Recommended Cash Acquisition of Capricorn by DNO
Summary by AI BETAClose X
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1 September 2026
RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION
of
Capricorn Energy plc (“Capricorn”)
by
DNO Bidco AS (“Bidco”)
(a company directly wholly owned by DNO ASA (“DNO”))
to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
Summary
The boards of DNO, Bidco and Capricorn are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Capricorn by Bidco (the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition is to be effected by means of a Scottish scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the “Scheme”).
Under the terms of the Acquisition, each Capricorn Shareholder shall be entitled to receive, in aggregate:
US$5.214 in cash for each Capricorn Share held (the “Acquisition Value”)
The Acquisition Value comprises, for each Capricorn Share:
· US$4.224 in cash (the “Acquisition Price”); and
· a special dividend of US$0.99, which is intended and expected to be declared by the Capricorn Board prior to the Effective Date (the “Permitted Dividend”).
The Sterling equivalent value of the Acquisition Value, being 384 pence per Capricorn Share based on the Announcement Exchange Rate, represents a premium of approximately:
· 45 per cent. to the Closing Price per Capricorn Share of 266 pence on 10 March 2026 (being the day prior to the start of the Offer Period (the “Undisturbed Date”)); and
· 60 per cent. to the volume weighted average price per Capricorn Share of 241 pence during the three-month period ended on the Undisturbed Date.
The Acquisition provides Capricorn Shareholders with superior value to the Genel Offer, as the Acquisition Value represents:
· an increase of US$0.474 per Capricorn Share as compared to the Genel Offer Acquisition Value; and
· a premium of approximately 10 per cent. to the Genel Offer Acquisition Value.
The Acquisition Value (assuming the Permitted Dividend is declared and paid in full) implies a value for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Capricorn of approximately US$396 million on a fully diluted basis, which is equivalent to £292 million based on the Announcement Exchange Rate and an increase of approximately US$36 million to the implied value represented by the Genel Offer Acquisition Value on a constant currency basis.
The Acquisition Price payable under the Acquisition is expressed in US$. The US$ denominated Acquisition Price reflects the underlying characteristics of Capricorn’s business activities, which are largely denominated in US$. This is consistent with the Genel Offer.
As in respect of the Genel Offer, a facility will be made available under which Capricorn Shareholders will be able to elect (subject to the terms and conditions of such facility) to receive the cash consideration payable in connection with the Acquisition Price in Sterling (after, if applicable, deduction of any transaction or dealing costs (including any taxes) associated with the currency conversion) at the applicable market exchange rate at which the conversion takes place (the “Foreign Exchange Facility”). The applicable market exchange rate will be fixed on the latest practicable date prior to the relevant payment date. The amount received by any Capricorn Shareholder validly electing to be paid their cash consideration payable in connection with the Acquisition Price in Sterling may therefore be below or above 311 pence per Capricorn Share depending on the applicable market exchange rate that is applied and the deduction of any transaction or dealing costs (including any taxes) associated with the currency conversion. Further details of the Foreign Exchange Facility and the election to be made by Capricorn Shareholders who wish to receive their cash consideration payable in connection with the Acquisition Price in Sterling using the Foreign Exchange Facility will be set out in the Scheme Document and the applicable Form(s) of Election.
Certain non-director Capricorn Shareholders provided irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the Genel Offer at each of the court meeting and general meeting convened in respect of the scheme of arrangement to implement the Genel Offer (or, if the Genel Offer is to be implemented by way of a contractual takeover offer, to accept such offer) (the “Genel Offer Non-Director Irrevocable Undertakings”). As the Acquisition represents an improvement of 6.5 per cent. or greater in respect of the acquisition value of the Genel Offer, each of the Genel Offer Non-Director Irrevocable Undertakings has lapsed with effect from the publication of this announcement.
Permitted Dividend
As part of the Acquisition, the boards of DNO, Bidco and Capricorn have agreed to the declaration and payment of the Permitted Dividend. The Permitted Dividend represents the same value to Capricorn Shareholders as the dividend permitted by the terms of the Genel Offer. The Permitted Dividend is intended and expected to be declared by the Capricorn Board prior to the Effective Date, and will only be payable if the Scheme becomes Effective (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer and continues to be recommended by the Capricorn Board, the Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional) to Capricorn Shareholders on the register of members at the Scheme Record Time (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer and continues to be recommended by the Capricorn Board, on the register of members on the date on which the Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional).
Capricorn Shareholders will note that the quantum of the Permitted Dividend represents an aggregate payment to shareholders of approximately US$75 million. Whilst payment of the Permitted Dividend will be subject to compliance with applicable statutory requirements at the relevant time, prior to the announcement of the Genel Offer, the Capricorn Board concluded that in all reasonable circumstances Capricorn would have available to it sufficient cash resources to pay the Permitted Dividend in full. The Capricorn Board has updated that analysis prior to the date of this announcement and has again concluded that in all reasonable circumstances it will have available to it sufficient cash resources to pay the Permitted Dividend in full.
However, Capricorn Shareholders should note that the ability of the Capricorn Board lawfully to declare and pay the Permitted Dividend is subject to various factors outside its control and events may occur that result in the Capricorn Board concluding that it is no longer able to declare and pay the Permitted Dividend in full. If certain circumstances, as set out in further detail in paragraph 13 of this announcement, were to occur, the Capricorn Directors would consider all options available to them, including whether it is in the best interests of Capricorn Shareholders to continue to implement the Scheme, which may result in the Scheme not becoming Effective. If, whether as a result of the Permitted Dividend not being paid in full or otherwise, the Acquisition does not become Effective, the Permitted Dividend will not be paid.
DNO, Bidco and Capricorn have agreed that the Capricorn Board may declare and pay the Permitted Dividend without any reduction to the Acquisition Price. If, on or after the date of this announcement and prior to the Effective Date, any dividend, distribution, or other return of value or excess is announced, declared, made, or paid or becomes payable by Capricorn (other than, or in excess of the amount of, the Permitted Dividend), Bidco reserves the right to reduce the Acquisition Price payable under the terms of the Acquisition for the Capricorn Shares by an amount equal to the amount of any such dividend, distribution or other return of value or excess. In such circumstances, the Capricorn Shareholders shall be entitled to retain any such dividend, distribution, or other return of value announced, declared, made, or paid.
If declared, the Permitted Dividend will be paid to Capricorn Shareholders in Sterling, with the amount paid to Capricorn Shareholders being the Sterling equivalent of US$0.99 per Capricorn Share based on the prevailing exchange rate on the latest practicable date for fixing such rate prior to the relevant payment date.
If declared, the Permitted Dividend will be paid not more than 14 days after the date of the Scheme Record Time. The Permitted Dividend shall be paid to Scheme Shareholders whose names appear on the register of members of Capricorn at the Scheme Record Time. Further details are set out in paragraph 13 of this announcement.
Capricorn recommendation
The Capricorn Directors, who have been so advised by Canaccord Genuity as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the Capricorn Directors, Canaccord Genuity has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Capricorn Directors. Canaccord Genuity is providing independent financial advice to the Capricorn Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Code.
Accordingly, the Capricorn Directors intend to recommend unanimously that Capricorn Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting, each to be convened as soon as practicable following the date of this announcement.
On 2 July 2026, the Genel Board and the Capricorn Board announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash acquisition of Capricorn by Genel Bidco by way of Scottish Court-approved scheme of arrangement between Capricorn and Capricorn Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the "Genel Offer"). The announcement of the Genel Offer stated that the Capricorn Directors intended to unanimously recommend that Capricorn Shareholders vote in favour of the Genel Offer at the relevant Capricorn Shareholder meetings. The Capricorn Directors subsequently gave such a recommendation in the Genel Scheme Document.
The Capricorn Shareholder meetings to approve the Genel Offer took place on 18 August 2026. At those meetings all resolutions were passed by the requisite majorities. The Genel Offer remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of other conditions, including the necessary Egyptian approvals.
Although the Genel Offer has not lapsed as a result of this announcement, in light of their intended recommendation of the Acquisition, the Capricorn Directors do not currently intend to ask the Court to sanction the Genel Scheme or to declare the special dividend in connection with the Genel Offer. The Capricorn Directors will update shareholders with any further developments in relation to the Genel Offer, including if any of the remaining conditions to the Genel Offer are satisfied or waived by Genel.
Randy Neely, being the Capricorn Director who has a beneficial interest in 4,395 Capricorn Shares, representing approximately 0.006% of Capricorn’s issued share capital on 28 August 2026 provided an irrevocable undertaking to procure a vote in favour of the Genel Offer at each of the court meeting and the general meeting convened in respect of the scheme of arrangement to implement the Genel Offer (or, if the Genel Offer is to be implemented by way of a contractual takeover offer, to accept such offer) (the "Genel Offer Director Irrevocable Undertaking”).
The obligations of Randy Neely under the Genel Offer Director Irrevocable Undertaking remain binding. Accordingly, Randy Neely will be required to procure a vote against the Acquisition at each of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting (or, if the Acquisition is to be implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, will not be permitted to accept the offer) unless the Genel Offer Director Irrevocable Undertaking lapses.
Background to and reasons for the Acquisition
DNO, founded in 1971, is Norway’s oldest oil and gas exploration and production company, with a strong Norwegian heritage and shareholder base. DNO is also one of Europe’s leading publicly listed independent oil and gas companies, with a diversified portfolio of upstream assets across the North Sea (Norway and the United Kingdom) and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (“KRI”). Over the three years to 31 July 2026, DNO delivered a total shareholder return of 119 per cent, assuming reinvestment of dividends.
DNO has a long-established track record of investing and operating successfully in the MENA region and has maintained a presence in the KRI for more than two decades. DNO holds a 75 per cent participating interest in, and is the operator of, the Tawke Production Sharing Contract, which comprises the Tawke and Peshkabir producing fields. In December 2025, cumulative production from the Tawke license passed 500 MMbbl. DNO’s average net production in the KRI in 2025 was 52,569 boepd and, as at 31 December 2025, its KRI 2P reserves were 199.3 MMboe and 2C resources 55.4 MMboe.
In the North Sea, DNO has built a strong and material position through successful exploration and the transformative acquisition of Norwegian independent Sval Energi Group AS (“Sval Energi”) in 2025, demonstrating both elements of its organic and inorganic growth strategy. DNO’s average net production in the North Sea in 2025 was 81,059 boepd (pro forma for the Sval Energi acquisition) and, as of 31 December 2025, its North Sea 2P reserves were 181.8 MMboe and 2C resources 236.4 MMboe.
The Acquisition represents DNO’s entry into Egypt. DNO intends to develop Egypt as a third core area alongside the North Sea and the KRI, and has ambitious plans to build a significant Egyptian business over time, both operated and non-operated, through investment in the acquired portfolio, exploration and development activity and further acquisitions. DNO’s financial strength and access to capital position it to fund that growth.
In DNO’s view, Egypt offers attractive potential for organic and inorganic growth. DNO regards the country’s supportive regulatory framework for the oil and gas sector, and the continuing efforts of the Egyptian government to encourage exploration and foreign investment in the upstream sector, as important factors underpinning its attractiveness as a long-term investment destination.
DNO believes that Capricorn’s Egyptian assets and established in-country team provide a high-quality entry point and a platform from which to expand, particularly in the Western Desert, a well-established producing region with extensive infrastructure, proven petroleum systems and continuing industry investment. The Egyptian assets are operated by Badr El Din Petroleum Company (“BAPETCo”), a joint operating company owned by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (“EGPC”), Cheiron and Capricorn. DNO brings extensive experience of working through joint arrangements as a partner on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and looks forward to contributing to BAPETCo and to working alongside EGPC and Cheiron. As a full-cycle oil and gas company with operating expertise across exploration, development and production, DNO believes it is well positioned to support and accelerate the development of Capricorn’s Egyptian business and, in due course, to assume operated positions in the country.
The Acquisition also further strengthens the resilience of DNO’s business. On completion, DNO will hold producing assets across three core areas, each with its own geology, fiscal terms, license and partner arrangements, marketing routes and cash flow profile. A broader production base across three jurisdictions reduces DNO’s dependence on any one of them and leaves the Enlarged Group better placed to absorb operational, commercial or regulatory developments affecting a single area, while sustaining investment across the portfolio and supporting returns to shareholders through the cycle.
As at 31 December 2025, DNO reported 2P net reserves of 390.1 MMboe and 2C net resources of 301.6 MMboe, and its net average daily production in 2025 (pro forma for the Sval Energi acquisition) was 136,915 boepd, the highest in DNO’s history. On completion of the Acquisition, DNO will have a third country of material presence and a significantly strengthened MENA business: on a pro forma basis, the Enlarged Group would have had 2P reserves of 443.3 MMboe, 2C resources of 383.0 MMboe and net average production of 156,939 boepd.
DNO’s possible offer for Genel
DNO announced on 7 August 2026 that it had approached the Genel board of directors (the “Genel Board”) on 28 July 2026 with a proposal for a possible offer to acquire Genel (“DNO’s Genel Proposal”). The Genel Board has not yet engaged constructively with DNO regarding DNO’s Genel Proposal.
In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, DNO is required, by no later than 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 4 September 2026, to announce either a firm intention to make an offer for Genel in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline can be extended with the consent of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.
Timetable and conditions
It is intended that the Acquisition shall be effected by means of a Scottish Court-approved scheme of arrangement between Capricorn and Capricorn Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act, although Bidco reserves the right to implement the Acquisition by means of a Takeover Offer (subject to Panel consent and the terms of the Co-operation Agreement).
The Acquisition is conditional on the approval of Capricorn Shareholders and subject to the further Conditions and terms set out in Appendix I to this announcement (which shall be set out in full in the Scheme Document).
The Acquisition shall be put to Capricorn Shareholders at the Court Meeting and at the General Meeting. In order to become Effective, the Scheme must be approved by a majority in number of the Capricorn Shareholders voting at the Court Meeting, either in person or by proxy, representing at least 75 per cent. in value of the Capricorn Shares voted. In addition, a special resolution implementing the Scheme must be passed by Capricorn Shareholders representing at least 75 per cent. of votes cast at the General Meeting.
The Scheme Document, containing further information about the Acquisition and notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, shall be published within 28 days of the date of this announcement and the Court Meeting and General Meeting shall be convened as soon as practicable thereafter.
In line with Capricorn’s approach in relation to the Genel Offer, and in the context of the importance of developing a good working relationship between DNO and the Egyptian Government, DNO and Bidco (in cooperation with Capricorn) will be seeking the consent of EGPC to the Acquisition.
DNO believes that it is well positioned to receive the approvals in respect of the Egyptian Condition given its proven track record in oil and gas operations, notably onshore MENA. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, last January, DNO proudly celebrated cumulative production of 500 million barrels of oil since 2004 from the Tawke licence which it operates. DNO also has a long-standing history of good corporate citizenship and relations with host governments and local communities.
Capricorn Shareholders’ attention is specifically drawn to the Egyptian Condition, its importance to Bidco and DNO and the rationale for its inclusion (as set out in more detail in paragraph 15 below). The Egyptian Condition has been included at DNO’s request to take account of the particular circumstances of the Acquisition following negotiation between DNO and Capricorn. This is consistent with the conditions to the Genel Offer.
Capricorn Shareholders should note that DNO intends to seek the Panel’s consent to invoke the Egyptian Condition in accordance with Rule 13.5(a) of the Takeover Code if the Egyptian Condition is not satisfied or capable of being satisfied by the Long-stop Date. A decision by the Panel whether to permit DNO to invoke a Condition would be judged by the Panel by reference to the facts at the time that the relevant circumstances arise, including the views of the Capricorn Directors at the time.
It is expected that the Scheme shall become Effective (subject to the satisfaction of the Conditions) during Q4 2026 / Q1 2027.
Commenting on the Acquisition, Randy Neely, Chief Executive Officer of Capricorn, said:
"We are pleased to recommend this higher all cash offer from DNO. It maximises the value created by the Capricorn team and importantly increases the return for shareholders."
Commenting on the Acquisition, Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, Executive Chairman of DNO, said:
“Today marks an exciting chapter in DNO’s 55 year growth story as we move to acquire a high quality portfolio of oil and gas assets in Egypt.
Capricorn will add another business with scale, cashflow and growability to our existing operations in Kurdistan and the North Sea. With three core areas, each with its own geology, geography and geopolitics, DNO will be a more diversified and stronger company.
DNO has ambitious plans to build a significant Egyptian business through investment in Capricorn’s portfolio, participation in new license rounds and additional acquisitions. DNO’s technical capability, financial strength and can-do attitude will fuel that growth.”
This summary should be read in conjunction with the full text of this announcement. The Acquisition shall be subject to the Conditions and further terms set out in Appendix I to this announcement and to the full terms and conditions which shall be set out in the Scheme Document. Appendix II to this announcement contains the sources of information and bases of calculations of certain information contained in this announcement, and Appendix III to this announcement contains definitions of certain expressions used in this summary and in this announcement.
|
Enquiries: |
|
|
DNO |
|
|
Media: media@dno.no |
|
|
Investors: investor.relations@dno.no |
|
|
|
|
|
Lambert Energy Advisory Limited, financial adviser to DNO and Bidco |
+44 20 7491 4473 |
|
Philip Lambert |
|
|
Onursal Soyer |
|
|
David Anderson |
|
|
|
|
|
Brunswick Group, PR adviser to DNO |
+44 20 7404 5959 |
|
Patrick Handley |
|
|
Scott Durant |
|
|
|
|
|
Capricorn |
+44 131 475 3000 |
|
Randy Neely |
Chief Executive |
|
Nathan Piper |
Commercial Director |
|
|
|
|
Canaccord Genuity, financial adviser and Rule 3 adviser to Capricorn |
+44 20 7523 8000 |
|
Henry Fitzgerald-O’Connor |
|
|
George Grainger |
|
|
|
|
|
Moelis, financial adviser to Capricorn |
+44 20 7634 3500 |
|
Chris Raff |
|
|
Ali Hassen |
|
|
|
|
|
Camarco, PR adviser to Capricorn |
+44 20 3757 4980 |
|
Georgia Edmonds |
|
|
Violet Wilson |
|
|
Fergus Young |
|
Freshfields LLP and Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS are retained as legal advisers to DNO and Bidco.
Ashurst Perkins Coie UK LLP are retained as legal advisers to Capricorn.
Inside Information
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by Capricorn to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 (as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). On the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of Capricorn is Paul Ervine, Company Secretary.
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by DNO to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 (as implemented in section 3-1 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act) and is made public by Jostein Løvås, Communication Manager DNO ASA on the date indicated above in accordance with section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Important Notices
Lambert Energy Advisory Limited (“Lambert Energy”), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to DNO and Bidco and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than DNO and Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lambert Energy nor for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition. Neither Lambert Energy nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Lambert Energy in connection with the Acquisition, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Canaccord Genuity, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser and Rule 3 adviser to Capricorn and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Capricorn for providing the protections afforded to clients of Canaccord Genuity nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Canaccord Genuity nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Canaccord Genuity in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Moelis, which is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Capricorn and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and other matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Capricorn for providing the protections afforded to clients of Moelis, or for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition or any matter referred to herein. Neither Moelis nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Moelis in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or an invitation to purchase any securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise.
The Acquisition shall be made solely by means of the Scheme Document which, together with the Forms of Proxy, shall contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition.
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law, Scots law and the Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside England and Wales, and Scotland.
Capricorn shall prepare the Scheme Document to be distributed to Capricorn Shareholders. Capricorn and Bidco urge Capricorn Shareholders to read the Scheme Document when it becomes available because it shall contain important information relating to the Acquisition.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or a prospectus equivalent document or an exempted document.
Overseas Shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into certain jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to other jurisdictions should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements.
Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition shall not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the Acquisition by any such use, means, instrumentality or form within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction, and persons receiving this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such jurisdictions where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction.
The availability of the Acquisition to Capricorn Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are resident. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements.
The Acquisition shall be subject to the applicable requirements of the Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the Financial Conduct Authority.
Additional information for US investors
The Acquisition relates to shares of a Scottish company listed on the Official List of the London Stock Exchange and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under Scots law. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act.
Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure and procedural requirements of United States tender offer and proxy solicitation rules.
However, if in the future Bidco were to elect to implement the Acquisition by means of a takeover offer, such takeover offer would be made in compliance with all applicable United States laws and regulations, including, without limitation, to the extent applicable and subject to any applicable exemptions, Section 14(e) of the US Exchange Act and Regulation 14E thereunder. Such a takeover would be made in the United States by Bidco and no one else.
In accordance with normal United Kingdom practice, Bidco or its nominees, or its brokers (acting as agents), may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares or other securities of Capricorn outside the US, other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date on which the Acquisition and/or the Scheme becomes Effective, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase shall be disclosed as required in the UK, shall be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and shall be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.
The receipt of consideration by a US holder for the transfer of its Capricorn Shares pursuant to the Scheme shall be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. Each Capricorn Shareholder is urged to consult their independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them, including under applicable United States federal, state and local, as well as overseas and other, tax laws.
Financial information relating to Capricorn included in this announcement and the Scheme Document has been or shall have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom and may not be comparable to financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP”). US GAAP differs in certain significant respects from accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom. None of the financial information in this announcement has been audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States or the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
Bidco is incorporated under the laws of Norway and Capricorn is incorporated under the laws of Scotland. Some or all of the officers and directors of Bidco and Capricorn, respectively, are residents of countries other than the United States. In addition, most of the assets of Bidco and Capricorn are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for US shareholders of Capricorn to effect service of process within the United States upon Bidco or Capricorn or their respective officers or directors or to enforce against them a judgment of a US court predicated upon the federal or state securities laws of the United States, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the US federal securities laws. US holders of Capricorn Shares may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court’s jurisdiction or judgment.
Forward looking statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by Capricorn, Bidco or any member of the DNO Group contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, “forward looking statements”. Such forward looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and on numerous assumptions regarding the business strategies and the environment in which DNO, any member of the DNO Group or the Enlarged Group shall operate in the future and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements.
The forward looking statements contained in this announcement relate to DNO, any member of the DNO Group or the Enlarged Group’s future prospects, developments and business strategies, the expected timing and scope of the Acquisition and other statements other than historical facts. In some cases, these forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the terms “believes”, “estimates”, “will look to”, “would look to”, “plans”, “prepares”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “is expected to”, “is subject to”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “synergy”, “strategy”, “goal”, “cost-saving”, “projects”, “intends”, “may”, “will”, “shall” or “should” or their negatives or other variations or comparable terminology. Forward looking statements may include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of DNO’s, any member of the DNO Group’s or Capricorn’s operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of global economic conditions and governmental regulation on DNO’s, any member of the DNO Group’s or Capricorn’s business.
By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that shall occur in the future. These events and circumstances include changes in the global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax rates, future business combinations or disposals, and any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak. If any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialises or if any one or more of the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors.
Neither Capricorn, Bidco or any of DNO or any member of the DNO Group, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward looking statements in this announcement shall actually occur. Given these risks and uncertainties, potential investors should not place any reliance on forward looking statements.
Specifically, statements of estimated cost savings and synergies relate to future actions and circumstances which, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies. As a result, the cost savings and synergies referred to may not be achieved, may be achieved later or sooner than estimated, or those achieved could be materially different from those estimated. Due to the scale of the Enlarged Group, there may be additional changes to the Enlarged Group’s operations. As a result, and given the fact that the changes relate to the future, the resulting cost synergies may be materially greater or less than those estimated.
The forward looking statements speak only at the date of this announcement. All subsequent oral or written forward looking statements attributable to any member of the DNO Group or Capricorn Group, or any of their respective associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above.
Capricorn, the DNO Group and Bidco expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise such statements other than as required by law or by the rules of any competent regulatory authority, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
No profit forecasts or estimates or Quantified Financial Benefits Statements
No statement in this announcement (including any statement of estimate synergies) 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 or dividend per share for Capricorn for the current or future financial periods would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share or dividend per share for Capricorn.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (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 Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (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 shall 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 http://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.
Electronic communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain information provided by Capricorn Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Capricorn may be provided to Bidco during the Offer Period as requested under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Code.
Publication on website and availability of hard copies
A copy of this announcement shall be made available subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions on DNO’s and Capricorn’s websites at https://www.dno.no/ and https://www.capricornenergy.com/investors/ respectively by no later than 12 noon (London time) on 2 September 2026. For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of these websites are not incorporated into and do not form part of this announcement.
You may request a hard copy of this announcement by contacting Equiniti, Highdown House, Yeoman Way, Worthing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA or on 0371 384 2660. You may also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent to you in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy form.
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.
Rule 2.9 Disclosure
In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, as at the close of business on 28 August 2026, Capricorn confirms that it had in issue 71,403,652 ordinary shares with par value of 799 / 122 pence per share, each carrying one vote. The International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) for Capricorn ordinary shares is GB00BNKT5L33. Capricorn’s legal entity identifier is 213800ZJEUQ8ZOC9AL24 and DNO’s legal entity identifier is 5967007LIEEXZXH3K072.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1 September 2026
RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION
of
Capricorn Energy plc (“Capricorn”)
by
DNO Bidco AS (“Bidco”)
(a company directly wholly owned by DNO ASA (“DNO”))
to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
The boards of DNO, Bidco and Capricorn are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Capricorn by Bidco (the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition is to be effected by means of a Scottish scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the “Scheme”).
Under the terms of the Acquisition, which shall be subject to the Conditions and further terms set out in Appendix I to this announcement and to be set out in the Scheme Document, each Capricorn Shareholder shall be entitled to receive, in aggregate:
US$5.214 in cash for each Capricorn Share held (the “Acquisition Value”)
The Acquisition Value comprises, for each Capricorn Share:
· US$4.224 in cash (the “Acquisition Price”); and
· a special dividend of US$0.99, which is intended and expected to be declared by the Capricorn Board prior to the Effective Date (the “Permitted Dividend”).
The Sterling equivalent value of the Acquisition Value, being 384 pence per Capricorn Share based on the Announcement Exchange Rate, represents a premium of approximately:
· 45 per cent. to the Closing Price per Capricorn Share of 266 pence on 10 March 2026 (being the day prior to the start of the Offer Period (the “Undisturbed Date”)); and
· 60 per cent. to the volume weighted average price per Capricorn Share of 241 pence during the three-month period ended on the Undisturbed Date.
The Acquisition provides Capricorn Shareholders with superior value to the Genel Offer, as the Acquisition Value represents:
· an increase of US$0.474 per Capricorn Share as compared to the Genel Offer Acquisition Value; and
· a premium of approximately 10 per cent. to the Genel Offer Acquisition Value.
The Acquisition Value (assuming the Permitted Dividend is declared and paid in full) implies a value for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Capricorn of approximately US$396 million on a fully diluted basis, which is equivalent to £292 million based on the Announcement Exchange Rate and an increase of approximately US$36 million to the implied value represented by the Genel Offer Acquisition Value on a constant currency basis.
The Acquisition Price payable under the Acquisition is expressed in US$. The US$ denominated Acquisition Price reflects the underlying characteristics of Capricorn’s business activities, which are largely denominated in US$. This is consistent with the Genel Offer.
As in respect of the Genel Offer, a facility will be made available under which Capricorn Shareholders will be able to elect (subject to the terms and conditions of such facility) to receive the cash consideration payable in connection with the Acquisition Price in Sterling (after, if applicable, deduction of any transaction or dealing costs (including any taxes) associated with the currency conversion) at the applicable market exchange rate at which the conversion takes place (the “Foreign Exchange Facility”). The applicable market exchange rate will be fixed on the latest practicable date prior to the relevant payment date. The amount received by any Capricorn Shareholder validly electing to be paid their cash consideration payable in connection with the Acquisition Price in Sterling may therefore be below or above 311 pence per Capricorn Share depending on the applicable market exchange rate that is applied and the deduction of any transaction or dealing costs (including any taxes) associated with the currency conversion. Further details of the Foreign Exchange Facility and the election to be made by Capricorn Shareholders who wish to receive their cash consideration payable in connection with the Acquisition Price in Sterling using the Foreign Exchange Facility will be set out in the Scheme Document and the applicable Form(s) of Election.
Certain non-director Capricorn Shareholders provided irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the Genel Offer at each of the court meeting and general meeting convened in respect of the scheme of arrangement to implement the Genel Offer (or, if the Genel Offer is to be implemented by way of a contractual takeover offer, to accept such offer) (the “Genel Offer Non-Director Irrevocable Undertakings”). As the Acquisition represents an improvement of 6.5 per cent. or greater in respect of the acquisition value of the Genel Offer, each of the Genel Offer Non-Director Irrevocable Undertakings has lapsed with effect from the publication of this announcement.
The Scheme Document, containing further information about the Acquisition and notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, shall be published within 28 days of the date of this announcement and the Court Meeting and General Meeting shall be convened as soon as practicable thereafter. It is expected that the Scheme shall become Effective (subject to the satisfaction of the Conditions) during Q4 2026 / Q1 2027.
DNO, founded in 1971, is Norway’s oldest oil and gas exploration and production company, with a strong Norwegian heritage and shareholder base. DNO is also one of Europe’s leading publicly listed independent oil and gas companies, with a diversified portfolio of upstream assets across the North Sea (Norway and the United Kingdom) and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (“KRI”). Over the three years to 31 July 2026, DNO delivered a total shareholder return of 119 per cent, assuming reinvestment of dividends.
DNO has a long-established track record of investing and operating successfully in the MENA region and has maintained a presence in the KRI for more than two decades. DNO holds a 75 per cent participating interest in, and is the operator of, the Tawke Production Sharing Contract, which comprises the Tawke and Peshkabir producing fields. In December 2025, cumulative production from the Tawke license passed 500 MMbbl. DNO’s average net production in the KRI in 2025 was 52,569 boepd and, as at 31 December 2025, its KRI 2P reserves were 199.3 MMboe and 2C resources 55.4 MMboe.
In the North Sea, DNO has built a strong and material position through successful exploration and the transformative acquisition of Norwegian independent Sval Energi Group AS (“Sval Energi”) in 2025, demonstrating both elements of its organic and inorganic growth strategy. DNO’s average net production in the North Sea in 2025 was 81,059 boepd (pro forma for the Sval Energi acquisition) and, as of 31 December 2025, its North Sea 2P reserves were 181.8 MMboe and 2C resources 236.4 MMboe.
The Acquisition represents DNO’s entry into Egypt. DNO intends to develop Egypt as a third core area alongside the North Sea and the KRI, and has ambitious plans to build a significant Egyptian business over time, both operated and non-operated, through investment in the acquired portfolio, exploration and development activity and further acquisitions. DNO’s financial strength and access to capital position it to fund that growth.
In DNO’s view, Egypt offers attractive potential for organic and inorganic growth. DNO regards the country’s supportive regulatory framework for the oil and gas sector, and the continuing efforts of the Egyptian government to encourage exploration and foreign investment in the upstream sector, as important factors underpinning its attractiveness as a long-term investment destination.
DNO believes that Capricorn’s Egyptian assets and established in-country team provide a high-quality entry point and a platform from which to expand, particularly in the Western Desert, a well-established producing region with extensive infrastructure, proven petroleum systems and continuing industry investment. The Egyptian assets are operated by Badr El Din Petroleum Company (“BAPETCo”), a joint operating company owned by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (“EGPC”), Cheiron and Capricorn. DNO brings extensive experience of working through joint arrangements as a partner on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and looks forward to contributing to BAPETCo and to working alongside EGPC and Cheiron. As a full-cycle oil and gas company with operating expertise across exploration, development and production, DNO believes it is well positioned to support and accelerate the development of Capricorn’s Egyptian business and, in due course, to assume operated positions in the country.
The Acquisition also further strengthens the resilience of DNO’s business. On completion, DNO will hold producing assets across three core areas, each with its own geology, fiscal terms, license and partner arrangements, marketing routes and cash flow profile. A broader production base across three jurisdictions reduces DNO’s dependence on any one of them and leaves the Enlarged Group better placed to absorb operational, commercial or regulatory developments affecting a single area, while sustaining investment across the portfolio and supporting returns to shareholders through the cycle.
As at 31 December 2025, DNO reported 2P net reserves of 390.1 MMboe and 2C net resources of 301.6 MMboe, and its net average daily production in 2025 (pro forma for the Sval Energi acquisition) was 136,915 boepd, the highest in DNO’s history. On completion of the Acquisition, DNO will have a third country of material presence and a significantly strengthened MENA business: on a pro forma basis, the Enlarged Group would have had 2P reserves of 443.3 MMboe, 2C resources of 383.0 MMboe and net average production of 156,939 boepd.
The Capricorn Directors, who have been so advised by Canaccord Genuity as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the Capricorn Directors, Canaccord Genuity has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Capricorn Directors. Canaccord Genuity is providing independent financial advice to the Capricorn Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Code.
Accordingly, the Capricorn Directors intend to recommend unanimously that Capricorn Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting, each to be convened as soon as practicable following the date of this announcement.
On 2 July 2026, the Genel Board and the Capricorn Board announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash acquisition of Capricorn by Genel Bidco by way of Scottish Court-approved scheme of arrangement between Capricorn and Capricorn Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the "Genel Offer"). The announcement of the Genel Offer stated that the Capricorn Directors intended to unanimously recommend that Capricorn Shareholders vote in favour of the Genel Offer at the relevant Capricorn Shareholder meetings. The Capricorn Directors subsequently gave such a recommendation in the Genel Scheme Document.
The Capricorn Shareholder meetings to approve the Genel Offer took place on 18 August 2026. At those meetings all resolutions were passed by the requisite majorities. The Genel Offer remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of other conditions, including the necessary Egyptian approvals.
Although the Genel Offer has not lapsed as a result of this announcement, in light of their intended recommendation of the Acquisition, the Capricorn Directors do not currently intend to ask the Court to sanction the Genel Scheme or to declare the special dividend in connection with the Genel Offer. The Capricorn Directors will update shareholders with any further developments in relation to the Genel Offer, including if any of the remaining conditions to the Genel Offer are satisfied or waived by Genel.
Randy Neely, being the Capricorn Director who has a beneficial interest in 4,395 Capricorn Shares, representing approximately 0.006% of Capricorn’s issued share capital on 28 August 2026 provided an irrevocable undertaking to procure a vote in favour of the Genel Offer at each of the court meeting and the general meeting convened in respect of the scheme of arrangement to implement the Genel Offer (or, if the Genel Offer is to be implemented by way of a contractual takeover offer, to accept such offer) (the "Genel Offer Director Irrevocable Undertaking”).
The obligations of Randy Neely under the Genel Offer Director Irrevocable Undertaking remain binding. Accordingly, Randy Neely will be required to procure a vote against the Acquisition at each of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting (or, if the Acquisition is to be implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, will not be permitted to accept the offer) unless the Genel Offer Director Irrevocable Undertaking lapses.
However, subsequent to the Genel shareholder vote, also on 18 August 2026, the Capricorn Board received an approach from DNO, who have since made significant and expedited progress to announce a recommended cash acquisition on terms materially in line with the Genel Offer, and with an Acquisition Value of US$5.214 per Capricorn Share, which represents an increase of approximately 10 per cent. compared to the Genel total offer value. Capricorn has also received a commitment from DNO that it will use its best endeavours to ensure both the Egyptian Condition and Egyptian Merger Condition are satisfied as soon as reasonably possible following the publication of this announcement. Therefore, the Capricorn Directors consider that the Acquisition will also proceed on a timeline that is materially consistent with the timeline on which the Genel Offer has proceeded to date with both offers having a six month long stop date from announcement.
Accordingly, the Capricorn Directors believe, having regard to various factors, including total offer value, that the Acquisition represents a superior proposal relative to the Genel Offer.
- Information on DNO and Bidco
DNO
DNO is a Norwegian oil and gas production operator active in the Middle East and the North Sea. Founded in 1971, DNO is Norway’s oldest oil company and the first to list on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 1981. DNO holds stakes in onshore and offshore licenses at various stages of exploration, development and production in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Norway, the United Kingdom and Yemen.
In March 2025, DNO announced a transformational acquisition of Sval Energi Group AS, which was completed in June 2025. Following completion, the acquisition materially increased DNO’s scale, resulting in an approximately fourfold increase in its North Sea production and 2P reserves relative to its position as at 31 December 2024.
As of 31 December 2025, DNO reported 2P net reserves of 390.1 MMboe and 2C net resources of 301.6 MMboe, and its net average daily production in 2025 (pro forma for the Sval Energi acquisition) was 136,915 boepd.
Bidco
Bidco is a limited company registered in Norway and incorporated on 7 November 2024. Bidco is a wholly owned direct subsidiary of DNO. Bidco was formed for the purposes of being an acquisition vehicle for DNO and has not traded since its date of incorporation, nor has it entered into any obligations other than in connection with the Acquisition.
- Information on Capricorn
Capricorn, a Scottish public limited company headquartered in Edinburgh, is an independent energy company which has been listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange for more than 30 years.
Capricorn’s recent presence in the North Sea focused around significant exploration activity and the development of two material development projects, being Catcher and Kraken, which both began production in 2017. These interests were subsequently sold in November 2021. Capricorn continued to maintain its business in the UK North Sea, through the drilling of the Jaws and Diadem exploration wells in 2022, and since then has focused on business development activities in the region.
Currently, Capricorn’s core operations are in Egypt’s Western Desert, where it holds a portfolio of onshore development and production assets. In May 2025, Capricorn agreed with EGPC to consolidate eight of its 50:50 jointly owned concessions into a single, integrated licence with enhanced commercial terms, providing a platform for future growth. On 30 March 2026, Capricorn announced that it had received formal parliamentary ratification of this agreement, and on 19 May 2026, it announced that the Minister had signed the new agreement.
In addition to maximising value from its assets in Egypt, from 2023 onwards Capricorn has been focused on streamlining operations, reducing costs and has returned around US$600 million to shareholders.
Furthermore, Capricorn has a stated strategy to explore new value-accretive opportunities, in Egypt, the UK North Sea and the broader MENA region.
As announced on 26 March 2026, for the year ended 31 December 2025, Capricorn’s production was 20,024 boepd (40 per cent. liquids), generating revenues of US$134 million at an average realised oil price of US$68.4/bbl and gas price of US$3.1/mscf. Capricorn’s average total production costs in the same period were US$5.4/boe and net cash generated from Egypt oil and gas production was US$81 million, with overall Capricorn Group net cash of US$103 million, comprising US$133 million cash and US$30 million debt.
Current trading and prospects of Capricorn
Capricorn continues to trade in line with the Capricorn Board’s expectation and within the guidance set out in the AGM statement published on 21 May 2026. As at 30 June 2026 Capricorn had a cash balance of US$114 million. Capricorn’s cash position is expected to remain largely flat for the remainder of the financial year ending 31 December 2026 continuing to maintain a disciplined approach to working capital management that balances investment against collections.
DNO’s strategic plans for Capricorn
Prior to this announcement, DNO completed a period of confirmatory due diligence on Capricorn. This process has allowed DNO to form an initial view on the capabilities of Capricorn’s organisation and to develop preliminary plans for the integration of Capricorn into the DNO Group. However, DNO has not yet had access to sufficiently detailed information to formulate detailed plans or intentions regarding the impact of the Acquisition on the Capricorn Group.
Following the Scheme becoming Effective, DNO intends to carry out a review of Capricorn’s business within six months, in order to assess the appropriate activity plan and formulate a detailed integration plan for the Capricorn Group, reflecting the necessary resource levels going forward (the "Post-Completion Review"). The key areas of focus will include:
- Review of Capricorn’s Egypt business to align it with DNO’s existing business;
- Review of Capricorn’s business in Egypt, growth prospects, and operational and financial performance expectations, in the context of DNO’s wider global business portfolio;
- Review of headquarter organization and service functions with a view to integrating them with DNO’s existing business and organisational capabilities; and
- Review of Capricorn’s overall cost base.
Employees and management
As at the date of this announcement, Capricorn has 38 employees. DNO attributes significant importance to the skills, knowledge and experience of Capricorn’s organization. As Egypt represents a new and exciting growth platform for DNO, DNO will prioritise the retention of the technical, operational and management capabilities in the country. This will help ensure continuity of operations in Egypt and facilitate a smooth and seamless transition while maintaining high standards of operational performance. DNO also intends to support positive local-content outcomes in Egypt, recognising the critical business importance of maintaining and developing in-country capabilities and expertise.
Subject to the outcomes of the Post-Completion Review, a rationalisation of Capricorn’s business may be undertaken, primarily with respect to corporate and support functions that overlap with those of DNO, including, without limitation general management and PLC-related functions. This is likely to result in a material reduction in the overall number of employees in the Capricorn Group.
DNO has not yet developed specific proposals as to how any potential reductions in headcount would be implemented. DNO intends to prepare detailed plans within six months following the Scheme becoming Effective. Any individuals potentially impacted will be treated with respect and their rights will be safeguarded in accordance with applicable laws.
DNO expects that Capricorn’s corporate support functions based in the Edinburgh office will be organisationally integrated with the corresponding corporate functions of the DNO Group following the Effective Date, subject to information and consultation with affected employees in accordance with applicable laws.
Save as set out above, DNO does not intend to make any material change to the balance of skills and functions of the management and employees of the Capricorn group or to the conditions of employment of employees who will be retained in the business.
It is intended that, upon completion of the Acquisition, each of the non-executive members of the Capricorn Board shall resign from their office as a director of Capricorn on the Effective Date and be paid in lieu of their contractual notice periods.
Existing rights and pensions
The existing individual and statutory employment rights of Capricorn’s employees, including any rights relating to the existing pension obligations under Capricorn’s defined contribution pension scheme, will be safeguarded in accordance with applicable laws. DNO does not intend to make any material changes to employer contribution arrangements in respect of the defined contribution pension schemes. Capricorn does not operate a defined benefit pension scheme.
Locations, headquarters and research and development
Owing to the nature of its business, Capricorn does not have a research and development function and accordingly DNO has no plans in this regard.
Any oil and gas exploration and production company will, from time to time in the ordinary course of its business, relinquish, trade or high-grade participating interests in licenses. DNO has no intention to redeploy the fixed assets of Capricorn.
DNO intends to maintain a presence in Edinburgh, together with the resources necessary to support an orderly transition, for a period to be determined during the Post-Completion Review. Thereafter, subject to the outcomes of the Post-Completion Review, DNO will consider whether certain roles would be more effectively carried out from Cairo, or from one of DNO’s existing offices in Oslo or Dubai and a rationalisation of Capricorn’s business may occur. This may result in the closure of Capricorn’s head, administrative, offices in Edinburgh, subject to information and consultation with affected employees in accordance with applicable laws. Save in that respect, DNO does not intend to make any material changes to the locations of Capricorn’s places of business.
Following the Effective Date, the headquarters of the Enlarged Group will continue to be in Oslo.
Trading Facilities
Capricorn is currently listed on the Equity Shares (Commercial Companies) category of the Official List and, as set out in paragraph 16 below, a request shall be made to the London Stock Exchange to cancel trading in Capricorn Shares and de-list Capricorn from the Equity Shares (Commercial Companies) category of the Official List. DNO intends to re-register Capricorn as a private company.
No statements in this paragraph 8 constitute “post-offer undertakings” for the purposes of Rule 19.5 of the Code.
Views of the Capricorn Board
The Capricorn Board recognises the logic of DNO's stated strategy and believes that the Enlarged Group will be better positioned to accelerate development activity across Capricorn's new concession structure and thereby support Capricorn with the next phase of its growth.
The Capricorn Board welcomes DNO's statements that the Acquisition represents a new and exciting growth platform for DNO and that it intends to support positive local-content outcomes in Egypt, recognising the critical business importance of maintaining and developing in-country capabilities and expertise. The Capricorn Board also notes that, subject to the outcome of the Post-Completion Review, a rationalisation of Capricorn's business may be undertaken, but welcomes the commitments that DNO has made in the Co-operation Agreement in respect of Capricorn's employees who may be affected by the rationalisation.
- Arrangements between Bidco and Capricorn management
DNO has not entered into, and has not had any discussions on proposals to enter into, any form of incentivisation or other arrangements with members of Capricorn management or employees. Following completion of the Acquisition, DNO may have discussions and enter into such discussions for certain members of the Capricorn management team.
- DNO’s possible offer for Genel
DNO announced on 7 August 2026 that it had approached the Genel board of directors (the “Genel Board”) on 28 July 2026 with a proposal for a possible offer to acquire Genel (“DNO’s Genel Proposal”). The Genel Board has not yet engaged constructively with DNO regarding DNO’s Genel Proposal.
In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, DNO is required, by no later than 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 4 September 2026, to announce either a firm intention to make an offer for Genel in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline can be extended with the consent of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.
Participants in Capricorn’s Share Plans shall be contacted regarding the effect of the Acquisition on their rights under Capricorn’s Share Plans and, where relevant, appropriate proposals shall be made to such participants in due course. Further details of the terms of such proposals shall be included in the Scheme Document.
Bidco is funding the cash consideration payable pursuant to the Acquisition, together with certain fees and expenses in connection with the Acquisition, through its own existing cash resources.
Lambert Energy, as financial adviser to Bidco, is satisfied that sufficient resources are available to Bidco to satisfy in full the Acquisition Price payable to Capricorn Shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition. Lambert Energy has not been required to confirm, and has not confirmed, that resources are available to Capricorn to satisfy payments to Capricorn Shareholders pursuant to the Permitted Dividend. Further details of the Permitted Dividend, including the risks to Capricorn Shareholders if, for any reason, the payment obligations pursuant to the Permitted Dividend are unable to be satisfied by Capricorn, are set out in paragraph 13 below.
Further information on the financing of the Acquisition will be set out in the Scheme Document.
As part of the Acquisition, the boards of DNO, Bidco and Capricorn have agreed to the declaration and payment of the Permitted Dividend. The Permitted Dividend represents the same value to Capricorn Shareholders as the dividend permitted by the terms of the Genel Offer. The Permitted Dividend is intended and expected to be declared by the Capricorn Board prior to the Effective Date and will only be payable if the Scheme becomes Effective (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer and continues to be recommended by the Capricorn Board, the Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional) to Capricorn Shareholders on the register of members at the Scheme Record Time (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer and continues to be recommended by the Capricorn Board, on the register of members on the date on which the Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional).
Capricorn Shareholders will note that the quantum of the Permitted Dividend represents an aggregate payment to shareholders of approximately US$75 million. Prior to the announcement of the Genel Offer, the Capricorn Board considered this amount in the context of the Capricorn Group’s forecast cash flows for the period from the date of the announcement of the Genel Offer until 2 January 2027, being the long-stop date in respect of the Genel Offer (assuming not extended). Whilst payment of the Permitted Dividend will be subject to compliance with applicable statutory requirements at the relevant time, prior to the announcement of the Genel Offer, the Capricorn Board concluded that in all reasonable circumstances Capricorn would have available to it sufficient cash resources to pay the Permitted Dividend in full.
The Capricorn Board has updated that analysis prior to the date of this announcement in the context of the Capricorn Group’s forecast cash flows for the period from the date of this announcement until 1 March 2027, being the Long-stop Date (assuming not extended). The Capricorn Board has again concluded that in all reasonable circumstances it will have available to it sufficient cash resources to pay the Permitted Dividend in full.
However, Capricorn Shareholders should also note that the ability of the Capricorn Board lawfully to declare and pay the Permitted Dividend is subject to various factors outside of its control. If, prior to the Effective Date, the Capricorn Group were to face unexpected cash requirements or any other event which is material in the context of Capricorn’s ability to pay the Permitted Dividend, the Capricorn Directors may conclude, having regard to their duties as directors of Capricorn and taking account of all other factors as they may deem relevant, that they are no longer able to declare and pay the Permitted Dividend in full. If such circumstances were to occur, the Capricorn Directors would consider all options available to them, including whether it is in the best interests of Capricorn Shareholders to continue to implement the Scheme, which may result in the Scheme not becoming Effective. If, whether as a result of the Permitted Dividend not being paid in full or otherwise, the Acquisition does not become Effective, the Permitted Dividend will not be paid.
DNO, Bidco and Capricorn have agreed that the Capricorn Board may declare and pay the Permitted Dividend without any reduction to the Acquisition Price. If, on or after the date of this announcement and prior to the Effective Date, any dividend, distribution or other return of value or excess is announced, declared, made, or paid or becomes payable by Capricorn (other than, or in excess of the amount of, the Permitted Dividend), Bidco reserves the right to reduce the Acquisition Price payable under the terms of the Acquisition for the Capricorn Shares by an amount equal to the amount of any such dividend, distribution or other return of value or excess. In such circumstances, the Capricorn Shareholders shall be entitled to retain any such dividend, distribution or other return of value announced, declared, made or paid.
If declared, the Permitted Dividend will be paid to Capricorn Shareholders in Sterling, with the amount paid to Capricorn Shareholders being the Sterling equivalent of US$0.99 per Capricorn Share based on the prevailing exchange rate on the latest practicable date for fixing such rate prior to the relevant payment date.
If declared, the Permitted Dividend will be paid not more than 14 days after the date of the Scheme Record Time. The Permitted Dividend shall be paid to Scheme Shareholders whose names appear on the register of members of Capricorn at the Scheme Record Time. Where, at the Scheme Record Time, a Capricorn Shareholder holds Capricorn Shares, payment of the Permitted Dividend in respect of such Capricorn Shares will be settled by Capricorn as follows:
· if the relevant Capricorn Shareholder holds in certificated form and has set up a standing electronic payment mandate with Equiniti for the purpose of receiving dividend payments, such payment will be made in Sterling by means of an electronic payment to the account indicated in such standing electronic payment mandate, provided that any Capricorn Shareholder who does not want the Permitted Dividend to be paid pursuant to their mandate may apply to Capricorn’s registrar, Equiniti, to cancel their mandate;
· in the absence of a standing electronic payment mandate by cheque drawn on a branch of a United Kingdom clearing bank, issued by first class post (or international standard post or airmail, if overseas);
· if the relevant Capricorn Shareholder is uncertificated, namely holding in CREST, the payment will be made using the CREST payment service; or
· by such other method as may be approved by the Panel and agreed by Equiniti.
Payments of the Permitted Dividend made by electronic payment shall be made within 14 days of the date of the Scheme Record Time and shall be paid to the Capricorn Shareholder concerned using the payment channels detailed above. The transfer of such amount by way of electronic transfer, encashment of the cheque or payment into CREST shall be a complete discharge of Capricorn’s obligations to pay the monies represented thereby.
Confidentiality Agreement
DNO and Capricorn entered into a confidentiality agreement dated 20 August 2026 (the “Confidentiality Agreement”) pursuant to which DNO has undertaken to (i) keep confidential information relating to, inter alia, the Acquisition and Capricorn and not to disclose it to third parties (other than to certain permitted parties) unless required by law or regulation; and (ii) use the confidential information only in connection with the Acquisition.
These confidentiality obligations shall remain in force for a period of 18 months from the date of the Confidentiality Agreement.
This agreement also includes customary non-solicitation obligations on the Wider DNO Group for a period of 12 months from the date of the Confidentiality Agreement.
Co-operation Agreement
DNO, Bidco and Capricorn have entered into a co-operation agreement dated 1 September 2026 (the “Co-operation Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things:
· DNO and Bidco have agreed to use best endeavours to ensure that the Regulatory Conditions (as defined in the Co-operation Agreement) are fulfilled as soon as reasonably possible following the date of the Co-operation Agreement and, in any event, in sufficient time to enable the Effective Date to occur before the Long-stop Date, provided that DNO and Bidco (or any member of the DNO Group) shall not be required to take any action which would, individually or in the aggregate, be of material significance to the DNO Group or to the Capricorn Group in the context of the Acquisition;
· DNO, Bidco and Capricorn have agreed to certain undertakings to co-operate and provide each other with information, assistance and access in relation to the filings, submissions and notifications to be made in relation to the Egyptian Merger Condition and the Egyptian Condition;
· DNO and Bidco have agreed to provide Capricorn with certain information for the purposes of the Scheme Document and to otherwise assist with the preparation of the Scheme Document; and
· DNO, Bidco and Capricorn have agreed certain arrangements in respect of directors' and officers' insurance, the Capricorn Share Plans and certain other employee incentive arrangements.
The Co-operation Agreement also records the intention of DNO, Bidco and Capricorn to implement the Acquisition by way of the Scheme and the agreement from DNO and Bidco not to proceed by way of a Takeover Offer without the consent of the Panel and, save for certain circumstances (including the Genel Offer being revised, amended or increased, the Genel Offer being implemented via a takeover of Capricorn instead of the Genel Scheme and a third party (other than Genel) announcing a firm intention pursuant to Rule 2.7 of the Code to make an offer for the issued and to be issued share capital of Capricorn), Capricorn.
The Co-operation Agreement will be terminated in certain circumstances, which include (but are not limited to):
· if DNO, Bidco and Capricorn so agree in writing at any time before the Effective Date;
· upon service of a written notice by Bidco on Capricorn where the Capricorn Board Recommendation (as defined in the Co-operation Agreement) is withdrawn, adversely qualified or adversely modified (among other things);
· unless otherwise agreed by DNO, Bidco and Capricorn or required by the Panel, if the Scheme does not become Effective in accordance with its terms by the Long-stop Date;
· if the Scheme is withdrawn or lapses in accordance with its terms (other than in certain circumstances);
· if: (i) the Court Meeting and/or the General Meeting is not held on or before the 22nd day after the expected date of the Court Meeting and/or the General Meeting as first announced by Capricorn through a Regulatory Information Service (or such later date as (A) may be agreed by the parties or (B) in a competitive situation, as may be specified by Bidco with the consent of the Panel (and, in each case, if required, with the approval of the Court, if such approval is required)); (ii) the Scheme is not approved by the Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting and/or the Capricorn Shareholders at the General Meeting; or (iii) the Scheme is not sanctioned at the Court Hearing; or
· if an offer for Capricorn made by a third party completes, becomes effective or is declared or becomes unconditional.
Joint Defence Agreement
It is intended that the Acquisition shall be effected by means of a Scottish Court-approved scheme of arrangement between Capricorn and Capricorn Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act, although Bidco reserves the right to implement the Acquisition by means of a Takeover Offer (subject to Panel consent and the terms of the Co-operation Agreement).
The purpose of the Scheme is to provide for Bidco to become the holder of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Capricorn. This is to be achieved by the transfer of the Capricorn Shares to Bidco, in consideration for which the Scheme Shareholders shall receive cash consideration on the basis set out in paragraph 2 of this announcement. In addition, each Scheme Shareholder who is on the register of members at the Scheme Record Time shall be entitled to receive the Permitted Dividend (if declared).
In line with Capricorn’s approach in relation to the Genel Offer, and in the context of the importance of developing a good working relationship between DNO and the Egyptian Government, DNO and Bidco (in cooperation with Capricorn) will be seeking the consent of EGPC to the Acquisition.
DNO believes that it is well positioned to receive the approvals in respect of the Egyptian Condition given its proven track record in oil and gas operations, notably onshore MENA. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, last January, DNO proudly celebrated cumulative production of 500 million barrels of oil since 2004 from the Tawke licence which it operates. DNO also has a long-standing history of good corporate citizenship and relations with host governments and local communities.
Capricorn Shareholders’ attention is specifically drawn to the Egyptian Condition, its importance to Bidco and DNO and the rationale for its inclusion. The Egyptian Condition has been included at DNO’s request to take account of the particular circumstances of the Acquisition following negotiation between DNO and Capricorn. This is consistent with the conditions to the Genel Offer.
Capricorn Shareholders should note that DNO intends to seek the Panel’s consent to invoke the Egyptian Condition in accordance with Rule 13.5(a) of the Takeover Code if the Egyptian Condition is not satisfied or capable of being satisfied by the Long-stop Date. A decision by the Panel whether to permit DNO to invoke a Condition would be judged by the Panel by reference to the facts at the time that the relevant circumstances arise, including the views of the Capricorn Directors at the time.
The Acquisition shall be subject to the Conditions and further terms set out below and in Appendix I to this announcement and to be set out in the Scheme Document and shall only become Effective, if, among other things, the following events occur on or before 11.59 p.m. on the Long-stop Date:
- the approval of the Scheme by a majority in number of the Scheme Shareholders who are present and vote, whether in person or by proxy, at the Court Meeting and who represent 75 per cent. in value of the Scheme Shares voted by those Scheme Shareholders;
- the resolutions required to approve and implement the Scheme being duly passed by Capricorn Shareholders representing the requisite majority or majorities of votes cast at the General Meeting (or any adjournment thereof);
- the approval of the Scheme by the Court (with or without modification but subject to any modification being on terms acceptable to Capricorn and Bidco);
- the delivery of a copy of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies;
- the satisfaction of the Egyptian Condition; and
- the satisfaction of the Egyptian Merger Condition.
The Scheme shall lapse if:
· the Court Meeting and the General Meeting are not held by the 22nd day after the expected date of such meetings to be set out in the Scheme Document in due course or such later date, as (a) may be agreed by Bidco and Capricorn or (b) (in a competitive situation) may be specified by Bidco with the consent of the Panel, and in each case that (if so required) the Court may allow;
· the Court Hearing is not held by the 22nd day after the expected date of such hearing as first announced by Capricorn through a Regulatory Information Service or such later date, as (a) may be agreed by Bidco and Capricorn or (b) (in a competitive situation) may be specified by Bidco with the consent of the Panel, and in each case that (if so required) the Court may allow); and
· the Scheme does not become Effective by no later than 11.59 p.m. on the Long-stop Date.
Subject to satisfaction (or waiver, where applicable) of the Conditions, the Scheme is expected to become Effective during Q4 2026 / Q1 2027.
Upon the Scheme becoming Effective, it shall be binding on all Capricorn Shareholders, irrespective of whether or not they attended or voted at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting.
Further details of the Scheme, including an indicative timetable for its implementation, shall be set out in the Scheme Document, which is expected to be despatched to Capricorn Shareholders within 28 days of the date of this announcement.
Prior to the Scheme becoming Effective, Capricorn shall make an application for the cancellation of trading of the Capricorn Shares on the Main Market and for the cancellation of the listing of Capricorn Shares on the Equity Shares (Commercial Companies) category of the Official List, in each case to take effect on or shortly after the Effective Date. The last day of dealings in Capricorn Shares on the Main Market is expected to be the Business Day immediately prior to the Effective Date and no transfers shall be registered after 6.00 p.m. on that date.
On the Effective Date, share certificates in respect of Capricorn Shares shall cease to be valid and entitlements to Capricorn Shares held within the CREST system shall be cancelled.
It is also proposed that, following the Effective Date and after its shares are delisted, Capricorn shall be re-registered as a private limited company.
- Disclosure of Interests in Capricorn
As at the close of business on 28 August 2026 (being the last practicable date prior to the date of this announcement) neither Bidco, nor any of its directors, nor, so far as Bidco is aware, any person acting in concert (within the meaning of the Code) with it has: (i) any interest in or right to subscribe for any relevant securities of Capricorn; (ii) any short positions in respect of relevant Capricorn Shares (whether conditional or absolute and whether in the money or otherwise), including any short position under a derivative, any agreement to sell or any delivery obligation or right to require another person to purchase or take delivery; (iii) any Dealing Arrangement, in relation to Capricorn Shares or in relation to any securities convertible or exchangeable into Capricorn Shares; or (iv) borrowed or lent any relevant Capricorn Shares (including, for these purposes, any financial collateral arrangements of the kind referred to in Note 3 on Rule 4.6 of the Code), save for any borrowed shares which had been either on-lent or sold.
“Interests in securities” for these purposes arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether absolute or conditional, to changes in the price of securities (and a person who only has a short position in securities is not treated as interested in those securities). In particular, a person shall be treated as having an “interest” by virtue of the ownership, voting rights or control of securities, or by virtue of any agreement to purchase, option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities.
It has not been practicable for Bidco to make enquiries of all of its concert parties in advance of the release of this announcement. Therefore, all relevant details in respect of Bidco’s concert parties shall be included in the Opening Position Disclosure in accordance with Rule 8.1(a) and Note 2(a)(i) on Rule 8 of the Code.
Bidco reserves the right to elect (with the consent of the Panel) to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer for the Capricorn Shares as an alternative to the Scheme. In such event, the Takeover Offer shall be implemented on the same terms, so far as applicable, and subject to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement as those which would apply to the Scheme, subject to appropriate amendments, including (without limitation) an acceptance condition set (subject to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement) at 90 per cent. of the shares to which such Takeover Offer relates or such lesser percentage (being more than 50 per cent.) as Bidco may decide or as required by the Panel, of the Capricorn Shares.
The Acquisition shall be subject to the Conditions and further terms set out in Appendix I to this announcement and to the full terms and conditions which shall be set out in the Scheme Document. Appendix II to this announcement contains the sources of information and bases of calculations of certain information contained in this announcement, and Appendix III to this announcement contains definitions of certain expressions used in this announcement.
The Scheme Document and the Forms of Proxy accompanying the Scheme Document shall be published within 28 days of the date of this announcement. The Scheme Document and Forms of Proxy shall be made available to all Capricorn Shareholders at no charge to them.
Lambert Energy, Canaccord Genuity and Moelis have each given and not withdrawn their consent to the publication of this announcement with the inclusion herein of the references to their names in the form and context in which they appear.
Copies of the following documents shall be made available on DNO’s and Capricorn’s websites at https://www.dno.no/ and https://www.capricornenergy.com/investors/ respectively until the Effective Date:
· this announcement;
· the Confidentiality Agreement;
· the Joint Defence Agreement;
· the Co-operation Agreement; and
· the consents from Lambert Energy, Canaccord Genuity and Moelis to being named in this announcement.
Enquiries:
|
DNO |
|
|
Media: media@dno.no Investors: investor.relations@dno.no |
|
|
|
|
|
Lambert Energy Advisory Limited, financial adviser to DNO and Bidco |
+44 20 7491 4473 |
|
Philip Lambert |
|
|
Onursal Soyer |
|
|
David Anderson |
|
|
|
|
|
Brunswick Group, PR adviser to DNO |
+44 20 7404 5959 |
|
Patrick Handley |
|
|
Scott Durant |
|
|
|
|
|
Capricorn |
+44 131 475 3000 |
|
Randy Neely |
Chief Executive |
|
Nathan Piper |
Commercial Director |
|
|
|
|
Canaccord Genuity, financial adviser and Rule 3 adviser to Capricorn |
+44 20 7523 8000 |
|
Henry Fitzgerald-O’Connor |
|
|
George Grainger |
|
|
|
|
|
Moelis, financial adviser to Capricorn |
+44 20 7634 3500 |
|
Chris Raff |
|
|
Ali Hassen |
|
|
|
|
|
Camarco, PR adviser to Capricorn |
+44 20 3757 4980 |
|
Georgia Edmonds |
|
|
Violet Wilson |
|
|
Fergus Young |
|
Freshfields LLP and Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS are retained as legal advisers to DNO and Bidco.
Ashurst Perkins Coie UK LLP are retained as legal advisers to Capricorn.
Inside Information
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by Capricorn to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 (as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). On the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of Capricorn is Paul Ervine, Company Secretary.
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by DNO to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 (as implemented in section 3-1 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act) and is made public by Jostein Løvås, Communication Manager DNO ASA on the date indicated above in accordance with section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Important Notices
Lambert Energy Advisory Limited (“Lambert Energy”), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Bidco and DNO and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Bidco and DNO for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lambert Energy nor for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition. Neither Lambert Energy nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Lambert Energy in connection with the Acquisition, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Canaccord Genuity, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser and Rule 3 adviser to Capricorn and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Capricorn for providing the protections afforded to clients of Canaccord Genuity nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Canaccord Genuity nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Canaccord Genuity in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Moelis, which is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Capricorn and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and other matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Capricorn for providing the protections afforded to clients of Moelis, or for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition or any matter referred to herein. Neither Moelis nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Moelis in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or an invitation to purchase any securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise.
The Acquisition shall be made solely by means of the Scheme Document which, together with the Forms of Proxy, shall contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition.
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law, Scots law and the Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside England and Wales, and Scotland.
Capricorn shall prepare the Scheme Document to be distributed to Capricorn Shareholders. Capricorn and Bidco urge Capricorn Shareholders to read the Scheme Document when it becomes available because it shall contain important information relating to the Acquisition.
Overseas Shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into certain jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to other jurisdictions should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements.
Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition shall not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the Acquisition by any such use, means, instrumentality or form within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction, and persons receiving this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such jurisdictions where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction.
The availability of the Acquisition to Capricorn Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are resident. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements.
The Acquisition shall be subject to the applicable requirements of the Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the Financial Conduct Authority.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or a prospectus equivalent document or an exempted document.
Additional information for US investors
The Acquisition relates to shares of a Scottish company listed on the Official List of the London Stock Exchange and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under Scots law. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act.
Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure and procedural requirements of United States tender offer and proxy solicitation rules.
However, if in the future Bidco were to elect to implement the Acquisition by means of a takeover offer, such takeover offer would be made in compliance with all applicable United States laws and regulations, including, without limitation, to the extent applicable and subject to any applicable exemptions, Section 14(e) of the US Exchange Act and Regulation 14E thereunder. Such a takeover would be made in the United States by Bidco and no one else.
In accordance with normal United Kingdom practice, Bidco or its nominees, or its brokers (acting as agents), may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares or other securities of Capricorn outside the US, other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date on which the Acquisition and/or the Scheme becomes Effective, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase shall be disclosed as required in the UK, shall be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and shall be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.
The receipt of consideration by a US holder for the transfer of its Capricorn Shares pursuant to the Scheme shall be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. Each Capricorn Shareholder is urged to consult their independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them, including under applicable United States federal, state and local, as well as overseas and other, tax laws.
Financial information relating to Capricorn included in this announcement and the Scheme Document has been or shall have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom and may not be comparable to financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP”). US GAAP differs in certain significant respects from accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom. None of the financial information in this announcement has been audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States or the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
Bidco is incorporated under the laws of Norway and Capricorn is incorporated under the laws of Scotland. Some or all of the officers and directors of Bidco and Capricorn, respectively, are residents of countries other than the United States. In addition, most of the assets of Bidco and Capricorn are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for US shareholders of Capricorn to effect service of process within the United States upon Bidco or Capricorn or their respective officers or directors or to enforce against them a judgment of a US court predicated upon the federal or state securities laws of the United States, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the US federal securities laws. US holders of Capricorn Shares may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court’s jurisdiction or judgment.
Forward looking statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by Capricorn, Bidco or any member of the DNO Group contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, “forward looking statements”. Such forward looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and on numerous assumptions regarding the business strategies and the environment in which DNO, any member of the DNO Group or the Enlarged Group shall operate in the future and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements.
The forward looking statements contained in this announcement relate to DNO, any member of the DNO Group or the Enlarged Group’s future prospects, developments and business strategies, the expected timing and scope of the Acquisition and other statements other than historical facts. In some cases, these forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the terms “believes”, “estimates”, “will look to”, “would look to”, “plans”, “prepares”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “is expected to”, “is subject to”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “synergy”, “strategy”, “goal”, “cost-saving”, “projects”, “intends”, “may”, “will”, “shall” or “should” or their negatives or other variations or comparable terminology. Forward looking statements may include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of DNO’s, any member of the DNO Group’s or Capricorn’s operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of global economic conditions and governmental regulation on DNO’s, any member of the DNO Group’s or Capricorn’s business.
By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that shall occur in the future. These events and circumstances include changes in the global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax rates, future business combinations or disposals, and any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak. If any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialises or if any one or more of the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors.
Neither Capricorn, Bidco or any of DNO or any member of the DNO Group, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward looking statements in this announcement shall actually occur. Given these risks and uncertainties, potential investors should not place any reliance on forward looking statements.
Specifically, statements of estimated cost savings and synergies relate to future actions and circumstances which, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies.
As a result, the cost savings and synergies referred to may not be achieved, may be achieved later or sooner than estimated, or those achieved could be materially different from those estimated. Due to the scale of the Enlarged Group, there may be additional changes to the Enlarged Group’s operations. As a result and given the fact that the changes relate to the future, the resulting cost synergies may be materially greater or less than those estimated.
The forward looking statements speak only at the date of this announcement. All subsequent oral or written forward looking statements attributable to any member of the DNO Group or Capricorn Group, or any of their respective associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above.
Capricorn, the DNO Group and Bidco expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise such statements other than as required by law or by the rules of any competent regulatory authority, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
No profit forecasts or estimates or Quantified Financial Benefits Statements
No statement in this announcement (including any statement of estimate synergies) 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 or dividend per share for Capricorn for the current or future financial periods would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share or dividend per share for Capricorn.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (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 Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (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 shall 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 http://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.
Publication on website and availability of hard copies
A copy of this announcement shall be made available subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions on DNO’s and Capricorn’s websites at https://www.dno.no/ and https://www.capricornenergy.com/investors/ respectively by no later than 12 noon (London time) on 2 September 2026. For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of these websites are not incorporated into and do not form part of this announcement.
You may request a hard copy of this announcement by contacting Equiniti, Highdown House, Yeoman Way, Worthing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA or on 0371 384 2660. You may also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent to you in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy form.
Electronic communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain information provided by Capricorn Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Capricorn may be provided to Bidco during the Offer Period as requested under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Code.
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.
Rule 2.9 Disclosure
In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, as at the close of business on 28 August 2026, Capricorn confirms that it had in issue 71,403,652 ordinary shares with par value of 799 / 122 pence per share, each carrying one vote. The International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) for Capricorn ordinary shares is GB00BNKT5L33. Capricorn’s legal entity identifier is 213800ZJEUQ8ZOC9AL24 and DNO’s legal entity identifier is 5967007LIEEXZXH3K072.
Part A: Conditions to the Scheme and the Acquisition
Long-stop Date
Scheme approval
-
The Scheme shall be subject to the following conditions:
-
- its approval by a majority in number of the Scheme Shareholders (or each of the relevant classes thereof, if applicable) who are present and vote, whether in person or by proxy, at the Court Meeting (or at any separate class meeting, if applicable), or at any adjournment thereof, and who represent 75 per cent. or more in value of the Scheme Shares voted by those Scheme Shareholders (or the relevant class thereof, if applicable) at the Court Meeting (or at any separate class meeting, if applicable), or at any adjournment thereof; and
- such Court Meeting being held on or before the 22nd day after the expected date of the Court Meeting to be set out in the Scheme Document in due course (or such later date, as (a) may be agreed by Bidco and Capricorn or (b) (in a competitive situation) may be specified by Bidco with the consent of the Panel, and in each case that (if so required) the Court may allow);
-
- the resolutions required to implement the Scheme being duly passed by Capricorn Shareholders representing 75 per cent. or more of votes cast at the General Meeting; and
- such General Meeting being held on or before the 22nd day after the expected date of the General Meeting to be set out in the Scheme Document in due course (or such later date, as (a) may be agreed by Bidco and Capricorn or (b) (in a competitive situation) may be specified by Bidco with the consent of the Panel, and in each case that (if so required) the Court may allow); and
-
- the sanction of the Scheme by the Court (with or without modification but subject to any modification being on terms acceptable to Capricorn and Bidco) and the delivery of a copy of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies; and
- the Court Hearing being held on or before the 22nd day after the expected date of the Court Hearing as first announced by Capricorn through a Regulatory Information Service (or such later date, as (a) may be agreed by Bidco and Capricorn or (b) (in a competitive situation) may be specified by Bidco with the consent of the Panel, and in each case that (if so required) the Court may allow).
-
- In addition, subject as stated in Part B below and to the requirements of the Panel, the Acquisition shall be conditional upon the following Conditions and, accordingly, the Court Order shall not be delivered to the Registrar of Companies unless such Conditions (as amended if appropriate) have been satisfied or, where relevant, waived:
Egyptian Condition
- provided Bidco or any member of the Capricorn Group with its written approval of (or, if applicable, confirmed in writing its non-objection to) the Acquisition on terms reasonably satisfactory to Bidco;
- (A) made a written proposal, or otherwise evidenced in writing its agreement, to Capricorn or a member of the Capricorn Group in respect of the quantum of assignment bonuses payable under the Concession Agreements, where such quantum is reasonably satisfactory to Bidco, and (B) made a request for the payment of the assignment bonuses in the agreed quantum; or
- executed all relevant deed(s) of assignment on terms reasonably satisfactory to Bidco in connection with each of the Concession Agreements to reflect the acquisition of Capricorn by Bidco
(the “Egyptian Condition”);
Egyptian Merger Condition
- without limitation to conditions 3(c), 3(d) and 3(e), a pre-merger review filing having been submitted to and confirmed to be complete by the Egyptian Competition Authority, under the Egyptian Competition Law’s executive regulations issued by prime ministerial decree no. 1316 for 2005 as amended, including by prime ministerial decree no. 1120 of 2024 of the Egyptian Competition Law and the receipt, on terms reasonably satisfactory to Bidco, of an approval from the Egyptian Competition Authority of the Acquisition or lapse of the relevant statutory pre-merger review period set out in the Egyptian Competition Law without a response from the Egyptian Competition Authority (as applicable)
(the “Egyptian Merger Condition”);
Other Third Party clearances
- the waiver (or non-exercise within any applicable time limits) by any relevant government or governmental, quasi-governmental, supranational, statutory, regulatory, environmental, health and safety, employee representative, administrative, fiscal, or investigative body, court, trade agency, association, institution, or any other body or person whatsoever in any jurisdiction (each a “Third Party”) of any termination right, right of pre-emption, first refusal, or similar right (which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition) arising as a result of or in connection with the Acquisition including, without limitation, its implementation and financing or the proposed direct or indirect acquisition of any shares or other securities in, or control or management of, Capricorn by Bidco or any member of the Wider DNO Group;
- all material notifications, filings or applications which are necessary or considered appropriate by Bidco having been made in connection with the Acquisition and all necessary waiting periods (including any extensions thereof) under any applicable legislation or regulation of any jurisdiction having expired, lapsed or been terminated (as appropriate) and all material statutory and regulatory obligations in any jurisdiction having been complied with in each case in respect of the Acquisition and all Authorisations deemed reasonably necessary or appropriate by Bidco in any jurisdiction for or in respect of the Acquisition, except pursuant to Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act, the acquisition or the proposed acquisition of any shares or other securities in, or control or management of, Capricorn or any other member of the Wider Capricorn Group by any member of the Wider DNO Group having been obtained in terms and in a form reasonably satisfactory to Bidco from all appropriate Third Parties or (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) from any person or bodies with whom any member of the Wider Capricorn Group or the Wider DNO Group has entered into contractual arrangements and all such Authorisations necessary or appropriate to carry on the business of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group in any jurisdiction having been obtained and all such Authorisations remaining in full force and effect at the time at which the Acquisition becomes otherwise Effective and there being no notice or intimation of an intention to revoke, suspend, restrict, modify or not to renew such Authorisations;
-
no Third Party having given notice of a decision to take, institute, implement or threaten any action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference (and in each case, not having withdrawn the same), or having required any action to be taken or otherwise having done anything, or having enacted, made or proposed any statute, regulation, decision, order or change to published practice (and in each case, not having withdrawn the same) and there not continuing to be outstanding any statute, regulation, decision or order which would or might reasonably be expected to:
- require, prevent or materially delay the divestiture or materially alter the terms envisaged for such divestiture by any member of the Wider DNO Group or by any member of the Wider Capricorn Group of all or any material part of its businesses, assets or property or impose any limitation on the ability of all or any of them to conduct their businesses (or any part thereof which, in any case, is material in the context of the Wider DNO Group or the Wider Capricorn Group in either case taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition) or to own, control or manage any of their assets or properties (or any part thereof which, in any case, is material in the context of the Wider DNO Group or the Wider Capricorn Group in either case taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition);
- except pursuant to Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act, require any member of the Wider DNO Group or the Wider Capricorn Group to acquire or offer to acquire any shares, other securities (or the equivalent) or interest in any member of the Wider Capricorn Group or any asset owned by any Third Party (other than in the implementation of the Acquisition);
- impose any material limitation on, or result in a material delay in, the ability of any member of the Wider DNO Group directly or indirectly to acquire, hold or to exercise effectively all or any rights of ownership in respect of shares or other securities in Capricorn or on the ability of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group or any member of the Wider DNO Group directly or indirectly to hold or exercise effectively all or any rights of ownership in respect of shares or other securities (or the equivalent) in, or to exercise voting or management control over, any member of the Wider Capricorn Group;
- otherwise adversely affect any or all of the business, assets, profits or prospects of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group or any member of the Wider DNO Group to an extent which is material in the context of the Wider DNO Group or the Wider Capricorn Group in either case taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition;
- result in any member of the Wider Capricorn Group or any member of the Wider DNO Group ceasing to be able to carry on business under any name under which it presently carries on business;
- make the Acquisition, its implementation or the acquisition or proposed acquisition of any shares or other securities in, or control or management of, Capricorn by any member of the Wider DNO Group void, unenforceable and/or illegal under the laws of any relevant jurisdiction, or otherwise, directly or indirectly prevent or prohibit, restrict, restrain or delay or otherwise interfere with the implementation of, or impose additional conditions or obligations with respect to, or otherwise challenge, impede, interfere or require amendment of the Acquisition or the acquisition or proposed acquisition of any shares or other securities in, or control or management of, Capricorn by any member of the Wider DNO Group, in each case to an extent which is material in the context of the Wider DNO Group or the Wider Capricorn Group in either case taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition;
- require, prevent or materially delay a divestiture by any member of the Wider DNO Group of any shares or other securities (or the equivalent) in any member of the Wider Capricorn Group or any member of the Wider DNO Group; or
- impose any limitation on the ability of any member of the Wider DNO Group or any member of the Wider Capricorn Group to conduct, integrate or co-ordinate all or any part of its business with all or any part of the business of any other member of the Wider DNO Group and/or the Wider Capricorn Group which is adverse to and material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition,
and all applicable waiting and other time periods (including any extensions thereof) during which any such antitrust regulator or Third Party could decide to take, institute, implement or threaten any such action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference or take any other step under the laws of any jurisdiction in respect of the Acquisition or the acquisition or proposed acquisition of any Capricorn Shares or otherwise intervene having expired, lapsed or been terminated;
Certain matters arising as a result of any arrangement, agreement, etc.
-
except as Disclosed, there being no provision of any arrangement, agreement, lease, licence, franchise, permit or other instrument to which any member of the Wider Capricorn Group is a party or by or to which any such member or any of its assets is or may be bound, entitled or be subject or any event or circumstance which, as a consequence of the Acquisition or the acquisition or the proposed acquisition by any member of the Wider DNO Group of any shares or other securities (or the equivalent) in Capricorn or because of a change in the control or management of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group or otherwise, could or might reasonably be expected to result in any of the following to an extent which is material and adverse in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group, or the Wider DNO Group, in either case taken as a whole, or in the context of the Acquisition:
- any monies borrowed by, or any other indebtedness, actual or contingent, of, or any grant available to, any member of the Wider Capricorn Group being or becoming repayable, or capable of being declared repayable, immediately or prior to its or their stated maturity date or repayment date, or the ability of any such member to borrow monies or incur any indebtedness being withdrawn or inhibited or being capable of becoming or being withdrawn or inhibited;
- the creation, save in the ordinary and usual course of business, or enforcement of any mortgage, charge or other security interest over the whole or any part of the business, property or assets of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group or any such mortgage, charge or other security interest (whenever created, arising or having arisen) becoming enforceable;
- any such arrangement, agreement, lease, licence, franchise, permit or other instrument being terminated or the rights, liabilities, obligations or interests of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group being adversely modified or adversely affected or any obligation or liability arising or any adverse action being taken or arising thereunder;
- any liability of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group to make any severance, termination, bonus or other payment to any of its directors, or other officers;
- the rights, liabilities, obligations, interests or business of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group or any member of the Wider DNO Group under any such arrangement, agreement, licence, permit, lease or instrument or the interests or business of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group or any member of the Wider DNO Group in or with any other person or body or firm or company (or any agreement or arrangement relating to any such interests or business) being or becoming capable of being terminated, or adversely modified or affected or any onerous obligation or liability arising or any adverse action being taken thereunder;
- any member of the Wider Capricorn Group ceasing to be able to carry on business under any name under which it presently carries on business;
- the value of, or the financial or trading position or prospects of, any member of the Wider Capricorn Group being prejudiced or adversely affected; or
- the creation or acceleration of any liability (actual or contingent) by any member of the Wider Capricorn Group other than trade creditors or other liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business or in connection with the Acquisition,
and no event having occurred which, under any provision of any arrangement, agreement, licence, permit, franchise, lease or other instrument to which any member of the Wider Capricorn Group is a party or by or to which any such member or any of its assets are bound, entitled or subject, would or might result in any of the events or circumstances as are referred to in Conditions 3(f)(i) to (viii);
Certain events occurring since 31 December 2025
-
except as Disclosed, no member of the Wider Capricorn Group having since 31 December 2025:
- issued or agreed to issue or authorised or proposed or announced its intention to authorise or propose the issue, of additional shares of any class, or securities or securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, or rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or acquire, any such shares, securities or convertible securities or transferred or sold or agreed to transfer or sell or authorised or proposed the transfer or sale of Capricorn Shares out of treasury (except, where relevant, as between Capricorn and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Capricorn or between the wholly-owned subsidiaries of Capricorn and except for the issue or transfer out of treasury of Capricorn Shares on the award of shares, exercise of employee share options or vesting of employee share awards in the ordinary course under the Capricorn Share Plans);
- except for the Permitted Dividend, recommended, declared, paid or made or proposed to recommend, declare, pay or make any bonus, dividend or other distribution (whether payable in cash or otherwise) other than dividends (or other distributions whether payable in cash or otherwise) lawfully paid or made by any wholly-owned subsidiary of Capricorn to Capricorn or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries;
- other than pursuant to the Acquisition (and except for transactions between Capricorn and its wholly-owned subsidiaries or between the wholly-owned subsidiaries of Capricorn and transactions in the ordinary course of business) implemented, effected, authorised or proposed or announced its intention to implement, effect, authorise or propose any merger, demerger, reconstruction, amalgamation, scheme, commitment or acquisition or disposal of assets or shares or loan capital (or the equivalent thereof) in any undertaking or undertakings in any such case to an extent which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole;
- except for transactions between Capricorn and its wholly-owned subsidiaries or between the wholly-owned subsidiaries of Capricorn and except for transactions in the ordinary course of business disposed of, or transferred, mortgaged or created any security interest over any material asset or any right, title or interest in any material asset or authorised, proposed or announced any intention to do so;
- (except for transactions between Capricorn and its wholly-owned subsidiaries or between the wholly-owned subsidiaries of Capricorn) issued, authorised or proposed or announced an intention to authorise or propose, the issue of or made any change in or to the terms of any debentures or become subject to any contingent liability or incurred or increased any indebtedness, which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group as a whole;
- entered into or varied or authorised, proposed or announced its intention to enter into or vary any contract, arrangement, agreement, transaction or commitment (whether in respect of capital expenditure or otherwise) except in the ordinary course of business which is of a long term, unusual or onerous nature or magnitude or which is or which involves or could involve an obligation of a nature or magnitude which is likely to be restrictive on the business of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group which, taken together with any other such transaction, arrangement, agreement, contract or commitment, is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group as a whole;
- entered into or varied the terms of, or made any offer (which remains open for acceptance) to enter into or vary to a material extent the terms of any contract, service agreement, commitment or arrangement with any director or, except for salary increases, bonuses or variations of terms in the ordinary course, senior executive of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group;
- proposed, agreed to provide or modified the terms of any share option scheme, incentive scheme or other benefit relating to the employment or termination of employment of any employee of the Wider Capricorn Group which are material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole;
- purchased, redeemed or repaid or announced any proposal to purchase, redeem or repay any of its own shares or other securities or reduced or, except in respect of the matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) above, made any other change to any part of its share capital, to an extent which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition;
- except in the ordinary course of business, waived, compromised or settled any claim which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group as a whole;
- terminated or varied the terms of any agreement or arrangement between any member of the Wider Capricorn Group and any other person in a manner which would or might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole;
- made any material alteration to its memorandum or articles of association or other incorporation documents;
-
except in relation to changes made or agreed as a result of, or arising from, changes to legislation, made or agreed or consented to any significant change to:
- the terms of the trust deeds and rules constituting the pension scheme(s) established by any member of the Wider Capricorn Group for its directors, employees or their dependants;
- the contributions payable to any such scheme(s) or to the benefits which accrue, or to the pensions which are payable, thereunder;
- the basis on which qualification for, or accrual or entitlement to, such benefits or pensions are calculated or determined; or
- the basis upon which the liabilities (including pensions) of such pension schemes are funded, valued, made, agreed or consented to,
to an extent which is in any such case material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group;
- been unable, or admitted in writing that it is unable, to pay its debts or commenced negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling or restructuring any of its indebtedness, or having stopped or suspended (or threatened to stop or suspend) payment of its debts generally or ceased or threatened to cease carrying on all or a substantial part of its business which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole;
- (other than in respect of a member of the Wider Capricorn Group which is dormant and was solvent at the relevant time) taken or proposed any steps, corporate action or had any legal proceedings instituted or threatened against it in relation to the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, its winding-up (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution, reorganisation or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, manager, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of all or any of its assets or revenues or any analogous or equivalent steps or proceedings in any jurisdiction or appointed any analogous person in any jurisdiction or had any such person appointed, to an extent which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition;
- (except for transactions between Capricorn and its wholly-owned subsidiaries or between the wholly-owned subsidiaries), made, authorised, proposed or announced an intention to propose any change in its loan capital, in each case to an extent which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition;
- entered into, implemented or authorised the entry into, any material joint venture, asset or profit sharing arrangement, partnership or merger of business or corporate entities;
- having taken (or agreed or proposed to take) any action which requires or would require the consent of the Panel or the approval of Capricorn Shareholders in general meeting in accordance with, or as contemplated by, Rule 21.1 of the Code; or
- entered into any agreement, arrangement, commitment or contract or passed any resolution or made any offer (which remains open for acceptance) with respect to or announced an intention to, or to propose to, effect any of the transactions, matters or events referred to in this Condition 3(g));
No adverse change, litigation, regulatory enquiry or similar
-
except as Disclosed, since 31 December 2025 there having been:
- no adverse change and no circumstance having arisen which would or might reasonably be expected to result in any adverse change in, the business, assets, financial or trading position or profits or prospects or operational performance of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole;
- no litigation, arbitration proceedings, prosecution or other legal proceedings having been threatened, announced or instituted by or against or remaining outstanding against or in respect of, any member of the Wider Capricorn Group or to which any member of the Wider Capricorn Group is or may become party (whether as claimant, defendant or otherwise) having been threatened, announced, instituted or remaining outstanding by, against or in respect of, any member of the Wider Capricorn Group, in each case which might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole;
- no enquiry, review or investigation by, or complaint or reference to, any Third Party against or in respect of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group having been threatened, announced or instituted or remaining outstanding by, against or in respect of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group, in each case which might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole;
- no contingent or other liability having arisen or become apparent to Bidco or increased other than in the ordinary course of business which is reasonably likely to affect adversely the business, assets, financial or trading position or profits or prospects of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group to an extent which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole; and
- no steps having been taken and no omissions having been made which are reasonably likely to result in the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of any licence held by any member of the Wider Capricorn Group which is necessary for the proper carrying on of its business and the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of which might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole;
No discovery of certain matters regarding information, liabilities and environmental issues
-
except as Disclosed, Bidco not having discovered that:
- any financial, business or other information concerning the Wider Capricorn Group publicly announced prior to the date of this announcement or disclosed at any time to any member of the Wider DNO Group by or on behalf of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group prior to the date of this announcement is misleading, contains a material misrepresentation of any fact, or omits to state a fact necessary to make that information not misleading, in any such case to a material extent;
- any member of the Wider Capricorn Group or any partnership, company or other entity in which any member of the Wider Capricorn Group has a significant economic interest and which is not a subsidiary undertaking of Capricorn is, otherwise than in the ordinary course of business, subject to any liability, contingent or otherwise which is not disclosed in the annual report and accounts of the Capricorn Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2025 and which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole;
- any past or present member of the Wider Capricorn Group has not complied in any material respect with all applicable legislation, regulations or other requirements of any jurisdiction or any Authorisations relating to the storage, carriage, disposal, discharge or emission of any waste or hazardous substance or any substance likely to impair the environment (including property) or harm human or animal health or otherwise relating to environmental matters or the health and safety of humans, which non-compliance would be likely to give rise to any liability including any penalty for non-compliance (whether actual or contingent) on the part of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group and which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition;
- there has been a material disposal, discharge, accumulation, emission or the migration of any waste or hazardous substance or any substance likely to impair the environment (including any property) or harm human or animal health (whether or not giving rise to non-compliance with any law or regulation), which would be likely to give rise to any material liability (whether actual or contingent) on the part of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group and which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition; or
- there is or is likely to be any material obligation or liability (whether actual or contingent) or requirement, including circumstances which would be reasonably likely to lead to a Third Party instituting an environment audit which would be reasonably likely to result in such material obligation, liability or requirement, to improve, install new plant or equipment or make good, remediate, repair, reinstate, or clean up any property, asset or any controlled waters currently or previously owned, occupied, operated or made use of or controlled by any past or present member of the Wider Capricorn Group (or on its behalf), or in which any such member may have or previously have had or be deemed to have had an interest, or order of any Third Party in any jurisdiction or to contribute to the cost thereof or associated therewith or indemnify any person in relation thereto and which is material in the context of the Wider Capricorn Group taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition; or
No criminal property
- any asset of any member of the Wider Capricorn Group constitutes criminal property as defined by section 340(3) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (but disregarding paragraph (b) of that definition).
Part B: Certain further terms of the Acquisition
- Subject to the requirements of the Panel, Bidco reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive, in whole or in part, all or any of the Conditions set out in Part A of this Appendix I, except Conditions 2.1(i), 2.2(i), and 2.3(i)), which cannot be waived. The deadlines in any of Conditions 2.1(ii)), 2.2(ii), and 2.3(ii)) may be extended to such later date as may be agreed (a) in writing by Bidco and Capricorn or (b) (in a competitive situation) specified by Bidco with the consent of the Panel, and in either case with the approval of the Court, if such approval is required. If any of Conditions 2.1(ii)), 2.2(ii), and 2.3(ii)) is not satisfied by the relevant deadline specified in the relevant Condition, Bidco shall make an announcement by 8.00 a.m. on the Business Day following such deadline confirming whether it has invoked the relevant Condition, waived the relevant deadlines, or agreed with Capricorn to extend the relevant deadline.
- If Bidco is required by the Panel to make an offer for Capricorn Shares under the provisions of Rule 9 of the Code, Bidco may make such alterations to any of the above Conditions and terms of the Acquisition as are necessary to comply with the provisions of that Rule.
- Bidco shall be under no obligation to waive (if capable of waiver), to determine to be or remain satisfied or to treat as fulfilled any of the Conditions in Part A of this Appendix I that are capable of waiver by a date earlier than the latest date for the fulfilment of that Condition notwithstanding that the other Conditions of the Acquisition may at such earlier date have been waived or fulfilled and that there are at such earlier date no circumstances indicating that any of such Conditions may not be capable of fulfilment.
- Under Rule 13.5(a) of the Code and subject to paragraph 5 below, Bidco may only invoke a Condition so as to cause the Acquisition not to proceed, to lapse, or to be withdrawn with the consent of the Panel. The Panel shall normally only give its consent if the circumstances which give rise to the right to invoke the Condition are of material significance to Bidco in the context of the Acquisition. This shall be judged by reference to the facts of each case at the time that the relevant circumstances arise.
- Condition 1 and Conditions 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 in Part A of this Appendix I, and, if applicable, any acceptance condition if the Acquisition is implemented by means of a takeover offer, are not subject to Rule 13.5(a) of the Code.
- Any Condition that is subject to Rule 13.5(a) of the Code may be waived by Bidco.
- The Scheme will not become effective unless the Conditions have been fulfilled or (to the extent capable of waiver) waived or, where appropriate, have been determined by Bidco to be or remain satisfied by no later than the Long-stop Date.
- The Capricorn Shares acquired under the Acquisition shall be acquired fully paid and free from all liens, equities, charges, encumbrances, options, rights of pre-emption and any other third party rights and interests of any nature and together with all rights now or hereafter attaching or accruing to them, including, without limitation, voting rights and the right to receive and retain in full all dividends and other distributions (if any) announced, declared, made or paid, or any other return of value (whether by reduction of share capital or share premium account or otherwise) made on or after the Effective Date, save for the Permitted Dividend.
- If, on or after the date of this announcement and prior to or on the Effective Date, save for the Permitted Dividend, any dividend, distribution or other return of value is announced, declared, paid or made, or becomes payable by Capricorn, or the Permitted Dividend exceeds the Sterling value of US$0.99 (using the prevailing exchange rate on the latest practicable date for fixing such rate prior to the relevant payment date) per Capricorn Share, Bidco reserves the right (without prejudice to any right of Bidco, with the consent of the Panel, to invoke Condition 3(g)(ii) of this Appendix I) to reduce the Acquisition Price payable under the Acquisition to reflect the aggregate amount of such dividend, distribution, or other return of value or excess. In such circumstances, Capricorn Shareholders shall be entitled to retain any such dividend, distribution or other return of value announced, declared, made, or paid.
If on or after the date of this announcement, and to the extent that any such dividend, distribution or other return of value has been announced, declared, paid or made, or becomes payable by Capricorn on or prior to the Effective Date and Bidco exercises its rights under this paragraph 9 to reduce the Acquisition Price payable under the terms of the Acquisition, any reference in this announcement to the Acquisition Price payable under the terms of the Acquisition shall be deemed to be a reference to the Acquisition Price as so reduced.
If and to the extent that such a dividend, distribution or other return of value has been declared or announced, but not paid or made, or is not payable by reference to a record date on or prior to the Effective Date and is or shall be (i) transferred pursuant to the Acquisition on a basis which entitles Bidco to receive the dividend, distribution, or other return of value and to retain it; or (ii) cancelled, the Acquisition Price payable under the terms of the Acquisition shall not be subject to change in accordance with this paragraph 9.
Any exercise by Bidco of its rights referred to in this paragraph 9 shall be the subject of an announcement and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be regarded as constituting any revision or variation of the Acquisition.
- Bidco reserves the right to elect (with the consent of the Panel, and subject to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement) to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer for the Capricorn Shares as an alternative to the Scheme. In such event, the Takeover Offer shall be implemented on the same terms, so far as applicable, and subject to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement, as those which would apply to the Scheme, subject to appropriate amendments, including (without limitation) an acceptance condition set (subject to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement) at 90 per cent. of the shares to which such Takeover Offer relates or such lesser percentage (being more than 50 per cent.) as Bidco may decide or as may be agreed with Capricorn or as required by the Panel, of the Capricorn Shares.
- The availability of the Acquisition to persons not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves about and observe any applicable requirements.
- The Acquisition is not being made, directly or indirectly, in, into or from, or by use of the mails of, or by any means of instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of, any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction.
- The Acquisition is governed by Scots law and is subject to the jurisdiction of the Court and to the Conditions and further terms set out in this Appendix I and to be set out in the Scheme Document. The Acquisition shall be subject to the applicable requirements of the Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the Financial Conduct Authority.
- Each of the Conditions shall be regarded as a separate Condition and shall not be limited by reference to any other Condition.
-
SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND BASES OF CALCULATION- As at 28 August 2026 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this announcement), there were 71,403,652 Capricorn Shares in issue. The International Securities Identification Number for Capricorn Shares is GB00BNKT5L33.
- Any references to the issued and to be issued share capital of Capricorn are based on:
· the 71,403,652 Capricorn Shares referred to in paragraph (i) above; and
· 4,471,426 Capricorn Shares which may be issued on or after the date of this announcement to satisfy the exercise of options or vesting of awards pursuant to the Capricorn Share Plans.
- The value of the Acquisition based on the Acquisition Value of US$5.214 per Capricorn Share is calculated on the basis of the issued and to be issued share capital of Capricorn (as set out in paragraph (ii) above).
- The market prices of the Capricorn Shares have been sourced from Bloomberg.
- The volume weighted average prices of the Capricorn Shares have been computed based on data sourced from Bloomberg.
- Unless otherwise stated, the financial information relating to Capricorn is extracted from the audited consolidated financial statements of Capricorn for the financial year ended 31 December 2025, prepared in accordance with IFRS.
- The financial information relating to DNO is extracted from the audited consolidated financial statements of DNO for the year ended 31 December 2025, prepared in accordance with IFRS.
- The maximum number of Capricorn Shares in respect of which options shall become exercisable as a result of the Acquisition is 5,633,522 Capricorn Shares.
- Where amounts are shown in both US Dollars and sterling, or converted between the aforementioned currencies, in this document, the Announcement Exchange Rate has been used, which has been derived from data provided by Bloomberg as of 4.30 p.m. on the Latest Practicable Date.
The following definitions apply throughout this announcement unless the context requires otherwise:
|
2P |
means proved plus probable reserves |
|
Acquisition |
the recommended cash acquisition being made by Bidco to acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Capricorn to be effected by means of the Scheme (or by way of Takeover Offer under certain circumstances described in this announcement) and, where the context admits, any subsequent revision, variation, extension or renewal thereof |
|
Acquisition Price |
US$4.224 per Capricorn Share |
|
Acquisition Value |
US$5.214 per Capricorn Share, comprising the Acquisition Price and the Permitted Dividend (assuming declared and paid in full) |
|
Announcement Exchange Rate |
the GBP:USD exchange rate of 1.3562 derived from Bloomberg as at 4.30 p.m. on the Latest Practicable Date |
|
Australia |
the Commonwealth of Australia, its states, territories and possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction and any political sub-division thereof |
|
Authorisations |
regulatory authorisations, orders, recognitions, grants, consents, clearances, confirmations, certificates, licences, permissions or approvals |
|
BAPETCo |
Badr El Din Petroleum Company |
|
Bidco |
DNO Bidco AS, a private limited company registered in Norway |
|
Business Day |
a day (other than Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in the UK) on which banks are open for business in London |
|
Canada |
Canada, its provinces and territories and all areas subject to its jurisdiction and all political sub-divisions thereof |
|
Capricorn |
Capricorn Energy plc |
|
Capricorn Board |
the board of directors of Capricorn |
|
Capricorn Directors |
the directors of Capricorn at the time of this announcement or, where the context so requires, the directors of Capricorn from time to time |
|
Capricorn Group |
Capricorn and its subsidiary undertakings and, where the context permits, each of them |
|
Capricorn Shareholders or Shareholders |
the holders of Capricorn Shares |
|
Capricorn Share Plans |
the 2017 Long Term Incentive Plan adopted on 19 May 2017 (the LTIP); the Deferred Bonus Plan adopted on 30 November 2017 (the DBP); the 2015 Employee Share Award Scheme adopted on 23 June 2015 (the ESAS); and the 2010 Share Incentive Plan established in 2010 (the SIP), each as amended from time to time |
|
Capricorn Shares |
the existing unconditionally allotted or issued and fully paid shares of 799/122 pence each in the capital of Capricorn and any further such ordinary shares which are unconditionally allotted or issued before the Scheme becomes Effective |
|
Cheiron |
Cheiron Oil & Gas Limited |
|
Closing Price |
the closing middle market price of a Capricorn Share on a particular trading day as derived from the Daily Official List |
|
Co-operation Agreement |
the agreement dated 1 September 2026 between Bidco, DNO and Capricorn relating to, among other things, the implementation of the Acquisition, as described in paragraph 14 of this announcement |
|
Code or Takeover Code |
the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers |
|
Companies Act |
the Companies Act 2006, as amended |
|
Concession Agreements |
means the petroleum exploration, development, and exploitation agreements for the following concession areas in the Western Desert of Egypt:
each of which has been issued by the Egyptian Government and EGPC and to which a member of the Capricorn Group is a party |
|
Conditions |
the conditions to the implementation of the Acquisition, as set out in Appendix I to this announcement and to be set out in the Scheme Document |
|
Confidentiality Agreement |
the agreement dated 20 August 2026 between DNO and Capricorn as described in paragraph 14 of this announcement |
|
Court |
the Court of Session at Edinburgh at Parliament House, Parliament Square, Edinburgh, EH1 1RQ |
|
Court Hearing |
the hearing by the Court of the application to sanction the Scheme under Part 26 of the Companies Act |
|
Court Meeting |
the meeting of Capricorn Shareholders to be convened pursuant to an order of the Court under the Companies Act for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, approving the Scheme (with or without amendment), including any adjournment thereof, notice of which is to be contained in the Scheme Document |
|
Court Order |
the order of the Court sanctioning the Scheme |
|
CREST |
the system for the paperless settlement of trades in securities and the holding of uncertificated securities operated by Euroclear |
|
Daily Official List |
the Daily Official List, published by the London Stock Exchange |
|
Dealing Arrangement |
an arrangement of the kind referred to in Note 11(a) on the definition of acting in concert in the Code |
|
Dealing Disclosure |
has the same meaning as in Rule 8 of the Code |
|
Disclosed |
the information disclosed by, or on behalf of Capricorn, (i) in the annual report and accounts of the Capricorn Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2025; (ii) in this announcement; (iii) in any other announcement to a Regulatory Information Service by, or on behalf of Capricorn prior to the publication of this announcement; or (iv) as otherwise fairly disclosed to Bidco (or its respective officers, employees, agents or advisers) prior to the date of this announcement |
|
DNO |
DNO ASA |
|
DNO Group |
DNO and its subsidiary undertakings and, where the context permits, each of them (ignoring for such purpose the acquisition of the Capricorn Group following the Effective Date) |
|
DNO’s Genel Proposal |
the proposal for a possible offer to acquire Genel made by DNO on 28 July 2026, as announced by DNO on 7 August 2026 |
|
Effective |
in the context of the Acquisition: |
|
Effective Date |
the date on which either (i) the Scheme becomes effective in accordance with its terms or; (ii) if Bidco elects, and the Panel consents, to implement the Acquisition by way of a takeover offer (as defined in Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act), the date on which such takeover offer becomes or is declared unconditional |
|
EGPC |
the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation acting in its capacity as Egypt’s national oil company |
|
Egyptian Competition Authority |
the statutory body established under the Egyptian Competition Law, responsible for monitoring the market and enforcing the provisions of the Egyptian Competition Law and its executive regulations in Egypt |
|
Egyptian Competition Law |
Law No. 3 of 2005 on the Protection of Competition and the Prohibition of Monopolistic Practices, as amended by Law No. 190 of 2008, Law 56 of 2014 and Law 175 of 2022, as may be in force from time to time |
|
Egyptian Condition |
has the meaning given in paragraph 3(a) of Appendix I to this announcement |
|
Egyptian Government |
the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt |
|
Egyptian Merger Condition |
has the meaning given in paragraph 3(b) of Appendix I to this announcement |
|
Enlarged Group |
the combined Capricorn Group and DNO Group following completion of the Acquisition |
|
Equity Shares (Commercial Companies) |
means the Equity Shares (Commercial Companies) category of the Official List |
|
Euroclear |
Euroclear UK & International Limited |
|
Excluded Shares |
any Capricorn Shares: |
|
FCA or Financial Conduct Authority |
the Financial Conduct Authority acting in its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 |
|
Foreign Exchange Facility |
has the meaning given in paragraph 2 of this announcement |
|
Form(s) of Election |
the form or forms of election for use in connection with the Foreign Exchange Facility |
|
Forms of Proxy |
the forms of proxy in connection with each of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, which shall accompany the Scheme Document |
|
FSMA |
the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended from time to time) |
|
Genel |
Genel Energy plc |
|
Genel Board |
the board of directors of Genel |
|
Genel Bidco |
Genel Energy No.9 Limited (a company indirectly owned by Genel) |
|
Genel Offer |
the offer to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Capricorn announced by Genel Bidco on 2 July 2026 |
|
Genel Offer Acquisition Value |
the total value available to Capricorn Shareholders under the terms of the Genel Offer, being an aggregate value of US$4.74 per Capricorn Share, comprising: (i) US$3.75 in cash per Capricorn Share; and (ii) the right to receive and retain a permitted dividend of US$0.99 per Capricorn Share, if declared by the Capricorn Board |
|
Genel Offer Director Irrevocable Undertaking |
has the meaning given in paragraph 4 of this announcement |
|
Genel Offer Non-Director Irrevocable Undertakings |
has the meaning given in paragraph 2 of this announcement |
|
Genel Scheme |
the proposed scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act between Capricorn and the Capricorn Shareholders in connection with the Genel Offer, with or subject to any modification, addition or condition approved or imposed by the Court and agreed by Capricorn and Genel Bidco, as set out in the Genel Scheme Document |
|
Genel Scheme Document |
the document sent to Capricorn Shareholders on 21 July 2026 containing, amongst other things, the Genel Scheme and the notices convening the Capricorn shareholder meetings in respect of the Genel Offer |
|
General Meeting |
the general meeting of Capricorn Shareholders (including any adjournment thereof) to be convened in connection with the Scheme |
|
IFRS |
International Financial Reporting Standards |
|
Japan |
Japan, its cities, prefectures, territories and possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction and any political subdivision thereof |
|
Joint Defence Agreement |
the joint defence agreement dated 31 August 2026 between DNO, Bidco, Capricorn and their respective legal advisers, as described in paragraph 14 of this announcement |
|
KRI |
has the meaning given in paragraph 3 of this announcement |
|
Latest Practicable Date |
28 August 2026, being the last business day on which banks are open for business in London before the date of this announcement |
|
London Stock Exchange |
London Stock Exchange plc |
|
Long-stop Date |
1 March 2027, or such later date as: (i) Bidco may specify, with the written agreement of Capricorn or, in a competitive situation, with the Panel’s consent; or (ii) the Panel may direct under the Note on Section 3 of Appendix 7 to the Code, and in each case as the Court may approve (if such approval is required) |
|
Main Market |
the main market of the London Stock Exchange |
|
Moelis |
Moelis & Company UK LLP |
|
Offer Period |
the offer period (as defined by the Code) relating to Capricorn, which commenced on 11 March 2026 |
|
Official List |
the official list maintained by the FCA pursuant to Part 6 of FSMA |
|
Opening Position Disclosure |
has the same meaning as in Rule 8 of the Code |
|
Overseas Shareholders |
Capricorn Shareholders (or nominees of, or custodians or trustees for Capricorn Shareholders) not resident in, or nationals or citizens of the United Kingdom |
|
Panel |
the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers |
|
Permitted Dividend |
a special dividend of US$0.99 per Capricorn Share intended and expected to be declared and paid in Sterling at an amount determined by converting US$0.99 at the prevailing US$/GBP exchange rate (based on the prevailing exchange rate on the latest practicable date for fixing such rate prior to the relevant payment date), rounded to the nearest penny |
|
Post-Completion Review |
has the meaning given in paragraph 8 of this announcement |
|
Registrar of Companies |
the Registrar of Companies |
|
Regulatory Information Service |
any information service authorised from time to time by the FCA for the purpose of disseminating regulatory announcements |
|
Restricted Jurisdiction |
any jurisdiction where local laws or regulations may result in a significant risk of civil, regulatory or criminal exposure if information concerning the Acquisition is sent or made available to Capricorn Shareholders |
|
Scheme |
the proposed scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act between Capricorn and the Capricorn Shareholders in connection with the Acquisition, with or subject to any modification, addition or condition approved or imposed by the Court and agreed by Capricorn and Bidco |
|
Scheme Document |
the document to be sent to Capricorn Shareholders containing, amongst other things, the Scheme and the notices convening the Court Meeting and the General Meeting |
|
Scheme Record Time |
the time and date specified as such in the Scheme Document, expected to be 6.00 p.m. on the Business Day immediately prior to the Effective Date (or such other time and date as Bidco and Capricorn may agree) |
|
Scheme Shares |
all Capricorn Shares:
and (where the context requires), in each case which remain in issue at the Scheme Record Time (but excluding the Excluded Shares) |
|
Scheme Shareholders |
the holders of Scheme Shares |
|
Significant Interest |
in relation to an undertaking, a direct or indirect interest of 20 per cent. or more of the total voting rights conferred by the equity share capital (as defined in section 548 of the Companies Act) of such undertaking |
|
Sval Energi |
has the meaning given in paragraph 3 of this announcement |
|
Takeover Offer |
if (subject to the consent of the Panel), Bidco elects to effect the Acquisition by way of a takeover offer (as defined in Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act), the offer to be made by or on behalf of Bidco to acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Capricorn on the terms and subject to the conditions to be set out in the related offer document (and, where the context admits, any subsequent revision, variation, extension or renewal of such offer) |
|
Undisturbed Date |
10 March 2026, being the Business Day immediately prior to the commencement of the Offer Period |
|
United Kingdom or UK |
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
|
United States or US |
the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America, the District of Columbia and all other areas subject to its jurisdiction and any political sub-division thereof |
|
US Exchange Act |
the United States Securities Exchange Act 1934, as amended |
|
Voting Record Time |
the time and date to be specified in the Scheme Document by reference to which entitlement to vote on the Scheme will be determined |
|
Wider Capricorn Group |
Capricorn and associated undertakings and any other body corporate, partnership, joint venture or person in which Capricorn and such undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a Significant Interest |
|
Wider DNO Group |
DNO, Bidco and associated undertakings and any other body corporate, partnership, joint venture or person in which DNO and all such undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a Significant Interest |
For the purposes of this announcement, “subsidiary”, “subsidiary undertaking”, “undertaking” and “associated undertaking” have the respective meanings given thereto by the Companies Act.
All references to “pounds”, “pounds Sterling”, “Sterling”, “£”, “GBP”, “pence”, “penny” and “p” are to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
All references to “US$”, “$” and “US Dollars” are to the lawful currency of the United States.
All the times referred to in this announcement are London times unless otherwise stated.
References to the singular include the plural and vice versa.
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
Latest directors dealings
- 11 minutes ago Audioboom Group
- 12 hours ago Legal & General Group
- 15 hours ago Senior
- 15 hours ago Helios Underwriting
- 15 hours ago National Grid