NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7 November 2023
RECOMMENDED ACQUISITION
of
ONTHEMARKET PLC ("OnTheMarket" or the "Company")
by
COSTAR
(a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of CoStar Group, Inc. ("CoStar"))
to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement
Publication of Scheme Document
On 19 October 2023, the Boards of CoStar
The Acquisition is to be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme").
Publication and posting of Scheme Document
OnTheMarket is pleased to announce that a circular in relation to the Scheme (the "Scheme Document"), containing, amongst other things, a letter from the Chair of OnTheMarket, the full terms and Conditions of the Scheme, an explanatory statement, an expected timetable of principal events, notices convening the Court Meeting and the General Meeting and details of the actions to be taken by OnTheMarket Shareholders, will be published today on OnTheMarket's website at https://plc.onthemarket.com/recommended-cash-acquisition/.
Subject to any restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, hard copies of the Forms of Proxy or the Forms of Instruction for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting are being posted to OnTheMarket Shareholders or OnTheMarket Nominee Service Holders (as applicable). Hard copies of the Scheme Document, or a letter and/or e-mail giving details of OnTheMarket's website at https://plc.onthemarket.com/recommended-cash-acquisition/ where the Scheme Document may be accessed, are also being sent to OnTheMarket Shareholders and OnTheMarket Nominee Service Holders (as applicable) in accordance with the notice provisions of the Company's articles of association and the relevant OnTheMarket Shareholder's or OnTheMarket Nominee Service Holder's communication preferences.
For information purposes only, the Scheme Document will also be sent, or made available, to OnTheMarket Share Plan Participants and persons with information rights.
Capitalised terms in this announcement, unless otherwise defined herein, have the same meanings as set out in the Scheme Document.
Recommendation from the OnTheMarket Directors
The OnTheMarket Directors, who have been so advised by Zeus as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing advice to the OnTheMarket Directors, Zeus has taken into account the commercial assessments of the OnTheMarket Directors. Zeus is providing independent financial advice to the OnTheMarket Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Code.
Accordingly, the OnTheMarket Directors recommend unanimously that Scheme Shareholders vote (or procure the voting) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and that OnTheMarket Shareholders vote (or procure the voting) in favour of the Special Resolution at the General Meeting (or, if CoStar
Action required by shareholders - Notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting
As described in the Scheme Document, to become Effective, the Scheme will require, amongst other things, the approval of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting and OnTheMarket Shareholders at the separate General Meeting by the requisite majorities and, following receipt of such approvals, the sanction of the Court. The Scheme is also subject to the satisfaction or, where applicable, waiver of the Conditions and further terms that are set out in the Scheme Document.
Notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, which will be held at the offices of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP at One Wood Street,
It is very important that, for the Court Meeting in particular, as many votes as possible are cast so that the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair and reasonable representation of the opinion of Scheme Shareholders. SCHEME SHAREHOLDERS ARE THEREFORE STRONGLY URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND RETURN THEIR FORMS OF PROXY OR APPOINT A PROXY THROUGH THE CREST ELECTRONIC PROXY APPOINTMENT SERVICE, PROXYMITY OR BY OTHER ELECTRONIC MEANS (AS APPROPRIATE), OR, IN THE CASE OF ONTHEMARKET NOMINEE SERVICE HOLDERS, RETURN THEIR FORMS OF INSTRUCTION BY POST OR SUMBIT THEIR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ELECTRONICALLY, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Expected timetable
The Scheme Document contains an expected timetable of principal events relating to the Scheme, which is also attached as an Appendix to this announcement. Subject to obtaining the approval of OnTheMarket Shareholders and the Court and the satisfaction or, where applicable, waiver of the other Conditions (as set out the Scheme Document), the Scheme is expected to become Effective on 12 December 2023.
If any of the key dates set out in the timetable change, OnTheMarket will give notice of this change by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service and by making such announcement available on OnTheMarket's website at https://plc.onthemarket.com/recommended-cash-acquisition/.
Shareholder helpline
If you have any questions relating to this announcement, the Meetings, how to complete or submit the Forms of Proxy or, if you are an OnTheMarket Nominee Service Holder, the Forms of Instruction, please contact Link Group by e-mail at shareholderenquiries@linkgroup.co.uk or on +44 (0) 371 664 0321 or by submitting a request in writing to Link Group, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street,
Enquiries
OnTheMarket Jason Tebb Tom Carter |
Tel: +44 20 7353 4200 |
Zeus (Rule 3 adviser, joint financial adviser, nominated adviser and joint corporate broker to OnTheMarket) Jamie Peel Benjamin Robertson James Hornigold
|
Tel: +44 20 3829 5000 |
Shore Capital (joint financial adviser and joint corporate broker to OnTheMarket) Daniel Bush Fiona Conroy Iain Sexton |
Tel: +44 20 7408 4090 |
Teneo (PR adviser to OnTheMarket) Giles Kernick Barnaby Harrison |
Tel: +44 20 7353 4200 |
CoStar and CoStar Scott Wheeler Cyndi Eakin Gene Boxer
|
Tel: +1 202 346 6500 |
Goldman Sachs (sole financial adviser to CoStar and CoStar Barry O'Brien Warren Stables Tim Creamer
|
Tel: +1 212 902 1000 Tel: +44 20 7774 1000 Tel: +1 212 902 1000 |
FGS Global (PR adviser to CoStar and CoStar James Murgatroyd Gordon Simpson
|
Tel: +44 20 7251 3801 |
Important notices
Zeus Capital Limited ("Zeus"), which is authorised and regulated in the
Shore Capital and Corporate Limited and Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited (together or individually, "Shore Capital"), which are authorised and regulated in the
Goldman Sachs International, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the FCA and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the
Further information
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 subscribe for or any invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise. The Acquisition will be implemented solely through and on the terms set out in the Scheme Document and the accompanying Forms of Proxy (or, in the event that the Acquisition is to be implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document and form of acceptance), which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the Scheme, or to accept the Takeover Offer. Any approval, decision or other response to the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information in the Scheme Document (or if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document). OnTheMarket Shareholders are strongly advised to read the formal documentation in relation to the Acquisition.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus exempted document.
The statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date of this announcement, unless some other time is specified in relation to them, and the publication 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.
Overseas Shareholders
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law, the AIM Rules, the Code and the Market Abuse Regulation 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
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the
Any person (including, without limitation, nominees, trustees and custodians) who would, or otherwise intends to, forward this announcement, the Scheme Document or any accompanying document(s) to any jurisdiction outside the
Unless otherwise determined by CoStar and/or CoStar
In the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer and extended into the US, CoStar
The Acquisition relates to the shares of a company incorporated in
If CoStar
In addition to any such Takeover Offer, CoStar
The receipt of cash consideration by an OnTheMarket Shareholder for the transfer of their OnTheMarket Shares pursuant to the Scheme will be a taxable transaction for
Financial information relating to OnTheMarket included in this announcement and to be included in the Scheme Document has been, or will have been, prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the
It may be difficult for a US-based investor to enforce their rights and any claim they may have arising under US securities laws since the Scheme relates to the shares of a company incorporated under the laws of, and located in, the
Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders are contained in the Scheme Document.
Forward-looking statements
This announcement may contain certain "forward-looking statements" with respect to OnTheMarket, CoStar
These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future strategies and environments. None of CoStar, CoStar
No profit forecasts or estimates
No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for CoStar, CoStar
Publication on website
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be made available (subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions), free of charge, on OnTheMarket's website at https://plc.onthemarket.com/recommended-cash-acquisition/ by no later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day following the date of this announcement. Neither the contents of this website nor the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on such website is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
Requesting hard copies
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Code, a person so entitled may request a hard copy of this announcement, free of charge, by contacting OnTheMarket's registrar, Link Group, on +44 (0) 371 664 0321 between 9.00 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday (
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of: (a) the offeree company; and (b) 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 pm on the 10th Business Day (as defined in the Code) following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm on the 10th Business Day (as defined in the Code) 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 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of: (a) the offeree company; and (b) 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 pm on the Business Day (as defined in the Code) 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 Takeover 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.
General
CoStar
If the Acquisition is effected by way of Takeover Offer, and such Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional in all respects and sufficient acceptances are received, CoStar
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor or independent financial adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) if you are resident in the
If you have any questions about this announcement, the Scheme Document, the Meetings or how to complete the Forms of Proxy or to appoint a proxy through Proxymity or via the CREST electronic proxy appointment service or otherwise or, if you are an OnTheMarket Nominee Service Holder, how to complete the Forms of Instruction or submit your voting instructions electronically, please contact Link Group via email at shareholderenquiries@linkgroup.co.uk or on +44 (0) 371 664 0321. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the
Appendix
Expected timetable of principal events
Event
|
Expected time/date |
Latest time for lodging Forms of Instruction for the:
|
|
Court Meeting (BLUE Form of Instruction) |
10.00 a.m. on 29 November 2023(1) |
|
|
General Meeting (YELLOW Form of Instruction) |
10.15 a.m. on 29 November 2023(1) |
|
|
Latest time for lodging Forms of Proxy for the:
|
|
Court Meeting (BLUE Form of Proxy) |
10.00 a.m. on 30 November 2023(2) |
|
|
General Meeting (YELLOW Form of Proxy) |
10.15 a.m. on 30 November 2023(2) |
|
|
Voting Record Time
|
6.30 p.m. on 30 November 2023(3) |
Court Meeting |
10.00 a.m. on 4 December 2023 |
|
|
General Meeting |
10.15 a.m. on 4 December 2023(4) |
|
|
The following dates are indicative only and subject to change(5) |
|
|
|
Sanction Hearing (to sanction the Scheme) |
7 December 2023 ("D") |
|
|
Last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers of, and disablement in CREST of, OnTheMarket Shares |
11 December 2023 ("D+2") |
|
|
Scheme Record Time |
6.00 p.m. on 11 December 2023 ("D+2") |
|
|
Dealings in OnTheMarket Shares on AIM suspended |
7.30 a.m. on 12 December 2023 ("D+3") |
|
|
Effective Date |
12 December 2023 ("D+3")(6) |
|
|
Cancellation of admission to trading of OnTheMarket Shares |
at 7.00 a.m. on 13 December 2023 ("D+4") |
|
|
Latest date for despatch of cheques in respect of cash consideration and for settlement of cash consideration through CREST or other form of payment |
Within 14 days of the Effective Date |
|
|
Long Stop Date |
30 April 2024(7) |
|
|
Notes:
(1) It is requested that BLUE Forms of Instruction for use by OnTheMarket Nominee Service Holders to instruct the OnTheMarket Nominee Service Operator how to vote their OnTheMarket Shares at the Court Meeting should be received by the OnTheMarket Nominee Service Operator by no later than 10.00 a.m. on 29 November 2023 (or, if the Court Meeting is adjourned, not later than 72 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time appointed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). It is requested that YELLOW Forms of Instruction for use by OnTheMarket Nominee Service Holders to instruct the OnTheMarket Nominee Service Operator how to vote their OnTheMarket Shares at the General Meeting should be received by the OnTheMarket Nominee Service Operator by no later than 10.15 a.m. on 29 November 2023 (or, if the General Meeting is adjourned, not later than 72 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time appointed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). BLUE Forms of Instruction and YELLOW Forms of Instruction not lodged by the relevant times will be invalid. Please see "Action to be taken" in the Scheme Document.
(2) It is requested that BLUE Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting be lodged before 10.00 a.m. on 30 November 2023 or, if the Court Meeting is adjourned, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time appointed for the holding of the adjourned meeting. BLUE Forms of Proxy not so lodged may be handed to the Chair of the Court Meeting or Link Group on behalf of the Chair of the Court Meeting before the start of the Court Meeting. YELLOW Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting must be lodged not later than 10.15 a.m. on 30 November 2023 or, if the General Meeting is adjourned, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time appointed for the holding of the adjourned meeting. YELLOW Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting not lodged by this time will be invalid. Please see "Action to be taken" in the Scheme Document.
(3) If either the Court Meeting or the General Meeting is adjourned, the Voting Record Time for the relevant adjourned meeting will be 6.30 p.m. on the day which is two Business Days before the date of such adjourned meeting.
(4) To commence at 10.15 a.m. (or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter as the Court Meeting is concluded or adjourned).
(5) These times and dates are indicative only and will depend, among other things, on the date upon which the Court sanctions the Scheme and the date on which the Conditions are satisfied or, if capable of waiver, waived. The Effective Date is also dependent on when the Court Order sanctioning the Scheme is delivered to the Registrar of Companies. OnTheMarket will give notice of any change(s) by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service and, if required by the Panel, post notice of the change(s) to OnTheMarket Shareholders and persons with information rights.
(6) This will be the date on which a copy of the Court Order is delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
(7) This is the latest date by which the Scheme may become Effective unless CoStar
All times shown are
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