Publication of Scheme Document and TPFG Circular
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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
24 January 2024
RECOMMENDED ALL-SHARE MERGER
OF
BELVOIR GROUP PLC
AND
THE PROPERTY FRANCHISE GROUP PLC
to be implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement
pursuant to Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act")
PUBLICATION OF THE SCHEME DOCUMENT, THE TPFG CIRCULAR AND
EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS
On 10 January 2024, the boards of Belvoir Group PLC ("Belvoir") and The Property Franchise Group PLC ("TPFG"), announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended all-share merger of TPFG and Belvoir, proposed to be implemented by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement between Belvoir and its shareholders pursuant to Part 26 of the Act (the "Merger").
PUBLICATION OF THE SCHEME DOCUMENT
Belvoir is pleased to announce that a circular in relation to the Scheme (the "Scheme Document"), containing, among other things, a letter from the Non-executive Chairman of Belvoir, an explanatory statement pursuant to section 897 of the Act, the full terms and Conditions of the Scheme, an expected timetable of principal events, notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting and details of the action to be taken by Belvoir Shareholders, is being published today on Belvoir's website at www.belvoirgroup.com/offer-for-Belvoir/ and on TPFG's website at www.propertyfranchise.co.uk.
Copies of the Scheme Document and the Forms of Proxy for use in connection with the Court Meeting and the General Meeting are today being sent to Belvoir Shareholders and to holders of options or awards under the Belvoir Share Plans.
Capitalised terms used in this announcement, unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings as set out in the Scheme Document.
NOTICES OF THE COURT MEETING AND GENERAL MEETING AND ACTIONS REQUIRED
As detailed further in the Scheme Document, in order to become Effective, the Scheme requires, among other things, the approval of a majority in number of the Voting Scheme Shareholders present and voting (and entitled to vote), either in person or by proxy at the Court Meeting (or any adjournment of the Court Meeting), representing not less than 75 per cent. in value of the Voting Scheme Shares held by such Voting Scheme Shareholders, and the passing of the Resolution necessary to, amongst other things, implement the Scheme at the General Meeting by the requisite majority of Belvoir Shareholders at the General Meeting. Following the Court Meeting and the General Meeting and the satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the other Conditions (including the approval by TPFG Shareholders in the TPFG General Meeting of the matters referred to below in connection with the Merger), the Scheme must also be sanctioned by the Court.
Notices convening the Court Meeting and the General Meeting of Belvoir, each of which will be held at the offices of Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Milton Gate, 60 Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4AG on 15 February 2024, are set out in the Scheme Document. The Court Meeting will start at 11.00 a.m. on that date and the General Meeting will start at 11.15 a.m. on that date (or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting is concluded or adjourned).
It is important that, for the Court Meeting in particular, as many votes as possible are cast so that the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair representation of Voting Scheme Shareholders' opinion. Whether or not Voting Scheme Shareholders and Belvoir Shareholders intend to attend and/or vote at the Meetings, they are strongly advised to sign and return their Forms of Proxy (by post or by hand) or transmit a proxy appointment or other voting instruction (online or through CREST) for the Meetings as soon as possible. Voting Scheme Shareholders and Belvoir Shareholders are also strongly encouraged, in respect of both Meetings, to appoint "the Chair of the meeting" as their proxy.
The Belvoir Directors, who have been so advised by Cavendish Capital Markets Limited ("Cavendish") as to the financial terms of the Merger, consider the terms of the Merger to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the Belvoir Directors, Cavendish has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Belvoir Directors. Cavendish is providing independent advice to the Belvoir Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
Accordingly, the Belvoir Directors unanimously recommend that Voting Scheme Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and that Belvoir Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting. The executive Directors of Belvoir have recently acquired further Belvoir Shares to emphasise their full support for the Merger. The Belvoir Directors who are interested in Belvoir Shares have irrevocably undertaken to vote (or procure the vote) in respect of their own interests in Belvoir Shares (and those of their connected persons) amounting to, in aggregate, 2,057,275 Belvoir Shares, representing approximately 5.5 per cent. of the issued share capital of Belvoir as at the Latest Practicable Date.
Belvoir Shareholders should carefully read the Scheme Document in its entirety before making a decision with respect to the Scheme.
PUBLICATION OF THE TPFG CIRCULAR AND ACTIONS REQUIRED
Under the terms of the Merger, Belvoir Shareholders will be entitled to receive 0.806377 New TPFG Shares in exchange for each Belvoir Share. The TPFG Board is required to seek the approval of TPFG Shareholders for the requisite authorities and powers to issue and allot such New TPFG Shares at the TPFG General Meeting.
The TPFG Board is pleased to announce that the TPFG General Meeting is expected to be held at 12.00 p.m. on 9 February 2024, at the offices of Canaccord Genuity Limited at 88 Wood Street, London EC2V 7QR. An explanatory circular and notice of the TPFG General Meeting (the "TPFG Circular") is being posted and made available today to TPFG Shareholders. Copies of the TPFG Circular are also being published and made available today on Belvoir's website at www.belvoirgroup.com/offer-for-Belvoir/ and on TPFG's website at www.propertyfranchise.co.uk.
The TPFG Directors consider the Merger to be in the best interests of TPFG and the TPFG Shareholders as a whole and unanimously to recommend that TPFG Shareholders vote (or procure the vote) in favour of the TPFG Resolution to be proposed at the TPFG General Meeting, as each of the TPFG Directors has irrevocably undertaken to do (or procure to be done) in respect of their own interests in TPFG Shares (and those of their connected persons) amounting to, in aggregate, 7,762,895 TPFG Shares, representing approximately 24.1 per cent. of the issued share capital of TPFG as at the Latest Practicable Date.
CANCELLATION OF ADMISSION TO TRADING
It is currently intended that shortly before the Effective Date, an application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the admission of the Belvoir Shares to trading on AIM to be cancelled shortly following the Effective Date. The last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers of, Belvoir Shares is expected to be the Business Day immediately prior to the Effective Date and no transfers will be registered after 6.00 p.m. on that day other than to TPFG (or as TPFG may direct) pursuant to the Belvoir articles of association, as proposed to be amended by the Resolution at the General Meeting.
On the Effective Date, share certificates in respect of Scheme Shares will cease to be valid. In addition, entitlements to Scheme Shares held within the CREST system will be cancelled on the Effective Date.
TIMETABLE
The Scheme Document contains an expected timetable of principal events in relation to the Scheme, which is also set out in the Appendix to this announcement. Subject to obtaining the approval of the requisite majority of Voting Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting, of the requisite majority of Belvoir Shareholders at the General Meeting and of the requisite majority of TPFG Shareholders at the TPFG General Meeting, the sanction of the Court and the satisfaction or, where applicable, waiver of the other Conditions (as set out the Scheme Document), the Scheme is expected to become Effective by the end of the first quarter of 2024. If any of the key dates set out in the timetable change, notice of this change will be made by the issuance of an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.
INFORMATION FOR BELVOIR SHAREHOLDERS AND HELPLINE
If you have any questions about this announcement, the Scheme Document, the Court Meeting or the General Meeting, or how to complete the Forms of Proxy or to submit your proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service or online, please contact Belvoir's registrar, Computershare, on +44 (0) 370 707 1762. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. The helpline is open between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Please note that Computershare cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
BELVOIR SHARE PLANS
In accordance with Rule 15 of the Takeover Code, participants in the Belvoir Share Plans will be contacted shortly by way of joint letter (the "Rule 15 Letters"). The Rule 15 Letters contain details regarding the effect of the Scheme on participants' rights under the Belvoir Share Plans and the arrangements applicable to those participants, including details of appropriate proposals being made in relation to such rights and relevant dates and times.
Enquiries:
|
Enquiries: The Property Franchise Group PLC |
Tel: + 44 (0) 1202 405 549 |
|
Canaccord Genuity Limited |
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7523 8000 |
|
Singer Capital Markets Advisory LLP (Joint Broker to TPFG) James Fischer |
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7496 3000 |
|
Alma PR (PR Adviser to TPFG) Joe Pederzolli Kinvara Verdon |
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 3405 0205 propertyfranchise@almastrategic.com |
|
Belvoir Group PLC |
Tel: + 44 (0) 1476 584 900 |
|
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited Edward Whiley |
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7886 2500 |
|
Buchanan (PR Adviser to Belvoir) |
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7466 5000 |
Canaccord Genuity Limited is acting as financial adviser to TPFG in respect of the Merger. Osborne Clarke LLP is acting as legal adviser to TPFG in respect of the Merger.
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited is acting as financial adviser to Belvoir in respect of the Merger. Addleshaw Goddard LLP is acting as legal adviser to Belvoir in respect of the Merger.
Important notices
Canaccord Genuity Limited, which, in the United Kingdom, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for TPFG and no one else in connection with the Merger and will not be responsible to anyone other than TPFG for providing the protections afforded to clients of CGL nor for providing advice in relation to the Merger or any other matter or arrangement referred to in this announcement.
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited ("Cavendish"), which, in the United Kingdom, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Belvoir and no one else in connection with the Merger and will not be responsible to anyone other than Belvoir for providing the protections afforded to clients of Cavendish nor for providing advice in relation to the Merger or any other matter or arrangement referred to in this announcement.
Further information
This announcement is for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer or form part of any offer or an invitation to purchase, subscribe for, sell or issue, any securities or a solicitation of any offer to purchase, subscribe for, sell or issue any securities pursuant to this announcement or otherwise in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. This announcement does not comprise a prospectus or a prospectus exempted document.
The Merger is being made solely by means of the Scheme Document (or, if the Merger is, with the consent of the Panel (and subject to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement), implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document) which contains the full terms and conditions of the Merger, including details of how to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution to be proposed at the Belvoir General Meeting. Any decision in respect of, or other response to, the Merger should, in the case of Belvoir Shareholders, be made only on the basis of the information in the Scheme Document (or, if the Merger is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document) and, in the case of TPFG Shareholders, also on the basis of the information in the TPFG Circular.
Overseas shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement and the allotment and issue of the New TPFG Shares in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and/or regulation. No action has been taken by Belvoir or TPFG to obtain any approval, authorisation or exemption to permit the allotment or issue of the New TPFG Shares or the possession or distribution of this announcement in any jurisdiction, other than in the United Kingdom.
Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdictions. Any failure to comply with such restrictions or requirements 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 Merger disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.
Unless otherwise determined by TPFG or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the New TPFG Shares to be issued pursuant to the Merger to Belvoir Shareholders 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 Merger by any such use, means, instrumentality or form within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Merger are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send such documents in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of the Merger. If the Merger is implemented 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 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 New TPFG Shares to persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws and/or regulations of the relevant jurisdiction in which they are located. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements.
This announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law, the Takeover Code, the Rules of the London Stock Exchange and the AIM Rules and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.
Notice to US holders of Belvoir Shares
Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other US federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority has reviewed, approved or disapproved this announcement, any of the proposals described in this announcement or the New TPFG Shares or passed an opinion on the accuracy or the adequacy of this announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.
The Merger relates to shares of an English company with a quotation on AIM and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement 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 US Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Accordingly, the Scheme is subject to the disclosure requirements, rules and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement, which differ from the requirements of the US proxy solicitation and tender offer rules. However, if TPFG exercises its right, with the consent of the Panel (and subject to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement), to implement the Merger by means of a Takeover Offer, such Takeover Offer will be made in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including Section 14(e) of the US Exchange Act and Regulation 14E thereunder. Such a Takeover Offer would be made in the United States by TPFG and no one else.
In accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-15(b) of the US Exchange Act, TPFG, certain affiliated companies and the nominees or brokers (acting as agents) may make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares in Belvoir outside such Takeover Offer during the period in which such Takeover Offer would remain open for acceptance. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be made they would be made outside of the United States and would comply with applicable law and regulation, including the US Exchange Act. 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.
The New TPFG Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. Accordingly, the New TPFG Shares may not be offered, sold, resold, delivered, distributed or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, in or into or from the United States absent registration under the US Securities Act or an exemption therefrom. The New TPFG Shares are expected to be issued in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act provided by Section 3(a)(10) thereof. US Belvoir Shareholders who will be affiliates of TPFG after the Effective Date will be subject to certain US transfer restrictions relating to the New TPFG Shares received pursuant to the Scheme. For the purposes of qualifying for the exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act afforded by Section 3(a)(10), Belvoir will advise the Court that its sanctioning of the Scheme will be relied upon by TPFG as an approval of the Scheme following a hearing on its fairness to Belvoir Shareholders. The receipt of New TPFG Shares and cash pursuant to the Merger by a US Belvoir Shareholder may be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes, and may also be a taxable transaction under applicable state and local tax laws, as well as foreign and other tax laws. Each Belvoir Shareholder is urged to consult his independent professional advisor immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Merger.
It may be difficult for US Belvoir Shareholders to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the US federal securities laws, since TPFG and Belvoir are located in countries other than the United States, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the United States. US Belvoir Shareholders may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of the US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgment.
No profit forecasts or estimates or quantified financial benefits statement
No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any period or a quantified financial benefits statement and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share for TPFG or Belvoir, as appropriate, for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share for TPFG or Belvoir, 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. (London time) on the 10th Business Day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (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 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, 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. (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.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.
Cautionary note regarding forward looking statements
This announcement contains certain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, forward looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Belvoir or the Belvoir Group and TPFG or the TPFG Group and certain plans and objectives of the Belvoir Board and the TPFG Board. These forward looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate to historical or current facts. Forward looking statements often use words such as "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could" or other words of similar meaning. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by the Belvoir Board and the TPFG Board in the light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe appropriate. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty and the factors described in the context of such forward looking statements in this announcement could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward looking statements.
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. Except as required by the Panel, the FCA, the London Stock Exchange, the AIM Rules, or any other applicable law and/or regulation, Belvoir and TPFG assume no obligation to update or correct the information contained in this announcement.
Provision of information relating to Belvoir Shareholders
Belvoir Shareholders should note that addresses, electronic addresses and certain other information provided by them and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Belvoir may be provided to TPFG during the Offer Period as required under section 4 of Appendix 4 to the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover Code.
Publication on websites, availability of hard copies and shareholder helpline
Pursuant to Rule 26 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this announcement and other documents in connection with the Merger will be available free of charge, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, at TPFG's and Belvoir's websites at, respectively, www.propertyfranchise.co.uk and www.belvoirgroup.com/offer-for-Belvoir/, by no later than 12 noon on the Business Day following this announcement until the end of the Offer Period.
For the avoidance of doubt, the content of the websites referred to above is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.
Belvoir Shareholders and participants in the Belvoir Share Schemes may request a hard copy of this announcement by contacting Belvoir's registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC ("Computershare"), by: (i) submitting a request in writing to Computershare, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS13 8AE, United Kingdom; or (ii) calling +44 (0) 370 707 1762. Belvoir Shareholders should also telephone this helpline with they have questions about this announcement, the Scheme Document, the Court Meeting or the General Meeting, or how to complete the Forms of Proxy or to submit your proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service or online. Calls are charged at the standard geographical rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Phone lines are open between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. (London time), Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays in England and Wales). Please note that Computershare cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
For persons who receive a copy of this announcement in electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this announcement will not be sent unless so requested.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
Time
All references to time in this announcement are to London time, unless otherwise stated.
General
TPFG reserves the right to elect, with the consent of the Panel (where necessary), and subject to the terms and conditions of the Co-operation Agreement, to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Belvoir not already held by TPFG as an alternative to the Scheme. In such an event, a Takeover Offer will be implemented on substantially the same terms, so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the Scheme.
If the Merger is effected by way of Takeover Offer, and such Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional in all respects and sufficient acceptances are received, TPFG intends to exercise its rights to apply the provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act so as to acquire compulsorily the remaining Belvoir Shares in respect of which the Takeover Offer has not been accepted.
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 United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.
Appendix
Expected Timetable of Principal Events
|
Event |
|
Expected time/date |
||
|
Publication of the Scheme Document |
|
24 January 2024 |
||
|
TPFG General Meeting |
|
12.00 p.m. on 9 February 2024 |
||
|
Latest time for lodging Forms of Proxy or for submitting proxy instructions via the eProxy shareholder portal and the CREST electronic proxy appointment service: |
|
|
||
|
Court Meeting (blue Form of Proxy) |
|
11.00 a.m. on 13 February 2024(1) |
||
|
General Meeting (white Form of Proxy) |
|
11.15 a.m. on 13 February 2024(2) |
||
|
Voting Record Time |
|
6.00 p.m. on 13 February 2024(3) |
||
|
Court Meeting |
|
11.00 a.m. on 15 February 2024 |
||
|
General Meeting |
|
11.15 a.m. on 15 February 2024 |
||
|
The following dates are indicative only and are based on the current expectations of the Belvoir Directors and the TPFG Directors and may be subject to change; please see note (5) below. |
||||
|
Scheme Sanction Hearing |
|
a date ("D"), to be determined and announced, expected to be by the end of the first quarter of 2024, subject to the satisfaction (or, if applicable, waiver) of the Conditions (other than Conditions 1 and 2(c)) (4) (5) |
||
|
Last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers of, and disablement of CREST for, Belvoir Shares |
|
D |
||
|
Scheme Record Time |
|
6.00 p.m. on D |
||
|
Suspension of dealings in Belvoir Shares |
|
7.30 a.m. on D+1 Business Day |
||
|
Effective Date of the Scheme(6) |
|
D+1 Business Day |
||
|
Cancellation of admission of Belvoir Shares to trading on AIM |
|
by no later than 8.00 a.m. on D+2 Business Days |
||
|
Admission and commencement of dealings of the New TPFG Shares on AIM |
|
by no later than 8.00 a.m. on D+2 Business Days |
||
|
Issuance of New TPFG Shares |
|
D+2 Business Days |
||
|
CREST accounts of Belvoir Shareholders credited with New TPFG Shares |
|
at or soon after 8.00 a.m. on D+2 (but not later than 14 days after the Effective Date) |
||
|
Despatch of share certificates for the New TPFG Shares |
|
within 14 days after the Effective Date |
||
|
Long Stop Date |
|
11.59 p.m. on 30 September 2024(7) |
||
Notes:
(1) It is requested that blue Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting be lodged no later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time appointed for the Court Meeting or, in the case of an adjourned meeting, 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time appointed for the adjourned Court Meeting. Blue Forms of Proxy not so lodged may be completed and handed to the Chair of the Court Meeting at any time before the start of the Court Meeting.
(2) White Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting must be lodged no later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time appointed for the General Meeting or, in the case of an adjourned meeting, 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time appointed for the adjourned General Meeting.
(3) If either the Court Meeting or the General Meeting is adjourned, the Voting Record Time for the relevant adjourned meeting will be 6.00 p.m. on the date which is two days (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the date set for such adjourned meeting or as soon after 11.15 a.m. as the Court Meeting shall have concluded or been adjourned.
(4) These dates are indicative only and will depend, amongst other things, on the date upon which: (i) the Conditions are satisfied or (if capable of waiver) waived; (ii) the Court sanctions the Scheme; and (iii) the Court Order is delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
(5) The Scheme Sanction Hearing is to be held on a date to be determined following the satisfaction (or, if applicable, waiver) of the Conditions (other than Conditions 1 and 2(c)), as set out in Part A of Part III (Conditions to and Certain Further Terms of the Scheme and the Merger) of the Scheme Document.
(6) The Scheme will become Effective pursuant to its terms upon the Court Order being delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
(7) This is the latest date by which the Scheme may become Effective unless Belvoir and TPFG agree (and, if required, the Panel consents to and the Court approves) a later date.
All references in this announcement to times are to London time unless otherwise stated. The dates and times given are indicative only and are based on Belvoir's and TPFG's current expectations and may be subject to change (including as a result of changes to the regulatory timetable). If any of the expected times and/or dates above change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified to Belvoir Shareholders by announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.
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