15 Nov 2017 07:00
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPENDICES AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
15 November 2017
AFH FINANCIAL GROUP PLC
("AFH" or the "Company")
Proposed Placing
AFH Financial Group plc, a leading financial planning led investment management firm, today announces that it proposes to raise gross proceeds of Β£15.0 million through the placing ("Placing") by way of an accelerated bookbuild of new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 250 pence per new Ordinary Share (the "Placing Price").
Summary of the Placing
Β· Placing to raise gross proceeds of Β£15.0 million for the Company at 250 pence per new Ordinary Share, subject to shareholder approval at the General Meeting
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Β· Net proceeds of the Placing to be used to execute the Company's acquisition pipeline and for working capital purposes. The Company currently has a strong pipeline of potential acquisitions under negotiation
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Β· Placing by way of an accelerated bookbuild
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Β· Books are open with immediate effect
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Reasons for the Placing and Use of Proceeds
During the last 12 months, the Company has completed the acquisition of 13 IFA businesses together with the protection business carried on by Eunisure. The Company continues to integrate these acquisitions and as at 31 October 2017, the Company had cash balances of Β£8.0 million which provides it with sufficient funding to satisfy the deferred consideration liabilities of such acquisitions as they fall due.
The Board intends to continue to execute its strategy of making selective acquisitions and increasing AFH's national footprint, whilst providing a professional and cost effective service to its clients. The Board believes that the Company remains well positioned to take advantage of consolidation opportunities in the IFA market and currently has a strong pipeline of potential acquisitions that are under negotiation. The Company is undertaking the Placing to provide it with a strong platform to finance such acquisition opportunities as well as providing funds for general corporate purposes.
Details of the Placing
Liberum Capital Limited ("Liberum") is acting as nominated adviser and sole broker in connection with the Placing.
The Placing is being conducted by way of an accelerated bookbuild process and will be launched immediately following the release of this announcement and will be made available to eligible new and existing institutional investors. The book will close at the sole discretion of Liberum.
The Placing is subject to the terms and conditions set out in Appendix I to this announcement (which, together with the definitions set out in Appendix II, forms part of this announcement, such announcement and Appendices together being, thisΒ "Announcement"). The Placing is not underwritten. The Company and Liberum reserve the right to increase or decrease the size of the Placing in their absolute discretion.
A further announcement will be made on the closing of the bookbuild process, which is expected later today.
By choosing to participate in the Placing and by making an oral and/or written legally binding offer to acquire Placing Shares, investors will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, including Appendix I, and to be making such offer on the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein and to be making the representations, warranties, undertakings and acknowledgements contained in Appendix I to this Announcement.
The Placing is conditional on, amongst other things, the approval by Shareholders of the resolutions to be put to the General Meeting. The new Ordinary Shares, when issued, will be fully paid and will rankΒ pari passuΒ in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of issue. Application will shortly be made for the new Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on the AIM market of London Stock Exchange plc.
Appendix I and Appendix II set out further information relating to the Placing and the terms and conditions of the Placing.
This Announcement should be read in its entirety. In particular, you should read and understand the information provided in the "Important Notices" section of this Announcement.
Enquiries:
AFH Financial Group PLC 01527 577 775
Alan Hudson, Chief Executive Officer
Paul Wright, Chief Financial Officer
www.afhfinancialgroup.com
Liberum Capital Limited 020 3100 2000
(Nominated Adviser and Broker)
John Fishley
Richard Bootle
Euan Brown
Important Notices
This announcement is released by AFH Financial Group plc and contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 ("MAR"), encompassing information relating to the Placing described above, and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR.
For the purposes of MAR and Article 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1055, this announcement is being made on behalf of the Company by Paul Wright, Chief Financial Officer.
This Announcement contains (or may contain) certain forward-looking statements with respect to certain of the Company's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition and performance and which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as "aim", "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", or other words of similar meaning. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances, including, but not limited to, economic and business conditions, the effects of continued volatility in credit markets, market-related risks such as changes in the price of commodities or changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates, the policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, changes in legislation, the further development of standards and interpretations under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") applicable to past, current and future periods, evolving practices with regard to the interpretation and application of standards under IFRS, the outcome of pending and future litigation or regulatory investigations, the success of future explorations, acquisitions and other strategic transactions and the impact of competition. A number of these factors are beyond the Company's control. As a result, the Company's actual future results may differ materially from the plans, goals, and expectations set forth in the Company's forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made in this Announcement by or on behalf of the Company speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by the FCA, the London Stock Exchange or applicable law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement to reflect any changes in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
This Announcement is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to buy, sell, issue, or subscribe for, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, sell, issue, or subscribe for any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
The Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered, sold, delivered or transferred, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. The Company does not intend to register any portion of the Placing in the United States or to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States.
This Announcement does not contain an offer or constitute any part of an offer to the public within the meaning of Sections 85 and 102B of the FSMA or otherwise. This Announcement is not an "approved prospectus" within the meaning of Section 85(7) of FSMA and a copy of it has not been, and will not be, delivered to the FCA in accordance with the Prospectus Rules or delivered to any other authority which could be a competent authority for the purpose of the Prospectus Directive. Its contents have not been examined or approved by the London Stock Exchange plc, nor has it been approved by an "authorised person" for the purposes of Section 21 of FSMA. This Announcement is being distributed to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply.
This Announcement is directed only at: (a) persons in member states of the European Economic Area who are qualified investors within the meaning of article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive ("Qualified Investors") and (b) if in the United Kingdom, persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of "investment professionals" in article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), or are high net worth companies, unincorporated associations or partnerships or trustees of high value trusts as described in article 49(2) of the Order and (ii) are "qualified investors" as defined in section 86 of FSMA and (c) otherwise, to persons to whom it may otherwise be lawful to communicate it (all such persons together being referenced to as "Relevant Persons"). Any investment in connection with the Placing will only be available to, and will only be engaged with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this Announcement or any of its contents.
This Announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by Liberum or by any of its affiliates or agents as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefor is expressly disclaimed.Β
Liberum, which is authorised and regulated in theΒ United KingdomΒ by the FCA, is acting as nominated adviser and sole broker for the Company and for no-one else in connection with the Placing, and Liberum will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its customers or for providing advice to any other person in relation to the Placing or any other matter referred to herein.
The distribution of this Announcement and the offering of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company or Liberum that would permit an offering of such shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required to inform themselves about, and to observe such restrictions.Β
The Placing Shares to which this Announcement relates may be illiquid and / or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the Placing Shares should conduct their own due diligence on the Placing Shares. If you do not understand the contents of this Announcement you should consult an authorised financial adviser.Β
The information in this Announcement may not be forwarded or distributed to any other person and may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever. Any forwarding, distribution, dissemination, reproduction, or disclosure of this information in whole or in part is unauthorised. Failure to comply with this directive may result in a violation of the U.S. Securities Act or the applicable laws of other jurisdictions.Β
Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this Announcement.
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Appendix I
TermsΒ andΒ ConditionsΒ ofΒ theΒ Placing
IMPORTANTΒ INFORMATIONΒ FORΒ PLACEESΒ ONLYΒ REGARDINGΒ THEΒ PLACING.
THISΒ ANNOUNCEMENT,Β INCLUDINGΒ THEΒ APPENDICESΒ (TOGETHER,Β THEΒ "ANNOUNCEMENT")Β ANDΒ THEΒ INFORMATIONΒ CONTAINEDΒ HEREINΒ ISΒ RESTRICTEDΒ ANDΒ ISΒ NOTΒ FORΒ PUBLICATION,Β RELEASEΒ ORΒ DISTRIBUTION,Β DIRECTLYΒ ORΒ INDIRECTLY,Β INΒ ORΒ INTOΒ ORΒ FROMΒ THEΒ UNITEDΒ STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA,Β JAPAN,Β NEW ZEALAND, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICAΒ ORΒ ANYΒ JURISDICTIONΒ INΒ WHICHΒ THEΒ SAMEΒ WOULDΒ BEΒ UNLAWFUL.Β PERSONSΒ INTOΒ WHOSEΒ POSSESSIONΒ THISΒ ANNOUNCEMENTΒ (INCLUDINGΒ THEΒ APPENDICES)Β COMESΒ AREΒ REQUIREDΒ BYΒ THEΒ COMPANYΒ ANDΒ LIBERUMΒ TOΒ INFORMΒ THEMSELVESΒ ABOUTΒ ANDΒ TOΒ OBSERVEΒ ANYΒ SUCHΒ RESTRICTIONS.
THISΒ ANNOUNCEMENT DOESΒ NOTΒ ITSELFΒ CONSTITUTEΒ AN OFFERΒ ORΒ INVITATION TO UNDERWRITEΒ AN OFFERΒ FORΒ SALEΒ ORΒ SUBSCRIPTIONΒ OFΒ ANYΒ SECURITIESΒ INΒ THEΒ COMPANY.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT IN THIS APPENDIX ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHO ARE: (A) PERSONS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA") WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(1)(E) OF EU DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC AND AMENDMENTS THERETO (THE "PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE") ("QUALIFIED INVESTORS"), (B) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, PERSONS WHO (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS WHO FALL WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF "INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS" IN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER"), OR ARE HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS OR PARTNERSHIPS OR TRUSTEES OF HIGH VALUE TRUSTS AS DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE 49(2) OF THE ORDER AND (II) ARE "QUALIFIED INVESTORS" AS DEFINED IN SECTION 86 OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000, AS AMENDED ("FSMA"), AND (C) OTHERWISE, TO PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE BE LAWFUL TO COMMUNICATE IT TO (EACH A "RELEVANT PERSON"). NO OTHER PERSON SHOULD ACT OR RELY ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. BY ACCEPTING THE TERMS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT YOU REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT YOU ARE A RELEVANT PERSON. THIS APPENDIX AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN RELATE IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX) DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY OR ACQUIRE ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY.
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EACHΒ PLACEEΒ SHOULDΒ CONSULTΒ WITHΒ ITSΒ OWNΒ ADVISERSΒ ASΒ TOΒ LEGAL,Β TAX,Β BUSINESSΒ ANDΒ RELATEDΒ ASPECTSΒ OFΒ AΒ SUBSCRIPTIONΒ FORΒ THEΒ PLACINGΒ SHARES.
PersonsΒ (including individuals,Β funds or otherwise) whoΒ have chosenΒ to participate in the Placing,Β by making anΒ oralΒ orΒ writtenΒ offerΒ toΒ subscribeΒ forΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ willΒ beΒ deemedΒ toΒ haveΒ readΒ andΒ understoodΒ thisΒ Announcement,Β includingΒ thisΒ Appendix,Β inΒ itsΒ entiretyΒ andΒ toΒ beΒ makingΒ suchΒ offerΒ onΒ theΒ termsΒ andΒ conditions,Β andΒ toΒ beΒ providingΒ theΒ representations,Β warranties,Β acknowledgements,Β andΒ undertakingsΒ containedΒ inΒ thisΒ Appendix.
In this Appendix, unless the context otherwise requires, "Placee" means a Relevant Person (including individuals, funds or others) by whom or on whose behalf a commitment to subscribe for Placing Shares has been given. In particular, each such Placee represents, warrants and acknowledges that:
1. it is a Relevant Person (as defined above) and undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the purposes of its business;
2. in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, (i) the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in any Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive other than Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent of Liberum has been given to the offer or resale; or (ii) where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any member state of the EEA other than Qualified Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the Prospectus Directive as having been made to such persons;
3. (a) (i) it is not in the United States and (ii) it is not acting for the account or benefit of a person in the United States, unless in the case of this clause (ii), acting with investment discretion for such person or, if such person is a corporation or partnership, the person agreeing to purchase the Placing Shares is an employee of such person authorised to make such purchase; (b) it is a dealer or other professional fiduciary in the United States acting on a discretionary basis for a non-US person (other than an estate or trust) in reliance on Regulation S; (c) it is otherwise acquiring the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction" meeting the requirements of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or (d) it is a "qualified institutional buyer" (a "QIB") (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) and it has duly executed an investor letter in a form provided to it and delivered the same to Liberum or its affiliates;
4. it is acquiring the Placing Shares for its own account or is acquiring the Placing Shares for an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and has the authority to make and does make the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and agreements contained in this Announcement; and
5. it understands (or, if acting for the account of another person, such person understands) the resale and transfer restrictions set out in this Appendix.
The Company and Liberum will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.
Details of the Placing
Liberum has entered into the Placing Agreement with the Company under which, subject to the conditions set out in that agreement, Liberum will agree to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers and/or purchasers for the Placing Shares at the Placing Price.
The Placing is conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional in all respects.
The Placing Shares will, when issued, rank pari passu in all respects with the existing issued Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid following Admission.
ApplicationΒ forΒ admissionΒ toΒ trading
Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for admission of the new Ordinary Shares ("Admission") to trading on AIM. It is expected that Admission will become effective and that dealings in the Placing Shares will commence on AIM at 8.00 a.m. on 5 DecemberΒ 2017.
ParticipationΒ in,Β andΒ principalΒ termsΒ of,Β theΒ Placing
Liberum is arranging the Placing as agent for and on behalf of the Company. Participation in the Placing will only be available to Placees who may lawfully be, and are, invited to participate by Liberum.
The number of Placing Shares to be issued will be agreed between Liberum and the Company following completion of a bookbuilding exercise by Liberum (the "Bookbuild"). The number of Placing Shares will be announced on a Regulatory Information Service following the completion of the Bookbuild.
Liberum will determine in its absolute discretion the extent of each Placee's participation in the Placing, which will not necessarily be the same for each Placee and this will be confirmed orally or in writing by Liberum as agent of the Company ("Confirmation"). No element of the Placing will be underwritten. Confirmation will constitute an irrevocable legally binding commitment upon that person (who will at that point become a Placee) to subscribe for the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Placing Price on the terms and conditions set out in this Appendix (a copy of the terms and conditions having been provided to the Placee prior to or at the same time as such oral or written confirmation) and in accordance with the Company's articles of association. For the avoidance of doubt, the Confirmation constitutes each Placee's irrevocable legally binding agreement, subject to the Placing Agreement not having been terminated, to pay the aggregate settlement amount for the Placing Shares to be subscribed for by that Placee regardless of the total number of Placing Shares (if any) subscribed for by any other investor(s).
Liberum reserves the right to scale back the number of Placing Shares to be subscribed by any Placee in the event of an oversubscription under the Placing. Liberum also reserves the right not to accept offers for Placing Shares or to accept such offers in part rather than in whole.
Each Placee will be required to pay to Liberum, on the Company's behalf, the Placing Price for each Placing Share agreed to be acquired by it under the Placing in accordance with the terms set out herein. Each Placee's obligation to acquire and pay for Placing Shares under the Placing will be owed to Liberum and the Company. Each Placee has an immediate, separate, irrevocable and binding obligation, owed to Liberum, to pay to it (or as it may direct) in cleared funds an amount equal to the product of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares such Placee has agreed to subscribe for. Each Placee will be deemed to have read and understood the Appendices in their entirety, to the participating in the Placing upon the terms and conditions contained in the Appendices, and to be providing the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and undertakings, in each case as contained in the Appendices. To the fullest extent permitted by law and applicable FCA rules (the "FCA Rules"), neither (i) Liberum, (ii) any of its respective directors, officers, employees or consultants, or (iii) to the extent not contained within (i) or (ii), any person connected with Liberum as defined in the FCA Rules ((i), (ii) and (iii) being together "affiliates" and individually an "affiliate"), shall have any liability to Placees or to any person other than the Company in respect of the Placing.
Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's participation in the Placing is confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares to be acquired pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made at the same time, on the basis explained below under 'Registration and Settlement'.
Completion of the Placing will be subject to the fulfilment of the conditions referred to below under 'Conditions of the Placing' and to the Placing not being terminated on the basis referred to below under 'Termination of the Placing Agreement'. In the event that the Placing Agreement is not entered into or does not otherwise become unconditional in any respect or, after having been entered into, is terminated, the Placing will not proceed and all funds delivered by the Placee to Liberum in respect of the Placee's participation will be returned to the Placee at the Placee's risk without interest.
By participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described below and will not otherwise be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee.
By participating in the Placing, each Placee is deemed to have read and understood this Announcement, including the Appendices, in its entirety and to be making such offer on the terms and conditions, and to be providing the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, and undertakings contained in the Appendices.
To the fullest extent permissible by law, neither the Company, Liberum nor any of their affiliates shall have any liability to Placees (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise). In particular, neither Liberum nor any of its affiliates shall have any liability (including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of Liberum's conduct of the Bookbuild or of such alternative method of effecting the Placing as Liberum and the Company may agree.
Conditions of the Placing
The obligations of Liberum under the Placing Agreement in respect of the Placing Shares are conditional on, amongst other things:
(a) the CompanyΒ havingΒ compliedΒ with itsΒ obligationsΒ underΒ theΒ PlacingΒ AgreementΒ (toΒ theΒ extentΒ thatΒ such obligationsΒ fallΒ toΒ beΒ performedΒ priorΒ toΒ Admission);Β
(b) the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting of the Company being held on 4 December 2017; and
(c) Admission havingΒ occurredΒ notΒ laterΒ thanΒ 8.00Β a.m. on 5 December 2017Β orΒ suchΒ laterΒ dateΒ asΒ theΒ Company and LiberumΒ mayΒ agree,Β but inΒ anyΒ eventΒ notΒ laterΒ thanΒ 8.00Β a.m.Β onΒ 19 December 2017.
If (i) any of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement in relation to the Placing Shares are not fulfilled or waived by Liberum by the respective time or date where specified, (ii) any of such conditions becomes incapable of being fulfilled or (iii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below, the Placing will not proceed and the Placee's rights and obligations hereunder in relation to the Placing Shares shall cease and terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by the Placee in respect thereof.
Liberum, at its discretion and upon such terms as it thinks fit, may waive compliance by the Company with the whole or any part of any of the Company's obligations in relation to the conditions in the Placing Agreement. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Announcement.
None of Liberum, the Company or any other person shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision they may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or the date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision they may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in respect of the Placing generally, and by participating in the Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of Liberum
TerminationΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ Agreement
Liberum is entitled (but after, where practicable, having consulted with the Company) at any time before Admission, to terminate the Placing Agreement in relation to its obligations in respect of the Placing Shares by giving notice to the Company if, amongst other things:
(a) the Company fails, in any material respect, to comply with any of its obligations under the Placing Agreement; or
(b) it comes to the notice of Liberum that any statement contained in the placing documents (the "Placing Documents") issued in connection with the Placing was untrue, incorrect or misleading at the date thereof or has become untrue, incorrect or misleading in each case in any respect which Liberum (acting reasonably) considers to be material in the context of the Placing or that any matter which Liberum considers to be material in the context of the Placing has arisen which would, if the Placing were made at that time, constitute a material omission therefrom; or
(c) any of the warranties given by the Company in the Placing Agreement has ceased to be true and accurate in any respect which Liberum (acting reasonably) considers to be material in the context of the Placing by reference to the facts subsisting at the time when notice to terminate is given; or
(d) there happens, develops or comes into effect: i) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in London declared by the relevant authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United Kingdom; or ii) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities or acts of terrorism involving the United Kingdom or the declaration by the United Kingdom of a national emergency or war; or iii) any other occurrence of any kind which in any such case (by itself or together with any other such occurrence) in the reasonable opinion of Liberum is likely to materially and adversely affect the market's position or prospects of the Group taken as a whole; or iv) any other crisis of international or national effect or any change in any currency exchange rates or controls or in any financial, political, economic or market conditions or in market sentiment which, in any such case, in the reasonable opinion of Liberum is materially adverse.
Upon such termination, the parties to the Placing Agreement shall be released and discharged (except for any liability arising before or in relation to such termination) from their respective obligations under or pursuant to the Placing Agreement subject to certain exceptions.
By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by Liberum of any right of termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of Liberum and that they need not make any reference to Placees and that they shall have no liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise or failure so to exercise.
NoΒ prospectus
No offering document, prospectus or admission document has been or will be submitted to be approved by the FCA or submitted to the London Stock Exchange in relation to the Placing and Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in this Announcement (including the Appendices) released by the Company today, and subject to the further terms set forth in the contract note to be provided to individual prospective Placees.
Each Placee, by accepting a participation in the Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement (including the Appendices) is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms that it has neither received nor relied on any other information, representation, warranty, or statement made by or on behalf of the Company, Liberum or any other person and none of Liberum nor the Company nor any other person will be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement which the Placees may have obtained or received. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation.
RegistrationΒ andΒ settlement
Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares following Admission will take place within the system administered by CREST, subject to certain exceptions. The Company reserves the right to require settlement for and delivery of the Placing Shares (or a portion thereof) to Placees in certificated form if, in the opinion of Liberum, delivery or settlement is not possible or practicable within the CREST system or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in the Placee's jurisdiction.
Participation in the Placing is only available to persons who are invited to participate in it by Liberum.
A Placee's commitment to acquire a fixed number of Placing Shares under the Placing will be agreed orally or in writing with Liberum. Such agreement will constitute a legally binding commitment on such Placee's part to acquire that number of Placing Shares at the Placing Price on the terms and conditions set out or referred to in the Appendices and subject to the Company's Articles of Association.
Following the close of the Bookbuild, each Placee allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a trade confirmation in accordance with the standing arrangements in place with Liberum, stating the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Placing Price, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee to Liberum and settlement instructions.
Each Placee agrees that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed in accordance with the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions that it has in place with Liberum. Settlement should be through Liberum against CREST ID: LBQAQ. For the avoidance of doubt, Placing allocations will be booked with a trade date of 15 November 2017 and settlement date of 5 December 2017. Settlement will take place on a delivery versus payment basis.
The Company will deliver the Placing Shares to the CREST account operated by Liberum as agent for the Company and Liberum will enter their delivery (DEL) instruction into the CREST system. The input to CREST by a Placee of a matching or acceptance instruction will then allow delivery of the relevant Placing Shares to that Placee against payment.
Interest is chargeable daily on payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance with the arrangements set out above at the rate of two percentage points above LIBOR as determined by Liberum.
Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does not comply with these obligations, the Company may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for the Company's account and benefit, an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. The relevant Placee will, however, remain liable for any shortfall below the aggregate amount owed by it and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties) which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the trade confirmation is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that organisation. Insofar as Placing Shares are registered in a Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the name of any person for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or that of a nominee for such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below, be so registered free from any liability to UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. Placees will not be entitled to receive any fee or commission in connection with the Placing.
RepresentationsΒ andΒ warranties
ByΒ participatingΒ inΒ theΒ Placing,Β eachΒ PlaceeΒ (andΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ suchΒ Placee'sΒ behalf)Β acknowledges,Β undertakes,Β represents,Β warrantsΒ andΒ agreesΒ (asΒ theΒ caseΒ mayΒ be)Β theΒ following:
ThatΒ it:
1. represents and warrants that it has read this Announcement, including the Appendix, in its entirety and that its acquisition of Placing Shares is subject to and based upon all the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings and other information contained herein and undertakes not to redistribute or duplicate this Announcement;
2. acknowledgesΒ thatΒ itΒ hasΒ receivedΒ thisΒ AnnouncementΒ solelyΒ forΒ itsΒ useΒ andΒ hasΒ notΒ redistributedΒ orΒ duplicatedΒ it;
3. acknowledgesΒ and agreesΒ thatΒ no offeringΒ document, prospectusΒ or admissionΒ document has been orΒ willΒ beΒ preparedΒ inΒ connectionΒ withΒ theΒ PlacingΒ andΒ representsΒ andΒ warrantsΒ thatΒ itΒ hasΒ notΒ receivedΒ aΒ prospectus,Β admissionΒ documentΒ orΒ otherΒ offeringΒ documentΒ inΒ connectionΒ withΒ theΒ PlacingΒ orΒ theΒ PlacingΒ Shares;
4. acknowledgesΒ thatΒ itsΒ participationΒ inΒ theΒ PlacingΒ shall also beΒ subjectΒ toΒ theΒ provisionsΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ AgreementΒ andΒ theΒ memorandumΒ andΒ articlesΒ ofΒ associationΒ ofΒ theΒ CompanyΒ inΒ forceΒ bothΒ beforeΒ andΒ immediatelyΒ afterΒ Admission;
5. acknowledges thatΒ the ordinary shares in the capitalΒ of theΒ CompanyΒ are admittedΒ toΒ trading onΒ AIM,Β andΒ theΒ CompanyΒ isΒ thereforeΒ requiredΒ toΒ publishΒ certainΒ businessΒ andΒ financialΒ informationΒ inΒ accordanceΒ withΒ theΒ rulesΒ andΒ practicesΒ ofΒ AIMΒ (collectively,Β theΒ "ExchangeΒ Information"),Β whichΒ includesΒ aΒ descriptionΒ ofΒ theΒ natureΒ ofΒ theΒ Company'sΒ businessΒ andΒ theΒ Company'sΒ mostΒ recentΒ balanceΒ sheetΒ andΒ profitΒ andΒ lossΒ accountΒ andΒ thatΒ itΒ isΒ ableΒ toΒ obtainΒ orΒ accessΒ suchΒ ExchangeΒ InformationΒ withoutΒ undueΒ difficultyΒ andΒ isΒ ableΒ toΒ obtainΒ accessΒ toΒ suchΒ informationΒ orΒ comparableΒ informationΒ concerningΒ anyΒ otherΒ publiclyΒ tradedΒ companyΒ withoutΒ undueΒ difficulty;
6. acknowledgesΒ thatΒ neitherΒ Liberum,Β norΒ theΒ CompanyΒ norΒ anyΒ ofΒ theirΒ respectiveΒ affiliatesΒ orΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ anyΒ ofΒ themΒ hasΒ provided,Β andΒ willΒ notΒ provide,Β itΒ withΒ anyΒ materialΒ regardingΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ orΒ theΒ CompanyΒ otherΒ thanΒ thisΒ Announcement;Β norΒ hasΒ itΒ requestedΒ anyΒ ofΒ Liberum,Β theΒ Company,Β anyΒ ofΒ theirΒ respectiveΒ affiliatesΒ orΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ anyΒ ofΒ themΒ toΒ provideΒ itΒ withΒ anyΒ suchΒ information;
7. acknowledgesΒ thatΒ theΒ contentΒ ofΒ thisΒ AnnouncementΒ isΒ exclusivelyΒ theΒ responsibilityΒ ofΒ theΒ CompanyΒ andΒ that neitherΒ Liberum,Β norΒ any person actingΒ on itsΒ behalf hasΒ or shall haveΒ any liability for anyΒ information,Β representationΒ orΒ statementΒ containedΒ inΒ thisΒ AnnouncementΒ orΒ anyΒ informationΒ previouslyΒ publishedΒ byΒ orΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ theΒ CompanyΒ andΒ willΒ notΒ beΒ liableΒ forΒ anyΒ Placee'sΒ decisionΒ toΒ participateΒ inΒ theΒ PlacingΒ basedΒ onΒ anyΒ information,Β representationΒ orΒ statementΒ containedΒ inΒ thisΒ AnnouncementΒ orΒ otherwise.Β EachΒ PlaceeΒ furtherΒ represents,Β warrantsΒ andΒ agreesΒ thatΒ theΒ onlyΒ informationΒ onΒ whichΒ itΒ isΒ entitledΒ toΒ relyΒ andΒ on whichΒ suchΒ PlaceeΒ hasΒ reliedΒ inΒ committingΒ itselfΒ toΒ subscribeΒ forΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ isΒ containedΒ inΒ thisΒ AnnouncementΒ andΒ anyΒ informationΒ previouslyΒ publishedΒ byΒ theΒ CompanyΒ byΒ notificationΒ toΒ aΒ RegulatoryΒ InformationΒ Service,Β suchΒ informationΒ beingΒ allΒ thatΒ itΒ deemsΒ necessaryΒ toΒ makeΒ anΒ investmentΒ decision inΒ respectΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ andΒ thatΒ itΒ hasΒ neitherΒ receivedΒ norΒ reliedΒ onΒ anyΒ otherΒ informationΒ givenΒ orΒ representations,Β warrantiesΒ orΒ statementsΒ madeΒ byΒ LiberumΒ orΒ theΒ CompanyΒ orΒ theirΒ respectiveΒ affiliatesΒ andΒ neitherLiberumΒ norΒ theΒ CompanyΒ norΒ theirΒ respectiveΒ affiliatesΒ willΒ beΒ liableΒ forΒ anyΒ Placee'sΒ decisionΒ toΒ acceptΒ anΒ invitationΒ toΒ participateΒ inΒ theΒ PlacingΒ basedΒ onΒ anyΒ otherΒ information,Β representation,Β warrantyΒ orΒ statement.Β EachΒ PlaceeΒ furtherΒ acknowledgesΒ andΒ agreesΒ thatΒ itΒ hasΒ reliedΒ onΒ itsΒ ownΒ investigationΒ ofΒ theΒ business,Β financialΒ orΒ otherΒ positionΒ ofΒ theΒ CompanyΒ inΒ decidingΒ toΒ participateΒ inΒ theΒ Placing;
8. represents and warrants that it has neither received nor relied on any inside information (as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation) concerning the Company in accepting this invitation to participate in the Placing;
9. acknowledgesΒ thatΒ neitherΒ LiberumΒ norΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ itsΒ behalfΒ norΒ anyΒ ofΒ theirΒ respectiveΒ affiliatesΒ hasΒ orΒ shallΒ haveΒ anyΒ liabilityΒ forΒ anyΒ publiclyΒ availableΒ orΒ filedΒ information,Β orΒ anyΒ representationΒ relatingΒ to theΒ Company,Β providedΒ thatΒ nothingΒ inΒ thisΒ paragraphΒ excludesΒ theΒ liabilityΒ ofΒ anyΒ personΒ forΒ fraudulentΒ misrepresentationΒ madeΒ byΒ thatΒ person;
10. representsΒ andΒ warrantsΒ thatΒ itΒ hasΒ compliedΒ withΒ itsΒ obligationsΒ under the Criminal Justice Act 1993, the Market Abuse Regulation and inΒ connectionΒ withΒ moneyΒ launderingΒ andΒ terroristΒ financingΒ underΒ theΒ ProceedsΒ ofΒ CrimeΒ ActΒ 2002,Β theΒ TerrorismΒ ActΒ 2000 (as amended),Β theΒ TerrorismΒ ActΒ 2006Β andΒ theΒ MoneyΒ LaunderingΒ RegulationsΒ 2007, the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (theΒ "Regulations")Β and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any government agency having jurisdiction in respect thereof and the Money Laundering Sourcebook of the FCA and,Β ifΒ makingΒ paymentΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ aΒ thirdΒ party,Β thatΒ satisfactoryΒ evidenceΒ hasΒ beenΒ obtainedΒ andΒ recordedΒ byΒ itΒ toΒ verifyΒ theΒ identityΒ ofΒ theΒ thirdΒ partyΒ asΒ requiredΒ byΒ theΒ Regulations;
11. ifΒ a financialΒ intermediary,Β as thatΒ termΒ isΒ usedΒ in ArticleΒ 3(2)Β of theΒ ProspectusΒ Directive (includingΒ any relevantΒ implementingΒ measure inΒ any member state), representsΒ and warrantsΒ thatΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ subscribed forΒ byΒ itΒ inΒ theΒ Placing willΒ notΒ beΒ acquiredΒ on a non-discretionary basisΒ on behalfΒ of, norΒ will theyΒ beΒ acquired with a viewΒ to theirΒ offerΒ orΒ resaleΒ to, personsΒ in aΒ member stateΒ of theΒ EuropeanΒ EconomicΒ AreaΒ whichΒ hasΒ implementedΒ theΒ ProspectusΒ DirectiveΒ otherΒ thanΒ toΒ qualifiedΒ investors,Β orΒ inΒ circumstancesΒ inΒ whichΒ theΒ priorΒ consentΒ ofΒ LiberumΒ hasΒ beenΒ givenΒ toΒ theΒ proposedΒ offerΒ orΒ resale;
12. representsΒ andΒ warrantsΒ thatΒ itΒ hasΒ notΒ offeredΒ orΒ soldΒ andΒ willΒ notΒ offerΒ orΒ sellΒ anyΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ toΒ personsΒ inΒ theΒ UnitedΒ Kingdom,Β exceptΒ toΒ personsΒ whoseΒ ordinaryΒ activitiesΒ involveΒ themΒ inΒ acquiring,Β holding,Β managingΒ orΒ disposingΒ ofΒ investmentsΒ (asΒ principalΒ orΒ agent)Β forΒ theΒ purposesΒ of theirΒ businessΒ orΒ otherwiseΒ inΒ circumstancesΒ whichΒ haveΒ notΒ resultedΒ andΒ whichΒ willΒ notΒ resultΒ inΒ anΒ offerΒ toΒ theΒ publicΒ inΒ theΒ UnitedΒ KingdomΒ withinΒ theΒ meaningΒ ofΒ sectionΒ 85(1)Β ofΒ the FSMA;
13. representsΒ andΒ warrantsΒ thatΒ itΒ hasΒ notΒ offeredΒ orΒ soldΒ andΒ willΒ notΒ offerΒ orΒ sellΒ anyΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ toΒ personsΒ inΒ theΒ EuropeanΒ EconomicΒ AreaΒ priorΒ toΒ AdmissionΒ exceptΒ toΒ personsΒ whoseΒ ordinaryΒ activitiesΒ involveΒ themΒ inΒ acquiring,Β holding,Β managingΒ orΒ disposingΒ ofΒ investmentsΒ (asΒ principalΒ orΒ agent)Β forΒ theΒ purposesΒ ofΒ theirΒ businessΒ orΒ otherwiseΒ inΒ circumstancesΒ whichΒ haveΒ notΒ resultedΒ inΒ andΒ whichΒ willΒ notΒ resultΒ inΒ an offer toΒ theΒ publicΒ inΒ anyΒ memberΒ stateΒ ofΒ theΒ European Economic Area withinΒ theΒ meaningΒ ofΒ theΒ ProspectusΒ DirectiveΒ (includingΒ anyΒ relevantΒ implementingΒ measureΒ inΒ anyΒ memberΒ state);
14. representsΒ andΒ warrantsΒ thatΒ itΒ hasΒ onlyΒ communicatedΒ orΒ causedΒ toΒ beΒ communicatedΒ andΒ willΒ onlyΒ communicateΒ orΒ causeΒ toΒ beΒ communicatedΒ anyΒ invitationΒ orΒ inducementΒ toΒ engageΒ inΒ investmentΒ activityΒ (withinΒ theΒ meaningΒ ofΒ sectionΒ 21Β ofΒ FSMA)Β relatingΒ toΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ inΒ circumstancesΒ inΒ whichΒ sectionΒ 21(1)Β ofΒ FSMAΒ doesΒ notΒ requireΒ approvalΒ ofΒ theΒ communicationΒ byΒ anΒ authorisedΒ person;
15. representsΒ andΒ warrantsΒ thatΒ itΒ hasΒ compliedΒ andΒ willΒ complyΒ withΒ allΒ applicableΒ provisionsΒ ofΒ FSMAΒ withΒ respectΒ toΒ anything done byΒ itΒ inΒ relationΒ toΒ the PlacingΒ Shares in,Β from orΒ otherwise involving,Β the UnitedΒ Kingdom;
16. if within the United Kingdom, representsΒ andΒ warrantsΒ thatΒ itΒ isΒ aΒ personΒ fallingΒ withinΒ ArticleΒ 19(5)Β and/orΒ ArticleΒ 49(2)(a)Β toΒ (d)Β ofΒ theΒ FinancialΒ ServicesΒ andΒ MarketsΒ ActΒ 2000Β (FinancialΒ Promotion)Β OrderΒ 2005,Β asΒ amended, is a qualified investor as defined in Section 86 of FMSA orΒ isΒ aΒ personΒ toΒ whomΒ thisΒ AnnouncementΒ mayΒ otherwiseΒ beΒ lawfullyΒ communicated;
17. acknowledgesΒ thatΒ anyΒ offerΒ ofΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ mayΒ onlyΒ beΒ directedΒ atΒ personsΒ inΒ memberΒ statesΒ ofΒ theΒ EuropeanΒ EconomicΒ AreaΒ whoΒ areΒ "qualifiedΒ investors"Β withinΒ theΒ meaningΒ ofΒ ArticleΒ 2(1)(e)Β ofΒ theΒ ProspectusΒ DirectiveΒ andΒ representsΒ andΒ agreesΒ that, in the Europe, itΒ isΒ suchΒ aΒ qualifiedΒ investor;
18. representsΒ andΒ warrantsΒ thatΒ it and any person acting on its behalfΒ isΒ entitledΒ toΒ subscribeΒ forΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ underΒ theΒ lawsΒ ofΒ allΒ relevantΒ jurisdictionsΒ whichΒ applyΒ toΒ it and that it has all necessary capacity and has obtained all necessary consents and authorities to enable it to commit to this participation in the Placing and to perform its obligations in relation thereto (including, without limitation, in the case of any person on whose behalf it is acting, all necessary consents and authorities to agree to the terms set out or referred to in this Announcement) and will honor such obligations,Β andΒ thatΒ itsΒ subscriptionΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ willΒ beΒ inΒ complianceΒ withΒ applicableΒ lawsΒ andΒ regulationsΒ inΒ theΒ jurisdictionΒ ofΒ itsΒ residence,Β theΒ residenceΒ ofΒ theΒ Company,Β orΒ otherwise.
19. acknowledgesΒ andΒ agreesΒ thatΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ haveΒ notΒ beenΒ andΒ willΒ notΒ beΒ registeredΒ underΒ theΒ SecuritiesΒ ActΒ orΒ withΒ anyΒ securitiesΒ regulatoryΒ authorityΒ ofΒ anyΒ stateΒ orΒ jurisdictionΒ ofΒ theΒ UnitedΒ States,Β orΒ theΒ relevantΒ Australian, Canadian,Β Japanese, New ZealandΒ orΒ SouthΒ AfricanΒ securitiesΒ legislationΒ andΒ thereforeΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ mayΒ notΒ beΒ offered,Β sold,Β transferredΒ orΒ deliveredΒ directlyΒ orΒ indirectlyΒ intoΒ theΒ UnitedΒ States, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand orΒ theΒ RepublicΒ ofΒ SouthΒ AfricaΒ or theirΒ respectiveΒ territoriesΒ andΒ possessions,Β exceptΒ subjectΒ toΒ limitedΒ exemptions;
20. warrantsΒ thatΒ itΒ hasΒ compliedΒ withΒ allΒ relevantΒ lawsΒ ofΒ allΒ relevantΒ territories,Β obtainedΒ allΒ requisiteΒ governmentalΒ orΒ otherΒ consentsΒ whichΒ mayΒ beΒ requiredΒ inΒ connectionΒ withΒ theΒ PlacingΒ Shares,Β compliedΒ withΒ allΒ requisiteΒ formalitiesΒ andΒ thatΒ itΒ hasΒ notΒ takenΒ anyΒ actionΒ orΒ omittedΒ toΒ takeΒ anyΒ actionΒ whichΒ willΒ orΒ mayΒ resultΒ inΒ Liberum,Β theΒ CompanyΒ orΒ anyΒ ofΒ theirΒ respectiveΒ directors,Β officers,Β agents,Β employeesΒ orΒ advisersΒ actingΒ inΒ breachΒ ofΒ theΒ legalΒ orΒ regulatoryΒ requirementsΒ ofΒ anyΒ territoryΒ inΒ connectionΒ withΒ theΒ Placing;
21. acknowledgesΒ andΒ agreesΒ thatΒ itsΒ purchaseΒ ofΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ doesΒ notΒ trigger,Β inΒ theΒ jurisdictionΒ inΒ whichΒ itΒ isΒ residentΒ orΒ located:Β (i)Β any obligation to prepareΒ orΒ fileΒ a prospectus orΒ similarΒ documentΒ orΒ anyΒ otherΒ reportΒ withΒ respectΒ toΒ suchΒ purchase;Β (ii)Β anyΒ disclosureΒ orΒ reportingΒ obligationΒ ofΒ theΒ Company;Β orΒ (iii)Β anyΒ registrationΒ orΒ otherΒ obligationΒ onΒ theΒ partΒ ofΒ theΒ Company;
22. undertakesΒ thatΒ itΒ (andΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ itsΒ behalf)Β willΒ makeΒ paymentΒ forΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ allocatedΒ toΒ itΒ inΒ accordanceΒ withΒ thisΒ AnnouncementΒ onΒ theΒ dueΒ timeΒ andΒ dateΒ setΒ outΒ herein,Β failingΒ whichΒ theΒ relevantΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ mayΒ beΒ placedΒ withΒ otherΒ subscribersΒ orΒ soldΒ asΒ LiberumΒ mayΒ inΒ itsΒ discretionΒ determineΒ andΒ withoutΒ liabilityΒ toΒ suchΒ Placee;
23. acknowledgesΒ thatΒ neitherΒ LiberumΒ norΒ anyΒ ofΒ itsΒ affiliates,Β norΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ anyΒ ofΒ them,Β isΒ makingΒ anyΒ recommendationsΒ toΒ it,Β advisingΒ itΒ regardingΒ theΒ suitabilityΒ ofΒ anyΒ transactionsΒ itΒ may enterΒ intoΒ inΒ connectionΒ with theΒ PlacingΒ andΒ thatΒ participationΒ in theΒ PlacingΒ isΒ onΒ theΒ basisΒ thatΒ itΒ isΒ notΒ andΒ willΒ notΒ beΒ aΒ clientΒ ofΒ LiberumΒ forΒ theΒ purposesΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ andΒ thatΒ LiberumΒ hasΒ noΒ dutiesΒ orΒ responsibilitiesΒ toΒ it forΒ providing theΒ protectionsΒ affordedΒ toΒ itsΒ clientsΒ orΒ forΒ providingΒ adviceΒ inΒ relationΒ toΒ theΒ PlacingΒ norΒ inΒ respectΒ ofΒ anyΒ representations,Β warranties,Β undertakingsΒ orΒ indemnitiesΒ containedΒ inΒ theΒ PlacingΒ AgreementΒ norΒ forΒ theΒ exerciseΒ orΒ performanceΒ ofΒ anyΒ ofΒ itsΒ rightsΒ andΒ obligationsΒ thereunderΒ includingΒ anyΒ rightsΒ toΒ waiveΒ orΒ varyΒ anyΒ conditionsΒ orΒ exerciseΒ anyΒ terminationΒ right;
24. undertakesΒ thatΒ theΒ personΒ whomΒ itΒ specifiesΒ forΒ registrationΒ asΒ holderΒ ofΒ the Placing Shares willΒ beΒ (i)Β itselfΒ orΒ (ii)Β itsΒ nominee,Β asΒ theΒ caseΒ mayΒ be.Β NeitherΒ LiberumΒ norΒ theΒ CompanyΒ willΒ beΒ responsibleΒ forΒ anyΒ liabilityΒ to stamp dutyΒ orΒ stamp dutyΒ reserveΒ taxΒ resultingΒ fromΒ aΒ failureΒ to observeΒ thisΒ requirement.Β EachΒ PlaceeΒ andΒ anyΒ personΒ acting onΒ behalf of suchΒ Placee agrees toΒ participate inΒ the Placing andΒ itΒ agrees toΒ indemnifyΒ theΒ Company andΒ LiberumΒ inΒ respectΒ ofΒ theΒ sameΒ onΒ theΒ basisΒ thatΒ the Placing Shares will be allotted to the CREST stock account of Liberum who will hold them as nominee on behalf of such Placee until settlement in accordance with its standing settlement instructions;
25. acknowledgesΒ thatΒ theseΒ termsΒ andΒ conditionsΒ andΒ anyΒ agreementsΒ enteredΒ intoΒ byΒ itΒ pursuantΒ toΒ theseΒ termsΒ andΒ conditionsΒ andΒ anyΒ non-contractualΒ obligationsΒ arisingΒ outΒ ofΒ orΒ inΒ connectionΒ withΒ suchΒ agreementsΒ shallΒ beΒ governedΒ byΒ andΒ construedΒ inΒ accordanceΒ withΒ theΒ lawsΒ ofΒ EnglandΒ andΒ WalesΒ andΒ itΒ submitsΒ (onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ itselfΒ andΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ anyΒ personΒ onΒ whoseΒ behalfΒ itΒ isΒ acting)Β toΒ theΒ exclusiveΒ jurisdictionΒ ofΒ theΒ EnglishΒ courtsΒ asΒ regardsΒ anyΒ claim,Β disputeΒ orΒ matterΒ arisingΒ outΒ ofΒ anyΒ suchΒ contract,Β except thatΒ enforcementΒ proceedingsΒ inΒ respectΒ ofΒ the obligation toΒ make payment forΒ the Placing SharesΒ (togetherΒ withΒ anyΒ interestΒ chargeableΒ thereon)Β mayΒ beΒ takenΒ byΒ theΒ Company or LiberumΒ inΒ anyΒ jurisdictionΒ inΒ whichΒ theΒ relevantΒ PlaceeΒ isΒ incorporatedΒ orΒ inΒ whichΒ anyΒ ofΒ itsΒ securitiesΒ haveΒ aΒ quotationΒ onΒ aΒ recognisedΒ stockΒ exchange;
26. acknowledgesΒ thatΒ LiberumΒ andΒ itsΒ affiliatesΒ willΒ relyΒ uponΒ theΒ truthΒ andΒ accuracyΒ ofΒ theΒ representations,Β warrantiesΒ andΒ acknowledgementsΒ setΒ forthΒ hereinΒ andΒ whichΒ areΒ irrevocableΒ andΒ itΒ irrevocablyΒ authorisesΒ LiberumΒ toΒ produceΒ thisΒ Announcement,Β pursuantΒ to,Β inΒ connectionΒ with,Β orΒ asΒ mayΒ beΒ requiredΒ byΒ anyΒ applicableΒ lawΒ orΒ regulation,Β administrativeΒ orΒ legalΒ proceedingΒ orΒ officialΒ inquiryΒ withΒ respectΒ toΒ theΒ mattersΒ setΒ forthΒ herein;
27. agreesΒ toΒ indemnifyΒ on an after tax basis andΒ hold theΒ CompanyΒ and LiberumΒ andΒ theirΒ respectiveΒ affiliatesΒ harmlessΒ from anyΒ andΒ all costs,Β claims,Β liabilitiesΒ andΒ expensesΒ (including legalΒ feesΒ andΒ expenses) arisingΒ outΒ of orΒ inΒ connectionΒ withΒ anyΒ breachΒ ofΒ theΒ representations,Β warranties,Β acknowledgements,Β agreementsΒ andΒ undertakingsΒ inΒ theΒ AppendicesΒ andΒ furtherΒ agreesΒ thatΒ theΒ provisionsΒ ofΒ theΒ AppendicesΒ shallΒ surviveΒ afterΒ completionΒ ofΒ theΒ Placing;
28. representsΒ andΒ warrantsΒ thatΒ itΒ willΒ acquireΒ anyΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ subscribedΒ forΒ byΒ itΒ forΒ itsΒ accountΒ orΒ forΒ oneΒ orΒ moreΒ accountsΒ asΒ toΒ eachΒ ofΒ whichΒ itΒ exercisesΒ soleΒ investmentΒ discretionΒ andΒ itΒ hasΒ fullΒ powerΒ toΒ makeΒ theΒ acknowledgements,Β representationsΒ andΒ agreementsΒ hereinΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ eachΒ suchΒ account;
29. acknowledgesΒ thatΒ itsΒ commitmentΒ toΒ subscribeΒ forΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ onΒ theΒ termsΒ setΒ outΒ hereinΒ andΒ inΒ theΒ relevant contract notesΒ willΒ continue notwithstanding any amendment thatΒ mayΒ inΒ futureΒ beΒ madeΒ toΒ theΒ termsΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ andΒ thatΒ PlaceesΒ willΒ haveΒ noΒ rightΒ toΒ beΒ consultedΒ orΒ requireΒ thatΒ theirΒ consentΒ beΒ obtainedΒ withΒ respectΒ toΒ theΒ Company'sΒ conductΒ ofΒ theΒ Placing.Β TheΒ foregoingΒ representations,Β warrantiesΒ andΒ confirmationsΒ areΒ givenΒ forΒ theΒ benefitΒ ofΒ theΒ CompanyΒ andΒ Liberum.Β TheΒ agreementΒ toΒ settleΒ a Placee's subscriptionΒ (and/orΒ theΒ subscriptionΒ ofΒ aΒ personΒ forΒ whom suchΒ PlaceeΒ isΒ contractingΒ as agent)Β freeΒ ofΒ stampΒ dutyΒ andΒ stampΒ dutyΒ reserveΒ taxΒ dependsΒ onΒ theΒ settlementΒ relatingΒ onlyΒ toΒ theΒ subscriptionΒ byΒ itΒ and/orΒ suchΒ personΒ directΒ fromΒ theΒ CompanyΒ forΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ inΒ question.Β SuchΒ agreementΒ assumes,Β andΒ isΒ basedΒ onΒ aΒ warrantyΒ fromΒ each Placee,Β thatΒ neitherΒ it,Β norΒ theΒ person specified by itΒ for registrationΒ as holder, ofΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ is,Β orΒ isΒ actingΒ asΒ nomineeΒ orΒ agent for, and thatΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ willΒ notΒ beΒ allottedΒ to,Β aΒ personΒ whoΒ isΒ orΒ mayΒ beΒ liableΒ toΒ stampΒ dutyΒ orΒ stampΒ dutyΒ reserveΒ taxΒ underΒ anyΒ ofΒ sectionsΒ 67,Β 70,Β 93Β andΒ 96Β ofΒ theΒ FinanceΒ ActΒ 1986Β (depositaryΒ receiptsΒ andΒ clearanceΒ services).Β IfΒ thereΒ areΒ anyΒ suchΒ arrangements,Β orΒ theΒ settlementΒ relatesΒ toΒ anyΒ otherΒ dealingΒ inΒ the Placing Shares,Β stampΒ dutyΒ orΒ stampΒ dutyΒ reserveΒ taxΒ mayΒ be payable.Β InΒ thatΒ eventΒ the Placee agreesΒ thatΒ itΒ shallΒ beΒ responsibleΒ forΒ suchΒ stampΒ dutyΒ orΒ stampΒ dutyΒ reserveΒ tax,Β andΒ noneΒ ofΒ theΒ Company,Β LiberumΒ shallΒ beΒ responsibleΒ forΒ suchΒ stampΒ dutyΒ orΒ stampΒ dutyΒ reserveΒ tax.Β IfΒ thisΒ isΒ theΒ case,Β eachΒ PlaceeΒ shouldΒ seekΒ itsΒ ownΒ adviceΒ andΒ notifyΒ LiberumΒ accordingly;
30. understandsΒ thatΒ noΒ actionΒ hasΒ beenΒ orΒ willΒ beΒ takenΒ byΒ anyΒ ofΒ theΒ Company,Β LiberumΒ orΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ theΒ CompanyΒ or LiberumΒ thatΒ would,Β orΒ isΒ intendedΒ to,Β permitΒ aΒ publicΒ offerΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ inΒ anyΒ countryΒ orΒ jurisdictionΒ whereΒ anyΒ suchΒ actionΒ forΒ thatΒ purposeΒ isΒ required;
31. inΒ making any decisionΒ to subscribe forΒ the Placing Shares,Β confirmsΒ thatΒ itΒ has knowledge andΒ experienceΒ inΒ financial,Β businessΒ andΒ internationalΒ investmentΒ mattersΒ asΒ isΒ requiredΒ toΒ evaluateΒ theΒ meritsΒ andΒ risksΒ ofΒ subscribingΒ forΒ theΒ PlacingΒ Shares.Β ItΒ furtherΒ confirmsΒ thatΒ itΒ isΒ experiencedΒ inΒ investingΒ inΒ securitiesΒ ofΒ thisΒ natureΒ inΒ thisΒ sectorΒ andΒ isΒ awareΒ thatΒ itΒ mayΒ beΒ requiredΒ toΒ bear,Β andΒ isΒ ableΒ toΒ bear,Β theΒ economicΒ riskΒ of,Β andΒ isΒ ableΒ toΒ sustainΒ aΒ completeΒ lossΒ inΒ connectionΒ withΒ theΒ Placing.Β ItΒ furtherΒ confirmsΒ thatΒ itΒ reliedΒ onΒ itsΒ ownΒ examinationΒ andΒ dueΒ diligenceΒ ofΒ theΒ CompanyΒ andΒ itsΒ associatesΒ takenΒ asΒ aΒ whole,Β andΒ theΒ termsΒ ofΒ theΒ Placing,Β includingΒ theΒ meritsΒ andΒ risksΒ involved;
32. representsΒ andΒ warrantsΒ thatΒ itΒ hasΒ (a)Β madeΒ itsΒ ownΒ assessmentΒ andΒ satisfiedΒ itselfΒ concerningΒ legal,Β regulatory,Β tax,Β businessΒ andΒ financialΒ considerationsΒ inΒ connectionΒ herewithΒ toΒ theΒ extentΒ itΒ deemsΒ necessary;Β (b)Β hadΒ accessΒ toΒ reviewΒ publiclyΒ availableΒ informationΒ concerningΒ theΒ CompanyΒ thatΒ itΒ considersΒ necessaryΒ orΒ appropriateΒ andΒ sufficientΒ inΒ makingΒ anΒ investmentΒ decision;Β (c)Β reviewedΒ suchΒ informationΒ asΒ itΒ believesΒ isΒ necessaryΒ orΒ appropriateΒ inΒ connectionΒ withΒ itsΒ subscriptionΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ Shares;Β andΒ (d)Β madeΒ itsΒ investmentΒ decisionΒ basedΒ uponΒ itsΒ ownΒ judgment,Β dueΒ diligenceΒ andΒ analysisΒ andΒ notΒ uponΒ anyΒ viewΒ expressedΒ orΒ informationΒ providedΒ byΒ orΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ Liberum;
33. understandsΒ andΒ agreesΒ thatΒ itΒ mayΒ notΒ relyΒ onΒ anyΒ investigationΒ thatΒ LiberumΒ orΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ itsΒ behalfΒ mayΒ orΒ mayΒ notΒ haveΒ conductedΒ withΒ respectΒ toΒ theΒ Company,Β orΒ theΒ PlacingΒ andΒ LiberumΒ has not madeΒ anyΒ representationΒ toΒ it,Β expressΒ orΒ implied,Β withΒ respectΒ toΒ theΒ meritsΒ ofΒ theΒ Placing,Β theΒ subscriptionΒ forΒ theΒ PlacingΒ Shares,Β orΒ asΒ toΒ theΒ condition,Β financialΒ or otherwise,Β ofΒ theΒ Company,Β orΒ asΒ toΒ anyΒ otherΒ matterΒ relatingΒ thereto,Β andΒ nothingΒ hereinΒ shallΒ beΒ construedΒ asΒ aΒ recommendationΒ toΒ itΒ to subscribeΒ forΒ theΒ PlacingΒ Shares.Β ItΒ acknowledgesΒ and agreesΒ thatΒ noΒ informationΒ hasΒ beenΒ preparedΒ byΒ LiberumΒ orΒ theΒ CompanyΒ forΒ theΒ purposesΒ ofΒ thisΒ Placing;
34. accordinglyΒ itΒ acknowledgesΒ andΒ agreesΒ thatΒ itΒ willΒ notΒ holdΒ LiberumΒ orΒ anyΒ ofΒ itsΒ affiliatesΒ orΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ theirΒ behalfΒ responsibleΒ orΒ liableΒ forΒ anyΒ misstatementsΒ inΒ orΒ omissionΒ fromΒ anyΒ publiclyΒ availableΒ informationΒ relatingΒ toΒ the CompanyΒ orΒ informationΒ madeΒ availableΒ (whetherΒ inΒ writtenΒ orΒ oralΒ form)Β inΒ presentationsΒ orΒ asΒ partΒ ofΒ roadshowΒ discussionsΒ withΒ investorsΒ relatingΒ toΒ theΒ CompanyΒ (theΒ "Information")Β andΒ thatΒ neitherΒ LiberumΒ norΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ LiberumΒ makesΒ anyΒ representationΒ orΒ warranty, expressΒ orΒ implied,Β asΒ toΒ theΒ truth,Β accuracyΒ orΒ completenessΒ ofΒ suchΒ InformationΒ orΒ acceptsΒ anyΒ responsibilityΒ forΒ anyΒ ofΒ suchΒ Information;Β
35. if the Placing Shares were offered to it in the United States, represents and warrants that in making its investment decision, (i) it has consulted its own independent advisers or otherwise has satisfied itself concerning, without limitation, the effects of United States federal, state and local income tax laws and foreign tax laws generally and the US Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the US Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Securities Act, (ii) it has received all information (including the business, financial condition, prospects, creditworthiness, status and affairs of the Company, the Placing and the Placing Shares, as well as the opportunity to ask questions) concerning the Company, the Placing and the Placing Shares that it believes is necessary or appropriate in order to make an investment decision in respect of the Company and the Placing Shares, (iii) it is aware and understands that an investment in the Placing Shares involves a considerable degree of risk and no US federal or state or non-US agency has made any finding or determination as to the fairness for investment or any recommendation or endorsement of the Placing Shares, and (iv) it is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Placing Shares, is able to sustain a complete loss of the investment in the Placing Shares and has no need for liquidity with respect to its investment in the Placing Shares;
36. understandsΒ thatΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ haveΒ notΒ beenΒ andΒ willΒ notΒ beΒ registeredΒ underΒ theΒ SecuritiesΒ ActΒ orΒ withΒ anyΒ securitiesΒ regulatoryΒ authority ofΒ anyΒ stateΒ orΒ otherΒ jurisdictionΒ ofΒ theΒ UnitedΒ States,Β andΒ accordingly,Β mayΒ notΒ beΒ offeredΒ orΒ sold orΒ otherwiseΒ transferredΒ inΒ theΒ United StatesΒ except pursuantΒ toΒ aΒ registrationΒ statementΒ underΒ theΒ SecuritiesΒ ActΒ orΒ anΒ exemptionΒ fromΒ theΒ registrationΒ requirementsΒ ofΒ theΒ Securities ActΒ and,Β inΒ connectionΒ withΒ anyΒ suchΒ transfer, the CompanyΒ shall beΒ provided,Β as aΒ conditionΒ toΒ transfer,Β withΒ aΒ legalΒ opinionΒ ofΒ counsel,Β inΒ formΒ andΒ byΒ counselΒ reasonablyΒ satisfactoryΒ toΒ theΒ Company,Β thatΒ noΒ suchΒ SecuritiesΒ ActΒ registrationΒ isΒ orΒ willΒ beΒ requiredΒ andΒ withΒ appropriateΒ certificationsΒ byΒ theΒ transfereeΒ asΒ toΒ appropriateΒ matters.
37. itΒ isΒ notΒ aΒ PlanΒ (whichΒ termΒ includesΒ (a)Β employeeΒ benefitΒ plansΒ thatΒ areΒ subjectΒ toΒ SectionΒ 406Β ofΒ theΒ USΒ Employee RetirementΒ IncomeΒ SecurityΒ ActΒ of 1974,Β asΒ amendedΒ ("ERISA"),Β orΒ plans,Β individualΒ retirementΒ accountsΒ andΒ otherΒ arrangementsΒ thatΒ areΒ subjectΒ toΒ SectionΒ 4975Β ofΒ theΒ USΒ InternalΒ RevenueΒ CodeΒ of 1986,Β asΒ amendedΒ (theΒ "Code"),Β (b)Β plans,Β individualΒ retirementΒ accountsΒ andΒ otherΒ arrangementsΒ thatΒ areΒ subjectΒ toΒ provisionsΒ underΒ applicableΒ USΒ federal,Β state,Β localΒ orΒ otherΒ lawsΒ orΒ regulationsΒ thatΒ areΒ substantiallyΒ similarΒ toΒ SectionΒ 406Β ofΒ theΒ ERISAΒ orΒ SectionΒ 4975Β ofΒ theΒ CodeΒ ("SimilarΒ Laws")Β andΒ (c)Β entitiesΒ theΒ underlyingΒ assets ofΒ which areΒ considered toΒ includeΒ "plan assets"Β ofΒ such plans,Β accountsΒ andΒ arrangements)Β andΒ areΒ notΒ purchasingΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ onΒ behalfΒ of,Β orΒ withΒ theΒ "planΒ assets"Β of,Β anyΒ Plan.
38. ifΒ PlaceesΒ are purchasingΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ outsideΒ theΒ UnitedΒ States,Β eachΒ PlaceeΒ (and any personΒ actingΒ onΒ suchΒ Placee'sΒ behalf)Β agrees,Β representsΒ andΒ warrantsΒ asΒ follows:
a. itΒ isΒ awareΒ thatΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ areΒ beingΒ offeredΒ outsideΒ theΒ UnitedΒ StatesΒ inΒ relianceΒ onΒ RegulationΒ SΒ promulgatedΒ underΒ theΒ SecuritiesΒ Act;
b. itΒ is,Β atΒ theΒ timeΒ ofΒ theΒ offerΒ andΒ acceptanceΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ Shares,Β outsideΒ theΒ UnitedΒ StatesΒ forΒ theΒ purposesΒ ofΒ RegulationΒ S;Β and
c. itΒ didΒ notΒ purchaseΒ orΒ otherwiseΒ acquireΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ basedΒ onΒ orΒ dueΒ toΒ directedΒ sellingΒ effortsΒ (as defined inΒ Rule 902 underΒ the Securities Act), including basedΒ onΒ anΒ advertisementΒ in aΒ publicationΒ with a generalΒ circulation in theΒ United States, norΒ hasΒ itΒ seen orΒ beenΒ awareΒ of any activityΒ that, to itsΒ knowledge,Β constitutesΒ directedΒ sellingΒ effortsΒ inΒ theΒ UnitedΒ States.
39. forΒ PlaceesΒ thatΒ areΒ locatedΒ inΒ theΒ United States,Β each such PlaceeΒ (andΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ suchΒ Placee'sΒ behalf)Β agrees,Β representsΒ andΒ warrantsΒ asΒ follows:
a. itΒ isΒ "qualified institutional buyer" (aΒ "QIB"),Β asΒ definedΒ inΒ RuleΒ 144AΒ under the Securities Act,Β and (i)Β ifΒ acquiringΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ asΒ aΒ fiduciaryΒ orΒ agentΒ forΒ oneΒ orΒ moreΒ investorΒ accounts,Β eachΒ ownerΒ ofΒ suchΒ accountΒ isΒ aΒ QIB,Β theΒ PlaceeΒ hasΒ fullΒ investmentΒ discretionΒ withΒ respectΒ toΒ eachΒ account,Β andΒ hasΒ fullΒ powerΒ andΒ authorityΒ toΒ makeΒ theΒ acknowledgements,Β representationsΒ andΒ agreementsΒ containedΒ hereinΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ eachΒ ownerΒ ofΒ suchΒ account;Β andΒ (ii)Β isΒ acquiringΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ forΒ itsΒ ownΒ account,Β orΒ forΒ theΒ accountΒ ofΒ aΒ QIBΒ forΒ whichΒ itΒ hasΒ fullΒ investmentΒ discretion,Β inΒ eachΒ caseΒ forΒ investmentΒ purposesΒ andΒ notΒ withΒ aΒ viewΒ to,Β orΒ forΒ offerΒ orΒ saleΒ inΒ connectionΒ with,Β anyΒ distributionΒ (withinΒ theΒ meaningΒ ofΒ theΒ UnitedΒ StatesΒ securitiesΒ laws)Β ofΒ suchΒ PlacingΒ Shares;
b. itΒ agreesΒ thatΒ theΒ CompanyΒ mayΒ requireΒ aΒ certificationΒ fromΒ itΒ inΒ supportΒ ofΒ anyΒ transfer,Β inΒ formΒ andΒ substanceΒ satisfactoryΒ toΒ theΒ Company,Β andΒ agreesΒ thatΒ theΒ Company,Β theΒ registrar,Β CRESTΒ orΒ anyΒ transferΒ agentΒ mayΒ reasonablyΒ requireΒ additionalΒ evidenceΒ orΒ documentationΒ supportingΒ complianceΒ withΒ applicableΒ securitiesΒ laws,Β andΒ priorΒ toΒ anyΒ saleΒ orΒ transfer,Β theΒ CompanyΒ mayΒ requireΒ theΒ deliveryΒ ofΒ suchΒ certifications,Β notifications,Β agreementsΒ andΒ warrantiesΒ andΒ legalΒ opinionsΒ ofΒ dulyΒ qualifiedΒ counselΒ asΒ itΒ may reasonablyΒ requireΒ toΒ confirmΒ thatΒ theΒ proposedΒ saleΒ orΒ otherΒ transferΒ compliesΒ withΒ theΒ foregoingΒ restrictions;
c. itΒ acknowledgesΒ thatΒ theΒ CompanyΒ reservesΒ theΒ rightΒ toΒ makeΒ inquiriesΒ ofΒ anyΒ holderΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ orΒ interestsΒ thereinΒ atΒ anyΒ timeΒ asΒ toΒ suchΒ person'sΒ statusΒ underΒ USΒ securitiesΒ laws,Β andΒ toΒ requireΒ anyΒ suchΒ personΒ thatΒ hasΒ notΒ satisfiedΒ theΒ CompanyΒ thatΒ suchΒ personΒ isΒ holdingΒ appropriatelyΒ underΒ USΒ securitiesΒ lawsΒ toΒ transferΒ suchΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ orΒ interestsΒ thereinΒ immediatelyΒ toΒ theΒ Company;
d. itΒ isΒ purchasingΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ forΒ itsΒ ownΒ accountΒ orΒ forΒ oneΒ orΒ moreΒ investmentΒ accountsΒ forΒ whichΒ itΒ isΒ actingΒ asΒ a fiduciary orΒ agent,Β inΒ each caseΒ forΒ investment only, and notΒ with aΒ viewΒ to orΒ for saleΒ orΒ otherΒ transferΒ inΒ connectionΒ withΒ anyΒ distributionΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ inΒ anyΒ mannerΒ thatΒ wouldΒ violateΒ theΒ SecuritiesΒ ActΒ orΒ otherwiseΒ causeΒ theΒ Company'sΒ assetsΒ toΒ becomeΒ subjectΒ toΒ ERISA;
e. itΒ understandsΒ andΒ acknowledgesΒ thatΒ neitherΒ theΒ CompanyΒ norΒ anyΒ ofΒ itsΒ respectiveΒ affiliates,Β makesΒ anyΒ representationΒ asΒ toΒ theΒ availabilityΒ ofΒ anyΒ exemptionΒ underΒ theΒ SecuritiesΒ ActΒ forΒ theΒ reoffer,Β resale,Β pledgeΒ orΒ transferΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ Shares;
f. itΒ agreesΒ thatΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ areΒ "restrictedΒ securities"Β forΒ USΒ securitiesΒ lawΒ purposesΒ whichΒ mayΒ notΒ beΒ depositedΒ intoΒ anyΒ unrestrictedΒ depositaryΒ facilityΒ establishedΒ orΒ maintainedΒ byΒ aΒ depositedΒ bank.Β AsΒ such,Β itΒ agreesΒ notΒ toΒ offerΒ orΒ sellΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ toΒ anyΒ personΒ otherΒ thanΒ inΒ complianceΒ withΒ theΒ followingΒ restrictionsΒ whichΒ applyΒ toΒ allΒ itsΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ andΒ whichΒ shallΒ beΒ affixedΒ inΒ theΒ formΒ ofΒ aΒ legendΒ toΒ anyΒ certificatesΒ ofΒ PlacingΒ Shares:
"THEΒ SECURITIESΒ REPRESENTEDΒ BYΒ THISΒ CERTIFICATEΒ (ORΒ ITSΒ PREDECESSOR)Β HAVEΒ NOTΒ BEENΒ REGISTEREDΒ UNDERΒ THEΒ USΒ SECURITIESΒ ACTΒ OFΒ 1933,Β ASΒ AMENDEDΒ (THEΒ "SECURITIESΒ ACT")Β ORΒ THEΒ SECURITIESΒ LAWSΒ OFΒ ANYΒ STATEΒ ORΒ OTHERΒ JURISDICTIONΒ INΒ THEΒ UNITEDΒ STATES,Β AND,Β ACCORDINGLY,Β MAYΒ NOTΒ BEΒ OFFERED,Β SOLD,Β PLEDGED,Β HEDGEDΒ ORΒ OTHERWISEΒ TRANSFERRED,Β EXCEPTΒ (A)Β INΒ ANΒ OFFSHOREΒ TRANSACTIONΒ MEETINGΒ THEΒ REQUIREMENTSΒ OFΒ RULEΒ 903Β ORΒ 904Β OFΒ REGULATIONΒ SΒ UNDERΒ THEΒ SECURITIESΒ ACTΒ (ANDΒ ISΒ NOTΒ ACTINGΒ INΒ AΒ PREARRANGEDΒ TRANSACTIONΒ RESULTINGΒ INΒ THEΒ RESALEΒ OFΒ THESEΒ SECURITIESΒ INTOΒ THEΒ UNITEDΒ STATES);Β (B)Β INΒ AΒ TRANSACTIONΒ MEETINGΒ THEΒ REQUIREMENTSΒ OFΒ RULEΒ 144Β UNDERΒ THEΒ SECURITIESΒ ACT;Β (C)Β INΒ ACCORDANCEΒ WITHΒ ANOTHERΒ EXEMPTIONΒ FROMΒ THEΒ REGISTRATIONΒ REQUIREMENTSΒ OFΒ THEΒ SECURITIESΒ ACT;Β ORΒ (D)Β PURSUANTΒ TOΒ ANΒ EFFECTIVEΒ REGISTRATIONΒ STATEMENTΒ UNDERΒ THEΒ SECURITIESΒ ACT,Β SUBJECT,Β INΒ THEΒ CASESΒ OFΒ CLAUSESΒ (A),Β (B)Β ANDΒ (C),Β TOΒ THEΒ RIGHTΒ OFΒ THEΒ ISSUERΒ TOΒ OBTAIN,Β IFΒ THEΒ ISSUERΒ SOΒ REQUESTS,Β ANΒ OPINION,Β INΒ FORMΒ ANDΒ SUBSTANCEΒ ANDΒ FROMΒ COUNSELΒ SATISFACTORYΒ TOΒ THEΒ ISSUERΒ ATΒ THEΒ EXPENSEΒ OFΒ THEΒ HOLDERΒ OFΒ THISΒ CERTIFICATE,Β WHICHΒ PROVIDESΒ THATΒ SUCHΒ OFFER,Β SALE,Β PLEDGE,Β HEDGEΒ ORΒ TRANSFERΒ ISΒ INΒ COMPLIANCEΒ WITHΒ THEΒ SECURITIESΒ ACTΒ ANDΒ ALLΒ APPLICABLEΒ SECURITIESΒ LAWSΒ OFΒ ANYΒ STATEΒ OFΒ THEΒ UNITEDΒ STATESΒ ORΒ ANYΒ OTHERΒ APPLICABLEΒ JURISDICTION.
EXCEPTΒ ASΒ OTHERWISEΒ DETERMINEDΒ BYΒ THEΒ ISSUER,Β THEΒ SECURITIESΒ REPRESENTEDΒ BYΒ THISΒ CERTIFICATE (ORΒ ITSΒ PREDECESSOR)Β MAYΒ NOTΒ BEΒ DEMATERIALISED INTOΒ CRESTΒ OR ANYΒ OTHERΒ PAPERLESSΒ SYSTEMΒ UNLESSΒ THEΒ PARTYΒ REQUESTINGΒ SUCHΒ DEMATERIALISATIONΒ FIRSTΒ OBTAINSΒ AΒ LETTERΒ FROMΒ THEΒ TRANSFERREEΒ STATINGΒ THATΒ SUCHΒ TRANSFERREEΒ ISΒ NOTΒ ACTINGΒ INΒ AΒ PREARRANGEDΒ TRANSACTIONΒ RESULTINGΒ INΒ THEΒ RESALEΒ OFΒ THESEΒ SECURITIESΒ INTOΒ THEΒ UNITEDΒ STATESΒ ORΒ MAKESΒ SUCHΒ OTHERΒ REPRESENTATIONSΒ REQUESTEDΒ BYΒ THEΒ ISSUER."
The PlaceeΒ agrees,Β onΒ itsΒ ownΒ behalfΒ andΒ onΒ behalf ofΒ anyΒ accountsΒ forΒ whichΒ the Placee isΒ acting,Β thatΒ ifΒ theΒ PlaceeΒ shouldΒ offer,Β resell,Β pledgeΒ orΒ otherwiseΒ transferΒ anyΒ PlacingΒ Shares,Β it willΒ doΒ soΒ onlyΒ (i)inΒ anΒ offshoreΒ transactionΒ meetingΒ theΒ requirementsΒ ofΒ RuleΒ 903Β orΒ 904Β ofΒ RegulationΒ SΒ underΒ theΒ SecuritiesΒ ActΒ (andΒ notΒ inΒ aΒ prearrangedΒ transactionΒ resultingΒ inΒ theΒ resaleΒ ofΒ suchΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ intoΒ theΒ US),Β (ii)Β inΒ aΒ transactionΒ meetingΒ theΒ requirementsΒ ofΒ RuleΒ 144Β underΒ theΒ SecuritiesΒ Act,Β (iii)Β inΒ accordanceΒ withΒ anotherΒ exemptionΒ fromΒ theΒ registrationΒ requirementsΒ ofΒ theΒ SecuritiesΒ Act,Β orΒ (iv)Β pursuantΒ toΒ anΒ effectiveΒ registrationΒ statementΒ underΒ theΒ SecuritiesΒ Act,Β providedΒ thatΒ theΒ PlaceeΒ notifyΒ theΒ CompanyΒ ofΒ suchΒ proposedΒ transactionΒ andΒ thatΒ theΒ PlaceeΒ intendsΒ toΒ makeΒ suchΒ saleΒ inΒ accordance withΒ the terms of thisΒ paragraph,Β andΒ that, suchΒ offer, resale,Β pledgeΒ orΒ transferΒ must, andΒ will,Β beΒ madeΒ inΒ accordanceΒ withΒ anyΒ applicableΒ securitiesΒ lawsΒ ofΒ anyΒ USΒ stateΒ orΒ otherΒ jurisdictionΒ ofΒ theΒ US.Β TheΒ PlaceeΒ understandsΒ andΒ acknowledgesΒ thatΒ anyΒ offer,Β resale,Β pledgeΒ orΒ transferΒ madeΒ otherΒ thanΒ inΒ complianceΒ withΒ theΒ restrictionsΒ containedΒ inΒ thisΒ paragraphΒ mayΒ notΒ beΒ recognisedΒ byΒ theΒ Company;
a. theΒ PlacingΒ Shares shall onlyΒ beΒ eligibleΒ forΒ settlementΒ through CRESTΒ ifΒ approved byΒ theΒ Company andΒ ifΒ requestedΒ byΒ theΒ Company,Β theΒ purchaserΒ providesΒ aΒ signedΒ letterΒ addressedΒ toΒ theΒ Company,Β containingΒ certainΒ representationsΒ regardingΒ complianceΒ withΒ UnitedΒ StatesΒ securitiesΒ laws;
b. itΒ hasΒ notΒ purchasedΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ asΒ aΒ resultΒ ofΒ "generalΒ solicitation"Β orΒ "generalΒ advertising"Β (withinΒ theΒ meaningΒ ofΒ Rule 502(c)Β underΒ theΒ SecuritiesΒ Act),Β includingΒ advertisements,Β articles,Β researchΒ reports,Β noticesΒ orΒ otherΒ communicationsΒ published inΒ anyΒ newspaper,Β magazine,Β on a websiteΒ orΒ inΒ or onΒ anyΒ similarΒ media, orΒ broadcastΒ overΒ radioΒ orΒ television,Β orΒ anyΒ seminarΒ orΒ meetingΒ whoseΒ attendeesΒ haveΒ beenΒ invitedΒ byΒ generalΒ solicitationΒ orΒ generalΒ advertising;Β and
c. itΒ willΒ informΒ eachΒ purchaserΒ whoΒ purchasesΒ theΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ fromΒ itΒ ofΒ theΒ transferΒ restrictionsΒ statedΒ hereinΒ andΒ thatΒ ifΒ inΒ the future suchΒ purchaser of Placing Shares decidesΒ toΒ offer, resell, pledge,Β orΒ otherwiseΒ transferΒ suchΒ PlacingΒ Shares,Β anyΒ offer,Β resaleΒ orΒ transferΒ mustΒ beΒ madeΒ inΒ complianceΒ withΒ theΒ SecuritiesΒ Act.
TheΒ foregoingΒ representations,Β warrantiesΒ andΒ confirmationsΒ areΒ givenΒ forΒ theΒ benefitΒ ofΒ theΒ CompanyΒ andΒ Liberum.Β
InΒ addition,Β PlaceesΒ shouldΒ noteΒ thatΒ theyΒ willΒ beΒ liableΒ forΒ anyΒ stampΒ duty andΒ allΒ otherΒ stamp,Β issue,Β securities,Β transfer,Β registration,Β documentaryΒ orΒ otherΒ dutiesΒ orΒ taxesΒ (includingΒ anyΒ interest,Β finesΒ orΒ penaltiesΒ relatingΒ thereto)Β payableΒ outsideΒ theΒ UnitedΒ KingdomΒ byΒ themΒ orΒ anyΒ otherΒ personΒ onΒ theΒ subscriptionΒ byΒ themΒ ofΒ anyΒ PlacingΒ SharesΒ orΒ theΒ agreementΒ by themΒ toΒ subscribeΒ forΒ anyΒ PlacingΒ Shares.
EachΒ PlaceeΒ andΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ eachΒ PlaceeΒ acknowledgesΒ andΒ agreesΒ thatΒ LiberumΒ orΒ anyΒ ofΒ itsΒ affiliatesΒ may,Β atΒ theirΒ absolute discretion,Β agreeΒ toΒ becomeΒ aΒ PlaceeΒ inΒ respectΒ ofΒ some orΒ allΒ ofΒ theΒ PlacingΒ Shares.
WhenΒ aΒ PlaceeΒ orΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ behalfΒ of theΒ PlaceeΒ isΒ dealingΒ withΒ Liberum,Β anyΒ moneyΒ heldΒ inΒ anΒ accountΒ withΒ LiberumΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ theΒ PlaceeΒ and/orΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ theΒ PlaceeΒ willΒ notΒ beΒ treatedΒ asΒ clientΒ moneyΒ withinΒ theΒ meaningΒ ofΒ theΒ rulesΒ andΒ regulationsΒ ofΒ theΒ FCAΒ madeΒ underΒ FSMA.Β TheΒ PlaceeΒ acknowledgesΒ thatΒ theΒ moneyΒ willΒ notΒ beΒ subjectΒ toΒ theΒ protectionsΒ conferredΒ byΒ theΒ clientΒ moneyΒ rules;Β asΒ aΒ consequence,Β thisΒ moneyΒ willΒ notΒ beΒ segregatedΒ fromΒ LiberumΒ moneyΒ inΒ accordanceΒ withΒ theΒ clientΒ moneyΒ rulesΒ andΒ willΒ beΒ usedΒ byΒ LiberumΒ inΒ theΒ courseΒ ofΒ itsΒ ownΒ business;Β andΒ theΒ PlaceeΒ willΒ rankΒ onlyΒ asΒ aΒ generalΒ creditorΒ ofΒ Liberum.
AllΒ timesΒ andΒ datesΒ inΒ thisΒ AnnouncementΒ mayΒ beΒ subjectΒ toΒ amendment.Β LiberumΒ shallΒ notifyΒ theΒ PlaceesΒ andΒ anyΒ personΒ actingΒ onΒ behalfΒ ofΒ theΒ PlaceesΒ ofΒ anyΒ changes.
PastΒ performanceΒ isΒ notΒ aΒ guideΒ toΒ futureΒ performanceΒ andΒ personsΒ needingΒ adviceΒ shouldΒ consultΒ anΒ independentΒ financialΒ adviser.
ΒΒ
Appendix II
Definitions
The following definitions apply throughout this Announcement, unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise:
Β
"Admission" admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM and such admission becoming effective in accordance with Rule 6 of the AIM Rules for Companies;
Β
"AIM" the AIM market operated by the London Stock Exchange;
Β
"AIM Rules for Companies" the London Stock Exchange's rules and guidance notes contained in its "AIM Rules for Companies" publication relating to companies whose securities are traded on AIM, as amended from time to time;
Β
"Announcement" this announcement (including the appendices to this announcement);
Β
"Articles" the articles of association of the Company in force on the date hereof;
Β
"Board" or "Directors" the directors of the Company, or any duly authorised committee thereof;
Β
"Circular" the Shareholder circular to be published in connection with the General Meeting;
Β
"Company" AFH Financial Group plc;
Β
"CREST" the computerised settlement system (as defined in the CREST Regulations) operated by Euroclear which facilitates the transfer of title to shares in uncertificated form;
Β
"CREST Regulations" the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/3755) including any enactment or subordinate legislation which amends or supersedes those regulations and any applicable rules made under those regulations or any such enactment or subordinate legislation for the time being in force;
Β
"Euroclear" Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited, a company incorporated in England & Wales with registered number 02878738, being the operator of CREST;
Β
"FCA" the Financial Conduct Authority in its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI of FSMA;
Β
"Form of Proxy" the form of proxy for use at the General Meeting;
Β
"FSMA" the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended);
Β
"General Meeting" or "GM" the general meeting of the Company to be held on 4 December 2017;
Β
"Group" the Company together with its subsidiaries from time to time;
Β
"London Stock Exchange" London Stock Exchange plc;
Β
"Liberum" Liberum Capital Limited, Ropemaker Place, 25 Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9LY;
Β
"Ordinary Shares" the ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the share capital of the Company;
Β
"Placing" the placing of the Placing Shares at the Placing Price by Liberum as agent for and on behalf of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Placing Agreement;
Β
"Placing Agreement" the conditional agreement dated 15 November 2017 between (1) the Company, (2) Liberum relating to the Placing, further details of which are set out in this Announcement;
Β
"Placing Price" 250 pence per Placing Share;
Β
"Placing Shares" the new Ordinary Shares to be issued by the Company and subscribed for pursuant to the Placing;
Β
"Prospectus Directive" 2003/71/EC of the European Parliament and Council of 4 November 2003 (as amended) and any relevant implementing measure in each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive
Β
"Prospectus Rules" the rules made for the purposes of Part VI of FSMA in relation to offers of securities to the public and admission of securities to a regulated market;
Β
"Regulation D" Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act;
Β
"Regulation S" Regulation S as promulgated under the Securities Act;
Β
"Resolutions" the resolutions required to allot and issue the Placing Shares to be set out in the notice of the General Meeting contained in the Circular;
Β
"Securities Act" or "U.S. Securities Act" the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
Β
"Shareholders" holders of Ordinary Shares, from time to time;
Β
"UK" or "United Kingdom" the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
Β
"uncertificated" or "in uncertificated form" recorded on the relevant register of the share or security concerned as being held in uncertificated form in CREST and title to which, by virtue of the CREST Regulations, may be transferred by means of CREST;
Β
"US" or "United States" the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America and the district of Columbia and all other areas subject to its jurisdiction;
Β
"US Person" bears the meaning ascribed to such term by Regulation S; and
Β
"Β£" pounds sterling, the lawful currency of the UK from time to time.
Β
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