17 Jun 2015 14:26
Strictly Private & Confidential
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FALLING UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CODE. THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT AN OFFER WILL BE MADE, NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY OFFER MIGHT BE MADE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
17 June 2015
AGA Rangemaster Group plc ("AGA" or the "Company")
Statement regarding Possible Offer
The Company notes the recent movement in the Company's share price and confirms that it is in discussions with The Middleby Corporation ("Middleby") regarding a possible cash offer for the Company.
There can be no certainty that any formal offer will be made, or as to the terms of any offer.
In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, Middleby is required, by no later than 5.00 p.m. on 15 July 2015, to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for the Company in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make such an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline may be extended with the consent of the Takeover Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6 of the Code.
In accordance with Rule 2.10 of the Code, the Company confirms that, as at the date of this announcement, it has 69,264,223 ordinary shares of 46 7/8p nominal value each in issue and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities. The International Securities Identification Number of the ordinary shares is GB00B2QMX606.
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be available on the Company's website at www.agarangemaster.com.
The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.
Enquiries:
AGA Rangemaster Group plc: +44 (0)1926 455 731
William McGrath, Chief Executive
Shaun Smith, Finance Director
Financial Adviser - Rothschild: +44 (0)20 7280 5000
Stuart Vincent
Alistair Allen
Brunswick Group +44 (0)20 7404 5959
Simon Sporborg
Nina Coad
Financial Adviser and Broker - Numis +44 (0)20 7260 1000
Chris Wilkinson
N M Rothschild & Sons Limited ("Rothschild"), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for AGA Rangemaster Group plc and for no one else in connection with the subject matter of this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than AGA Rangemaster Group plc for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in connection with the subject matter of this announcement.
Numis Securities Limited ("Numis"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for AGA Rangemaster Group plc and for no one else in connection with the subject matter of this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than AGA Rangemaster Group plc for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in connection with the subject matter of this announcement.
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 www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.