GOAL.L

Goals Soccer Centres Plc
Goals Soccer Centres - Response re possible offer
23rd September 2019, 09:45
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RNS Number : 2851N
Goals Soccer Centres PLC
23 September 2019
 

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FALLING UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CODE. THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY FIRM OFFER WILL BE MADE NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY FIRM OFFER MIGHT BE MADE.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION

For immediate release

23 September 2019

Goals Soccer Centres plc

Response re possible offer for Goals Soccer Centres plc

The Board of Goals Soccer Centres plc ("Goals" or the "Company") notes the announcement today from Sports Direct International plc ("SDI") that it has received a preliminary and highly caveated possible cash offer at 5 pence per share for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of the Company (the "Proposal").

The Proposal remains under discussion between the Company and SDI. As such, there can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made nor as to the terms on which any firm offer might be made. A further announcement will be made in due course if and when appropriate.

The Board also wishes to confirm that it remains committed to looking after the interests of all stakeholders.

In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Code"), SDI must, by not later than 5.00 p.m. on 21 October 2019, either announce a firm intention to make an offer for the Company in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Takeover Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be available (subject to certain restrictions) on the Company's website at www.goalsplc.co.uk by no later than 12 noon (London time) on 24 September 2019. The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.

Further information

This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities whether pursuant to this announcement or otherwise.

The distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction.

 

 

Rule 2.9

In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, Goals confirms that it has 75,215,060 ordinary shares of 0.25p each in issue and admitted to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. Goals holds Nil of its ordinary shares in treasury. The total number of voting rights in Goals is currently 75,215,060. The ISIN reference for these securities is GB00B0486M37.

The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of Goals is Andy Anson.

Enquiries:

Goals Soccer Centres plc

Tel: +44 (0) 1355 234 800

Michael Bolingbroke, Chairman


Andy Anson, Chief Executive Officer




Canaccord Genuity Limited (Financial Adviser, Nominated Adviser and Broker)

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7523 8000

Bobbie Hilliam


Richard Andrews




Instinctif Partners

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7457 2020

Matthew Smallwood


Andy Low


 

Canaccord Genuity Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting as Rule 3 adviser and sole corporate broker exclusively for Goals and for no one else in connection with the Proposal and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Goals for providing the protections afforded to clients of Canaccord Genuity Limited, nor for providing advice in relation to the Proposal or any other matter referred to in this announcement.

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

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 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (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(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 pm (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 Bidder 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 Bidder 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.

Legal Entity Identifier: 2138005QFMJYIIC5S847


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