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 SUCH JURISDICTION

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

20 JULY 2021

RECOMMENDED INCREASED FINAL[1] CASH OFFER

for

TELIT COMMUNICATIONS PLC ("TELIT")

by

TRIESTE ACQUISITIONS HOLDING LIMITED ("BIDCO")

to be effected
by way of a scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006

Offer Update

On 25 May 2021, the boards of Telit and Bidco announced the terms of a recommended cash offer made by Bidco for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Telit other than the Telit Shares held by funds managed by DBAY (the "Acquisition"), intended to be effected by means of a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme").

The scheme document containing, among other things, the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, the notices of the Court Meeting and General Meeting, and details of the actions to be taken by Telit Shareholders, was posted to Telit Shareholders on 19 June 2021 (the "Scheme Document").

Capitalised terms defined in the Scheme Document have the same meanings given in this announcement, a copy of which is available on Telit's website at: https://www.telit.com/about/investor-relations/possible-offers/ and on DBAY's website at https://www.dbayadvisors.com/offer-docs.

Increased and Final¹ Offer

Bidco are pleased to announce the terms of an increased and final¹ recommended cash offer (the "Increased Final Offer") by Bidco for the entire issued, and to be issued share capital of Telit.

Under the terms of the Increased Final Offer, Scheme Shareholders will be entitled to receive:

The Increased Final Offer values Telit's entire issued and to be issued share capital at approximately £320.0 million. It represents a premium of:

·      65.3 per cent. to the Closing Price of 138.8 pence per Telit Share on 2 November 2020 (being the last Business Day before the Previous Offer Period began);

·      71.2 per cent. to the Volume Weighted Average Price per Telit Share during the one month period ended 2 November 2020;

·      70.8 per cent. to the Volume Weighted Average Price per Telit Share during the six month period ended on 2 November 2020;

·      84.6 per cent. to the Volume Weighted Average Price per Telit Share during the twelve month period ended on 2 November 2020;

·      10.6 per cent. to the Closing Price of 207.5 pence per Telit Share on 17 March 2021 (being the last Business Day before the Offer Period began); and

·      17.0 per cent. to the Volume Weighted Average Price per Telit Share during the one month period ended 17 March 2021.

The Increased Final Offer does not change Bidco's intentions as regards the business of Telit including: locations of its operation, the management and employees of Telit and the proposals in respect of the Telit Share Plans, as set out in the Rule 2.7 Announcement and in the Scheme Document.

The financial terms of the Increased Final Offer are final and will not be increased, except that Bidco reserves the right to increase the amount of the offer price if there is an announcement on or after the date of this announcement of an offer or a possible offer for Telit by a third party offeror or potential offeror.

The Scheme will be modified to reflect the terms of the Increased Final Offer. Save as disclosed in this announcement, the Increased Final Offer is subject to the same terms and conditions set out in the Scheme Document.

Irrevocable undertakings

Bidco has received irrevocable undertakings from the Telit Directors holding Telit Shares and each of the Telit Directors who is interested in Telit Shares has irrevocably undertaken to vote (or procure the vote) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and in favour of the Special Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting (or, in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer) in respect of their entire beneficial holding of Scheme Shares.

In addition, Bidco has received an irrevocable undertaking from Run Liang Tai Management Limited to vote or procure votes in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Special Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting, in respect of its entire beneficial holding of 20,030,495 Telit Shares (representing, in aggregate, approximately 14.90 per cent. of the Telit Shares in issue on 19 July 2021, being the business day prior to this announcement (the "Last Practicable Date").

Paolo Dal Pino has irrevocably undertaken to elect for the Alternative Offer (subject to the terms and conditions of the Alternative Offer set out in paragraph 3 of Part 2 of the Scheme Document), in respect of his entire beneficial holding of Scheme Shares (including any Telit Shares resulting from the vesting/exercise of awards granted pursuant to the Telit Share Plans).

In addition, Bidco has received irrevocable undertakings from Richard Griffiths and Davide Serra (the "Rollover Shareholders") to: (a) vote or procure votes in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Special Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting (or, in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer); and (b) elect for the Alternative Offer (subject to the terms and conditions of the Alternative Offer set out in paragraph 3 of Part 2 of the Scheme Document), in each case in respect of his entire beneficial holding of Scheme Shares. In aggregate, the Rollover Shareholders hold 23,366,802 Telit Shares (representing, in aggregate, approximately 17.39 per cent. of the Telit Shares in issue on the Last Practicable Date).

Bidco has also received a non-binding letter of intent from Tavira Securities Limited to vote or procure votes in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Special Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting (or, in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer), in respect of 1,575,840 Telit Shares (representing, in aggregate, approximately 1.17 per cent. of the Telit Shares in issue on the Last Practicable Date).

In aggregate, therefore, Bidco has received irrevocable undertakings and a letter of intent to vote in favour of:

·      the Scheme at the Court Meeting in respect of 46,001,126 Telit Shares, representing approximately 34.23 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of Telit and approximately 46.27 per cent. of the Scheme Shares eligible to vote at the Court Meeting, in each case on the Last Practicable Date; and

·      the Special Resolution at the General Meeting in respect of 46,001,126 Telit Shares, representing approximately 34.23 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of Telit on the Last Practicable Date.

Further details of the irrevocable undertakings received by Bidco are set out in the Scheme Document and further details of the letter of intent received by Bidco are available on DBAY's website at https://www.dbayadvisors.com/offer-docs.

Timetable and Action Required

Bidco reminds Telit Shareholders that the Court Meeting and the General Meeting have been adjourned and reconvened to take place on 28 July 2021. The Court Meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. (London time) and the General Meeting will start at 10:15 a.m. The Election Return Time to submit elections for the Alternative Offer has been extended and is now 11:00 a.m. on 29 July 2021. An updated expected timetable of principal events for the implementation of the Scheme is set out in the Telit announcement released on 14 July 2021 (RNS Number: 1428F). If any of the dates and/or times in the updated expected timetable change, the revised dates and/or times will be notified by announcement through a Regulatory Information Service. 

Telit Shareholders who have already submitted Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting and do not wish to change their voting instructions, need take no further action as their Forms of Proxy will continue to be valid in respect of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting.

Telit Shareholders are also reminded that completion and return of a Form of Proxy, or the appointment of a proxy electronically using CREST, will not prevent them from voting at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting either in person or via the Virtual Meeting Platform. Please refer to the Scheme Document and the Virtual Meeting Guide for further information. 

Financing the Increased Final Offer

The cash consideration payable pursuant to the Increased Final Offer is being wholly funded through existing facilities available to Bidco.

Investec, in its capacity as financial adviser to Bidco, is satisfied that the resources available to Bidco are sufficient to satisfy in full the cash consideration payable to the Telit Shareholder under the terms of the Increased Final Offer.

Enquiries

Investec Bank plc (Financial adviser to Bidco/DBAY)                           Tel: +44 (0) 207 597 5970

Hogan Lovells International LLP is providing legal advice to DBAY and Bidco.

Important notices

Investec Bank plc, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, is acting as financial adviser to Bidco and for no one else in connection with the Acquisition or other matters referred to herein and will not be responsible to anyone other than Bidco for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matters set out herein.

Further information

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form any part of, an offer to sell or subscribe for or any invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise. The Acquisition will be made solely through the Scheme Document and the accompanying Forms of Proxy and Form of Election, which contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition. Any approval, decision or other response to the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information in the Scheme Document.  Telit Shareholders are strongly advised to read the formal documentation in relation to the Acquisition.  Each Telit Shareholder is urged to consult its independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences to it (or its beneficial owners) 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 England.

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent document.

Overseas shareholders

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into jurisdictions other than the UK may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the law of any jurisdiction other than the UK should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. In particular the ability of persons who are not resident in the UK to vote their Telit Shares at the Court Meeting or General Meeting, or to appoint another person as proxy to vote at the Court Meeting or General Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located.  Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person. This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with the laws of England and Wales, Market Abuse Regulation, AIM Rules and the 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 of England and Wales. Unless otherwise determined by Bidco 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 in favour of the Acquisition by use of mail or any other means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile, email or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of, any Restricted Jurisdiction.

Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Acquisition will not be and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction or any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of the Acquisition.

Where Bidco believes that an election for the Alternative Offer by any Scheme Shareholder may infringe applicable legal or regulatory requirements, or may result in a requirement for a registration under the securities laws of any Restricted Jurisdiction, Bidco will have the right to deem that such Scheme Shareholder has not validly elected for the Alternative Offer and such Scheme Shareholder will instead receive the Cash Offer in respect of the Scheme Shares which were subject to such an election in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition.

Further details in relation to Telit Shareholders in overseas jurisdictions are contained in the Scheme Document.

Additional information for US investors

The Acquisition relates to the shares of a UK company and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under the laws of England and Wales. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the proxy solicitation or tender offer rules under the Exchange Act and is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Accordingly, the Acquisition will be subject to disclosure requirements and practices applicable in the UK and to schemes of arrangement under the laws of England and Wales, which are different from the disclosure and other requirements applicable to a US tender offer. Neither the SEC, nor any securities commission of any state of the United States, has approved or disapproved any offer, or comment upon the adequacy or completeness of any of the information contained in document.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

Financial information relating to Telit included in this announcement and the Scheme Document has been or will have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom that may not be comparable to financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

The Consideration Loan Notes to be issued pursuant to the Scheme under the Alternative Offer may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration.  No US offer of such Consideration Loan Notes will be made in the United States.  The Consideration Loan Notes have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act or under the relevant securities laws of any state or territory or other jurisdiction of the United States and will not be listed on any stock exchange in the United States, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in, into or from the United States. Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any US state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Consideration Loan Notes or determined that this announcement or the Scheme Document is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence.

Telit Shareholders located or resident in the United States or who are otherwise US Persons will not be permitted to elect receipt of the Consideration Loan Notes pursuant to the Alternative Offer, and any purported election to receive Consideration Loan Notes pursuant to the Alternative Offer by Telit Shareholders from the United States, or which, at the sole discretion of Bidco, appear to be made in respect of Telit Shares beneficially held by persons located or resident in the United States or who otherwise appear to be US Persons will not be accepted.  Accordingly, Telit Shareholders located or resident in the United States or who are otherwise US Persons will receive cash pursuant to the Scheme, and no Consideration Loan Notes will be issued to any such Telit Shareholder.

By electing receipt of the Consideration Loan Notes pursuant to the Alternative Offer, Telit Shareholders will be deemed to represent and warrant, on behalf of themselves and any person on whose behalf they beneficially hold their Telit Shares, that they: (i) are not located or resident in the United States or otherwise a US Person; and (ii) are not electing receipt of Telit Shares pursuant to the Alternative Offer with a view to, or for offer or sale of Consideration Loan Notes in connection with, any distribution thereof (within the meaning of the Securities Act) in the United States or to US Persons.

The receipt of cash consideration pursuant to the Cash Offer by a US holder of Telit Shares as consideration for the transfer of its Scheme 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. Each US holder is urged to consult his independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to him, her or it.

It may be difficult for US holders of Telit Shares to enforce their rights and any claims they may have arising under US Federal securities laws in connection with the Acquisition, since Telit is organised under the laws of a country other than the United States, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the United States, and most of the assets of Telit are located outside of the United States. US holders of Telit Shares may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US Federal 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 or judgment.

The Acquisition may, in the circumstances provided for in the Scheme Document, instead be carried out by way of a Takeover Offer under the laws of England and Wales. If Bidco exercises, with the consent of the Takeover Panel and subject to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement, its right to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer, such Takeover Offer will be made in compliance with applicable US tender offer and US Federal securities laws and regulations, including the exemptions therefrom. In accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to rule 14e-5(b) of the Exchange Act, Bidco or its nominees, or its brokers (acting as agents), may, from time to time, make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, Telit Shares outside of the United States, other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date on which the Acquisition becomes effective, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn, in compliance with applicable law, including the Exchange Act. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices.  Any information about such purchases will be disclosed, as required in the UK, will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement, oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by Bidco contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements" with respect to Bidco or Telit.  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 not always) use words such as "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", "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 or Telit and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of government regulation on the business of Bidco or Telit.

Although Bidco believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, Bidco and Telit can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. 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. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future strategies and environments. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as at the date hereof. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to Bidco 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. Bidco and Telit expressly disclaim any intention or 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. 

No profit forecasts or estimates

Nothing in this announcement shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of Bidco, the Bidco Group, Telit or the Telit Group except where otherwise stated.

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: (a) the offeree company; and (b) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) of the Code 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 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: (a) the offeree company; and (b) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8 of the Code. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) of the Code 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 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 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 offeror was first identified.  You should contact the Takeover 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 Dbay's website at https://www.dbayadvisors.com/offer-docs. Neither the contents of this website nor the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on such website is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.