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
27 July 2023
RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER
for
Yourgene Health plc
by
Novacyt
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Novacyt S.A.)
to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
Publication of the Scheme Document, expected timetable of principal events and current trading update
On 3 July 2023, the boards of Yourgene and Novacyt announced that they had agreed the terms of a recommended cash offer pursuant to which Novacyt
It is intended that the Acquisition will be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement of Yourgene under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the "Scheme").
Publication of the Scheme Document
Yourgene is pleased to announce that the scheme document in relation to the Scheme (the "Scheme Document") setting out, amongst other things, a letter from the Non-Executive Chairman of Yourgene, an explanatory statement pursuant to section 897 of the Companies Act, the full terms and conditions of the Scheme, an expected timetable of principal events, notices of the Court Meeting and General Meeting and details of the actions to be taken by Yourgene Shareholders will be made available today (subject to certain restrictions relating to persons in Restricted Jurisdictions) at https://yourgenehealth.com/our-investors/offer-for-yourgene-health-plc/.
Hard copies of the Scheme Document and Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting and General Meeting are being posted to Yourgene Shareholders. The Scheme Document will also be made available, for information only, to Yourgene Share Plan Participants and, persons with information rights.
Capitalised terms used in this announcement, unless otherwise defined, have the meaning given to them in the Scheme Document. All references in this announcement to times are to
Recommendation
The Yourgene Directors, who have been so advised by Stifel as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the Yourgene Directors, Stifel has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Yourgene Directors. Stifel is providing independent financial advice to the Yourgene Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
Accordingly, the Yourgene Directors recommend unanimously that Scheme Shareholders vote in favour (or procure votes in favour) of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and that Yourgene Shareholders vote in favour (or procure votes in favour) of the Resolution at the General Meeting, as the Yourgene Directors who hold Yourgene Shares (in a personal capacity or through a nominee) have irrevocably undertaken to do, or as they have otherwise irrevocably undertaken to direct (and use all reasonable endeavours to procure that) their nominees do, in respect of their own (and their connected persons') beneficial holdings of Yourgene Shares (or those Yourgene Shares over which they have control), other than any Yourgene Shares held by them pursuant to the SIP, amounting, in aggregate to 428,977,159 Yourgene Shares representing, in aggregate, approximately 13.4 per cent. of the existing ordinary share capital of Yourgene as at the Last Practicable Date.
Notices of the Court Meeting and General Meeting
The Court Meeting and the General Meeting will each be held at Skelton House, Lloyd Street North, Manchester Science Park,
As further detailed in the Scheme Document, to become Effective, the Scheme will require, among other things, the approval of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting and approval of Yourgene Shareholders at the General Meeting.
It is 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 representation of Scheme Shareholders' opinion. Whether or not Scheme Shareholders and Yourgene Shareholders intend to attend and/or vote at the Meetings, they are strongly advised to sign and return their Forms of Proxy (by post or by hand) or transmit a proxy appointment or other voting instruction (online or through CREST) for the Meetings as soon as possible.
Expected timetable of principal events
The Scheme Document contains an expected timetable of principal events relating to the Scheme, which is also set out in the appendix to this announcement. If any of the key dates set out in the timetable change, notice of this change will be made by the issuance of an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.
Cancellation of admission to trading on AIM of Yourgene Shares
Prior to the Scheme becoming Effective, applications will be made to the London Stock Exchange and AIM for the admission of the Yourgene Shares to trading on AIM to be cancelled shortly after the Effective Date, in accordance with Rule 41 of the AIM Rules for Companies.
Current trading and prospects
On 27 April 2023, Yourgene published an unaudited trading update for the 12 months ended FY23. This outlined Yourgene's expectation to report revenues for FY23 of
Trading since year-end continues to support market expectations for FY24 and Yourgene's expectations included in its 21 December 2022 half year trading update, with a core revenue growth rate of 20 per cent. or greater. Yourgene expects FY24 adjusted EBITDA to be in line with market expectations.
In January 2023, Yourgene completed a capital raising generating net cash proceeds of approximately
As at 26 June 2023, Yourgene's unaudited cash balance was
As announced on 13 June 2023, Yourgene has agreed to the conditional disposal of its Taiwanese subsidiary for proceeds of up to
Yourgene expects to publish its audited results for FY23 in September 2023.
The Scheme Document includes at Part X (Yourgene Profit Forecast) the relevant disclosures required by Rule 28.1 of the Takeover Code in connection with the ordinary course profit forecast provided in its 27 April 2023 unaudited trading update and restated therein.
Information for Yourgene Shareholders and helpline
If you have any questions relating to this announcement or the completion and return of your Forms of Proxy, please contact Yourgene's registrar, Link Group, on +44 (0) 371 664 0321. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls to the helpline from outside the
Enquiries:
Yourgene |
|
Lyn Rees (Chief Executive Officer) |
c/o Stifel |
Stifel (Rule 3 Adviser and Sole Financial Adviser to Yourgene) |
|
Nicholas Moore / Samira Essebiyea / William Palmer-Brown (Healthcare Investment Banking) Matthew Blawat / Ben Good ( |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7710 7600 |
Cairn (Nominated Adviser to Yourgene) |
|
Liam Murray / Ludovico Lazzaretti |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7213 0880 |
Walbrook PR Limited (Media and Investor Relations for Yourgene) |
|
Alice Woodings / Lianne Applegarth |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7933 8780 or yourgene@walbrookpr.com Mob: +44 (0) 7407 804 654 / +44 (0) 7584 391 303 |
Novacyt |
|
James James McCarthy (acting Chief Executive Officer) |
c/o Numis |
Numis (Financial Adviser and Joint Broker to Novacyt and Financial Adviser to Novacyt |
|
Freddie Barnfield / Stuart Ord / Duncan Monteith / Jack McLaren |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7260 1000 |
S.P. Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker to Novacyt) |
|
Matthew Johnson / Charlie Bouverat (Corporate Finance) Vadim Alexandre / Rob Rees (Corporate Broking) |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0470 |
Walbrook PR Limited (Media and Investor Relations for Novacyt) |
|
Paul McManus / Stephanie Cuthbert / Phil Marriage |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7933 8780 or novacyt@walbrookpr.com |
Addleshaw Goddard LLP is providing legal advice to Yourgene.
Stephenson Harwood LLP is providing legal advice to Novacyt and Novacyt
Important Notices
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited ("Stifel"), which is authorised and regulated in the
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP ("Cairn"), which is authorised and regulated in the
Numis Securities Limited ("Numis"), which is authorised and regulated in the
S.P. Angel Corporate Finance LLP ("SP Angel"), which is authorised and regulated in the
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 made solely through and on the terms set out in the Scheme Document (or, in the event that the Acquisition is to be implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, the offer document) and the accompanying Forms of Proxy, which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the Scheme. Any approval, decision or other response to the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information in the Scheme Document. Scheme Shareholders are strongly advised to read the formal documentation in relation to the Acquisition once it has been despatched.
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.
Overseas shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into certain jurisdictions other than the
Unless otherwise determined by Novacyt and Novacyt
Further details in relation to Yourgene Shareholders in overseas jurisdictions is contained in the Scheme Document.
Yourgene Shareholders in
None of the securities referred to in this announcement, nor the information contained in this announcement, has been approved or disapproved by the
Yourgene's financial statements, and all financial information that is included in this announcement or that may be included in the Scheme Document, or any other documents relating to the Acquisition, have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and may not be comparable to financial statements of companies in
It may be difficult for
If Novacyt
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a Yourgene Shareholder in
In accordance with normal
Forward-looking statements
This announcement may contain certain "forward-looking statements" with respect to Yourgene, Novacyt and Novacyt
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 Novacyt, Novacyt
No profit forecasts or estimates
Nothing in this announcement is intended or shall be deemed as a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of Novacyt, Novacyt
Right to switch to a Takeover Offer
Novacyt
Publication on website
A copy of this announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rules 26.1 and 26.2 of the Code will be made available (subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions), free of charge, on Yourgene's website at https://yourgenehealth.com/our-investors/offer-for-yourgene-health-plc/ and on Novacyt's website at https://novacyt.com/investors/ by no later than 12.00 noon (
Neither the contents of these websites nor the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on such websites is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
Requesting hard copies
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Code, Yourgene Shareholders may request a hard copy of this announcement (and any information incorporated by reference into this announcement), free of charge, by contacting the Yourgene's registrar, Link Group, by: (i) submitting a request in writing to Link Group, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street,
For persons who receive a copy of this announcement in electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this announcement will not be sent unless so requested. Such persons may also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent to them in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy form.
Information relating to Yourgene Shareholders
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain information provided by Yourgene Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Yourgene may be provided to Novacyt
Rounding
Certain figures included in this announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
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: (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. (
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: (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. (
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 of the Code.
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 of the Code).
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 https://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.
Announcement not a prospectus
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent document.
Private purchases
In accordance with normal
Rule 2.9 of the Code
For the purposes of Rule 2.9 of the Code, Yourgene confirms that, as at the date of this announcement, it has 3,193,466,515 Yourgene Shares in issue under the International Securities Identification Number GB00BN31ZD89. No Yourgene Shares are held in treasury.
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
APPENDIX
EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS
The following indicative timetable sets out expected dates for the implementation of the Scheme.
Event |
Time and/or date (2023)
|
Publication of the Scheme Document
|
27 July |
Latest time for lodging Forms of Proxy for the:
|
|
Court Meeting (BLUE Form of Proxy)
|
10.00 a.m. on 15 August(1) |
General Meeting (WHITE Form of Proxy)
|
10.15 a.m. on 15 August(2) |
Voting Record Time for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting
|
6.00 p.m. on 15 August(3) |
Court Meeting
|
10.00 a.m. on 17 August |
General Meeting
|
10.15 a.m. on 17 August(4) |
The following dates are indicative only and are subject to change (5)
|
|
Court Sanction Hearing |
7 September
|
Last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers of, and disablement in CREST of, Yourgene Shares
|
7 September |
Scheme Record Time
|
6.00 p.m. on 7 September |
Dealings in Yourgene Shares suspended
|
at or around 7.30 a.m. on 8 September |
Effective Date of the Scheme
|
8 September(6) |
Cancellation of admission of Yourgene Shares to trading on AIM
|
at or around 7.00 a.m. on 11 September |
Latest date for despatch of cheques and crediting of CREST for Consideration due under the Scheme
|
22 September |
Long Stop Date |
29 December(7)
|
Notes:
(1) It is requested that BLUE Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting be lodged no later than 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-working day) before the time and date set for the Court Meeting. A copy of a completed and signed BLUE Form of Proxy not so lodged may be handed to the Chair of the Court Meeting at any time before the time that the Court Meeting is due to commence and will still be valid.
(2) WHITE Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting must be lodged no later than 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-working day) before the time and date set for the General Meeting. WHITE Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting not lodged by this time will be invalid.
(3) If either the Court Meeting or the General Meeting is adjourned, the Voting Record Time for the relevant adjourned Meeting will be 6.00 p.m. on the date falling two Business Days before the date of the adjourned Meeting.
(4) To commence at 10.15 a.m. or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting shall have concluded or been adjourned.
(5) These dates and times are indicative only and will depend, among other things, on the date upon which: (i) the Conditions are satisfied or (if capable of waiver) waived; (ii) the Court sanctions the Scheme; and (iii) a copy of the Court Order is delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
(6) Following sanction of the Scheme by the Court, the Scheme will become Effective in accordance with its terms upon a copy of the Court Order being delivered to the Registrar of Companies. This is presently expected to occur within one Business Day after the date of the Sanction Hearing, subject to satisfaction or (where capable of waiver), waiver of the Conditions.
(7) This is the latest date by which the Scheme may become Effective unless Novacyt
(8) All references in this document to times are to
(9) The dates and times given are indicative only and are based on Yourgene's and Novacyt
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