NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, 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 ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5 November 2019
RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION
of
BCA Marketplace plc ("BCA")
by
BBD Bidco Limited ("Bidco")
COURT SANCTION OF SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT
On 29 July 2019 the Board of Directors of BCA announced the passing of resolutions, at a Court Meeting and General Meeting of BCA Shareholders held on the same date as the announcement, approving the recommended acquisition of BCA by Bidco (a company formed on behalf of investment funds managed by TDR Capital LLP) (the "Acquisition") to be implemented by way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme"), the terms of which are set out in the scheme document published on 5 July 2019 (the "Scheme Document").
Further to the announcement made on 22 October 2019 in relation to the receipt of the relevant regulatory approvals in respect of the Acquisition, BCA announces that following the satisfaction or waiver by Bidco of the remaining Conditions set out the Scheme Document the Court has today sanctioned the Scheme and issued the Court Order in connection with the Acquisition.
The Scheme remains conditional on the delivery of a copy of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies, which is expected to occur on 6 November 2019, at which time the Scheme will be effective.
The last day for dealing in, and for registration of transfers of, BCA Shares is today and the Scheme Record Time will be 8.00 pm today.
The listing of BCA Shares on the premium listing segment of the Official List of the FCA and the trading of BCA Shares on the Main Market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange will be suspended with effect from 7.30 am on 6 November 2019.
It is expected that the listing of BCA Shares on the Official List of the FCA will be cancelled and the BCA Shares will cease to be admitted to trading on the Main Market for listed securities of the London Exchange with effect from 8.00 am on 7 November 2019.
General
References to time are to
Capitalised terms used but not defined in this announcement have the meanings given to them in the Scheme Document.
Enquiries:
|
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Jefferies International Limited (Lead Financial Adviser and Rule 3 Financial Adviser to BCA) |
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Philip Noblet, Paul Bundred |
+44 (0) 207 029 8000 |
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Goldman Sachs International (Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker to BCA) |
|
Anthony Gutman, Jose Barreto, Bertie Whitehead |
+44 (0) 20 7774 1000 |
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Kinmont (Financial Adviser to BCA) |
+44 (0) 207 087 9100 |
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Media/Investor Enquiries (Communications Adviser to BCA) |
|
David Rydell, Jamie Hooper Buchanan Communications |
+44 (0) 20 7466 5000
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Important notices relating to financial advisers
Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies") which is authorised and regulated in the
Goldman Sachs International ("Goldman Sachs"), which is authorised by the
Kinmont, which is regulated in the
Further information
This announcement is for information purposes only 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 any securities, pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise.
The Acquisition is being implemented solely by means of the Scheme Document (or in the event that the Acquisition is to be implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document), which contains the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition.
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law and the Takeover Code 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
BCA and Bidco urge BCA Shareholders to read the Scheme Document because it contains important information relating to the Acquisition.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent document.
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 a
Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition shall 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 in favour of the Acquisition by any such use, means, instrumentality or form 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 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. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for violation of such restrictions by any person.
The availability of the Acquisition to BCA Shareholders who are not resident in the
The Acquisition shall be subject to the applicable requirements of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the Financial Conduct Authority.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains statements about Bidco and BCA that are or may be forward looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement may be forward looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets", "plans", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects" or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward looking statements. 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 Bidco's, any member of the Wider Bidco Group's, BCA's or any member of the Wider BCA Group's operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of global economic conditions and governmental regulation on Bidco's, any member of the Wider Bidco Group's, BCA's or any member of the Wider BCA Group's business.
Such forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward looking statements. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Bidco and BCA, and each of their respective associates, directors, officers, employees, advisers and persons acting on their behalf, expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward looking or other statements contained herein, except as required by applicable law.
No member of the Wider Bidco Group, nor the Wider BCA Group, nor any of their respective associates, directors, officers, employees, advisers and persons acting on their behalf, 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.
No profit forecasts or estimates
No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per ordinary share for Bidco or BCA, as appropriate, for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per ordinary share for Bidco or BCA, as appropriate.
Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover 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 pm (
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover 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 pm (
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 shall 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 Panel's website at http://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. If you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure, you should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
Electronic communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain information provided by BCA Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from BCA may be provided to Bidco during the Offer Period as requested under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover Code.
Publication on website
A copy of this announcement and the Scheme Document shall be made available subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions on Bidco's and BCA's websites at www.tdrcapital.com/bca-offer and www.bcamarketplaceplc.com respectively by no later than 12 noon (
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the