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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4 April 2022
INCREASED AND FINAL RECOMMENDED ALL CASH ACQUISITION
of
CLINIGEN GROUP PLC ("CLINIGEN")
by
TRILEY BIDCO LIMITED ("BIDCO")
(a newly-formed company indirectly owned by the Triton Funds ("Triton"))
SCHEME BECOMES EFFECTIVE
On 8 December 2021, the Clinigen Board and the Bidco Board announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended all-cash acquisition of Clinigen by Bidco pursuant to which Bidco would acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Clinigen at a price of
On 17 January 2022, the Clinigen Board and the Bidco Board jointly announced that they had agreed the terms of an increased and final recommended all-cash offer for Clinigen by Bidco, pursuant to which Bidco will acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Clinigen at a price of
The Increased Final Offer is to be implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement pursuant to Part 26 of the Companies Act (the "Scheme"). The circular in relation to the Scheme was published or made available to Clinigen Shareholders on 20 December 2021 (the "Scheme Document") and a supplementary letter in respect of the Increased Final Offer was published or made available to Clinigen Shareholders on 21 January 2022.
On 8 February 2022, the Scheme was approved by the requisite majorities of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting and the Resolution in connection with the implementation of the Scheme was passed by the requisite majority of Clinigen Shareholders at the General Meeting.
On 31 March 2022, Clinigen and Bidco announced that the Court had sanctioned the Scheme. Clinigen and Bidco are pleased to announce that the Scheme has today become Effective in accordance with its terms, following delivery of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies, and the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Clinigen is now owned by Bidco.
Capitalised terms used and not defined in this announcement have the meanings given to them in the Scheme Document.
Settlement
Under the terms of the Scheme, Scheme Shareholders on the register of members of Clinigen at the Scheme Record Time (6.00 p.m. on 1 April 2022) will be entitled to receive
Suspension and cancellation of trading
Trading in Clinigen Shares on AIM was suspended with effect from 7.30 a.m. on 4 April 2022. Following the application by Clinigen to the London Stock Exchange, the cancellation of admission to trading of Clinigen shares on AIM is expected to be effective as of 7.00 a.m. on 5 April 2022.
Board changes
As the Scheme has now become Effective, Clinigen announces that, with effect from today's date the non-executive directors of Clinigen, being Elmar Schnee, Ian Johnson, Anne Hyland, Alan Boyd and Sharon Curran have stepped down from the board of directors of Clinigen.
Enquiries
Bidco and Triton |
|
Media & Communications |
media@Triton-partners.com |
J.P. Morgan Cazenove (Lead Financial Adviser to Bidco and Triton) |
|
James Mitford / Hemant Kapoor |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7742 4000 |
Dwayne Lysaght / Alex Bruce
|
|
Greenbrook PR (PR Adviser to Bidco and Triton) |
|
James Madsen / Alex Jones |
Tel: +44 (0) 7867 472 731 / +44 (0) 20 7952 2000 Triton@greenbrookpr.com |
Clinigen |
|
Shaun Chilton - Chief Executive Officer |
Tel: +44 (0) 1283 495 010 |
Rob Fox - VP Investor Relations and Corporate Development |
Investors@Clinigengroup.com |
Consilium Strategic Communications (PR adviser to Clinigen) |
|
Mary-Jane Elliott / Matthew Cole / Jessica Hodgson |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700 Clinigen@consilium-comms.com |
RBC Capital Markets (Lead Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker to Clinigen) |
|
Mark Preston / Thomas Stockman |
Tel: +44 (0) 207 653 4000 |
Marcus Jackson / Elliot Thomas |
|
Numis (Financial Adviser, Corporate Broker and Nominated Adviser to Clinigen) |
|
James Black / Stuart Ord |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7260 1000 |
Garry Levin / Freddie Barnfield |
|
Barclays Bank plc and HSBC Bank plc are also acting as financial advisers to Bidco and Triton.
RBC Capital Markets and Numis are providing independent advice to Clinigen pursuant to Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
White & Case LLP has been retained as legal adviser to Triton and Bidco. Alston & Bird (City) LLP has been retained as legal adviser to StepStone.
Ashurst LLP has been retained as legal adviser to Clinigen.
Important notices
J.P. Morgan Securities plc, which conducts its
Barclays, which is authorised by the PRA and regulated in the
HSBC, which is authorised by the PRA and regulated in the
RBC Europe Limited (trading as RBC Capital Markets), which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA in the
Numis, 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 part of, any offer or inducement to sell or an invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of Clinigen in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus, prospectus equivalent document or prospectus exempted document, including for the purposes of Article 1(4) or (5) of the
Overseas jurisdictions
This announcement has been prepared in accordance with and for the purpose of complying with English law, the Takeover Code, the AIM Rules, the Market Abuse Regulation and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency 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 of
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into certain jurisdictions other than the
Any failure to comply with the applicable legal or regulatory requirements may constitute a violation of the laws and/or regulations of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility and liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.
Copies of this announcement and formal documentation relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded or distributed in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving this announcement and all such documents relating to the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not distribute or send them into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction.
Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders are contained in paragraph 14 of Part II of the Scheme Document.
Additional information for US investors
The Acquisition is being made to acquire the securities of an English company by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under the law of
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US Clinigen Shareholder as consideration for the transfer of its Clinigen Shares pursuant to the Scheme may be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws and such tax consequences are not described herein. Clinigen Shareholders are urged to consult their independent professional advisers immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them including under applicable
It may be difficult for US Clinigen Shareholders to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the US federal securities laws, since Clinigen is located in a country other than the US, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the US. US Clinigen 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 a US court's jurisdiction and judgement.
Forward-looking statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this announcement) may contain certain "forward-looking statements" with respect to Bidco, Triton or Clinigen. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often, but do not always, use words such as "prepares", "plans", "is subject to", "budget", "projects", "synergy", "strategy", "scheduled", "forecasts", "cost-saving", "intends", "believes", "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", or variations of words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will", "may", "should", "would", "could" or other words or terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of Bidco's, Triton's, Clinigen's, any member of the Bidco Group's or any member of the Clinigen Group's operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of global economic conditions and government regulation on Bidco's, Triton's, Clinigen's, any member of the Bidco Group's or any member of the Clinigen Group's business. 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.
Such forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. By their nature, because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future, these forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions 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 factors include, but are not limited to, changes in global political, economic, business and competitive environments and in market and regulatory forces, changes in tax rates, future business combinations or disposals, changes in general economic and business conditions, changes in the behaviour of other market participants, changes in the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction not being realised as a result of changes in general economic and market conditions in the countries in which Bidco and Clinigen operate, weak, volatile or illiquid capital and/or credit markets, changes in the level of capital investment, retention of key employees, changes in customer habits, success of business and operating initiatives and restructuring objectives, impact of any acquisitions or similar transactions, changes in customers' strategies and stability, competitive product and pricing measures, changes in laws, supervisory expectations or requirements and the regulatory environment, fluctuations of interest and/or exchange rates and the outcome of any litigation. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected in the forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future strategies and environments. If any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialises or if any one or more of the assumptions proves incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors. You are cautioned not to place any reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to J.P. Morgan Cazenove, Barclays, HSBC, RBC Capital Markets, Numis, Bidco, Triton or Clinigen or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this announcement.
None of J.P. Morgan Cazenove, Barclays, HSBC, RBC Capital Markets, Numis, Bidco, Triton, Clinigen, or 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. Given these risks and uncertainties, Clinigen Shareholders are cautioned not to place any reliance on these forward looking statements.
J.P. Morgan Cazenove, Barclays, HSBC, RBC Capital Markets, Numis, Bidco, Triton and Clinigen assume no obligation to update publicly or revise forward-looking or other statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.
Publication on website and availability of hard copies
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover 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 Clinigen's website at https://www.clinigengroup.com/corporate/offer-for-clinigen-group-plc/ and Triton's website at https://announcements.triton-partners.com/announcements/ by no later than 12.00 noon (
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, Clinigen Shareholders, persons with information rights and participants in Clinigen Share Plans may request a hard copy of this announcement by contacting Clinigen's registrars, Equiniti Limited, between 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (
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.
General
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
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