RNS Number : 2134P
GLI Finance Limited
30 September 2013
 



THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

 

Neither this Announcement nor any part of it constitutes an offer or invitation to underwrite, an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy, subscribe or acquire any new ordinary shares in any jurisdiction in which any such offer or solicitation would be unlawful and the information contained herein is not for publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa or any jurisdiction in which such publication or distribution would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (as amended), under the securities legislation of any state of the United States or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa.

 

 

 

30 September 2013

 

GLI Finance Limited

 

("GLI Finance" or the "Company")

 

Conditional placing of new ordinary shares via an accelerated bookbuild process

at a minimum price of 51 pence per share

 

 

 

GLI Finance, a provider of loans to US and UK based SMEs, is pleased to announce a conditional placing of new ordinary shares ("Placing Shares") to institutional investors (the "Placing") via an accelerated bookbuild process at a minimum price of 51 pence per share. The Placing will comprise a minimum of 7.0 million shares and a maximum of 13.0 million shares representing, respectively, 5.3 per cent. and 9.9 per cent. of the Company's existing issued share capital.  Completion of the conditional placing will be subject to shareholder approval of a special resolution ("Resolution 1") to disapply pre-emption rights in respect of the Placing Shares and, if necessary, approval of an ordinary resolution ("Resolution 2") to approve the Placing Price.

 

Rationale for the Placing

 

The net proceeds of the Placing will be used to fund an expansion of the BMS Finance loan book, as well as to invest across the alternative funding platforms in which the Company has invested, Funding Knight as announced on 16 July 2013 and Platform Black as announced on 2 September 2013.

 

GLI Finance intends to continue its focus on providing finance to SMEs, and will look to exploit synergies between the complementary offerings of the platforms into which it has invested, whilst maintaining its focus on ROE-driven targets.

 

The Placing

 

GLI Finance announces its intention to place the Placing Shares in the Company with institutional investors. The Placing Shares are to be issued by the Company subject to the approval of shareholders, which is to be sought at an extraordinary general meeting (the "EGM") to be convened on or around 25 October 2013.

 

The Placing is also subject to the terms and conditions set out in Appendix 'A.'

 

Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited ("Panmure Gordon") will today commence an accelerated bookbuild process in respect of the Placing ("Bookbuild").  The book will open with immediate effect.  The timing of the closing of the book, pricing and allocations are at the discretion of Panmure Gordon and GLI Finance.  Details of the Placing Price and the final number of Placing Shares to be issued will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuild.

 

The Placing Shares will, when issued, be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares of the Company, save that they will not rank for any dividend in respect of the quarter ended 30 September 2013. The Placing is conditional, inter alia, on shareholder approval of Resolution 1 and, if necessary, Resolution 2 and on the admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM and the Channel Islands Stock Exchange ("CISX").

 

Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange and CISX for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading ("Admission"). It is expected that Admission will become effective and that dealings will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 25 October 2013. Following the publication of a circular convening the EGM, the timing of admission and settlement of the Placing Shares will be confirmed.

 

The Placing is also conditional upon the placing agreement between the Company and Panmure Gordon not being terminated. Appendix A to this Announcement (which forms part of this Announcement) sets out further information relating to the Bookbuild and the terms and conditions of the Placing.

 

For further information please contact:

 

GLI Finance Limited


Geoffrey Miller

+44 (0)7408 830719



Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited

+44 (0)20 7886 2500

Dominic Morley


Charles Leigh-Pemberton




Investec Bank plc

+44 (0)20 7597 5970

Tim Mitchell


Jeremy Ellis




Mourant Ozannes Securities Limited


Gayna Babinski

+44 (0) 1481 739338



FTI Consulting

+44 (0) 207 269 7132

Ed Gascoigne Pees


 

Neither the content of the Company's website nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into or forms part of this announcement nor, unless previously published by means of a recognised information service, should any such content be relied upon in reaching a decision as to whether or not to compare, continue to hold, or dispose of, securities in the Company.

 

This Announcement is for information only and does not contain or constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa or the United States or any jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), under the securities legislation of any state of the United States or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. The securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the US Securities Act. Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of U.S., Australian, Canadian, Japanese or South African securities laws, as applicable. No public offer of the Company's securities is being or will be made in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa or elsewhere. No action has been taken by the Company or Panmure Gordon that would permit an offering of the securities referred to herein or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such securities in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and Panmure Gordon to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

 

This Announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by Panmure Gordon or by any of its affiliates or agents as to or in relation to the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement, or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is hereby expressly disclaimed.

 

Panmure Gordon, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA"), is acting for the Company in connection with the Placing and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Panmure Gordon or for providing advice in relation to the Placing.

 

This Announcement is not for publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Africa or any jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful.

 

Certain statements in this Announcement are forward-looking statements which are based on the Company's expectations, intentions and projections regarding its future performance, anticipated events or trends and other matters that are not historical facts. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of such statements and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The information contained in this Announcement is subject to change without notice and neither the Company nor Panmure Gordon assumes any responsibility or obligation to update publicly or review any of the forward-looking statements contained herein.

 

Any indication in this Announcement of the price at which Ordinary Shares have been bought or sold in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of the Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of the Company.

 

 

APPENDIX A: TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX (TOGETHER, THE "ANNOUNCEMENT") AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, OR SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT: (A) PERSONS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN SECTION 86(7) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000, AS AMENDED, ("QUALIFIED INVESTORS") BEING PERSONS FALLING WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(1)(E) OF THE EU PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE (WHICH MEANS DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC AND INCLUDES ANY RELEVANT IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE MEASURE IN ANY MEMBER STATE) (THE "PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE"); (B) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, TO QUALIFIED INVESTORS WHO ARE PERSONS WHO (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(1) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE "ORDER"); (II) ARE PERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) ("HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC") OF THE ORDER; OR (III) ARE PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE BE LAWFULLY COMMUNICATED AND (C) IN THE UNITED STATES TO PERSONS WHO ARE "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS" ("QIBS") WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") AND ALSO MAJOR US INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS ("MAJOR US INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS") AS DEFINED IN RULE 15A-6 UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, (THE "EXCHANGE ACT") (ALL SUCH PERSONS IN (A), (B) OR (C) TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR INVITATION TO UNDERWRITE, AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY. SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT (I) REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (II) AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE SECURITIES MENTIONED HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND WILL NOT BE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC IN THE UNITED STATES.

EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS TO OBTAIN LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ADVICE IN RESPECT OF AN INVESTMENT IN PLACING SHARES.

Persons (including individuals, funds or otherwise) who have chosen to participate in the Placing, by making an oral or written offer to subscribe for Placing Shares will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement, including this Appendix, in its entirety and to be making such offer on the terms and conditions, and to be providing the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, and undertakings contained in this Appendix.

In this Appendix, unless the context otherwise requires, "Placee" means a Relevant Person (including individuals, funds or others) by whom or on whose behalf a commitment to subscribe for Placing Shares has been given.

In particular each such Placee represents, warrants and acknowledges that:

1.   it is a Relevant Person (as defined above) and undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the purposes of its business;

2.   in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive:

a.       the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in any Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive other than Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent of Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited ("Panmure Gordon") has been given to the offer or resale; or

b.       where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any member state of the European Economic Area other than Qualified Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the Prospectus Directive as having been made to such persons; and

3.  (i) the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or with any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, nor approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other United States regulatory authority, (ii) it will not offer, sell or deliver, directly or indirectly, any Placing Shares in or into the United States other than pursuant to an effective registration under the Securities Act or in a transaction exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements thereunder and in compliance with any applicable securities laws or any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and (iii) it is either (A) outside of the United States, not acting on a non-discretionary basis for the account or benefit of a person located within the United States at the time the undertaking to acquire the Placing Shares is given and is otherwise acquiring the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction" meeting the requirements of Regulation S under the Securities Act or (B) it is a QIB and a Major US Institutional Investor purchasing in a transaction exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act and it has duly executed and delivered an investor representation letter in a form provided to it.

The Company, Panmure Gordon and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.

The Announcement (including this Appendix) does not constitute an offer or invitation to underwrite, an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for Placing Shares in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is or may be unlawful. This Announcement and the information contained herein is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, to persons in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or in any other jurisdiction in which such publication or distribution is unlawful. No public offer of securities of the Company is being made in the United Kingdom, United States or elsewhere.

In particular the Placing Shares referred to in this Announcement have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered, sold or transferred within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. The Placing Shares are being offered and sold outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S. Any offering to be made in the United States will be made to a limited number of QIBs who are also Major US Institutional Investors pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, registration under the Securities Act.

This Announcement has not been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or other regulatory authority in the United States, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of this Announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

The relevant clearances have not been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of any province or territory of Canada; no prospectus has been lodged with or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; and the Placing Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under or offered in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. Accordingly, the Placing Shares may not (unless an exemption under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or any other jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

Panmure Gordon is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA").  Panmure Gordon is solely acting as broker to the Company in relation to the Placing and for no other person. All documents issued by Panmure Gordon in connection with the Placing are issued by Panmure Gordon in its capacity as agent of the Company.

Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.

Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing Shares.

Panmure Gordon has entered into the Placing Agreement with the Company under which Panmure Gordon has, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out therein, agreed as agents for and on behalf of the Company, to use their reasonable endeavours to procure Placees for the Placing for up to 13,000,000 Placing Shares at the Placing Price (as defined below).

The Placing Shares will, when issued, be credited as fully paid, subject to the memorandum and articles of association of the Company and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing issued Ordinary Shares, save that they will not rank for any dividend in respect of the quarter ended 30 September 2013.

Admission to trading on AIM and the CISX

Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM and the CISX.

It is expected that Admission will become effective at 8.00 a.m. on 25 October 2013 and that dealings in the Placing Shares will commence at that time.

Bookbuild

The Placing is to be conducted by way of an accelerated bookbuild process (the "Bookbuild"). Panmure Gordon will today commence the Bookbuild to determine demand for participation in the Placing by Placees. This Appendix gives details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Placing. No commissions will be paid to Placees or by Placees in respect of any Placing Shares.

Panmure Gordon and the Company shall be entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method to the Bookbuild as they may, in their sole discretion, determine.

Participation in, and principal terms of, the Placing

1.       Panmure Gordon (whether itself or through any of its affiliates) is arranging the Placing as bookrunner and agent to the Company.

2.       Participation in the Placing will only be available to persons who may lawfully be, and are, invited to participate by Panmure Gordon or one of its affiliates. Panmure Gordon and its affiliates are entitled to participate in the Placing as principal.

3.       The Bookbuild will establish a single price (in Pounds Sterling) payable to Panmure Gordon by all Placees whose bids are successful (the "Placing Price"). The Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares to be issued will be determined, following consultation, between Panmure Gordon and the Company following completion of the Bookbuild. The Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares to be issued will be announced on a Regulatory Information Service following the completion of the Bookbuild (the "Placing Results Announcement").

4.       To bid in the Bookbuild, prospective Placees should communicate their bid by telephone to their usual sales contact at Panmure Gordon. Each bid should state the number of Placing Shares which the prospective Placee wishes to acquire at either the Placing Price which is ultimately established by the Company and Panmure Gordon or at prices up to a price limit specified in its bid. Bids may be scaled down by Panmure Gordon on the basis referred to in paragraph 7 below.

5.       The Bookbuild is expected to close no later than 4.30 p.m. (London time) on 30 September 2013 but may be closed earlier or later at the discretion of Panmure Gordon. Panmure Gordon may, in agreement with the Company, accept bids that are received after the Bookbuild has closed.

6.       Each prospective Placee's allocation will be confirmed to the Placee orally by Panmure Gordon following the close of the Placing, and a placing confirmation will be dispatched as soon as possible thereafter. Panmure Gordon's oral confirmation to such Placee will constitute an irrevocable legally binding commitment upon such person (who will at that point become a Placee) in favour of Panmure Gordon and the Company, under which the Placee agrees to acquire the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Placing Price on the terms and conditions set out in this Appendix and in accordance with the Company's memorandum and articles of association.

7.       Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5 above, Panmure Gordon may choose to accept bids, either in whole or in part, on the basis of allocations determined at their discretion (in consultation with the Company) and may scale down any bids for this purpose on such basis as they may determine. The acceptance of bids shall be at Panmure Gordon's absolute discretion. Panmure Gordon may also, notwithstanding paragraphs 4 and 5 above, subject to the prior consent of the Company, (i) allocate Placing Shares after the time of any initial allocation to any person submitting a bid after that time and (ii) allocate Placing Shares after the Bookbuild has closed to any person submitting a bid after that time. The Company reserves the right to reduce or seek to increase the amount to be raised pursuant to the Placing.

8.       A bid in the Bookbuild will be made on the terms and subject to the conditions in this Announcement and will be legally binding on the Placee on behalf of which it is made and, except with Panmure Gordon's consent, will not be capable of variation or revocation after the time at which it is submitted. Each Placee will also have an immediate, separate, irrevocable and binding obligation, owed to Panmure Gordon, to pay it (or as it may direct) in cleared funds an amount equal to the product of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares such Placee has agreed to acquire. Each Placee's obligations under this paragraph will be owed to the Company and to Panmure Gordon.

9.       Except as required by law or regulation, no press release or other announcement will be made by Panmure Gordon or the Company using the name of any Placee (or its agent) in its capacity as Placee (or agent), other than with such Placee's prior written consent.

10.     Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's allocation pursuant to the Placing is confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares to be acquired pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made at the same time, on the basis explained below under "Registration and Settlement".

11.     All obligations under the Bookbuild and Placing will be subject to fulfilment or (where applicable) waiver of the conditions referred to below under "Conditions of the Placing" and to the Placing not being terminated on the basis referred to below under "Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement".

12.     By participating in the Bookbuild, each Placee will agree that its rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described below and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee.

13.     To the fullest extent permissible by law, neither Panmure Gordon nor any of its affiliates shall have any liability to Placees (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise). In particular, neither Panmure Gordon nor any of its affiliates shall have any liability (including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of Panmure Gordon's conduct of the Bookbuild or of such alternative method of effecting the Placing as Panmure Gordon, its affiliates and the Company may agree.

Conditions of the Placing

Panmure Gordon's obligations under the Placing Agreement in respect of the Placing Shares are conditional on, inter alia:

a.   shareholder approval at an extraordinary general meeting to be held on or around 21 October 2013 of Resolution 1 and, if necessary, Resolution 2;

b.   the London Stock Exchange agreeing to admit the Placing Shares to trading on AIM (subject to allotment);

c.   CISX agreeing to admit the Placing Shares to trading on the CISX (subject to allotment);

d.   the Company allotting, subject only to Admission, the Placing Shares in accordance with the Placing Agreement;

e.   Admission taking place not later than 8.00 a.m. on 25 October 2013, or such later date as the Company and Panmure Gordon may otherwise agree but not being later than 8.00 a.m. on 20 November 2013;

f.    certain publication of announcement obligations (including with respect to this Announcement); and

g.   the Company having performed all of its obligations under the Placing Agreement, which fall to be performed prior to Admission.

If (i) any of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement is not fulfilled or waived by Panmure Gordon by the respective time or date where specified (or such later time or date as the Company and Panmure Gordon may agree), (ii) any such condition becomes incapable of being fulfilled or (iii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below, the Placing in relation to the Placing Shares will lapse and the Placee's rights and obligations hereunder in relation to the Placing Shares shall cease and terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by the Placee in respect thereof.

Panmure Gordon may, at its discretion and upon such terms as it thinks fit, waive compliance by the Company with the whole or any part of any of the Company's obligations in relation to the conditions in the Placing Agreement, save that the above condition relating to Admission taking place may not be waived. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Announcement.

Neither Panmure Gordon nor the Company shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision it may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and /or date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision they may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in respect of the Placing generally and by participating in the Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of Panmure Gordon.

Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement

Panmure Gordon is entitled, at any time before Admission, to terminate the Placing Agreement in relation to Panmure Gordon's obligations in respect of the Placing Shares by giving notice to the Company in certain circumstances, including a material breach of the warranties given to Panmure Gordon in the Placing Agreement, the failure of the Company to comply with obligations under the Placing Agreement, a material adverse change in the Company's financial position or prospects or the occurrence of a force majeure event which, in the opinion of Panmure Gordon, makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the Placing.

By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by Panmure Gordon of any right of termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of Panmure Gordon and that it need not make any reference to Placees and that it shall have no liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise.

No Prospectus

No offering document or prospectus has been or will be submitted to be approved by the FCA or CISX in relation to the Placing and Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the Announcement (including this Appendix) and the Exchange Information (as defined further below). Each Placee, by accepting a participation in the Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms that it has neither received nor relied on any other information (other than the Exchange Information), representation, warranty, or statement made by or on behalf of the Company or Panmure Gordon or any other person and neither Panmure Gordon nor the Company nor any other person will be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement which the Placees may have obtained or received. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation.

Registration and Settlement

Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00B0CL3P62) following Admission will take place within the CREST system, subject to certain exceptions. Panmure Gordon reserves the right to require settlement for, and delivery of, the Placing Shares to Placees by such other means that it deems necessary if delivery or settlement is not possible or practicable within the system administered by Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited ("CREST") within the timetable set out in this Announcement or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in any Placee's jurisdiction.

Following close of the Placing for the Placing, each Placee allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a trade confirmation, stating the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Placing Price, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee and settlement instructions. Each Placee agrees that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed in accordance with either the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions that it has in place with Panmure Gordon. Panmure Gordon's CREST settlement details are: "Participant ID: 83801".

In the event of late CREST settlement, Panmure Gordon reserves the right to deliver your Placing Shares outside CREST in certificated form, provided that payment has been made in terms satisfactory to Panmure Gordon and all other conditions relating to the Placing have been satisfied.

 

Notwithstanding the above, the right is reserved to deliver all of the Placing Shares to which you are entitled in certificated form should Panmure Gordon consider this necessary or desirable.

It is expected that settlement will be on 25 October 2013 on a T+3 basis in accordance with the instructions set out in the trade confirmation.

Interest is chargeable daily on payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance with the arrangements set out above at the rate of two percentage points above LIBOR as determined by Panmure Gordon.

Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does not comply with these obligations, Panmure Gordon may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for Panmure Gordon's account and benefit, an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. The relevant Placee will, however, remain liable for any shortfall below the aggregate amount owed by it and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties) which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf. By its commitment to subscribe for Placing Shares, each Placee confers on Panmure Gordon all such authorities and powers necessary to carry out any such sale and agrees to ratify and confirm all actions which Panmure Gordon lawfully takes in pursuance of such sale.

If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the trade confirmation is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that organisation and that they are instructed to enter the relevant instruction into their systems to allow for full settlement on 25 October 2013 before the CREST system closes for that day.

Insofar as Placing Shares are registered in a Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the name of any person for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or that of a nominee for such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below, be so registered free from any liability to UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax.

Representations, Warranties and Further Terms

By participating in the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf):

1.   represents and warrants that it has read this Announcement, including the Appendix, in its entirety and that its acquisition of Placing Shares is subject to and based upon all the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings and other information contained herein and undertakes not to redistribute or duplicate this Announcement;

2.   acknowledges that it has received this Announcement solely for its use and has not redistributed or duplicated it;

3.   acknowledges that no offering document or prospectus has been prepared in connection with the Placing and represents and warrants that it has not received and will not receive a prospectus or other offering document in connection therewith;

4.   acknowledges that its participation in the Placing shall be on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Appendix, and subject to the provisions of the Placing Agreement and the memorandum and articles of association of the Company in force both before and immediately following Admission;

5.   acknowledges that the Ordinary Shares are admitted to trading on AIM, and the Company is therefore required to publish certain business and financial information in accordance with the AIM Rules for Companies (collectively "Exchange Information"), which includes a description of the nature of the Company's business and the Company's most recent balance sheet and profit and loss account and that it is able to obtain or access such information without undue difficulty, and is able to obtain access to such information or comparable information concerning any other publicly traded company, without undue difficulty;

6.   acknowledges that neither Panmure Gordon nor the Company nor any of their affiliates nor any person acting on behalf of any of them has provided, and will not provide it, with any material information regarding the Placing Shares or the Company other than this Announcement; nor has it requested any of Panmure Gordon, the Company, any of their affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of them to provide it with any such information;

7.   acknowledges that the content of this Announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and that neither Panmure Gordon, its affiliates nor any person acting on its behalf has or shall have any liability for any information, representation or statement contained in this Announcement or any information previously or concurrently published by or on behalf of the Company and will not be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any information, representation or statement contained in this Announcement or otherwise. Each Placee further represents, warrants and agrees that the only information on which it is entitled to rely and on which such Placee has relied in committing itself to acquire the Placing Shares is contained in this Announcement and any Exchange Information, such information being all that it deems necessary to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares and that it has neither received nor relied on any other information given or representations, warranties or statements made by any of Panmure Gordon or the Company, or their affiliates and neither Panmure Gordon, the Company, nor their affiliates will be liable for any Placee's decision to accept an invitation to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement. Each Placee further acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in deciding to participate in the Placing;

8.   represents and warrants that it has neither received nor relied on any confidential price sensitive information concerning the Company in accepting this invitation to participate in the Placing;

9.   acknowledges that neither Panmure Gordon nor any person acting on behalf of Panmure Gordon nor any of its affiliates has or shall have any liability for any publicly available or filed information or any representation relating to the Company, provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made by that person;

10. unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing with Panmure Gordon, represents and warrants that neither it nor the beneficial owner of such Placing Shares will be a resident of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa;

11. represents and warrants that it, or the beneficial owner, as applicable, is entitled to acquire Placing Shares under the laws of all relevant jurisdictions which apply to it, and/or the beneficial owner, as applicable, and that it and/or the beneficial owner, as applicable has/have fully observed such laws and obtained all such governmental and other guarantees and other consents in either case which may be required thereunder and complied with all necessary formalities, and that neither it nor the beneficial owner have taken any action or omitted to take any action which will or may result in Panmure Gordon or the Company or any of their directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors acting in breach of the legal and regulatory requirements of any territory in connection with the Placing or it and/or the beneficial owner's participation in the Placing;

12. represents and warrants that it has the power and authority to carry on the activities in which it is engaged, to acquire the Placing Shares and to execute and deliver all documents necessary for such acquisition;

13. acknowledges that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the securities legislation of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa and, subject to certain exceptions, may not be offered, sold, taken up, renounced or delivered or transferred, directly or indirectly, within those jurisdictions;

14. represents and warrants that if it is a pension fund or investment company, its purchase of Placing Shares is in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

15. represents and warrants that the issue to it, or the person specified by it for registration as holder, of Placing Shares will not give rise to a liability under any of sections 67, 70, 93 or 96 of the Finance Act 1986 (depositary receipts and clearance services) and that the Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to transfer Placing Shares into a clearance system;

16. represents and warrants that it has complied with its obligations in connection with money laundering and terrorist financing under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2000 (as amended), the Terrorism Act 2006 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 (the "Regulations") and, if making payment on behalf of a third party, that satisfactory evidence has been obtained and recorded by it to verify the identity of the third party as required by the Regulations, and that it will provide Panmure Gordon on demand with any information it might require for the purposes of verification under the Regulations, and agrees that pending the provision of such information, definitive certificates in respect of Placing Shares may be retained by Panmure Gordon, in its sole discretion, and that if such information is not provided within a reasonable time after such a request, Panmure Gordon may, in its absolute discretion, terminate the Placee's participation in the Placing (but without prejudice to Panmure Gordon's rights or the Company's rights to take proceedings to recover any loss suffered by either or both of them as a result of a failure to provide satisfactory evidence), in which event the monies payable on acceptance of the relevant Placing Shares will, if paid, be returned without interest to the account of the bank from which they were originally debited;

17. if making payment on behalf of a third party, it is not accepting its participation in the Placing on a non-discretionary basis, other than as agent for persons who are acquiring securities in the ordinary course of their business;

18. if a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, represents and warrants that the Placing Shares purchased by it in the Placing will not be acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in a Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive other than Qualified Investors, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of Panmure Gordon has been given to the offer or resale;

19. represents and warrants that it has not offered or sold and, prior to the expiry of a period of six months from Admission, will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the United Kingdom, except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of section 85(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA");

20. represents and warrants that it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the European Economic Area prior to Admission except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted in and which will not result in an offer to the public in any member state of the European Economic Area within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (including any relevant implementing measure in any member state);

21. represents and warrants that it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) relating to the Placing Shares in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not require approval of the communication by an authorised person;

22. represents and warrants that it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Placing Shares in, from or otherwise involving, the United Kingdom;

23. if in a Member State of the European Economic Area, unless otherwise specifically agreed with Panmure Gordon in writing, represents and warrants that it is a Qualified Investor within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive;

24. if in the UK, represents and warrants that it is a person who is a qualified investor as such term is defined in section 86(7) of FSMA and that it is a person (i) who has professional experience in matters relating to investments falling with Article 19(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); (ii) falling within Article 49(2)(A) to (D) ("High Net Worth Companies, Unincorporated Associations, etc") of the Order; (iii) a "professional client" or "eligible counterparty" for the purposes of Chapter 3 of the FCA's Conduct of Business Sourcebook; or (iv) to whom this Announcement may otherwise be lawfully communicated;

25. represents and warrants that its participation in the Placing will not require it to make a mandatory offer under Rule 9 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers;

26. represents and warrants that it is not a related party of the Company for the purposes of the AIM Rules of Companies as at the date of this Announcement;

27. represents and warrants that it and any person acting on its behalf is entitled to acquire the Placing Shares under the laws of all relevant jurisdictions and that it has all necessary capacity and has obtained all necessary consents and authorities to enable it to commit to this participation in the Placing and to perform its obligations in relation thereto (including, without limitation, in the case of any person on whose behalf it is acting, all necessary consents and authorities to agree to the terms set out or referred to in this Announcement) and will honour such obligations;

28. undertakes that it (and any person acting on its behalf) will make payment for the Placing Shares allocated to it in accordance with this Announcement on the due time and date set out herein, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with other subscribers or sold as Panmure Gordon may in its sole discretion determine and without liability to such Placee;

29. acknowledges that none of Panmure Gordon, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on behalf of any of them, is making any recommendations to it, advising it regarding the suitability of any transactions it may enter into in connection with the Placees and that participation in the Placing is on the basis that it is not and will not be treated for these purposes as a client of Panmure Gordon and that Panmure Gordon has no duties or responsibilities to it for providing the protections afforded to their clients or customers or for providing advice in relation to the Placing nor in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities contained in the Placing Agreement nor for the exercise or performance of any of their rights and obligations thereunder including any rights to waive or vary any conditions or exercise any termination right;

30. undertakes that the person whom it specifies for registration as holder of the Placing Shares will be (i) itself or (ii) its nominee, as the case may be. Neither Panmure Gordon nor the Company will be responsible for any liability to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax resulting from a failure to observe this requirement. Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of such Placee agrees to participate in the Placing and it agrees to indemnify the Company and Panmure Gordon in respect of the same on the basis that the Placing Shares will be allotted to the CREST stock account of Panmure Gordon who will hold them as nominee on behalf of such Placee until settlement in accordance with its standing settlement instructions;

31. represents and warrants that, if it elects to receive its Placing Shares in uncertificated form, the CREST member account identified in the CREST Registration Schedule returned by it is not marked with member account flag "C";

32. acknowledges that these terms and conditions and any agreements entered into by it pursuant to these terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and it submits (on behalf of itself and on behalf of any person on whose behalf it is acting) to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts as regards any claim, dispute or matter arising out of any such contract, except that enforcement proceedings in respect of the obligation to make payment for the Placing Shares (together with any interest chargeable thereon) may be taken by the Company or Panmure Gordon in any jurisdiction in which the relevant Placee is incorporated or in which any of its securities have a quotation on a recognised stock exchange;

33. agrees that the Company, Panmure Gordon and their respective affiliates and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgements and undertakings which are given to Panmure Gordon on its own behalf and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable;

34. agrees to indemnify on an after tax basis and hold the Company, Panmure Gordon and their respective affiliates harmless from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any breach of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings in this Appendix and further agrees that the provisions of this Appendix shall survive after completion of the Placing;

35. acknowledges that no action has been or will be taken by any of the Company, Panmure Gordon or any person acting on behalf of the Company or Panmure Gordon that would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in any country or jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is required;

36. acknowledges that it has knowledge and experience in financial, business and international investment matters as is required to evaluate the merits and risks of subscribing for the Placing Shares. It further acknowledges that it is experienced in investing in securities of this nature and is aware that it may be required to bear, and is able to bear, the economic risk of, and are able to sustain a complete loss in connection with the Placing. It has relied upon its own examination and due diligence of the Company and its associates taken as a whole, and the terms of the Placing, including the merits and risks involved;

37. agrees that it has no rights against Panmure Gordon or the Company, or any of their respective directors and employees under the Placing Agreement pursuant to The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999;

38. irrevocably appoints any director or employee of Panmure Gordon as its agent for the purpose of executing and delivering to the Company and/or its registrars any documents on its behalf necessary to enable it to be registered as the holder of any of the Placing Shares which it commits to subscribes for; and

39. acknowledges that its commitment to subscribe for Placing Shares on the terms set out herein and in the trade confirmation will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may in future be made to the terms of the Placing and that Placees will have no right to be consulted or require that their consent be obtained with respect to the Company's conduct of the Placing.

The representations, warranties, acknowledgments and undertakings contained in this Appendix are given to Panmure Gordon for itself and as agent on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable.

The agreement to settle a Placee's subscription (and/or the subscription of a person for whom such Placee is contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax depends on the settlement relating only to a subscription by it and/or such person direct from the Company for the Placing Shares in question. Such agreement assumes that the Placing Shares are not being subscribed for in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance service. If there are any such arrangements, or the settlement relates to any other subsequent dealing in the Placing Shares, UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax may be payable, for which neither the Company nor Panmure Gordon will be responsible, and the Placee to whom (or on behalf of whom, or in respect of the person for whom it is participating in the Placing as an agent or nominee) the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares has given rise to such UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax undertakes to pay such UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax forthwith and to indemnify on an after-tax basis and to hold harmless the Company and Panmure Gordon in the event that any of the Company and/or Panmure Gordon has incurred any such liability to UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If this is the case, each Placee should seek its own advice and notify Panmure Gordon accordingly.

In addition, Placees should note that they will be liable for any stamp duty and all other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or other duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or penalties relating thereto) payable outside the UK by them or any other person on the subscription by them of any Placing Shares or the agreement by them to subscribe for any Placing Shares.

Each Placee, and any person acting on behalf of the Placee, acknowledges that Panmure Gordon does not owe any fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the Placing Agreement.

Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of the Placee acknowledges and agrees that Panmure Gordon or any of its affiliates may, at its absolute discretion, agree to become a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing Shares.

When a Placee or person acting on behalf of the Placee is dealing with Panmure Gordon, any money held in an account with Panmure Gordon on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee will not be treated as client money within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the FCA made under the FSMA. The Placee acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections conferred by the client money rules; as a consequence, this money will not be segregated from Panmure Gordon's money in accordance with the client money rules and will be used by Panmure Gordon in the course of its own business and the Placee will rank only as a general creditor of Panmure Gordon.

 

 

Ends

 


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