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
29 April 2020
RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER
for
MOSS BROS GROUP PLC
by
BRIGADIER ACQUISITION COMPANY LIMITED
Results of Court Meeting and General Meeting
On 12 March 2020, the Board of Moss Bros Group PLC ("Moss Bros") and the Board of Brigadier Acquisition Company Limited ("Bidco") announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer to be made by Bidco for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Moss Bros (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is to be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement between Moss Bros and the Scheme Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the "Scheme").
Moss Bros is pleased to announce that, at the Court Meeting and the General Meeting (the "Meetings") convened in relation to the proposed Scheme and held earlier today, all resolutions proposed, details of which are set out in the notices of the Meetings contained in Parts 9 and 10 of the scheme document dated 8 April 2020 (the "Scheme Document"), were passed by the requisite majorities and accordingly the Scheme was approved.
A majority in number of the Scheme Shareholders who voted, representing not less than 75 per cent. in value of the Scheme Shares held by those Scheme Shareholders approved the Scheme at the Court Meeting.
Moss Bros Shareholders voted at the General Meeting to pass the Special Resolution to approve and implement the Scheme (including, without limitation, the amendment of the Moss Bros' articles of association and authorising the directors of Moss Bros to take all such action as they may consider necessary or appropriate for carrying the Scheme into effect).
Voting results of the Court Meeting
The table below sets out the results of the poll at the Court Meeting. Each Scheme Shareholder was entitled to one vote per Scheme Share held at the Voting Record Time:
Results of Court Meeting |
Number of Scheme Shares voted |
% of Scheme Shares voted (2 d.p.) |
Number of Scheme Shareholders who voted |
% of Scheme Shareholders who voted (2 d.p.) |
Number of Scheme Shares voted as a % of the issued ordinary share capital (2 d.p.)* |
FOR |
65,088,897 |
98.50 |
220 |
89.80 |
64.57 |
AGAINST |
993,068 |
1.50 |
25 |
10.20 |
0.99 |
TOTAL |
66,081,965 |
100.00 |
245 |
100.00 |
65.56 |
* The total number of Scheme Shares in issue at the Voting Record Time was 100,799,873.
Voting results of the General Meeting
The table below sets out the results of the poll at the General Meeting. Each Moss Bros Shareholder was entitled to one vote per Moss Bros Share held at the Voting Record Time:
Special Resolution |
No. of Moss Bros Shareholders voting |
No. of Moss Bros Shares voted |
% of votes cast (2 d.p.) |
FOR |
213 |
63,704,321 |
98.47 |
AGAINST |
21 |
986,766 |
1.53 |
WITHHELD* |
1 |
590 |
0.00 |
*A withheld vote is not a vote in law and, accordingly, is not counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes "For" and "Against" the resolution concerned. Any proxy appointments which gave discretion to the Chairman have been included in the vote "For" total.
Effective Date and Timetable
The outcome of today's Court Meeting and General Meeting means that Conditions 1.(a) and 1.(b) (as set out in Part A of Part 4 of the Scheme Document) have been satisfied.
The Scheme remains subject to the sanction by the Court at the Court Hearing and the satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the other Conditions (as set out in Part A of Part 4 of the Scheme Document).
The expected timetable of principal events for the implementation of the Scheme remains as set out on page 8 of the Scheme Document and, subject to the sanction by the Court at the Court Hearing and the satisfaction (or where applicable, waiver) of the other Conditions, it is expected to become Effective in the second quarter of 2020.
If any of the key dates set out in the timetable change, Moss Bros will give notice of this change by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service and by making such announcement available on Moss Bros' website at https://corp.moss.co.uk.
Terms defined in the Scheme Document have the same meanings in this Announcement.
Enquiries
|
|
Moss Bros Colin Porter, Chairman Brian Brick, CEO Bill Adams, CFO
|
via Buchanan |
Peel Hunt (Lead Financial adviser and Rule 3 Adviser to Moss Bros) George Sellar Michael Nicholson
|
020 7418 8900 |
Rothschild & Co (Joint Financial Adviser to Moss Bros) John Byrne Andrew Graham |
020 7280 5000 |
Buchanan (Financial PR adviser to Moss Bros) Charles Ryland Vicky Hayns
|
020 7466 5000 |
Important notices relating to financial advisers
Peel Hunt LLP (which is authorised and regulated in the
N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited ("Rothschild & Co") (which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the
Further information
This Announcement is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, an offer, 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 Moss Bros in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The Acquisition will be made solely by means of the Scheme Document or any document by which the Acquisition is made, which contains the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition.
This Announcement does not constitute a prospectus or a prospectus equivalent document.
This Announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law, the rules of the London Stock Exchange, the Listing Rules and the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers 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 and regulations of any jurisdictions outside the
Overseas Shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in jurisdictions other than the
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 forward, distribute or send them in, into or from such jurisdictions where to do so would violate the laws in those jurisdictions. If the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), such Takeover Offer may not be made available directly or indirectly, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction.
The availability of the Acquisition to Moss Bros Shareholders who are not resident in the
Additional Information for US Investors
The Acquisition is being made to acquire the securities of an English company that is a "foreign private issuer" (as defined under Rule 3b-4 under the US Exchange Act 1934 as amended (the "US Exchange Act")) by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under the laws of
If Bidco were to elect to implement the Acquisition by means of a Takeover Offer, such Takeover Offer would be made in compliance with applicable US laws and regulations, including to the extent applicable Section 14(e) of the US Exchange Act and Regulation 14E thereunder, and in accordance with the Takeover Code. Such a Takeover Offer would be made in
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US holder as consideration for the transfer of its Scheme Shares pursuant to the Scheme will likely be a taxable transaction for
It may be difficult for US holders to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the US federal securities laws, since Moss Bros is located in a country other than the US, and all of its officers and directors are residents of countries other than the US. US holders 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 judgement.
In accordance with normal
In accordance with the Takeover Code, normal
Cautionary note regarding forward looking statements
This document contains statements about Bidco and Moss Bros that are or may be forward looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document 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 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 or Moss Bros' operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of government regulation on Bidco or Moss Bros' 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 Moss Bros disclaim any obligation to update any forward looking or other statements contained herein, except as required by applicable law. Except as expressly provided in this document, they have not been reviewed by the auditors of Moss Bros or Bidco. All subsequent oral or written forward looking statements attributable to Moss Bros or Bidco or any of their respective members, directors, officers or employees or any persons 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 document.
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 p.m. (
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(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.
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 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.
Publication on website and availability of hard copies
A copy of this Announcement will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, free of charge on Moss Bros' website at https://corp.moss.co.uk. For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of those websites are not incorporated into and do not form part of this Announcement.
You may request a hard copy of the Scheme Document and all information incorporated into the Scheme Document by reference to another source by contacting Link Asset Services during normal business hours on 0371 664 0321 from within the
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