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
19 January 2023
RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION
of
RPS Group plc ("RPS")
by
Tetra Tech
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tetra Tech, Inc.
Court Sanction of Scheme of Arrangement
On 23 September 2022, the boards of directors of RPS, Tetra Tech and Tetra Tech, Inc. announced that they had agreed the terms of a recommended cash offer pursuant to which Tetra Tech will acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of RPS (the "Acquisition"), to be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme"). The circular in relation to the Scheme (the "Scheme Document") was published on 11 October 2022.
On 3 November 2022 the Scheme was approved by the requisite majority of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting and the Special Resolution in connection with the implementation of the Scheme was passed by the requisite majority of RPS Shareholders at the General Meeting.
Defined terms used but not defined in this announcement have the meanings set out in the Scheme Document. All references to times in this announcement are to
Scheme Sanctioned by Court
RPS and Tetra Tech are pleased to announce that the High Court of Justice in
It is anticipated that the Effective Date will be 23 January 2023, conditional upon the delivery of a copy of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies.
Next steps and timetable
There has been no material change to the expected timetable of principal events for the Acquisition set out in the announcement made by RPS in relation to the receipt of regulatory clearances on 12 December 2022.
Applications have been made for the suspension of trading in RPS Shares on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities and the listing of RPS Shares on the premium listing segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and such suspensions are expected to take effect by 7.30 a.m. on 23 January 2023. The last day of dealings in, and for the registration and transfer of, RPS Shares, will be 20 January 2023. The de-listing of RPS Shares from the premium listing segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and the cancellation of the admission to trading of RPS Shares on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities have also been applied for and will, subject to the Scheme becoming Effective, take effect at 8.00 a.m. on 24 January 2023. Further announcements will be made when the Scheme has become Effective and when the RPS Shares have been de-listed and cancelled from trading.
Full details of the Acquisition are set out in the Scheme Document.
Enquiries:
RPS |
|
John Douglas, Chief Executive Officer Judith Cottrell, Group Finance Director
|
+44 1235 863 206
|
Gleacher Shacklock (Lead Financial Adviser to RPS) |
|
Tim Shacklock James Dawson Tom Quinn
|
+44 20 7484 1150 |
AEC Advisors (Financial Adviser to RPS) Andrej Avelini |
+ 917 763 0393 |
Tetra Tech |
|
|
Jim Wu, Investor Relations |
+ 1 626 470 2844 |
|
BofA Securities (Financial Adviser to Tetra Tech, Inc. and Tetra Tech) |
|
|
Edward Peel Geoff Iles Tom Brown |
+44 20 7628 1000 |
|
DLA Piper
Important Notices
Gleacher Shacklock LLP ("Gleacher Shacklock"), which is authorised and regulated in the
AEC Advisors LLC ("AEC Advisors"), which provides M&A advice under an exemption from registration issued by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), is acting exclusively as financial adviser to RPS and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and shall not be responsible to anyone other than RPS for providing the protections afforded to clients of AEC Advisors nor for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition or any matter referred to herein. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by AEC Advisors as to the contents of this announcement.
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 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.
Overseas Shareholders
This announcement has been prepared in accordance with and for the purpose of complying with English law, the Takeover Code, the Market Abuse Regulation, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and the Listing Rules and 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
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into certain jurisdictions other than the
Unless otherwise determined by Tetra Tech or Tetra Tech, Inc., or required by the Takeover 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 any such use, means, instrumentality or form (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 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 the violation of such restrictions by any person. If the Acquisition is implemented (with the consent of the Takeover Panel) 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 RPS Shareholders who are not resident in the
If any Overseas Shareholder remains in any doubt, it should consult an appropriate independent professional adviser in its relevant jurisdiction without delay. The Acquisition shall be subject to the applicable requirements of the Takeover Code, the Takeover Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the Financial Conduct Authority.
Additional information for US investors
RPS Shareholders in
Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements applicable in the
However, if Tetra Tech were to elect to implement the Acquisition by means of a Takeover Offer, such Takeover Offer shall be made in compliance with all applicable
In the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, in accordance with normal
This announcement does not constitute or form a part of any offer to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, any securities in
Each RPS Shareholder is urged to consult their independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them, including under applicable
Except where otherwise indicated, financial information relating to RPS and/or the RPS Group included in this announcement and the Scheme Document has been or shall have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the
Tetra Tech, Inc. is incorporated under the laws of
Additional information for Canadian investors
Holders of RPS Shares resident or located in
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a Canadian holder as consideration for the transfer of its RPS Shares pursuant to the Scheme may be a taxable transaction for Canadian federal income tax purposes and under applicable Canadian provincial income tax laws, as well as foreign and other tax laws. Each RPS Shareholder is urged to consult their independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them.
RPS is located in a country other than
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by RPS, Tetra Tech or any member of the Wider Tetra Tech Group or Wider RPS Group contains statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and on numerous assumptions regarding the business strategies and the environment in which RPS, Tetra Tech, any member of the Wider Tetra Tech Group, the Wider RPS Group or the Enlarged Group shall operate in the future and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements.
The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement relate to future events, including RPS, Tetra Tech, any member of the Wider Tetra Tech Group, the Wider RPS Group or the Enlarged Group's future prospects, developments and business strategies, the expected timing and scope of the Acquisition, certain plans and objectives of the boards of directors of RPS, Tetra Tech, any member of the Wider Tetra Tech Group or Wider RPS Group, expectations regarding whether the Acquisition will be completed, including whether any conditions to Completion will be satisfied, and the anticipated timing for Completion, the expected effects of the Acquisition on RPS, Tetra Tech, any member of the Wider Tetra Tech Group or Wider RPS Group; as well as the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Tetra Tech, any member of the Wider Tetra Tech Group, RPS or the Wider RPS Group following the implementation of the Acquisition, and other statements other than historical facts. These include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, economic performance, synergies, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy, losses and future prospects of RPS, Tetra Tech, the Wider Tetra Tech Group, the Wider RPS Group and/or the Enlarged Group; (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of RPS', Tetra Tech's, any member of the Wider Tetra Tech Group's, the Wider RPS Group's and/or the Enlarged Group's operations, benefits and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; (iii) expectations regarding the integration of the Wider RPS Group and timing thereof; (iv) expectations regarding anticipated cost savings, operating efficiencies and operational, competitive and cost synergies, and the manner of achieving such synergies; and (v) the effects of global economic conditions and governmental regulation on RPS', Tetra Tech's, any member of the Wider Tetra Tech Group's, the Wider RPS Group's or the Enlarged Group's businesses. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "will look to", "would look to", "plans", "prepares", "anticipates", "expects", "is expected to", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "synergy", "strategy", "goal", "cost-saving", "projects", "intends", "may", "will", "shall" or "should" or their negatives or other variations or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements reflect current beliefs of management of RPS or Tetra Tech, as applicable, and are based on certain factors and assumptions, which by their nature are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. While RPS and Tetra Tech consider these factors and assumptions to be reasonable based on information available as at the date hereof, actual events or results could differ materially from the results, predictions, forecasts, conclusions, or projections expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that shall occur in the future. These events and circumstances include changes in, and assumptions about, the global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces and conditions, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax rates, future business combinations or disposals, any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak, the satisfaction of the conditions to Completion on the proposed terms and schedule, the state of the global economy and the economies of the regions in which RPS, Tetra Tech, the Wider Tetra Tech Group and/or the Wider RPS Group operate, the state of and access to global and local capital and credit markets, the availability of borrowings to be drawn down under, and the utilisation of, various elements and components of Tetra Tech's financing plan in accordance with their respective terms; the sufficiency of Tetra Tech's, the Wider Tetra Tech Group's or the Wider RPS Group's liquidity and working capital requirements for the foreseeable future; the ability of the Tetra Tech Group and the Wider RPS Group to successfully integrate their respective businesses, processes, systems and operations and retain key employees, the Enlarged Group's ability to make acquisitions and its ability to integrate or manage such acquired businesses, and the anticipated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the
Specifically, statements of estimated cost savings and synergies relate to future actions and circumstances which, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies. As a result, the cost savings and synergies referred to may not be achieved, may be achieved later or sooner than estimated, or those achieved could be materially different from those estimated. Due to the scale of the Enlarged Group, there may be additional changes to the Enlarged Group's operations. As a result, and given the fact that the changes relate to the future, the resulting cost synergies may be materially greater or less than those estimated.
The forward-looking statements speak only at the date of this announcement. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to any member of the Tetra Tech Group or RPS Group, or any of their respective associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above.
Tetra Tech and RPS expressly disclaim any obligation to update such statements other than as required by law or by the rules of any competent regulatory authority, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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 Tetra Tech or RPS, as appropriate, for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per ordinary share for Tetra Tech or RPS, 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 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 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.
Electronic communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain information provided by RPS Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from RPS may be provided to Tetra Tech or Tetra Tech, Inc. during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Takeover Code.
Publication on website and availability of hard copies
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this announcement will be made available (subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions) on Tetra Tech, Inc.'s and RPS' websites at https://www.tetratech.com/investor-offer and https://www.rpsgroup.com/tetra-tech-offer, respectively, by no later than 12 noon (
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, RPS Shareholders, persons with information rights and participants in the RPS Share Plans may request a hard copy of this announcement (and any information incorporated in this announcement by reference to another source) free of charge: (i) by telephoning Equiniti on +44 (0)345 504 9911; or (ii) by submitting a request in writing to Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing,
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 or independent financial adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) if you are resident in the
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