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 THAT JURISDICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
24 April 2024
RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION
of
WINCANTON PLC ("WINCANTON")
by
GXO LOGISTICS, INC. ("GXO")
to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
Announcement of
On 29 February 2024, GXO announced its firm intention to make a cash offer to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Wincanton (the Acquisition) for an offer price of
On 1 March 2024, the board of Wincanton announced the Wincanton Directors' intention to recommend the GXO Offer.
On 6 March 2024, the boards of directors of Wincanton and GXO announced that GXO had elected, with the consent of Wincanton and the Panel, to implement the Acquisition by way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement (the Scheme) under Part 26 of the Companies Act.
The scheme document in respect of the Acquisition (the Scheme Document) was published and made available to Wincanton Shareholders on 14 March 2024.
The Acquisition triggered a mandatory notification to the
GXO is pleased to announce that the Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office informed GXO on 23 April 2024 that the
Consequently, the Condition set out in paragraph 3.2 of Part A of Part III (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Acquisition) of the Scheme Document has now been satisfied. Completion of the Acquisition remains subject to the satisfaction (or, if applicable, waiver) of the remaining Conditions set out in the Scheme Document, including the sanction of the Scheme by the Court at the Court Hearing.
The expected timetable of principal events for the implementation of the Scheme remains as set out on page 7 of the Scheme Document.
This announcement should be read in conjunction with the Scheme Document. Capitalised terms used but not defined in this announcement have the meanings given to them in the Scheme Document.
Enquiries
GXO Matthew Schmidt (US media) Neil Shelton (Investor contact) Chris Jordan (Investor contact) |
+1 (203) 307 2809 +44 (0)7929 651 023 + 1 (203) 769 7228 |
Rothschild & Co (Lead Financial Adviser to GXO) Neil Thwaites Matthew Price |
+44 (0)20 7280 5000 |
BofA Securities (Joint Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker to GXO) Geoff Iles Peter Luck Justin Anstee Ray Williams |
+44 (0)20 7628 1000 |
Brunswick (PR Adviser to GXO) Simon Sporborg David Litterick Pip Green |
+44 (0)20 7404 5959 |
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is acting as legal adviser to GXO in connection with the Acquisition. Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz is acting as legal adviser to GXO in connection with debt finance aspects of the Acquisition.
Important notices
HSBC Bank plc ("HSBC"), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated in the
Numis Securities Limited (trading for these purposes as Deutsche Numis) ("Deutsche Numis"), which is authorised and regulated in the
UBS AG London Branch ("UBS") is authorised and regulated by the Financial Market Supervisory Authority in
N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited ("Rothschild & Co"), which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the
Merrill Lynch International ("BofA Securities"), a subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority 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 part of, an offer to sell or an invitation to purchase any securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy, or 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 purchase, sale, issuance, transfer or exchange of securities of Wincanton or such solicitation in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The Acquisition will be made solely by means of the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is effected by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document).
This Announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law, the Code, 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 other jurisdictions.
Each Wincanton Shareholder is advised to consult their independent professional adviser regarding the tax consequences to them (or to their beneficial owners) of the Acquisition.
This Announcement does not constitute a prospectus, prospectus equivalent document or exempted document.
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this Announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are resident in the
Overseas Shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons who are not resident in the
The Acquisition relates to shares of an English company and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under the laws of
None of the securities referred to in this Announcement have been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in
Wincanton's financial statements, and all financial information that is included in this Announcement, or that may be included in the Scheme Document, have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the
It may be difficult for
Unless otherwise determined by GXO or required by the Code and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote, or procure the vote, in favour of the Scheme and the Acquisition by any such use, means, instrumentality or from within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this Announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction, and persons receiving this Announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must observe these restrictions and must not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such jurisdictions where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction. If the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be made directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer may not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities.
The availability of the Acquisition to Wincanton Shareholders who are not resident in the
The Acquisition will be subject to the applicable requirements of the Code, the Panel, and the London Stock Exchange.
If GXO were to elect to implement the Acquisition by means of a Takeover Offer and it was determined that Rule 14e-5 of the US Exchange Act applied to the Takeover Offer, then in accordance with normal
Forward-looking statements
This Announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this Announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by GXO contains statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements", including for the purposes of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of GXO about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement include statements relating to the expected effects of the Acquisition on GXO, the expected timing and scope of the Acquisition and other statements other than historical facts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements may 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 GXO's or the Wincanton Group's operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of global economic conditions and government regulation on GXO's or the Wincanton Group's business. Although GXO believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, GXO can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. 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. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the satisfaction of the Conditions and the risks discussed in GXO's filings with the SEC, as well as additional factors, such as: economic conditions generally; supply chain challenges, including labour shortages; competition and pricing pressures; GXO and/or Wincanton's ability to align GXO and/or Wincanton's investments in capital assets, including equipment, service centres and warehouses, to their respective customers' demands; GXO and/or Wincanton's ability to successfully integrate and realise anticipated benefits, synergies, cost savings and profit improvement opportunities with respect to acquired companies, including the Acquisition; acquisitions may be unsuccessful or result in other risks or developments that adversely affect GXO and/or Wincanton's financial condition and results; GXO and/or Wincanton's ability to develop and implement suitable information technology systems and prevent failures in or breaches of such systems; GXO and/or Wincanton's ability to raise debt and equity capital; litigation; labour matters, including GXO and/or Wincanton's ability to manage its subcontractors, and risks associated with labour disputes at GXO and/or Wincanton's customers and efforts by labour organizations to organize its employees; risks associated with defined benefit plans for GXO and/or Wincanton's current and former employees; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; fluctuations in fixed and floating interest rates; fluctuations in customer confidence and spending; issues related to GXO and/or Wincanton's intellectual property rights; governmental regulation, including trade compliance laws, as well as changes in international trade policies and tax regimes; natural disasters, terrorist attacks or similar incidents; a material disruption of GXO and/or Wincanton's operations; the inability to achieve the level of revenue growth, cash generation, cost savings, improvement in profitability and margins, fiscal discipline, or strengthening of competitiveness and operations anticipated or targeted; the impact of potential cyber-attacks and information technology or data security breaches; and the inability to implement technology initiatives or business systems successfully. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors. Neither GXO 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. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Other than in accordance with their legal or regulatory obligations (including under the
No profit forecasts, profit estimates or quantified benefits statements
No statement in this Announcement is intended as a profit forecast, profit estimate or quantified benefits statement for any period and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share for Wincanton for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share for Wincanton.
Dealing and Opening Position 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(s), 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 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 Wincanton Shareholders
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain other information provided by Wincanton Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Wincanton may be provided to GXO during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 to the Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Code.
Publication on website and hard copies
A copy of this Announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rule 26 of the Code will be available free of charge, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Wincanton's website at https://www.Wincanton.co.uk/investors/ and on GXO's website.
Neither the content of any website referred to in this Announcement nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks is incorporated into, or forms part of, this Announcement.
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Code, Wincanton Shareholders, persons with information rights and participants in the Wincanton Share Plans may request a hard copy of this Announcement by contacting Equiniti during business hours on +44 (0)371 384 2050 or by submitting a request in writing to Equiniti at Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing,
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.