodians, nominees and trustees)
must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them
in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction.
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying
with English law, the Code and the AIM Rules and the 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 the United Kingdom.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by
reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the
Offer, and other information published by SAPC and Sunkar may
contain certain statements that are or may be deemed to be forward
looking with respect to the financial condition, results of
operation(s) and business of Sunkar and certain plans and
objectives of the Sunkar Board and the SAPC Directors with respect
thereto. These forward looking statements can be identified by the
fact that they are prospective in nature and do not relate to
historical or current facts. Forward looking statements often, but
not always, use words such as "anticipate", "target", "expect",
"estimate", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "intend", "plan",
"goal", "believe", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could" or
other words of a similar meaning. These estimates are based on
assumptions and assessments made by the Sunkar Board and/or the
SAPC Directors in light of their experience and their perception of
historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments
and other factors they believe appropriate.
The statements contained in this announcement are made as at the
date of this announcement, unless some other time is specified in
relation to them, and service of this announcement shall not give
rise to any implication that there has been no change in the facts
set forth in this announcement since such date. By their nature,
forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because
they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur
in the future and the factors described in the context of such
forward looking statements in this announcement could cause actual
results or developments to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such forward looking statements. Although Sunkar and
SAPC believe that the expectations reflected in such forward
looking statements are reasonable, neither SAPC nor Sunkar, nor any
of their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers,
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 their legal or regulatory obligations
(including under the AIM Rules and the Disclosure and Transparency
Rules of the FCA), neither SAPC nor Sunkar is under any obligation,
and SAPC and Sunkar expressly disclaim any intention or obligation,
to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise. Sunkar and
SAPC therefore caution you not to place undue reliance on these
forward looking statements which speak only as at the date of this
announcement.
Disclosure Requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in
1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree
company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror
other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced
that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an
Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer
period and, if later, following the announcement in which any
securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening
Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests
and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant
securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any
securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a
person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than
3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the
commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later
than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the
announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first
identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of
the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to
the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead
make a Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes,
interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the
offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a
Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities
of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A
Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned
and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to
subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree
company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror, save to the
extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule
8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies
must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the
business day following the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an
interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a
securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single
person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree
company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be
made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons
acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and
8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose
relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing
Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on
the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk,
including details of the number of relevant securities in issue,
when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first
identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit
on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you
are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing
Disclosure.
Information Relating to Sunkar Shareholders
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain
information provided by Sunkar Shareholders, persons with
information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of
communications from Sunkar may be provided to SAPC during the offer
period as requested under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Code to
comply with Rule 2.12(c).
Rule 2.10 Disclosure
In accordance with Rule 2.10 of the Code, Sunkar confirms that,
as at the date of this announcement, it has 341,110,357 ordinary
shares of 0.1 pence each in issue and admitted to trading on AIM
and listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange under the ISIN
reference GB00B29KHR09.
In addition, the Company has in issue 1.28 million US$1
convertible loan notes ("CLNs"), convertible into a maximum of
34,065,202 Sunkar Shares, subject to MINT waiving its rights to
acquire the Sunkar Shares arising on conversion of the CLNs.
Publication on website
In accordance with Rule 30.4 of the Code, a copy of this
announcement will be made available free of charge (subject to any
applicable restrictions with respect to persons resident in
Restricted Jurisdictions) on the websites of Sunkar at
www.sunkarresources.com by no later than 12 noon (London time) on
18 June 2014. For the avoidance of doubt, the content of these
websites is not incorporated by reference and does not form part of
this announcement.
Note to US Sunkar Shareholders
The Offer will be made for the securities of a UK company and is
subject to UK disclosure requirements, which are different from
those in the United States. The financial information included in
this announcement has been prepared in accordance with accounting
standards applicable in the United Kingdom and thus may not be
comparable to financial information of US companies or companies
whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
The Offer will be made in the United States pursuant to
applicable UK tender offer rules and securities laws and otherwise
in accordance with the requirements of the Code. Accordingly, the
Offer will be subject to disclosure and other procedural
requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer
timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments that are
different from those applicable to tender offers made in accordance
with US procedures and law.
It may be difficult for Sunkar Shareholders in the US to enforce
their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal securities
laws, since SAPC and Sunkar are located in non-US jurisdictions,
and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of
non-US jurisdictions. US Sunkar Shareholders may not be able to sue
a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for
violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to
compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to
the judgment of a US court.
In accordance with the Code and normal UK market practice and
pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b)(10) under the United States Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), SAPC or its
nominees or brokers (acting as agents) may from time to time make
certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, Shares outside
the United States, otherwise than pursuant to the Offer, before or
during the period in which the Offer remains open for acceptance,
such as in open market purchases at prevailing prices or privately
negotiated purchases at negotiated prices. In the event that SAPC
or its nominees or brokers (acting as agents) purchase or make
arrangements to purchase Shares for a higher price than the Offer
Price, the Offer Price will be increased to match the higher price
paid outside the Offer. Such purchases, or arrangements to
purchase, will comply with all applicable United Kingdom rules,
including the Code and the AIM Rules. These purchases may occur in
the open market or as privately negotiated transactions. Any
information about such purchases which is required to be made
public in the United Kingdom pursuant to the Code will be reported
to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the
London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.
Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any
securities commission of any state or other jurisdiction of the
United States has approved or disapproved of this announcement or
determined whether this announcement is accurate or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offence.
PART 2
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF
SUCH JURISDICTION
RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER
by
SUN AVENUE PARTNERS CORP. ("SAPC")
for
those Shares it does not already own in
SunkarRESOURCES PLC ("Sunkar")
1. Introduction
The Boards of SAPC and Sunkar wish to announce they have reached
an agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer to be made by
SAPC to acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share
capital of Sunkar.
2. The Offer
The Offer, which will be subject to the terms and conditions set
out in Appendix I, will be made on the following basis:
for each Sunkar Share 1.835 pence in cash
The Offer values Sunkar's existing issued ordinary share capital
at GBP6,259,375.05 and represents:
-- a discount of approximately 9.2 per cent. to the
middle-market quotation of a Sunkar Share at market close on 16
June 2014, the last dealing day before this announcement; and
-- a premium of approximately 7.9 per cent. over the market
makers' bid price of 1.7 pence per Sunkar Share at market close on
16 June 2014, being the last Business Day prior to the date of this
announcement.
The Offer will extend to all Sunkar Shares unconditionally
allotted or issued and fully paid on the date of the Offer and any
Sunkar Shares, which are unconditionally allotted or issued and
fully paid whilst the Offer remains open for acceptance or by such
earlier date as SAPC may decide, subject to the Code, and not being
earlier than the date on which the Offer becomes conditional as to
acceptances.
3. Background to and reasons for the Offer
Sunkar Resources was admitted to trading on AIM in June 2008,
raising US$67 million in equity to develop, over a four year
period, a phosphate manufacturing facility at the site of the
Chilisai Deposit in Kazakhstan. Since then, the Company has raised
a further US$16.45 million, including US$14.18 million from SAPC,an
investment company wholly owned by Mr Almas Mynbayev, a businessman
from Kazakhstan.
The financial resources available to the Sunkar Group have not
matched the capital required to develop the project in line with
the Sunkar Group's original plans. Despite accelerating revenue
through interim production initiatives, the Sunkar Group is
currently financially constrained and is dependent on the continued
financial support of SAPC.
SAPC first invested in Sunkar in December 2007 and made a
subsequent investment post the 2008 IPO. In 2010, SAPC sold off its
stake in Sunkar, in full. Mr Mynbayev was a non-executive director
of Sunkar's wholly-owned subsidiary, Temir-Service LLP ("Temir"),
from 18 February 2008 until 24 September 2009.
In 2012, SAPC provided the Company with US$12.8 million in
convertible loans. These loans were converted in February 2013 into
Sunkar Shares representing 51.15 per cent. of the Company's share
capital, after which the Company listed on the Kazakhstan Stock
Exchange on 5 December 2012. SAPC provided a further US$1.28
million in Convertible Loans Notes in April 2014 and another
unsecured US$0.1 million loan facility on 27 May 2014. On 17 June
2014, SAPC also granted a short term working capital facility to
Sunkar up to a maximum sum of ca. US$2,550,000 (the "SAPC Loan").
Further details of the SAPC Loan are set out in the separate Sunkar
announcement released today.
SAPC has advised the Sunkar Board that it no longer intends to
continue to provide financial support to the Company while it
remains admitted to trading on AIM and listed on the Kazakhstan
Stock Exchange and has agreed with the Sunkar Board that it will
make the Offer to the minority Sunkar Shareholders and apply to the
London Stock Exchange to cancel the Company's admission to AIM and
to the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange to delist the Company from that
exchange.
SAPC believes that it will be easier to obtain the necessary
capital to continue the Sunkar Group's development in the private
domain. Taking the Company private will reduce overheads and allow
it to focus on its core business and to develop a new corporate
structure (probably in Kazakhstan) in order to benefit from recent
tax and investment incentive initiatives in that country.
4. Irrevocable Undertakings
SAPC has received irrevocable undertakings to accept (or to
procure acceptance of) the Offer, from certain directors of Sunkar
who are also Sunkar Shareholders, in respect of a total of
41,841,299 Sunkar Shares, representing approximately 12.27 per
cent. of Sunkar's issued ordinary share capital, being:
-- Nurdin Damitov, in respect of his entire interest of 21,427,799 Sunkar Shares, representing approximately 6.28 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Sunkar; and
-- Serikjan Utegen, in respect of his entire interest of
20,413,500 Sunkar Shares, representing approximately 5.98 per cent.
of the existing issued share capital of Sunkar.
Both of these irrevocable undertakings are binding in all
circumstances (including in the event of a higher offer).
Accordingly, when taken together with Sunkar Shares already
owned by SAPC, SAPC either owns or controls or has received
irrevocable undertakings over, in aggregate, 216,317,582 Sunkar
Shares, representing approximately 63.42 per cent. of the issued
ordinary share capital of Sunkar, as at the date of this
announcement.
Sunkar's Non-Executive Chairman, Teck Soon Kong, holds a
beneficial interest in 2,000,000 Sunkar Shares but has been unable
to give any form of undertaking in respect of these as the legal
title to them is held by a trust which he does not control.
5. Background to and reasons for recommending the Offer
The Company was admitted to trading on AIM in June 2008 and
raised funds at that time principally to acquire and develop the
Chilisai Deposit in North West Kazakhstan through its wholly owned
subsidiary, Temir, which holds the Subsoil Use Contract for the
Chilisai Deposit. The Company completed a detailed feasibility
study ("DFS"), prepared by SNC-Lavalin, in February 2013, but has
been unable to source the required funding of some US$1.94 billion
to progress development of the chemical complex as described in the
DFS.
The Company has been generating revenue by utilising its mining
machinery assets to undertake earth moving infrastructure contracts
relating, inter alia, to the construction of a railway in Western
Kazakhstan and by producing Direct Application Rock ("DAR") and
ground phosphate rock from its milling plant, for sale to the local
agricultural sector as well as to industrial customers in
Russia.
However, the Company has not been able consistently to generate
sufficient revenue to maintain a viable business and, on several
occasions, most recently in April, May and June 2014, has had to
seek additional funding from SAPC, which is wholly owned by Mr
Almas Mynbayev, the majority Sunkar Shareholder. The Company has
been able to access this funding from SAPC pursuant to letters of
support from Mr Mynbayev and, subsequently, JSC "Interfarma-K", a
company in which Mr Mynbayev is interested ("Letter(s) of
Support"), as first announced to the market on 28 September 2012
and most recently on 2 April 2014.
In April 2014, SAPC wrote to the Company to express its concern
with regard to the Company's financial situation, and seeking to
work with the Company to find a structural alternative to it
providing further funding under the Letter of Support, in order to
provide a more permanent solution to the Company's ongoing funding
deficit, until sufficient funds were raised to progress with the
plans set out in the DFS.
As a result of these discussions, on 19 May 2014, SAPC put
forward a proposal to acquire the minority interests in Sunkar that
it did not already own, such that SAPC would own, on completion of
the transaction, 100 per cent. of Sunkar. At the same time, SAPC
confirmed that, should this proposal not receive the support of the
Sunkar Board, it was highly unlikely that JSC "Interfarma-K" would
renew its Letter of Support for the coming twelve months or provide
any further funding to the Company.
Further to these discussions, the Sunkar Board sought advice
from an independent firm of accountants and an independent firm of
insolvency practitioners as to the financial position of the
Company under such a scenario. This advice confirmed the Sunkar
Board's assessment that, without the financial support of SAPC, it
was highly probable that the Company would no longer be deemed a
going concern, would be unable to meet its debts as they became due
and would lead to the commencement of insolvency proceedings and
the Sunkar Shares would be suspended from trading on AIM.
As a result of this advice, and the Sunkar Board's assessment of
the Company's financial position, the Sunkar Board urgently
explored sourcing finance, whether equity, debt or a combination of
both, from a third party provider, but was unable to secure any
such finance.
Accordingly, if the Offer does not complete, JSC "Interfarma-K"
withdraws the current Letter of Support and SAPC does not provide
further funding to the Company, the Sunkar Board would immediately
have to seek alternative sources of funding to meet its working
capital requirements, which the Sunkar Board, having previously
investigated such alternative sources of financing, does not
believe would be available to the Company. This would, in the view
of the Sunkar Board, lead to the suspension of the Sunkar Shares
from trading on AIM and the commencement of insolvency
proceedings.
In the event that the Company enters into insolvency
proceedings, the Sunkar Board would expect that Temir would cease
trading and would also enter insolvency proceedings in Kazakhstan.
Temir would then be unable to perform its obligations under the
terms of the Subsoil Use Contract, which would result in the
Subsoil Use Contract being revoked. If Sunkar were to lose its
rights under the Subsoil Use Contract, it is the Sunkar Board's
belief that Sunkar Shareholders would be unlikely to receive any
value for their Sunkar Shares.
The Sunkar Directors have therefore unanimously agreed to
recommend that Sunkar Shareholders accept the Offer and Serik
Utegen and Nurdin Damitov have irrevocably undertaken to accept the
Offer in respect of their combined beneficial shareholding of 12.27
per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of Sunkar as at the
date of this announcement.
Accordingly, in light of the above, the Sunkar Directors, who
have been so advised by Strand Hanson, consider the terms of the
Offer to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice, Strand
Hanson has taken into account the commercial assessments of the
Sunkar Directors.
6. Information on SAPC and Mr Almas Mynbayev
SAPC is an investment company incorporated and registered in the
British Virgin Islands (Number: 1430450) on 7 September 2007, whose
registered office address is at Trident Trust Company (BVI) Limited
of Trident Chambers, Wickhams Cay, P.O. Box 146, Road Town,
Tortola. The entire issued share capital of SAPC comprising 50,000
shares of US$1.00 is wholly owned by Mr Almas Mynbayev. The
directors of SAPC are Mr Andreas T. Moustras, Mrs Irene G Spoerry
and Mrs Michelle Anne Williamson Draper.
In addition to its investment in Sunkar, SAPC operates Mr
Mynbayev's interests in three early stage natural resources
projects as follows:
- the Telimele bauxite project in Guinea, covering an area of
some 2,000 sq. km., is an early stage exploration project commenced
in 2010, and currently undergoing pre-feasibility studies into
exporting bauxite and developing an alumina plant;
- a rare earth metals project in Namibia covering approximately
2,300 sq. km. over three licence blocks, currently subject to
exploration with drilling works set to complete in September 2014;
and
- a gold deposit in Kyrgyzstan covering 78 sq. km. Exploration
took place in 2011 and 2012 for the purpose of reconfirming
historical resources, which have now been calculated as 2,237
tonnes of fully explored and evaluated resources with evaluated and
potential reserves of 48 tonnes.
Owing to the early stage nature of the above projects, SAPC's
financial and trading prospects are essentially dependent on the
successful development of the Sunkar Resources business post
completion of the Offer.
SAPC has not been required to produce any annual financial
statements.
Mr Mynbayev graduated from Kazakh State University law school in
1996 and initially worked as legal counsel for banking, investment
and energy companies in Kazakhstan. Between 2003 and 2004, Mr
Mynbayev was Deputy Chairman of the Kazakh State Agency for
Regulating Natural Monopolies and Protection Completion. During
this tenure, Mr Mynbayev was a member of the Intergovernmental
Commission for the law making activity in Kazakhstan. He no longer
practices law and now primarily focuses on his own business
interests which include being Chairman of and sole shareholder in
two top ten ranked Kazakh insurance companies, Nomad Insurance,
ranked 8(th) by reserves and 9(th) by assets, and Nomad Life,
ranked 3(rd) by reserves and 7(th) by assets.
Nomad Insurance was set up in 2004 and Mr Mynbayev has owned it
from inception. Nomad Life was set up in 2008. Mr Mynbayev acquired
65 per cent. of Nomad Life on 9 January 2012 from Mr. Sultan
Nurbol. The purchase price paid by Mr Mynbayev was approximately
US$4 million.
Mr Mynbayev acquired the remaining 35 per cent. of Nomad Life on
22 April 2013 from Sultan Nurbol, Mamysheva A. and Salamatova S.
The purchase price paid by Mr Mynbayev was approximately US$4.4
million.
Nomad Insurance generated turnover in its two financial years
ended 31 December 2012 and 2013 of KZT14.1 billion (GBP45.8
million) and T14.7 billion (GBP47.8 million) respectively, had
gross profit (before taxes) in those years of KZT6.4 billion
(GBP20.8 million) and KZT0.5 billion (GBP1.6 million) and had net
assets at the end of those periods of KZT4.1 billion (GBP13.3
million) and KZT4.9 billion (GBP15.9 million). Nomad Life generated
turnover in its two financial years ended 31 December 2012 and 2013
of KZT18.4 billion (GBP59.8 million) and KZT18.4 billion (GBP59.8
million) respectively, had gross profit (before taxes) in those
years of KZT1.0 billion (GBP3.25 million) and KZT0.5 billion
(GBP1.6 million) and had assets at the end of those periods of
KZT3.0 billion (GBP9.75 million) and KZT3.4 billion (GBP11.05
million).
In recent years, Mr Mynbayev has endeavoured to diversify his
natural resources interests more widely and his involvement with
Sunkar and its phosphates business represents part of this
strategy.
7. Information on Sunkar
History
Sunkar was incorporated in England and Wales, on 28 March 2006,
with the registration number 05759399, and was admitted to trading
on AIM, on 30 June 2008, and to listing on the Kazakhstan Stock
Exchange, on 5 December 2012.
The Company has a 100 per cent. interest in Temir, which holds
the Subsoil Use Contract for the Chilisai Deposit. The Chilisai
Deposit is one of the most significant phosphorite deposits in the
former Soviet Union, with a resource of approximately 800 million
tonnes of ore at 10 per cent. P(2) O(5) .
The Company commenced mining operations at the Chilisai Deposit
in 2008 and, in February 2011, Sunkar published the preliminary
results of the DFS, conducted by SNC - Lavalin, one of the leading
engineering and construction groups in the world, which was
subsequently completed and the results of the DFS were published in
February 2013.
The DFS concluded that a large scale mono-ammonium phosphate
("MAP"), di-ammonium phosphate ("DAP") chemical processing plant
would require approximately US$1.94 billion (+/- 15 per cent.) to
fund construction and working capital. The DFS includes, inter
alia, the economic model for the plant and a comprehensive
marketing study for future sales of the MAP, DAP and phosphoric
acid products.
The location of the Chilisai Deposit has certain key advantages
in the opinion of the Sunkar Board, including, inter alia, access
to a relatively low cost source of sulphur, one of the key raw
materials required for phosphate fertilizer production, and well
developed existing transport and power infrastructure
facilities.
Whilst the Company was in the process of attempting to raise the
funds required to develop the chemical processing plant, as
envisaged under the DFS, it utilised its heavy machinery and
workforce by entering into earth moving contracts with a general
contractor building a new railway in Western Kazakhstan, which
initially generated positive cash flows to fund the Group's general
working capital requirements.
In addition to the earth moving contracts, the Group has
continued to mine and market DAR to the local agricultural sector,
as well as ground phosphate rock sales to industrial customers,
although this has historically represented a relatively small
amount of total revenue.
For the financial year ended 31 December 2012, Sunkar reported
total revenue of US$2.25 million (2011: US$0.17 million) and a loss
(before and after taxation) of US$9.24 million (2011: US$10.11
million). As at 31 December 2012, total assets were US$98.18
million (2011: US$97.56 million), net assets were US$65.49 million
(2011: US$74.20 million) and net debt was US$16.28 million (2011:
US$5.65 million). In the half year ended 30 June 2013, Sunkar
generated total revenue of US$4.92 million (2012: US$0.55 million)
and loss (before and after taxation) of US$3.62 million (2012:
US$4.53 million). Net debt as at 30 June 2013 was US$2.11 million
(2012: US$12.44 million).
Current trading and prospects
As set out in the operational update provided by the Company on
2 April 2014, Sunkar's operations have been adversely affected by
the ca. 20 per cent. devaluation of the Kazakh Tenge, on 11
February 2014, which has led to financial uncertainty within the
domestic economy of Kazakhstan. As a result of this, the signing of
many new government contracts denominated in Kazakh Tenge has been
put on hold, which has also led to delays in the receipt of monies
due to Sunkar in respect of its existing earth moving contracts, as
well as delaying the agreement of the expected new contracts.
As previously announced, the earth moving contracts associated
with the Kazakh government's infrastructure development programmes
are a significant part of Sunkar's revenues and the Company has
been largely relying on the cash generated by these projects for
its ongoing working capital needs.
In the interim results, for the six months ended 30 June 2013,
announced on 24 September 2013, the Company stated, "Short-term
cash flows will be managed by completion of the existing earth
moving contracts, pursuit of additional contracts and further sales
of DAR and ground phosphate rock backed up by the support of the
majority shareholder". However, as announced previously, events
during 2014 have made that forecast unsustainable.
The Company anticipates that it will publish its Annual Report
and Accounts for the twelve months ended 31 December 2013 by 30
June 2014.
Earth moving contracts
The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Temir, has been
unsuccessful to date in concluding negotiations for a third earth
moving contract within the timescale previously expected.
Accordingly, Temir is now expected to generate materially less cash
during this financial year, than had been expected at the time of
the Company's operational update in December 2013. Sunkar is
continuing to negotiate this contract, but the Sunkar Board
reluctantly recognises that there can be no certainty as to
whether, or when, acceptable terms will be agreed.
In March 2014, Sunkar agreed an extension to the second earth
moving contract with a value of approximately KZT79 million
(US$434,000). The majority of these works were completed during
April 2014, in terms of volumes, and Temir expects to complete the
final works to the exterior of embankments, top prism shaping and
gutters during the course of June 2014. Temir has yet to complete
26,282 m(3) of works under the first earth moving contract, as
these were delayed due to other critical path work streams, which
had to be completed prior to completion of the embankment. It is
expected these works will also be completed in June 2014.
DAR sales
As of 31 May 2014, Temir has shipped 10,534 tonnes of DAR in
2014, both ground and unground, including 5,658 tonnes to Russia,
4,738 tonnes to Kazakhstan, and 138 tonnes to the EU. Shipments in
May were 3,034 tonnes, which was slightly above Sunkar management's
expectations.
The total quantity contracted to date for delivery in 2014 is
32,496 tonnes of DAR.
Temir has continued working towards a feasibility study for the
proposed nitrophosphate granulation facility. However, due to
funding constraints, Temir has been unable to commission further
consultancy and design works from third party contractors to
progress this study.
Prospects
As a result of the above mentioned delays in receipt of payment
in respect of the existing earth moving contracts, the delays in
agreeing a further earth moving contract and the economic effects
of the Tenge devaluation, the Company has recently called upon the
financial support of SAPC on several occasions, as set out below
and announced at the time in accordance with the AIM Rules.
-- In April 2014, the Company raised US$1.28 million via the
issue of the CLNs to SAPC in order to make deferred ACB Loan
repayments and meet other creditor demands.
-- On 27 May 2014, the Company announced that its financial
position had worsened significantly and that the Sunkar Board
required an immediate working capital injection in order to make
further payments under the ACB Loan. Accordingly, SAPC agreed to
provide an additional US$0.10 million new loan facility to the
Company.
-- On 17 June 2014, the Company secured a ca. US$2.55 million
working capital facility from SAPC, in order to fund the Company's
working capital requirements throughout the duration of the Offer
Period and in any event for a period of 120 days following the date
of the agreement.
As set out in section 5 of this announcement, SAPC indicated, in
May 2014, that it was not prepared to continue to fund Sunkar on an
ongoing basis, without seeking full control of the Company.
Accordingly, in the absence of the Offer, the Sunkar Board,
having sought advice from an independent firm of accountants and an
independent firm of insolvency practitioners, determined that
should SAPC not provide further funding to the Company, the Sunkar
Board would immediately have to seek alternative sources of funding
to meet its working capital requirements, which the Sunkar Board,
having previously investigated such alternative sources of
financing, do not believe would be available to the Company. This
would, in the view of the Sunkar Board, lead to the suspension of
trading of the Sunkar Shares on AIM and the commencement of
insolvency proceedings.
In addition, the Sunkar Board would note that SAPC has advised
the Company that it does not currently intend to provide further
financial support to the Company, above that provided on 17 June
2014, whilst it remains admitted to trading on AIM and listed on
the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange.
8. Management, employees and pension schemes
SAPC confirms that, on completion of the Offer, the existing
employment rights, including pension rights, of all employees of
the Sunkar Group will be observed to the extent required by
applicable law.
SAPC intends to continue the Sunkar Group's operations in
Kazakhstan with a view to generating revenue, sustaining mining
operations and complying with the Sunkar Group's obligations under
its Subsoil Use Contract with the government of Kazakhstan. SAPC is
contemplating setting up a new corporate structure through which to
manage the business. SAPC will employ sufficient personnel in
Kazakhstan to maintain these operations. SAPC has no current plans
to redeploy any of the Sunkar Group's fixed assets.
The UK office will be maintained only for as long as necessary
to comply with UK regulations during the completion and delisting
process, following which it will be closed. The Sunkar Directors
and other UK based employees will be paid their usual salaries
until closure, following which their termination rights under their
contracts of employment will be invoked, with the exception of Mr
Utegen, the Company's CEO.
Mr Utegen, the Sunkar Group CEO, will continue to run the Sunkar
Group's activities during that period and it is currently envisaged
that he will be invited to continue in this role, as head of the
revised corporate structure referred to above, on terms no more
favourable than his current terms of employment.
Loans made to the Company by two of the Sunkar Directors
totaling US$600,000 (plus accrued interest), will be repaid upon
completion of the Offer.
The Company has no employee share options under grant nor any
pension schemes.
SAPC does not intend to provide any trading facilities for the
Sunkar Shares following cancellation of its admission to trading on
AIM and its delisting from the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange.
9. Sunkar Share Option Schemes and Convertible Loan Notes
The Offer will extend to any Sunkar Shares issued or
unconditionally allotted or issued whilst the Offer remains open
for acceptance (or by such earlier date as SAPC, subject to the
Code, may decide). There are no share options.
On 7 April 2014, the Company issued 1,280,000 convertible loan
notes of US$1 each (the "CLNs") to SAPC. The CLNs are convertible
at approximately US$0.0376 (approximately 2.2 pence) per share.
10. Financing of the Offer
The consideration payable under the Offer will be funded from
the existing cash resources of SAPC and its shareholder Mr
Mynbayev.
Hub Capital, financial adviser to SAPC, is satisfied that
resources are available to SAPC which are sufficient to satisfy
full acceptance of the Offer.
11. Overseas Sunkar Shareholders
Overseas Sunkar Shareholders should inform themselves about and
observe any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. If they
are in any doubt about their position, they should consult their
own professional adviser in the relevant territory.
The availability of the Offer to persons not resident in, and
not citizens of, the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of
the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or of which
they are citizens.
Persons who are not resident in, or not citizens of, the United
Kingdom should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable
legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdictions. Overseas
Sunkar Shareholders who are in any doubt regarding such matters
should consult an appropriate independent professional adviser in
the relevant jurisdiction without delay.
Further details in relation to Overseas Sunkar Shareholders will
be contained in the Offer Document.
12. Documents published on a website
The following documents will be published on
www.sunkarresources.com in accordance with Rule 26.1 of the
Code:
- the irrevocable undertakings described in paragraph 4 above;
and
- this announcement.
13. General
The Offer Document setting out details of the Offer will be sent
to Sunkar Shareholders and any persons with information rights as
soon as practicable.
Hub Capital is acting as financial adviser to SAPC for the
purposes of the Offer.
14. Press enquiries
On behalf of SAPC +7 701 962 9959
Rustam Abdrakhmanov
Hub Capital Partners Limited - Financial Adviser to SAPC +44 (0) 20 7653 8740
David Davies
Sunkar Resources plc +44 (0) 20 7397 3730
Teck Soon Kong, Chairman
Strand Hanson Limited - Financial Adviser, Nomad +44 (0) 20 7409 3494
and Broker to Sunkar
Stuart Faulkner
Andrew Emmott
James Dance
Bankside Consultants - Financial PR to Sunkar +44 7703 167 065
Simon Rothschild
Hub Capital Partners Limited is acting exclusively as financial
adviser to SAPC and no-one else in connection with the Offer and
other matters described in this announcement, and will not be
responsible to anyone other than SAPC for providing the protections
afforded to clients of Hub Capital Partners Limited or for
providing advice in relation to the Offer, the contents of this
announcement or any other matter referred to herein.
Strand Hanson Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the
United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting
exclusively as financial adviser and nominated adviser to Sunkar
and no-one else in connection with the Offer and other matters
described in this announcement, and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Sunkar for providing the protections afforded to
clients of Strand Hanson Limited or for providing advice in
relation to the Offer, the contents of this announcement or any
other matter referred to herein.
You may request a hard copy of this announcement (and any
information incorporated by reference in this announcement) by
contacting Capita Asset Services during business hours on 0871 664
0321 from within the UK or +44 02 8639 3399 if calling from outside
the UK or by writing to them at The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road,
Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU.. It is important that you note that unless
you make a request, a hard copy of this announcement and any such
information incorporated by reference in it will not be sent to
you. You may also request that all future documents, announcements
and information to be sent to you in relation to the Offer should
be in hard copy form.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT
INTENDED TO, AND DOES NOT, CONSTITUTE OR FORM ANY PART OF, AN OFFER
TO SELL OR AN INVITATION TO SUBSCRIBE FOR OR PURCHASE ANY
SECURITIES OR THE SOLICITATION OF ANY VOTE OR APPROVAL IN ANY
JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE, ISSUANCE OR TRANSFER OF
THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN ANY JURISDICTION
IN CONTRAVENTION OF APPLICABLE LAW. THE OFFER WILL BE MADE SOLELY
BY MEANS OF THE OFFER DOCUMENT, WHICH WILL CONTAIN THE FULL TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER, AND IN THE CASE OF Sunkar SHARES HELD
IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THE FORM OF ACCEPTANCE. ANY ACCEPTANCE IN
RELATION TO THE OFFER SHOULD BE MADE ONLY ON THE BASIS OF THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE OFFER DOCUMENT. SHAREHOLDERS ARE
ADVISED TO READ THE OFFER DOCUMENT CAREFULLY, ONCE IT HAS BEEN
DESPATCHED.
The availability of the Offer and the release, publication and
distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the
United Kingdom may be restricted by the laws of those jurisdictions
and therefore persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom
into whose possession this announcement comes should inform
themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Failure to
comply with any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the
securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in
the Offer disclaim any responsibility or liability for the
violation of such restrictions by any person. Copies of this
announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Offer are
not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or
otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any
Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents
(including, without limitation, custodians, nominees and trustees)
must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in,
into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction.
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying
with English law, the Code and the AIM Rules and the 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 the United Kingdom.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by
reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the
Offer, and other information published by SAPC and Sunkar may
contain certain statements that are or may be deemed to be forward
looking with respect to the financial condition, results of
operation(s) and business of Sunkar and certain plans and
objectives of the Sunkar Board and the SAPC Director with respect
thereto. These forward looking statements can be identified by the
fact that they are prospective in nature and do not relate to
historical or current facts. Forward looking statements often, but
not always, use words such as "anticipate", "target", "expect",
"estimate", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "intend", "plan",
"goal", "believe", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could" or
other words of a similar meaning. These estimates are based on
assumptions and assessments made by the Sunkar Board and/or the
SAPC Director in light of their experience and their perception of
historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments
and other factors they believe appropriate. The statements
contained in this announcement are made as at the date of this
announcement, unless some other time is specified in relation to
them, and service of this announcement shall not give rise to any
implication that there has been no change in the facts set forth in
this announcement since such date. By their nature, forward looking
statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to
events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future
and the factors described in the context of such forward looking
statements in this announcement could cause actual results or
developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied
by such forward looking statements. Although Sunkar and SAPC
believe that the expectations reflected in such forward looking
statements are reasonable, neither SAPC nor Sunkar, nor any of
their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers,
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 their legal or regulatory obligations
(including under the AIM Rules and the Disclosure and Transparency
Rules of the FCA), neither SAPC nor Sunkar is under any obligation,
and SAPC and Sunkar expressly disclaim any intention or obligation,
to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise. Sunkar and
SAPC therefore caution you not to place undue reliance on these
forward looking statements which speak only as at the date of this
announcement.
Disclosure Requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in
1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree
company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror
other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced
that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an
Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer
period and, if later, following the announcement in which any
securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening
Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests
and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant
securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any
securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a
person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than
3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the
commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later
than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the
announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first
identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of
the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to
the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead
make a Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes,
interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the
offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a
Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities
of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A
Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned
and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to
subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree
company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror, save to the
extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule
8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies
must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the
business day following the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an
interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a
securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single
person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree
company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be
made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons
acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and
8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose
relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing
Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on
the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk,
including details of the number of relevant securities in issue,
when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first
identified. You should consult the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit
on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you
are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing
Disclosure.
Information Relating to Sunkar Shareholders
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain
information provided by Sunkar Shareholders, persons with
information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of
communications from Sunkar may be provided to SAPC during the offer
period as requested under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Code to
comply with Rule 2.12(c).
Rule 2.10 Disclosure
In accordance with Rule 2.10 of the Code, Sunkar confirms that,
as at the date of this announcement, it has 341,110,357 ordinary
shares of 0.1 pence each in issue and admitted to trading on AIM
and listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange under the ISIN
reference GB00B29KHR09.
In addition, the Company has in issue 1.28 million US$1
convertible loan notes ("CLNs"), convertible into a maximum of
34,065,202 Sunkar Shares, subject to the MINT waiving its rights to
acquire the Sunkar Shares arising on conversion of the CLNs.
Publication on website
In accordance with Rule 30.4 of the Code, a copy of this
announcement will be made available free of charge (subject to any
applicable restrictions with respect to persons resident in
Restricted Jurisdictions) on the websites of Sunkar at
www.sunkarresources.com by no later than 12 noon (London time) on
18 June 2014. For the avoidance of doubt, the content of these
websites is not incorporated by reference and does not form part of
this announcement.
APPENDIX I
Conditions and Certain Further Terms of the Offer
Conditions of the Offer
The Offer will be subject to the following Conditions:
(a) valid acceptances being received (and not, where permitted,
withdrawn) by not later than 1.00 p.m. on the first closing date of
the Offer (or such later time(s) and/or date(s) as SAPC may, with
the consent of the Panel or in accordance with the Code, decide) in
respect of not less than 90 per cent. (or such lower percentage as
SAPC may decide) (1) in nominal value of Sunkar Shares to which the
Offer relates, and (2) of the voting rights attached to those
shares. For the purposes of this condition:
(i) shares which have been unconditionally allotted but not
issued before the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional as to
acceptances, whether pursuant to the exercise of any outstanding
subscription or conversion rights or otherwise, shall be deemed to
carry the voting rights they will carry on being entered into the
register of members of Sunkar; and
(ii) the expression "Sunkar Shares to which the Offer relates"
shall be construed in accordance with Part 28 of the Companies Act
2006;
(b) no government or governmental, quasi-governmental, supranational, statutory, regulatory, environmental or investigative body, court, trade agency, professional association, institution, employee representative body, or any other body or person whatsoever in any jurisdiction (each a "Third Party" and all collectively "Third Parties") having decided or given notice of a decision to take, institute, implement or threaten any action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference, or having required any action to be taken, or otherwise having done anything, or having enacted, made or proposed and there not continuing to be outstanding any statute, regulation, decision or order which would or might reasonably be expected to:
(i) make the Offer or its implementation or the acquisition or
proposed acquisition of control of Sunkar, by SAPC, void, illegal
and/or unenforceable under the laws of any jurisdiction, or
otherwise, directly or indirectly, restrain, restrict, prohibit,
challenge, delay, hinder or otherwise interfere with the same in
each case to an extent which is material in the context of the
Wider Sunkar Group, or impose material additional conditions or
obligations with respect thereto, or otherwise materially challenge
or require material amendment to the terms of the Offer;
(ii) require, prevent or materially delay the divestiture, or
alter the terms envisaged for any proposed divestiture, by SAPC or
by any member of the Wider Sunkar Group of all or any portion of
their respective businesses, assets or properties or impose any
limitation on the ability of any of them to conduct their
respective businesses (or any part of them) or to own or manage
their respective assets or properties or any part of them to an
extent in any such case which is material in the context of SAPC or
the Wider Sunkar Group, as the case may be, taken as a whole;
(iii) impose any material limitation on, or result in a material
delay in, the ability of SAPC, directly or indirectly, to acquire
or to hold or to exercise effectively all or any rights of
ownership in respect of shares, loans or other securities (or the
equivalent) in any member of the Wider Sunkar Group or to exercise
management control over any such member to an extent which is
material in the context of SAPC or the Wider Sunkar Group, as the
case may be, taken as a whole;
(iv) save as pursuant to Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies
Act 2006 and to an extent which is material, require SAPC or any
member of the Wider Sunkar Group to acquire, or offer to acquire,
any shares or other securities (or the equivalent) owned by any
third party in, or any asset owned by, any member of the Wider
Sunkar Group;
(v) result in a material delay in the ability of SAPC, or render
it unable to a material extent, to acquire some or all of the
Sunkar Shares or require a divestiture by SAPC of any shares or
other securities (or the equivalent) in Sunkar;
(vi) materially limit the ability of any member of the Wider
Sunkar Group to co-ordinate or integrate its business, or any part
of it, with the business or any part of the business of SAPC or any
other member of the Wider Sunkar Group;
(vii) result in any material member of the Wider Sunkar Group or
SAPC ceasing to be able to carry on business under any name which
it presently does so; or
(viii) otherwise adversely affect the businesses, assets,
liabilities, profits or prospects of SAPC or any member of the
Wider Sunkar Group (including any action which would or might
adversely affect or prejudice any of the licences, authorisations,
exemptions or consents of SAPC or any member of the Wider Sunkar
Group), in a manner which is material in the context of SAPC or the
Wider Sunkar Group taken as a whole,
and all applicable waiting and other time periods during which
any such Third Party could decide to take, institute, implement or
threaten any action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or
reference under the laws of any relevant jurisdiction or enact any
such statute, regulation, order or decision or take any steps
having expired, lapsed or been terminated;
(c) all authorisations, orders, recognitions, grants, consents,
licences, confirmations, clearances, certificates, exemptions,
permissions and approvals ("Authorisations") in any jurisdiction
reasonably deemed necessary or appropriate by SAPC for or in
respect of the Offer or the proposed acquisition of all or any
Sunkar Shares or other securities in, or control of, Sunkar by SAPC
having been obtained on terms and in a form reasonably satisfactory
to SAPC from all appropriate Third Parties or persons with whom any
member of the Wider Sunkar Group has entered into contractual
arrangements where the absence of such Authorisations would have a
materially adverse effect on SAPC or the Wider Sunkar Group taken
as a whole, as the case may be, and all such Authorisations,
together with all Authorisations necessary or appropriate to carry
on the business of any member of the Wider Sunkar Group where such
business is material in the context of the Wider Sunkar Group taken
as a whole remaining in full force and effect at the time at which
the Offer has been declared or has become unconditional in all
respects and there being no indication of any intention to revoke,
withdraw, suspend, restrict, withhold or modify or not to grant or
review any of the same where such revocation, withdrawal,
suspension, restriction, withholding, modification or failure to
grant or review would be material in the context of the Wider
Sunkar Group or SAPC, as the case may be, and all necessary
statutory and regulatory obligations in any jurisdiction having
been complied with by the Wider Sunkar Group;
(d) all necessary or appropriate filings or applications having
been made by the Wider Sunkar Group in connection with the Offer,
and all necessary or appropriate waiting periods (including
extensions thereof) in respect of the Offer or its implementation
under any applicable legislation or regulations in any jurisdiction
having expired, lapsed or been terminated (as appropriate) and all
statutory or regulatory obligations in any jurisdiction having been
complied with in connection with the Offer or the acquisition by
SAPC of any shares or other securities in, or control of,
Sunkar;
(e) except as Disclosed, there being no provision of any
agreement, authorisation, arrangement, lease, licence, permit or
other instrument to which any member of the Wider Sunkar Group is a
party or by or to which any such member or any of its assets may be
bound, entitled or subject, which in consequence of the Offer or
the proposed acquisition by SAPC of any shares or other securities
(or the equivalent) in Sunkar or because of a change in the control
or management of Sunkar or any member of the Wider Sunkar Group,
which would or is reasonably likely to result in, to an extent
which would or might reasonably be expected to be material in the
context of the Wider Sunkar Group taken as a whole:
(i) any monies borrowed by or any other indebtedness (actual or
contingent) of, or grant available to, any member of the Wider
Sunkar Group, being or becoming repayable or being capable of being
declared repayable immediately or prior to their or its stated
maturity date or repayment date or the ability of any such member
to borrow monies or incur any indebtedness being withdrawn,
prohibited or inhibited or becoming capable of being withdrawn,
prohibited or inhibited;
(ii) any such agreement, authorisation, arrangement, licence,
permit or other instrument or the rights, liabilities, obligations
or interests of any member of the Wider Sunkar Group thereunder
being terminated or adversely modified or affected or any
obligation or liability arising or any adverse action being taken
or arising thereunder;
(iii) any assets or interests of any member of the Wider Sunkar
Group being or falling to be disposed of or charged or ceasing to
be available to any such member or any right arising under which
any such asset or interest could be required to be disposed of or
charged otherwise than in the ordinary course of business;
(iv) the creation or enforcement of any mortgage, charge or
other security interest over the whole or any material part of the
business, property or assets of any member of the Wider Sunkar
Group, or any such mortgage, charge or other security interest
(whenever arising or having arisen) becoming enforceable or being
enforced;
(v) the rights, liabilities, obligations or interests of any
member of the Wider Sunkar Group in, or the business of any such
member with, any person, company, firm or body (or any agreements
relating to any such interest or business) being terminated, or
adversely modified or affected;
(vi) the value of any member of the Wider Sunkar Group or its
financial or trading position or profits or prospects being
prejudiced or adversely affected;
(vii) any member of the Wider Sunkar Group ceasing to be able to
carry on business under any name under which it presently does so;
or
(viii) the creation or assumption of any liability, actual or
contingent, by any member of the Wider Sunkar Group,
and no event having occurred, under any provision of any
agreement, authorisation, arrangement, lease, licence, permit or
other instrument to which any member of the Wider Sunkar Group is a
party or by or to which any such member or any of its assets are
bound, entitled or subject, which would or would be reasonably
likely to result in any of the events referred to in sub-paragraph
(i) to (viii) of this condition;
(f) except as Disclosed, no member of the Wider Sunkar Group having since 31 December 2012:
(i) save as between Sunkar and wholly-owned subsidiaries of
Sunkar, 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 convertible into
shares of any class or rights, warrants or options to subscribe
for, or acquire, any such shares or convertible securities;
(ii) sold or transferred or agreed to sell or transfer any Sunkar Shares held in treasury;
(iii) recommended, declared, paid or made or proposed to
recommend, declare, pay or make any bonus issue, dividend or other
distribution (whether payable in cash or otherwise) other than
dividends (or other distributions whether payable in cash or
otherwise) lawfully paid or made by any wholly-owned subsidiary of
Sunkar to Sunkar or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries;
(iv) other than pursuant to the Offer (and save for transactions
between Sunkar and its wholly owned subsidiaries or other than 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 or acquisition or disposal of
assets or shares or loan capital (or the equivalent thereof) in any
undertaking or undertakings in any such case;
(v) (save for transactions between Sunkar and its wholly-owned
subsidiaries or other than in the ordinary course of business)
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;
(vi) (save as between Sunkar and its wholly-owned subsidiaries)
made or authorised or proposed or announced an intention to propose
any change in its loan capital;
(vii) (save as between transactions between Sunkar and its
wholly-owned subsidiaries) issued, authorised, 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 incurred or
increased any indebtedness other than in the ordinary course of
business;
(viii) (save for transactions between members of the Sunkar
Group) purchased, redeemed or repaid, or announced any proposal to
purchase, redeem or repay, any of its own shares or other
securities or reduced or made any other change to or proposed the
reduction or other change to any part of its share capital;
(ix) entered into, implemented, effected, varied, authorised,
proposed or announced its intention to enter into, any
reconstruction, amalgamation, scheme, commitment or other
transaction or arrangement otherwise than in the ordinary course of
business;
(x) entered into or varied or terminated or authorised, proposed
or announced its intention to enter into or vary any contract,
arrangement, agreement, transaction or commitment (whether in
respect of capital expenditure or otherwise) which is of a long
term, onerous or unusual nature or magnitude or which is or is
reasonably likely to be restrictive on the business of the Wider
Sunkar Group or which involves or is reasonably likely to involve
an obligation of such a nature or magnitude or which is other than
in the ordinary course of business, in each case which is, or is
reasonably likely to be material in the context of the Wider Sunkar
Group;
(xi) entered into or varied the terms of, or made any offer
(which remains open for acceptance) to enter into or vary the terms
of, any contract, service agreement or arrangement with any
director or senior executive of any member of the Wider Sunkar
Group;
(xii) proposed, agreed to provide or modified the terms of any
share option scheme, incentive scheme or other benefit relating to
the employment or termination of employment of any person employed
in the Wider Sunkar Group;
(xiii) save in relation to changes made or agreed as a result
of, or arising from, changes to legislation, made or agreed or
consented to any significant change to:
(A) the terms of the trust deeds and rules constituting the
pension scheme(s) established for its directors, employees or their
dependants;
(B) the contributions payable to any such scheme(s) or to the
benefits which accrue, or to the pensions which are payable
thereunder;
(C) the basis on which qualification for, or accrual or
entitlement to, such benefits or pensions are calculated or
determined;
(D) the basis upon which the liabilities (including pensions) of
such pension schemes are funded, valued or made;
(xiv) agreed or consented to, any change to the trustees of any
pension scheme, including the appointment of a trust corporation,
to an extent in any such case which is material in the context of
the Wider Sunkar Group taken as a whole;
(xv) been unable, or admitted in writing that it is unable, to
pay its debts as they fall due or having stopped or suspended (or
threatened to stop or suspend) payment of its debts generally or
ceased or threatened to cease to carry on all or a substantial part
of its business which is material in the context of the Wider
Sunkar Group taken as a whole;
(xvi) (other than in respect of a member of the Wider Sunkar
Group which is dormant and was solvent at the relevant time) taken
or proposed any corporate action, or had any legal proceedings
threatened or instituted against it for its winding-up (voluntarily
or otherwise), dissolution or reorganisation or for the appointment
of a receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, 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
relevant jurisdiction having been taken or had any such person
appointed;
(xvii) entered into any contract, transaction or arrangement
which would be restrictive on the business of any member of the
Wider Sunkar Group or SAPC and which is material in the context of
the Wider Sunkar Group taken as a whole other than to a nature and
extent which is normal in the context of the business
concerned;
(xviii) waived or compromised or settled any claim otherwise
than in the ordinary course of business which is material in the
context of the Wider Sunkar Group;
(xix) made any alteration to its memorandum or articles of
association or other constitutional documents which is material in
the context of the Offer;
(g) except as Disclosed since 31 December 2012:
(i) no adverse change or deterioration has occurred in the
business, assets, financial or trading position or profits or
prospects or operational performance of any member of the Wider
Sunkar Group which is material in the context of the Offer or the
Wider Sunkar Group taken as a whole;
(ii) no litigation, arbitration proceedings, prosecution or
other legal proceedings or investigations having been threatened in
writing, announced, instituted or remaining outstanding by, against
or in respect of any member of the Wider Sunkar Group or to which
any member of the Wider Sunkar Group is or may become a party
(whether as a claimant, defendant or otherwise) and no enquiry or
investigation by any Third Party against or in respect of any
member of the Wider Sunkar Group having been commenced, announced
or threatened in writing by or against or remaining outstanding in
respect of any member of the Wider Sunkar Group in each case which
might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the Wider Sunkar Group taken as a whole;
(iii) no contingent or other liability having arisen or become
apparent to SAPC which would or might reasonably be expected to
materially and adversely affect the Wider Sunkar Group taken as a
whole;
(iv) no steps having been taken and no omissions having been
made which are reasonably likely to result in the withdrawal,
cancellation, termination or modification of any licence held by
any member of the Wider Sunkar Group, which is necessary for the
proper carrying on of its business in the form carried on as at the
date of this announcement and the withdrawal, cancellation,
termination or modification of which is reasonably likely to
materially and adversely affect the Wider Sunkar Group taken as a
whole;
(h) except as Disclosed, SAPC not having discovered:
(i) that any financial, business or other information concerning
the Wider Sunkar Group publicly announced, is misleading, contains
a misrepresentation of any fact or omits to state a fact necessary
to make that information not misleading to a material extent in the
context of the Wider Sunkar Group taken as a whole;
(ii) that any present member of the Wider Sunkar Group or any
partnership, company or other entity in which any member of the
Wider Sunkar Group has a significant economic interest and which is
not a subsidiary undertaking of Sunkar, is subject to any
liability, contingent or otherwise, which is not disclosed in the
annual report and financial statements for Sunkar for the year
ending 31 December 2012 and which is material in the context of the
Wider Sunkar Group taken as a whole; and
(iii) any information which affects the import of any
information disclosed at any time by or on behalf of any member of
the Wider Sunkar Group and which is material in the context of the
Wider Sunkar Group taken as a whole;
(i) SAPC not having discovered, except as Disclosed, that:
(i) any past or present member of the Wider Sunkar Group has not
complied with all applicable legislation, regulations or other
requirements of any jurisdiction with regard to the use, treatment,
storage, disposal, discharge, spillage, leak or emission of any
waste or hazardous substance or any substance likely to impair the
environment or harm human health, or otherwise relating to
environmental matters or that there has otherwise been a material
emission, discharge, disposal, spillage or leak of waste or
hazardous substance or any substance likely to impair the
environment or harm human health (whether or not the same
constituted a non-compliance by any person with any such
legislation or regulations, and wherever the same may have taken
place) which would, in any case, be reasonably likely to give rise
to any liability (whether actual or contingent) on the part of any
member of the Wider Sunkar Group and which is material in the
context of the Wider Sunkar Group taken as a whole;
(ii) there is or is reasonably likely to be any liability
(whether actual or contingent) on the part of any past or present
member of the Wider Sunkar Group to make good, repair, reinstate or
clean up any property of any description or other asset now or
previously owned, occupied or made use of by any past or present
member of the Wider Sunkar Group, under any environmental
legislation, regulation, notice, circular or order of any Third
Party which is material in the context of the Wider Sunkar Group
taken as a whole; or
(iii) circumstances exist (whether as a result of the Offer or
otherwise) which would be reasonably likely to lead to any Third
Party instituting (or whereby any member of the Wider Sunkar Group
would be reasonably likely to be required to institute) an
environmental audit or take any steps which would in any such case
be reasonably likely to result in any actual or contingent
liability on a member of the Wider Sunkar Group to improve or
install new plant or equipment or to make good, repair, reinstate
or clean up any property of any description or other asset now or
previously owned, occupied or made use of by any member of the
Wider Sunkar Group, which is material in the context of the Wider
Sunkar Group taken as a whole.
For the purposes of these Conditions, "Disclosed" means
information disclosed (i) in the annual report and financial
statements of Sunkar for the year ended 31 December 2012, (ii) the
interim results of Sunkar for the six month period ending 30 June
2013, (iii) as publicly announced by Sunkar to a Regulatory
Information Service prior to the date of this announcement since 31
December 2012, or (iv) as otherwise fairly disclosed by or on
behalf of Sunkar to SAPC (or its advisers) prior to the date of
this announcement.
Certain further terms of the Offer
The Offer will be subject to certain further terms,
including:
(a) Sunkar Shares which will be acquired under the Offer will be
acquired by SAPC fully paid with full title guarantee and free from
all liens, charges, encumbrances, equitable interests, pre-emption
rights and other third party interests and rights of any nature
whatsoever and together with all rights now or hereafter attaching
to them, including, without limitation, the right to receive and
retain all dividends and other distributions (if any) declared,
paid or made after the date of this announcement;
(b) if the Offer lapses it will cease to be capable of further
acceptance. Sunkar Shareholders who have accepted the Offer and
SAPC shall then cease to be bound by acceptances delivered on or
before the date on which the Offer lapses;
(c) the Offer will lapse if there is a Phase 2 CMA reference, or
the European Commission either initiates proceedings under Article
6(1)(c) of the Regulation or makes a referral to a competent
authority of the United Kingdom under Article 9(1) of the
Regulation and there is then a Phase 2 CMA reference before 1.00
p.m. on the first closing date or the date on which the Offer
becomes unconditional as to acceptances, whichever is later;
(d) the availability of the Offer to persons not resident in the
United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant
jurisdictions. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom
should inform themselves about and observe any applicable
requirements;
(e) this Offer is being governed by English law and is subject
to the Conditions and certain further terms set out or referred to
in this Appendix I and is also subject to the further terms to be
set out in full in the Offer Document together with, for Sunkar
Shares held in certificated form (that is, not in CREST), the Form
of Acceptance and such further terms as may be required to comply
with the Code and other applicable law. The Offer will comply with
the applicable rules and regulations of the Financial Conduct
Authority, the London Stock Exchange and the Code; and
(f) unless otherwise determined by SAPC and permitted by
applicable law and regulation, the Offer is not being made,
directly or indirectly, in or into a Restricted Jurisdiction, or by
use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality (including,
without limitation, facsimile transmission, telex, telephone,
internet or e-mail) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any
facilities of a national securities exchange of, any Restricted
Jurisdiction and the Offer is not capable of acceptance by any such
use, means, instrumentality or facility or from within, any
Restricted Jurisdiction.
APPENDIX II
SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND BASES OF CALCULATIONS
In this announcement, unless otherwise stated, or the context
otherwise requires, the following bases and sources have been
used:
(a) financial information relating to the Sunkar Group has been
extracted or derived (without material adjustment) from the audited
consolidated annual report and financial statements of Sunkar for
the financial year ended 31 December 2012 and the unaudited
consolidated interim financial statements for the six month period
ended 30 June 2013. Other information relating to Sunkar has been
extracted or derived from the Company's Regulatory News Service
(RNS) announcements and website (www.sunkarresources.com);
(b) information relating to SAPC has been provided by the SAPC Directors;
(c) the value attributed to Sunkar's existing issued share
capital is based on the Offer Price and the number of Sunkar Shares
currently in issue referred to in paragraph (d) below;
(d) as at the date of this announcement, there are 341,110,357
Sunkar Shares in issue. The ISIN reference for Sunkar Shares is
GB00B29KHR09;
(e) unless stated otherwise, all share prices for Sunkar Shares
are closing middle market quotations derived from the AIM appendix
of the Daily Official List for the particular dates concerned;
and
(f) the discount and premium calculations are based on the Offer
Price of 1.835 pence per Sunkar Share and have been calculated with
reference to:
-- the closing middle market price of 2.02 pence per Sunkar
Share on 16 June 2014, the last dealing day prior to the date of
this announcement; and
-- the closing market makers' bid price of 1.70 pence per Sunkar
Share on 16 June 2014, the last dealing day prior to the date of
this announcement.
APPENDIX III
DETAILS OF IRREVOCABLE UNDERTAKINGS
Part A: Sunkar Directors, Company Secretary and their connected
persons
The following Sunkar Directors have given irrevocable
undertakings to accept or procure acceptance of the Offer in
respect of their beneficial holdings of issued Sunkar Shares:
Name Number of Sunkar Percentage of issued
Shares share capital
Nurdin Damitov 21,427,799 6.28%
Serikjan Utegen 20,413,500 5.98%
These irrevocable undertaking will remain binding in the event
of a competing offer being made unless the Offer Document is not
published within 28 days of the date of this announcement or the
Offer lapses or is otherwise withdrawn.
APPENDIX IV
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions apply throughout this announcement,
unless the context requires otherwise:
"ACB Loan" Temir's existing credit line facility with Asia
Credit Bank (Kazakhstan) that was entered into on or around 4
January 2013;
"AIM" the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange;
"AIM Rules" the AIM Rules for Companies as published by the
London Stock exchange (as amended from time to time);
"Business Day" any day not being a Saturday, Sunday or public
holiday, on which banks are normally open for business in the City
of London;
"Capita Asset Services" a trading name of Capita Registrars
Limited of The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3
4TU;
"certificated" or "in certificated form" a share or other
security which is not in uncertificated form (that is, not in
CREST);
"Chilisai Deposit" the Chilisai phosphorite ore body in North
Western Kazakhstan;
"Convertible Loan Notes" or "CLNs" the US$1.28 million of US$1
convertible loan notes granted to SAPC, convertible at
approximately US$0.0376 (approximately 2.2 pence) per share, which,
if converted, would equate to 34,065,202 Sunkar Shares, subject to
MINT waiving its rights to acquire the Sunkar Shares arising on
conversion of the CLNs;
"Code" the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers issued by the
Panel, and references to a "Rule" shall be to the rules of the
Code;
"Companies Act 2006" the Companies Act 2006 (as amended from
time to time);
"Conditions" the conditions of the Offer as set out or referred
to in Appendix I to this announcement;
"CREST" the relevant system (as defined in the Regulations) in
respect of which Euroclear is the Operator (as defined in the
Regulations);
"Daily Official List" the Daily Official List published by the
London Stock Exchange;
"DAR" direct application rock, that is phosphate rock directly
applied as a fertiliser;
"Dealing Disclosure" has the same meaning as in Rule 8 of the
Code;
"DFS" the detailed feasibility study completed by Sunkar on the
Chilisai Deposit;
"Euroclear" Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited;
"Financial Conduct Authority" or "FCA" the Financial Conduct
Authority (formerly the Financial Services Authority) in its
capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI of
FSMA, including its successor(s) from time to time;
"Form of Acceptance" the form of acceptance and authority
relating to the Offer which (in the case of Sunkar Shareholders who
hold their Sunkar Shares in certificated form) will accompany the
Offer Document;
"FSMA" the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended
from time to time);
"Hub Capital" Hub Capital Partners Limited, the financial
adviser to SAPC;
"JSC "Interfarma-K"" a joint-stock company "Interfarma-K", a
company incorporated in the Republic of Kazakhstan and in which Mr.
Mynbayev is interested;
"Kazakhstan Stock Exchange" Kazakhstan Stock Exchange
Joint-Stock Company, a joint-stock company incorporated in the
Republic of Kazakhstan;
"Letter(s) of Support" the letter of support from Mr Mynbayev
dated 21 September 2012 and, subsequently, the letter of support
date 15 April 2013 from JSC "Interfarma-K" stating that JSC
"Interfarma-K" would, subject to the arrangement of mutually
acceptable terms for a period of at least 12 months from the
signing of Sunkar's financial statements for the period ended 31
December 2012, provide financial support to assist the Sunkar Group
in meeting its liabilities as and when they fall due;
"London Stock Exchange" London Stock Exchange plc, a public
company incorporated in England and Wales under number 2075721,
together with any successors thereto;
"MINT" the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the
Republic of Kazakhstan;
"Offer" the recommended all cash offer being made by SAPC at the
Offer Price to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share
capital of the Company not already owned by SAPC on the terms and
subject to the Conditions which will be set out in the Offer
Document and (where applicable) the Form of Acceptance and
including, where the context so requires, any subsequent revision,
variation, extension or renewal of, or election available under,
such offer;
"Offer Document" the formal document setting out the full terms
and conditions of the Offer to be posted to Sunkar Shareholders
(other than certain Overseas Sunkar Shareholders) shortly;
"Offer Period" the period beginning on and including 17 June
2014 and ending in accordance with the rules of the Code;
"Offer Price" 1.835 pence in cash per Sunkar Share;
"Opening Position Disclosure" has the same meaning as in Rule 8
of the Code;
"Overseas Sunkar Shareholders" Sunkar Shareholders who are
resident in, or nationals or citizens of, jurisdictions outside the
UK or who are nominees of, or custodians, or trustees for, Sunkar
Shareholders who are citizens, residents or nationals of countries
other than the UK;
"Panel" or "Takeover Panel" the Panel on Takeovers and
Mergers;
"Phase 2 CMA reference" a reference of an offer to the chair of
the Competition and Markets Authority for the constitution of a
group under Schedule 4 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act
2013;
"Regulations" the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI
2001 No. 3755) (as amended from time to time);
"Regulatory Information Service" any information service
authorised from time to time by the FCA for the purpose of
disseminating regulatory announcements;
"Restricted Jurisdiction" any jurisdiction where local laws or
regulations may result in a significant risk of civil, regulatory
or criminal exposure for SAPC or Sunkar if information or
documentation concerning the Offer is sent or made available to
Sunkar Shareholders in that jurisdiction;
"Russia" the Russian Federation;
"SAPC" Sun Avenue Partners Corp., a limited liability company
incorporated in the British Virgin Islands with company number:
1430450 and whose registered office address is at Trident Trust
Company (BVI) Limited of Trident Chambers, Wickhams Cay, P.O. Box
146, Road Town, Tortola;
"SAPC Directors" Mr Andreas T. Moustras, Mrs Irene G Spoerry and
Mrs Michelle Anne Williamson Draper;
"SAPC Loan" ca. US$2.55 million of additional funding provided
by SAPC to Sunkar in the form of an unsecured term loan facility
which was entered into on 17 June 2014;
"SNC - Lavalin" the SNC - Lavalin construction and engineering
group, whose head office is in Montreal, Canada;
"Strand Hanson" Strand Hanson Limited, the financial adviser to
Sunkar;
"subsidiary", "subsidiary undertaking" and "undertaking" have
the meanings given thereto by sections 1159, 1161 and 1162 of the
Companies Act 2006;
"Subsoil Use Contract" a contract for production of phosphate at
the Chilisai Deposit between MINT as competent body and Temir as
contractor;
"Sunkar" or the "Company" Sunkar Resources plc, a company
incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 5759399,
and whose registered office is One London Wall, London, EC2Y 5AB,
United Kingdom;
"Sunkar Directors" or "Sunkar Board" the board of directors of
Sunkar;
"Sunkar Group" Sunkar and its subsidiary undertakings from time
to time;
"Sunkar Shareholders" registered holders of Sunkar Shares from
time to time;
"Sunkar Shares" the existing unconditionally allotted or issued
and fully paid (or credited as fully paid) ordinary shares of 0.1
pence each in the capital of Sunkar (other than any shares which
are treasury shares) and any further such shares which are
unconditionally allotted or issued fully paid (or credited as fully
paid), in each case prior to the time at which the Offer ceases to
be open for acceptance (or, subject to the provisions of the Code,
such earlier time and/or date, as SAPC may, with the Panel's
consent or in accordance with the Code, decide) not being earlier
than the date on which the Offer becomes or is declared
unconditional as to acceptances;
"Temir" Temir-Service LLP, a limited liability partnership
formed under the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Sunkar;
"Tenge"or "KZT" the lawful currency of Kazakhstan;
"uncertificated" or "in uncertificated form" recorded on the
relevant register of the share or security concerned as being held
in uncertificated form and title to which may, by virtue of the
Regulations, be transferred by means of CREST;
"United Kingdom" or "UK" the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland;
"US" or "United States" the United States of America, its
territories and possessions, any state of the United States of
America, the District of Columbia and all areas subject to its
jurisdiction or any political sub-division thereof; and
"Wider Sunkar Group" Sunkar and the subsidiaries and subsidiary
undertakings of Sunkar (including any joint venture, partnership,
firm or company in which any member of the Sunkar Group has a
significant interest or any undertaking in which Sunkar and such
undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a significant
interest).
In this announcement:
-- all references to "pounds", "GBP", "pence" or "p" are to the
lawful currency of the United Kingdom;
-- all references to "KT" and "Tenge" are to the lawful currency of Kazakhstan;
-- all references to "US$" are to the lawful currency of the United States;
-- the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, and
words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine or
neutral gender;
-- all references to legislation are to English legislation
unless the contrary is indicated, and any reference to any
provision of any legislation includes any amendment, modification,
re-enactment or extension thereof;
-- All times referred to are London time unless otherwise stated; and
-- The KZT to sterling exchange rate used for the financials set
out in the section on Mr Mynbayev in section 6 of Part 2 of this
announcement was GBP0.00325 to the Tenge, as detailed on the
following website on 11 June 2014
http://www.xe.com/currency/kzt-kazakhstani-tenge.
END
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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