Proposed Cancellation of Shares to Trading on AIM

Blancco Technology Group PLC

19 October 2023

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

19 October 2023

Blancco Technology Group plc

(the "Company" or "Blancco")

Proposed Cancellation of Admission of the Shares to Trading on AIM

Further to the announcement made on 16 October 2023 on the Offer made by Bidco for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Blancco becoming unconditional, the Board of Blancco Technology Group plc (AIM: BLTG) today announces that it has made an application to the London Stock Exchange for the proposed cancellation of the admission to trading of the Company's ordinary shares on AIM (the "Cancellation"), in accordance with Rule 41 of the AIM Rules for Companies.

Under the AIM Rules, the Cancellation can only take place after the expiry of a period of twenty business days from the date on which notice of the Cancellation is given. It is therefore expected that Cancellation will occur on the 17 November 2023.

Following the Cancellation becoming effective and the Blancco Shares ceasing to be admitted to trading on AIM, Blancco Shareholders who have not accepted the Offer will own shares in an unlisted company and accordingly will not benefit from the protections under the AIM Rules that were afforded to them whilst Blancco was so admitted.

The Offer will remain open for acceptance until further notice. At least 14 days' notice will be given by an announcement before the Offer is closed. Subject to giving at least 14 days' notice, Bidco can close the Offer at any point, following which Shareholders who have not accepted the Offer will be unable to accept the Offer.

Blancco has been informed that Bidco intends, promptly following Cancellation, to procure that Blancco shall be re-registered as a private company. Blancco has also been informed that Bidco does not intend to put in place a matched bargain facility upon which Blancco Shares can be traded.

The cancellation of trading in Blancco Shares on AIM will significantly reduce the liquidity and marketability of any Blancco Shares in respect of which the Offer has not been accepted at that time. Any remaining Blancco Shareholders will become minority shareholders in a majority controlled private limited company and may therefore be unable to sell their Blancco Shares. There can be no certainty that Blancco will pay any further dividends or other distributions or that such minority Blancco Shareholders will again be offered an opportunity to sell their Blancco Shares on terms which are equivalent to or no less advantageous than those under the Offer. Also, following the Offer closing, Blancco Shareholders may not be able to sell their shares in the Company.

Capitalised terms and expressions used but not defined in this announcement have the same meanings as given to them in the Offer Document published by Bidco and dated 8 August 2023.

Enquiries:

Blancco Technology Group plc Rob Woodward, Chair Matt Jones, Chief Executive Officer Adam Moloney, Chief Financial Officer Rothschild & Co (Lead Financial Adviser under Rule 3 of the Takeover Code to Blancco) Warner Mandel Anton Black Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Joint Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker to Blancco) Nick Adams Nick Harland Richard Short Ben Burnett		Via Buchanan Tel: [phone] Tel: [phone]
Buchanan Communications Limited (PR adviser to Blancco) Chris Lane / Jack Devoy		Tel: [phone]

 

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