Change of location of Sanction Hearing
Summary by AI BETAClose X
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6 August 2026
RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION
of
DELTIC ENERGY PLC ("Deltic" or the "Company")
by
NEO NEXT+ ENERGY UPSTREAM UK LIMITED ("NEO NEXT+")
to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under
Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
Change of location of Sanction Hearing
On 7 May 2026, the boards of NEO NEXT+ and Deltic announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer for the entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share capital of Deltic (the "Acquisition"), to be implemented by way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme").
On 24 June 2026, the Scheme was approved by the requisite majority of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting and the Special Resolution relating to the implementation of the Scheme was approved by the requisite majority of Deltic Shareholders at the General Meeting.
On 24 July 2026, it was announced that the NSTA had provided its written consent to the proposed change of control of Deltic pursuant to the Acquisition. Condition 3.1 of the Scheme, being the NSTA Condition, has therefore been satisfied.
Capitalised terms used in this announcement (the "Announcement") shall, unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings as set out in the Scheme Document.
Change of Location of Sanction Hearing
As set out in the Scheme Document, the Sanction Hearing had been scheduled to take place at the High Court of Justice in England and Wales (Companies Court) located at 7 Rolls Building, Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1NL, United Kingdom. However, the Company has now elected to change the location of the Sanction Hearing, such that it will now be taking place remotely to accommodate the availability of the Company's preferred Counsel to the Scheme. The Sanction Hearing will be taking place on 13 August 2026. As a result, any Deltic Shareholder who wishes to view proceedings at the Sanction Hearing will be able to do so by attending the offices of DAC Beachcroft, Woolgate, 25 Basinghall Street, London EC2V 5HA. Deltic Shareholders should send an email in advance to ir@delticenergy.com in order to avail themselves of this facility and be informed of the time of the Sanction Hearing in due course.
Completion of the Acquisition remains subject to the satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the outstanding Conditions, being Condition 2.3 and Condition 2.4, which are set out in Part A of Part 3 of the Scheme Document.
Subject to the satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the outstanding Conditions, Deltic and NEO NEXT+ expect that the Scheme will become Effective on the morning of 14 August 2026.
The expected timetable of principal events relating to the Acquisition is set out in the Appendix to this Announcement. The dates and times given in the timetable are indicative only and will depend on, amongst other things, the date on which: (i) the Court sanctions the Scheme; and (ii) the Court Order is delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
If the expected date changes, Deltic will make a further announcement through a Regulatory Information Service, with such announcement also being made available on Deltic's website at: https://delticenergy.com/disclaimer/.
Other
A copy of this Announcement shall be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Deltic's website at https://delticenergy.com/disclaimer/ by no later than 12.00 noon on the Business Day following the date of publication of this Announcement. For the avoidance of doubt, the content of this website is not incorporated into and does not form part of this Announcement.
The person responsible for arranging for the release of this Announcement on behalf of Deltic is Andrew Nunn, Chief Executive Officer.
Enquiries:
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|
|
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Deltic |
|
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Andrew Nunn Sarah McLeod
|
+44 207 887 2630 |
|
Allenby Capital (Rule 3 Adviser, Nominated Adviser and Financial Adviser to Deltic) |
+44 203 328 5656
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David Hart Alex Brearley |
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NEO NEXT+ |
+44 12 2429 7000 |
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Robert Gair Andrew McIntosh
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Peel Hunt (Financial Adviser to NEO NEXT+) |
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Richard Crichton Michael Nicholson Georgia Langoulant
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+44 20 7418 8900
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Camarco (PR Adviser to NEO NEXT+) |
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Billy Clegg Sam Morris
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+44 (0) 20 3757 4980
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DAC Beachcroft LLP is acting as legal adviser to Deltic in connection with the Acquisition.
Pinsent Masons LLP is acting as legal adviser to NEO NEXT+ in connection with the Acquisition.
APPENDIX
EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS
All times shown in this timetable are references to London time unless otherwise stated.
|
Event |
Time/date1 |
The following times and dates are indicative only and subject to change1
|
Sanction Hearing |
13 August 2026, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the Conditions |
|
Last day of dealings in, and for the registration of transfers of, and disablement in CREST of, Deltic Shares |
13 August 2026 |
|
Scheme Record Time |
6:00 p.m. on 13 August 2026 |
|
Disablement of CREST in respect of Deltic Shares |
6:00 p.m. on 13 August 2026 |
|
Suspension of dealings in Deltic Shares on AIM |
7:30 a.m. on 14 August 2026 |
|
Effective Date of the Scheme2 |
14 August 2026 |
|
Cancellation of admission to trading of Deltic Shares on AIM |
7:00 a.m. on 17 August 2026 |
|
Latest date for despatch of cheques, crediting of CREST accounts and processing electronic transfers for Cash Consideration due under the Scheme |
within 14 days of the Effective Date |
|
Long Stop Date |
11.59 p.m. on 31 December 20263 |
Notes:
1 The dates and times given are indicative only, are based on current expectations and will depend, among other things, on the date upon which: (i) the Conditions are satisfied or (if capable of waiver) waived; (ii) the Court sanctions the Scheme; and (iii) the Court Order is delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
2 The time for the Sanction Hearing and the name of the Judge will be available on the Business and Property Court Rolls Building Cause List by 4.30pm of the Business Day prior to the Sanction Hearing. The Business and Property Court Rolls Building Cause List can be accessed via the following link: https://www.judiciary.uk/daily-lists-for-the-chancery-division/
3 The Scheme shall become Effective as soon as a copy of the Court Order has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. A copy of the Court Order sanctioning the Scheme will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies one Business Day after the date of the Sanction Hearing, such that the Effective Date is expected to be 14 August 2026.
4 This is the latest date by which the Scheme may become Effective. However, the Long Stop Date may be extended to such later date as NEO NEXT+ and Deltic may agree and the Panel and (if required) the Court may allow.
Important notices about financial advisers
Allenby Capital Limited ("Allenby Capital"), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting as financial adviser to Deltic and no one else in connection with the matters described in this Announcement including the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Deltic for providing the protections afforded to clients of Allenby Capital nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other the matters referred to in this Announcement. Neither Allenby Capital nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or 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 Allenby Capital in connection with this Announcement, any statement contained herein, any offer or otherwise.
Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt"), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to NEO NEXT+ and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than NEO NEXT+ for providing the protections afforded to clients of Peel Hunt nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matters referred to in this Announcement. Neither Peel Hunt 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 Peel Hunt in connection with this Announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Further Information
This Announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer to sell or an invitation to purchase any securities; a solicitation of an offer to buy, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise; or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise nor shall there be any purchase, sale, issuance or exchange of securities or such solicitation in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, sale issuance or exchange is unlawful. The Acquisition will be made solely by means of the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document) which, together with any related forms of proxy, will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the Scheme. Any decision in respect of, or other response to, the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document).
The statements contained in this Announcement are made as at the date of this Announcement, unless some other time is specified in relation to them, and publication of this Announcement shall not give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the facts set forth in this Announcement since such date.
Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(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 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the Offer Period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.
Electronic Communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain other information provided by Deltic Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Deltic may be provided to NEO NEXT+ during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 to the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover Code.
Overseas jurisdictions
The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom, and the availability of the Acquisition to Deltic Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom, may be restricted by the laws of those jurisdictions and therefore persons into whose possession this Announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom to vote their Deltic Shares with respect to the Scheme at the Court Meeting, or to execute and deliver forms of proxy appointing another to vote at the Court Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be contained in the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document). Any failure to comply with any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.
Unless otherwise determined by NEO NEXT+ or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction. 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, 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 Restricted Jurisdiction. If the Acquisition is implemented by way of Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law or regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of mails or any other means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities or from within any Restricted Jurisdiction.
This Announcement has been prepared in connection with proposals in relation to a scheme of arrangement pursuant to and for the purpose of complying with English law and the Takeover Code and information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom. Nothing in this Announcement should be relied on for any other purpose.
The Acquisition shall be subject to the applicable requirements of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the Market Abuse Regulation, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, the London Stock Exchange, the FCA and the AIM Rules.
Additional information for U.S. investors
The Acquisition relates to the shares of an English company with a listing on AIM and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under English company law. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer or proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the procedural and disclosure requirements and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement which differ from the requirements of the US tender offer and proxy solicitation rules.
If, in the future, NEO NEXT+ exercises its right to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend such Takeover Offer into the United States, such Takeover Offer will be made in compliance with all applicable US tender offer and securities laws and regulations, including, without limitation, to the extent applicable, Section 14(e) of the US Exchange Act and Regulation 14E thereunder. Such a Takeover Offer would be made in the US by NEO NEXT+ and no one else.
In the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of Takeover Offer and to the extent permitted by applicable law, in accordance with normal United Kingdom practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, in the event it becomes applicable, NEO NEXT+, its affiliates, their advisers and the nominees or brokers (acting as agents) may make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares in Deltic outside the Acquisition, such as in open market purchases or privately negotiated purchases, during the period in which the Acquisition remains open for acceptance. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be made, they would comply with applicable law, including UK laws and the US Exchange Act. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase shall be disclosed as required under UK laws and will be available to all investors (including US investors) via the Regulatory Information Service and shall be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.
It may be difficult for US holders of Deltic Shares to enforce their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal securities laws in connection with the Acquisition, since each of NEO NEXT+ and Deltic is located in non-US jurisdictions, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of, and some or all of their assets may be located in, non-US jurisdictions. US holders of Deltic Shares may have difficulty effecting service of process within the United States upon those persons or recovering against judgments of US courts, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the US federal securities laws. US holders of Deltic Shares may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of the US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgement.
The financial information included in this Announcement, or that may be included in the Scheme Document, has been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom and thus 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 US ("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).
Neither the Acquisition nor this Announcement have been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other US regulatory authority, nor have such authorities approved or disapproved or passed judgement upon the fairness or the merits of the Acquisition, or determined if the information contained in this Announcement is adequate, accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US holder as consideration for the transfer of its Deltic Shares pursuant to the Acquisition may be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes, and may also be a taxable transaction under applicable state and local tax laws, as well as foreign and other tax laws. In particular, US holders of Deltic Shares should be aware that Deltic may be classified as a Passive Foreign Investment Company ("PFIC") for US federal income tax purposes, which could result in adverse US federal income tax consequences. Each US holder of Deltic Shares is urged to consult its independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences and information reporting requirements of the Acquisition applicable to them, including the potential application of the PFIC rules and under applicable United States federal, state and local, as well as non-US and other tax laws.
Forward-looking statements
This Announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this Announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by NEO NEXT+ or Deltic may contain statements about NEO NEXT+ and Deltic that are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Announcement may be forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets", "plans", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "shall", "should", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "forecast" or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements 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 NEO NEXT+'s or Deltic's operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of government regulation on NEO NEXT+'s or Deltic's business.
Such forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of NEO NEXT+ and Deltic about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward-looking statements, including: changes in the global, political, social, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax rates, future business combinations or disposals, changes in the behaviour of market participants, the speculative nature of oil and gas exploration, fluctuations in demand and pricing in the oil and gas exploration industry and risks and hazards associated with the business of oil and gas exploration. 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 light of such factors. Neither NEO NEXT+ nor Deltic, 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 will actually occur. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to any member of the NEO NEXT+ Group or the Deltic Group, or any of their respective associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above.
NEO NEXT+ and Deltic expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements contained herein, except as required by applicable law or by the rules of any competent regulatory authority, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
No profit forecasts, profit estimates or quantified financial benefit statements
No statement in this Announcement is intended as, or is to be construed as, a profit forecast, profit estimate or quantified financial benefit statement for any period and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share for Deltic for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share for Deltic.
Publication on a website
A copy of this Announcement will be available, free of charge, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on NEO NEXT+'s website at https://neonextplus.com/ and Deltic's website at https://delticenergy.com/disclaimer/ by no later than 12.00 noon (London Time) on the Business Day following the publication of this Announcement.
For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of these websites and any websites accessible from hyperlinks on these websites are not incorporated into and do not form part of this Announcement.
Right to receive documents in hard copy form
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, Deltic Shareholders, participants in the Deltic Share Option Plan and persons with information rights may request a hard copy of this Announcement, free of charge, by contacting Deltic's registrars, Share Registrars Limited, on +44 1252 821390, or by submitting a request in writing to Share Registrars Limited, 3 The Millennium Centre, Crosby Way, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7XX. If calling from outside of the UK, please ensure the country code is used. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 8.30 am and 5.00pm (London time), Monday to Friday (except public holidays). For persons who receive a copy of this Announcement in electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this Announcement will not be sent unless so requested. Such persons may also request that all future documents, announcements and information in relation to the Acquisition are sent to them in hard copy form. Please note that Share Registrars Limited cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
General
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this Announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor or independent financial adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.
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