Disclosure under Rule 2.10(c) of the Takeover Code

Ken Bidco Limited

05 January 2024

 

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 THAT JURISDICTION

5 January 2024

RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION

of

Kin and Carta plc ("Kin and Carta")
by

Ken Bidco Limited ("Valtech")
(a newly formed company controlled indirectly by funds advised by BC Partners)

to be implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006

Disclosure under Rule 2.10 regarding an irrevocable undertaking

On 19 December 2023, Valtech released an announcement in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Code") (the "Offer Announcement") relating to a recommended cash acquisition by Valtech of the entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share capital of Kin and Carta at a price of 130p per share, valuing Kin and Carta at approximately at approximately £239 million on a fully diluted basis (the "Offer").

In the Offer Announcement it was stated that Valtech had received an irrevocable undertaking from, among others, Coast Capital Management, LP ("Coast") to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting in respect of an aggregate 11,589,718 Kin and Carta Shares, representing approximately 6.5 per cent. of Kin and Carta's issued share capital (the "Irrevocable Undertaking").

In accordance with Rule 2.10(c) of the Code, Valtech announces that Coast has notified Valtech that:

·      on 27 December 2023, Coast disposed of 2,000,000 of the Kin and Carta Shares that were subject to the Irrevocable Undertaking (the "Sold Shares") and it is no longer able to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting in relation to those Kin and Carta Shares; and

·      that on 28 December 2023 and 2 January 2024 respectively, Coast repurchased a total in aggregate of 252,400 Kin and Carta Shares (the "Currently Repurchased Shares").

Coast has confirmed to Valtech that these transactions took place as part of a portfolio rebalancing and that its intention: (i) is to repurchase further shares to take its shareholding back to 11,589,718 Kin and Carta Shares, representing approximately 6.5 per cent. of Kin and Carta's issued share capital and (ii) in respect of 9,842,118 Kin and Carta Shares, being the remainder of Kin and Carta Shares in respect of the Irrevocable Undertaking following the disposal of the Sold Shares and repurchase of the Currently Repurchased Shares, remains as described in the Irrevocable Undertaking.

Excluding the Sold Shares and including the Currently Repurchased Shares, Valtech has received irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting which remain in force in respect of a total in aggregate of 37,662,316 Kin and Carta Shares, representing approximately 21.2 per cent. of Kin and Carta's issued share capital.

The percentages of Kin and Carta Shares referred to in this announcement are based upon a figure of 177,931,360 Kin and Carta Shares as the denominator, being equal to the number of Kin and Carta Shares in issue as at the close of business on 3 January 2024 (being the last business day prior to the date of this announcement).

Unless otherwise stated defined terms used in this announcement have the same meaning as set out in Offer Announcement.

Enquiries:

Europa Partners Limited (Financial Adviser to BC Partners and Valtech)	[phone]
Montfort Communications (PR Adviser to BC Partners and Valtech)	[phone] [phone]
Kin and Carta	[phone]
Kelly Manthey, Chief Executive Officer
Chris Kutsor, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Citigroup Global Markets Limited (Financial Adviser to Kin and Carta)	[phone]
Robert Farrington
David Fudge
Avinash Patel
Deutsche Numis (Joint Corporate Broker to Kin and Carta)	[phone]
Nick Westlake
Tejas Padalkar
Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Corporate Broker to Kin and Carta)	[phone]
John Welch
Paul Gillam
Powerscourt (PR Adviser to Kin and Carta)	[phone]
Elly Williamson
Pete Lambie

FURTHER INFORMATION

Europa Partners Limited ("Europa"), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA") and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") and the PRA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for BC Partners and Valtech and for no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than BC Partners and Valtech for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition. Neither Europa, 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 Europa in connection with the Acquisition, this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Citigroup Global Markets Limited ("Citi"), which is authorised by the PRA and regulated in the UK by the FCA and the PRA, is acting as financial adviser for Kin and Carta and for no one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Kin and Carta for providing the protections afforded to clients of Citi nor for providing advice in connection with the contents of this announcement, or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Citi nor any of its affiliates, directors or employees owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, consequential, whether in contract, in tort, in delict, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Citi in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Numis Securities Limited ("Deutsche Numis") which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Kin and Carta and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Kin and Carta for providing the protections afforded to clients of Deutsche Numis nor for providing advice in relation to any matter referred to in this announcement or any transaction or arrangement referred to herein. Deutsche Numis is not responsible for the contents of this announcement. Neither Deutsche Numis 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 Deutsche Numis in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein, any transaction or arrangement referred to herein, or otherwise.

Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt") which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Kin and Carta and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Kin and Carta for providing the protections afforded to clients of Peel Hunt nor for providing advice in relation to any matter referred to in this announcement or any transaction or arrangement referred to herein. Peel Hunt is not responsible for the contents of 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, any transaction or arrangement referred to herein, or otherwise.

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to, and does not, constitute, or form part of, an offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of Kin and Carta in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The Acquisition will be implemented solely pursuant to the terms of the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of an Offer, the offer document), which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition. Any vote in respect of the Scheme or other response in relation 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 an Offer, the offer document).

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus, prospectus equivalent document or exempted document.

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, accountant 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.

Overseas Shareholders

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into jurisdictions other than the UK may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the law of any jurisdiction other than the UK should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. Any failure to comply with such requirements may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person. This announcement has been prepared in accordance with and for the purpose of complying with English law, the Takeover Code, the Market Abuse Regulation and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside England.

The availability of the Acquisition to Kin and Carta Shareholders who are not resident in and citizens of the UK may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or of which they are citizens. Persons who are not resident in the UK should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdictions. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom to vote their Kin and Carta Shares with respect to the Scheme at the Meetings, or to appoint another person as proxy to vote at the Meetings on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. Any failure to comply with the applicable 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. Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be contained in the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of an Offer, the offer document).

Unless otherwise determined by Valtech 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 where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the Scheme by any such use, means, instrumentality or from within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Copies of this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition (including, without limitation, agents, custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of the Acquisition. If the Acquisition is implemented by way of an Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Offer may not be made directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, email 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 Restricted Jurisdiction and the Offer may not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities.

Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be included in the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of an Offer, the offer document).

Notice to US Kin and Carta Shareholders

The Acquisition relates to the shares of an English company and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under the laws of England. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer or proxy solicitation rules under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "US Exchange Act"). Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in the UK to schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure requirements of the US tender offer and proxy solicitation rules. The financial information included in this announcement has been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the UK 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 United States.

If, in the future, Valtech exercises its right to implement the Acquisition by way of an Offer, which is to be made into the United States, such Offer will be made in compliance with the applicable US laws and regulations, including any applicable exemptions under the US Exchange Act. Such a takeover would be made in the United States by Valtech and no one else.

It may be difficult for US holders of Kin and Carta Shares to enforce their rights and any claim arising out of US federal laws or the laws of any State or territory within the United States, since Valtech and Kin and Carta are located in a non-US jurisdiction, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of a non-US jurisdiction. US holders of Kin and Carta Shares may not be able to effect service of process within the United States upon a non-US company or sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of the securities laws of the United States or any State or territory within the United States. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgement.

In accordance with normal UK practice and, in the event of an Offer, pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, BC Partners, Valtech or their nominees, or their brokers (acting as agents), may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, Kin and Carta Shares outside of the US, other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date on which the Acquisition becomes Effective, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. Also, in accordance with Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, Europa will continue to act as exempt principal trader in Kin and Carta Shares on the London Stock Exchange. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases will be disclosed as required in England, will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website, www.londonstockexchange.com.

US Kin and Carta Shareholders also should be aware that the transaction contemplated herein may have tax consequences in the US, and that such consequences, if any, are not described herein. US Kin and Carta Shareholders are urged to consult with legal, tax and financial advisers in connection with making a decision regarding this transaction.

Disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% 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 Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror, save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 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 Takeover 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. If you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure, you should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on [phone].

events or otherwise.

Opening Position Disclosure and Dealing Disclosure requirements

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) of the Takeover Code applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(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 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 [phone] if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

Publication on a website

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this announcement will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Kin and Carta's website at https://investors.kinandcarta.com and on Valtech's website at https://www.valtech.com/offer-announcement/ by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following this announcement. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the content of these websites nor of any website accessible from hyperlinks is incorporated by reference or forms part of this announcement.

 

END