CRC.L Regulatory News (CRC)

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF EU REGULATION 596/2014 (AS AMENDED) (WHICH FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC UK LAW PURSUANT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (AS AMENDED)). UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

24 February 2023

Circle Property plc

("Circle", the "Company" or the "Group")

Proposed Disposal of Concorde Park

Proposed Cancellation of admission of Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM

and

Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting

Circle Property plc (AIM: CRC), is pleased to announce that it has conditionally exchanged contracts to sell Concorde Business Park, Maidenhead ("Concorde Park"), the Group's largest remaining asset, to Skelton Developments (Nottingham) Limited (the "Buyer") for a cash consideration of approximately £12.3 million (the "Disposal"). Completion of the Disposal is expected to take place on 29 March 2023, subject to Shareholder approval.

Following Completion, the net proceeds from the Disposal will be held as Group cash and are expected to be returned to Shareholders through the proposed B Shares Issues as announced by the Company on 20 January 2023, the first of which is expected to occur in March 2023.

Upon completion of the Disposal, the Company will be regarded as an AIM Rule 15 cash shell, having ceased to own, control or conduct all or substantially all, of its existing trading business, activities or assets. The Disposal is therefore conditional on the consent of Shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The Resolutions to be proposed at the Extraordinary General Meeting also include a resolution approving the future disposal of the Company's final remaining asset, 300 Pavilion Drive, Northampton, when appropriate (the "Final Disposal").

In addition, the Company is seeking Shareholders' approval to cancel the admission of the Company's Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM. In accordance with Rule 41 of the AIM Rules, the Company has notied the London Stock Exchange of the proposed Cancellation. Given that the Board wishes to complete the Returns of Capital whilst the Company remains traded on AIM, the definitive timetable in relation to Cancellation is dependent on timing of the receipt of completion monies from the sale of Somerset House and 400 Pavilion Drive (expected in late February and mid March 2023), and consequently, the timing of the proposed Returns of Capital to Shareholders. Assuming the passing of the Resolutions, completion of the Disposal and Returns of Capital in March and April 2023, it is expected that Cancellation will occur in May 2023.

A copy of the Circular containing more information in relation to the Disposal, Final Disposal, Cancellation and Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting will be posted to Shareholders on 28 February 2023 and will be available on the Company's website at https://www.circleproperty.co.uk/investors/reports-and-presentations/2023 shortly. 

The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at the offices of Oak Group (Jersey) Limited, 3rd Floor, IFC5 Castle Street, St. Helier, Jersey, JE2 3BY, Channel Islands at 3.30 p.m. on 22 March 2023.

Enquiries:

Details of the Proposed Disposal of Concorde Park, proposed Cancellation of admission of Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM and Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting

1. Introduction

The Company announces that it has conditionally exchanged contracts to sell Concorde Business Park, Maidenhead ("Concorde Park"), the Group's largest remaining asset, to Skelton Developments (Nottingham) Limited (the "Buyer") for a cash consideration of approximately £12.3 million (the "Disposal"). Completion of the Disposal is expected to take place on 29 March 2023, subject to Shareholder approval.

Following Completion, the net proceeds from the Disposal will be held as Group cash and are expected to be returned to Shareholders through the proposed B Shares Issues as announced by the Company on 20 January 2023, the first of which is expected to occur in March 2023.

Upon completion of the Disposal, the Company will be regarded as an AIM Rule 15 cash shell, having ceased to own, control or conduct all or substantially all, of its existing trading business, activities or assets. The Disposal is therefore conditional on the consent of Shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The Resolutions included in the Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting at the end of this document also include a resolution approving the future disposal of the Company's final remaining asset, 300 Pavilion Drive, Northampton, when appropriate (the "Final Disposal").

In addition, the Company is seeking Shareholders' approval to cancel the admission of the Company's Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM. In accordance with Rule 41 of the AIM Rules, the Company has notied the London Stock Exchange of the proposed Cancellation. Given that the Board wishes to complete the Returns of Capital whilst the Company remains traded on AIM, the definitive timetable in relation to Cancellation is dependent on timing of the receipt of completion monies from the sale of Somerset House and 400 Pavilion Drive (expected in late February and mid March 2023), and consequently, the timing of the proposed Returns of Capital to Shareholders. Assuming the passing of the Resolutions, completion of the Disposal and Returns of Capital expected in March and April 2023 it is expected that Cancellation will occur in May 2023.

2. Background to, and reasons for, the Disposal

Introduction

On 14 February 2022, the Company announced its strategy to make targeted asset sales in an orderly manner over a period of two to three years (if not sooner). The Board stated that it was committed to maximising returns and delivering value to Shareholders and expected that a minimum of two returns of capital would be made to Shareholders.

The Company announced a Capital Reduction and proposed Return of Capital on 20 January 2023 which was approved by Shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting held on 15 February 2023. Subject to successful application for reporting fund status as detailed in the circular published by the Company on 20 January 2023, the Board expects that the first Return of Capital will take place in March 2023.

Whilst it is currently expected that the Company will be accepted as a reporting fund by HMRC, if for any reason following confirmation from HMRC that is not the case, which would result in the proposed B Share Issues being treated as income rather than capital, the Directors may look to pursue alternative ways of returning cash to Shareholders.

Contracts were exchanged to sell the Company's remaining property in Birmingham (Somerset House, Temple Street) as announced on 23 November 2022, which is expected to complete in late February 2023, for a consideration of £15.18 million. In addition, on 24 January 2023, the Company announced that it had exchanged contracts on the sale of Victory House, 400 Pavilion Drive, Northampton ("400 Pavilion Drive") at a sale price of £2.75 million, with completion expected by mid-March 2023. Subject to the timing of the completion of the sale of Somerset House, the first Return of Capital in March 2023 is expected to be for approximately £46 million (£1.57 per Ordinary Share).

Assuming completion of the sale of Somerset House and 400 Pavilion Drive as set out above, as at the date of this announcement, the Company's remaining assets are Concorde Park and Park House, 300 Pavilion Drive, Northampton Business Park ("300 Pavilion Drive"). 300 Pavilion Drive is currently being marketed for sale. It is currently the Board's intention to have sold 300 Pavilion Drive prior to Cancellation occurring, in order for the disposal proceeds to be returned to Shareholders by way of a Return of Capital whilst the Company is admitted to trading on AIM. However, this will depend on the timing of any sale of 300 Pavilion Drive and the Board will keep this under review noting the costs associated with maintaining a quotation on AIM.

Disposal of Concorde Park and AIM Rule 15

The Company today announced that it has entered into a binding conditional sale and purchase agreement ("SPA") for the sale of Concorde Park, the Group's largest asset, to Skelton Developments (Nottingham) Limited (the "Buyer") for a cash consideration of approximately £12.3 million (the "Disposal") payable on Completion. Completion of the Disposal is expected to take place five working days following Shareholder approval at the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on 22 March 2023, or earlier if agreed between the Company and the Buyer.

Concorde Park comprises approximately 68,919 sq ft of office space including approximately 22,308 sq ft of currently vacant refurbished offices, available to let. Concorde Park is 68% let, as follows: Socionext Europe GMBH (27.64%), Regus Maidenhead Concorde Park Limited (23.8%), Avetta Limited (6.77%), Stabilo International GMBH (5.56%) and Lambert Smith Hampton Group Limited (3.85%). Concorde Park has total rent passing of approximately £1.11 million per annum (£23.87 psf overall) and total estimated rental value once fully let of approximately £1.63 million per annum. Concorde Park was acquired by the Company in August 2019 for £14.6 million and had a valuation as at 30 September 2022 of £15.9 million. The profit before tax for the year ended 31 March 2022 attributable to Concorde Park was £0.63 million.

In accordance with AIM Rule 15, the Disposal constitutes a fundamental change of business of the Company. The Disposal is therefore conditional on the consent of Shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The Resolutions at the end of the Circular also include a resolution approving the future sale of 300 Pavilion Drive, when appropriate.

On completion of the Disposal, the Company will cease to own, control or conduct all or substantially all, of its existing trading business, activities or assets. The Company will therefore become an AIM Rule 15 cash shell. As there is no intention by the Directors to make an acquisition or acquisitions which constitute a reverse takeover under AIM Rule 14 (including seeking re-admission as an investing company (as defined under the AIM Rules)) on or before the date falling six months from completion of the Disposal or be re-admitted to trading on AIM as an investing company under the AIM Rules (which requires the raising of at least £6 million), the Directors are seeking Shareholder approval for Cancellation, as detailed below.

3. Background to, and reasons for, the proposed Cancellation

The Board has concluded that, in light of the Company becoming an AIM Rule 15 cash shell in the near future with no trading business, it is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders to seek Shareholders' approval to cancel the admission of the Company's Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM. In accordance with Rule 41 of the AIM Rules, the Company has notied the London Stock Exchange of the proposed Cancellation. . Assuming the passing of the Resolutions, completion of the Disposal and Returns of Capital expected in March and April 2023, it is expected that Cancellation will occur in May 2023.

Pursuant to Rule 41 of the AIM Rules, Resolution 3 (relating to the Cancellation) requires the approval of not less than 75 per cent. of the votes cast by Shareholders (whether present in person or by proxy) at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Resolution 3 is conditional upon (i) Resolution 1 being approved; and (ii) the completion of the Disposal on the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement.

Since admission to AIM, the Company has suffered from limited liquidity in the Ordinary Shares and the share price has remained at a significant discount to the Company's net asset value ("NAV"). The closing mid-market price of the Ordinary Shares on 23 February 2023 (being the latest practicable date prior to this announcement) was £2.09, a 9 per cent. discount to an unaudited estimated NAV per share as at 31 January 2023 of £2.30.

The Directors have conducted a review of the benets and disadvantages to the Company and its Shareholders in retaining its admission to trading on AIM. The Directors believe that the Cancellation is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole. Following the Disposal, the Returns of Capital and the Final Disposal in line with the Company's stated strategy, the Company will have no trading business and limited cash resources. Maintaining the Company's admission to trading on AIM requires signicant management time, legal and regulatory obligations, and comes with material nancial costs (such as professional fees, London Stock Exchange fees and other costs associated with being an AIM-traded company) that the Directors believe are disproportionate to the benets to the Company.

4. Process for, and principal effects of, the Cancellation

Under the AIM Rules, the Company is required to give at least 20 clear Business Days' notice of the Cancellation. Pursuant to Rule 41 of the AIM Rules, the Cancellation is also conditional upon the approval of not less than 75 per cent. of the votes cast by Shareholders (whether present in person or by proxy) at an Extraordinary General Meeting. The Notice at the end of the Circular contains Resolution 3 which proposes that the Company's admission to trading on AIM be cancelled. Additionally, Cancellation will not take effect until at least five clear Business Days have passed following the passing of Resolution 3. 

Given that the Board wishes to complete the Returns of Capital whilst the Ordinary Shares remain admitted to trading on AIM, the definitive timetable in relation to Cancellation is dependent on timing of the receipt of completion monies from disposals and the timing of the proposed Returns of Capital to Shareholders. Assuming the passing of the Resolutions, completion of the Disposal and Returns of Capital expected in March and April 2023, it is expected that Cancellation will occur in May 2023. The Cancellation timetable will be announced to Shareholders via a Regulatory Information Service in due course. Shareholders should note that Cancellation will not take place if Resolution 3 is not passed at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Resolution 3 is conditional upon (i) Resolution 1 being approved; and (ii) the completion of the Disposal on the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement.

As soon as possible following the Cancellation, it is the Board's intention to liquidate solvently the Group and therefore no matched bargain facility will be implemented and there will be no formal market for Shareholders to effect transactions in the Ordinary Shares following Cancellation.

The principal effects of the Cancellation will be that:

· there will be no public market on any recognised investment exchange or multilateral trading facility for the Ordinary Shares and, consequently, there can be no guarantee that a Shareholder will be able to purchase or sell any Ordinary Shares;

· while the Ordinary Shares will remain freely transferable, it is likely that the liquidity and marketability of the Ordinary Shares will, in the future, be more constrained than at present and the secondary market value of such Ordinary Shares may be adversely affected as a consequence;

· in the absence of a formal market and quote, it may be more difficult for Shareholders to determine the market value of their investment in the Company at any given time;

· the regulatory and financial reporting regime applicable to companies whose shares are admitted to trading on AIM will no longer apply;

· the levels of disclosure and corporate governance within the Group may not be as stringent as those for a Company quoted on AIM; however the Company will continue to be subject to the City Code for a period of at least ten years from the date of Cancellation;

· Shareholders will no longer be afforded the protections given by the AIM Rules, such as the requirement to be notified of certain events and the requirement that the Company seek shareholder approval for certain corporate actions, where applicable, including substantial transactions, financing transactions, reverse takeovers, related party transactions and fundamental changes in the Company's business, including certain acquisitions and disposals;

· in order to increase the cost saving by becoming a private company, following the Cancellation, the Company will no longer be obligated to produce and publish half-yearly reports and related financial statements;

· the Company will cease to have a nominated adviser and broker;

· whilst the Company's CREST facility will remain in place following the Cancellation, the Company's CREST facility may be cancelled in the future and, in that event, although the Ordinary Shares will remain transferable, they will cease to be transferable through CREST. In this instance, Shareholders who hold Ordinary Shares in CREST will receive share certificates; and

· the Cancellation may have taxation consequences for Shareholders. Shareholders who are in any doubt about their tax position should consult their own professional independent tax adviser.

Shareholders should be aware that if the Cancellation takes effect, they will at that time cease to hold shares in a quoted company and will become Shareholders in an unquoted company which will be likely significantly to reduce the marketability and liquidity of the Ordinary Shares and the principal effects referred to above will automatically apply to the Company from the date of the Cancellation.

The above considerations are not exhaustive, and Shareholders should seek their own independent advice when assessing the likely impact of the Cancellation on them.

5. Extraordinary General Meeting

Set out at the end of the Circular is a Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting to be held at the offices of Oak Group (Jersey) Limited at 3rd Floor, IFC5 Castle Street, St. Helier, Jersey, JE2 3BY, Channel Islands at 3.30 p.m. on 22 March 2023 at which the following Resolutions will be proposed:

· Resolution 1 (to approve the Disposal)

· Resolution 2 (to approve the Final Disposal)

· Resolution 3 (to approve the proposed Cancellation)

All Resolutions are being proposed as special resolutions and will require approval by 75 per cent. of those votes cast (by persons present in person or by proxy) at the Extraordinary General Meeting to be passed.

Completion of the Disposal, the Final Disposal and Cancellation are conditional, inter alia, on Shareholders passing the respective Resolutions being proposed at the Extraordinary General Meeting. If Shareholders do not pass the Resolutions, completion of the Disposal, the Final Disposal and Cancellation will not proceed.

6. Recommendation

The Board believes that the Resolutions and Disposal, Final Disposal and Cancellation are in the best interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole.

Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the Extraordinary General Meeting, as all of the Directors holding Ordinary Shares intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings of 5,334,069 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 18.26 per cent. of the Company's existing Ordinary Shares.

EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS

* In accordance with Rule 41 of the AIM Rules, the Company has notied the London Stock Exchange of the proposed Cancellation. Given that the Board wishes to complete the Returns of Capital whilst the Ordinary Shares remain traded on AIM, the definitive timetable in relation to Cancellation is dependent on timing of the receipt of completion monies from disposals and the timing of the proposed Returns of Capital to Shareholders. Assuming the passing of the Resolutions, completion of the Disposal and Returns of Capital expected in March and April 2023, it is expected that Cancellation will occur in May 2023. Further announcements will be made by the Company through a Regulatory Information Service, as appropriate.

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions apply throughout this document unless the context requires otherwise: