Eco (atlantic) Regulatory News (ECO)

14 Oct 2009 17:36



For immediate release

14 October 2009

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO OR FROM AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

Recommended CASH OFFER 

FOR 

EcoSecurities GROUP plc

BY

CARBON ACQUISITION COMPANY LTD

EXTENSION OF OFFER

Carbon Acquisition Company announces that its recommended offer of 105 pence per EcoSecurities Share (the Offer) has been extended and will remain open until 3.00 p.m. (Dublin time) on 23 October 2009. The Offer remains subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Increased Offer Document.

Level of acceptances

As at 3.00 p.m. on 14 October 2009, being the first closing date of the Offer,  valid acceptances of the Offer for EcoSecurities had been received in respect of a total of 44,732,420 EcoSecurities Shares (representing approximately 37.83 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of EcoSecurities). 

This amount includes 23,536,621 EcoSecurities Shares (representing approximately 19.91 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of EcoSecurities) in respect of which irrevocable undertakings were received as described in the Increased Offer Document.

This amount also includes 19,070,899 EcoSecurities Shares (representing approximately 16.14 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of EcoSecurities) in respect of which acceptances have been received from persons acting in concert with Carbon Acquisition Company where that person has a beneficial interest in the relevant EcoSecurities Shares.

EcoSecurities Shares held prior to the offer period

As at close of business on 2 September 2009, being the last Business Day prior to the offer period in respect of the Offer (for the purposes of Rule 17 of the Irish Takeover Rules), the following persons who are deemed to be acting in concert with Carbon Acquisition Company were interested in relevant securities of EcoSecurities:

As at close of business on 13 October 2009, being the last Business Day prior to the date of this announcement, these holdings were unchanged other than the custodian holding of J.P. Morgan Clearing Corporation which had reduced to 34,000 EcoSecurities Shares (representing approximately 0.03 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of EcoSecurities) and the custodian holding of Chase Nominees Limited which had reduced to 294,616 EcoSecurities Shares (representing approximately 0.25 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of EcoSecurities).

Acquisitions of EcoSecurities Shares during the offer period

On 29 September 2009, J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. ("JPMSL") acquired 121,000 EcoSecurities Shares, representing approximately 0.10 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of EcoSecurities, at a price of 105 pence per EcoSecurities Share.

On 25 September 2009, JPMSL acquired 65,000 EcoSecurities Shares, representing approximately 0.05 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of EcoSecurities, at a price of 105 pence per EcoSecurities Share.

On 23 September 2009, JPMSL acquired 39,000 EcoSecurities Shares, representing approximately 0.03 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of EcoSecurities, at a price of 105 pence per EcoSecurities Share.

On 23 September 2009, JPMSL entered into unconditional sale and purchase agreements to acquire in aggregate 18,299,550 EcoSecurities Shares, representing approximately 15.48 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of EcoSecurities, each at a price of 105 pence per EcoSecurities Share. These agreements are with a number of separate sellers including Special Mutual Fund Avenir, entities connected with Niclas Eriksson, Oy Finvestock AB, funds managed by United Bankers fund management and clients holding EcoSecurities Shares through accounts with SEB Private Banking. These acquisitions have all been completed.

On 14 September 2009, J.P. Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation ("JPMVEC") acquired 100,000 EcoSecurities Shares, representing approximately 0.08 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of EcoSecurities, at a price of 100 pence per EcoSecurities Share.

JPMSL and JPMVEC are acting in concert with Carbon Acquisition Company.

Irrevocable Undertakings

Carbon Acquisition Company received irrevocable undertakings to accept (or procure the acceptance of) the Offer in respect of a total of 23,536,621 EcoSecurities Shares, representing, in aggregate, approximately 19.91 per cent. of EcoSecurities' existing issued share capital, as set out below:

The irrevocable undertakings from such EcoSecurities Directors, Marc Stuart and CSI will remain binding in the event of a competing offer being made for EcoSecurities. Further details of the irrevocable undertakings were set out in the Increased Offer Document.

Irish Competition Authority Approval

The Irish Competition Authority has given its approval today under the Irish Competition Act for the acquisition by Carbon Acquisition Company of EcoSecurities to be put into effect.

General

Save as disclosed in this announcement, as at close of business on 13 October 2009, the last Business Day prior to the date of this announcement, neither Carbon Acquisition Company nor, so far as Carbon Acquisition Company is aware, any person acting in concert with Carbon Acquisition Company is interested in or holds any short positions in any class of relevant securities of EcoSecurities.

Any additional interest(s) or dealing(s) of persons presumed to be acting in concert with Carbon Acquisition Company that come to its attention which will be discussed with the Irish Takeover Panel and, as necessary, will be announced if requested by the Irish Takeover Panel.

Enquiries

For further information contact:

Further information

Terms defined in the Increased Offer Document dated 25 September 2009 have the same meanings when used in this announcement.

References to a percentage of the EcoSecurities Shares are based on there being 118,238,852 EcoSecurities Shares in issue as at the close of business on 13 October 2009, being the last Business Day prior to the date of this announcement, but do not include any shares issuable under options and other rights granted under EcoSecurities Share Option Schemes.

The availability of the Offer to persons outside Ireland and the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction. Such persons should inform themselves about and observe any applicable requirements. The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into or from or by use of the mails of or by any means of instrumentality (including, without limitation, telephonically or electronically) of inter-state or foreign commerce of or any facilities of a national securities exchange of any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so. Persons receiving such documents (including, without limitation, nominees, trustees and custodians) should observe these restrictions. Failure to do so may invalidate any related purported acceptance of the Offer Notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions, Carbon Acquisition Company reserves the right to permit the Offer to be accepted if, in its sole discretion, it is satisfied that the transaction in question is exempt from or not subject to the legislation or regulation giving rise to the restrictions in question.

The Carbon Acquisition Company Responsible Persons accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Carbon Acquisition Company Responsible Persons (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. 

J.P. Morgan plc which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority is acting exclusively for Carbon Acquisition Company in connection with the Offer and no-one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than Carbon Acquisition Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan plc or for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any other matters referred to in this announcement.

This announcement does not constitute an offer or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities. Any response in relation to the Offer should only be made on the basis of the information contained in the Increased Offer Document.

Dealing disclosure requirements

Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules, if any person is, or becomes, "interested" (directly or indirectly) in, one per cent or more of any class of "relevant securities" of EcoSecurities, all "dealings" in any "relevant securities" of EcoSecurities (including by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such "relevant securities") must be publicly disclosed by not later than 3.30  p.m (Dublin time) on the business day following the date of the relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the date on which the Offer becomes, or is declared, unconditional as to acceptances or lapses or is otherwise withdrawn or on which the "offer period" otherwise ends. If two or more persons co-operate on the basis of any agreement, either express or tacit, either oral or written, to acquire an "interest" in "relevant securities" of EcoSecurities, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules.

Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the Irish Takeover Rules, all "dealings" in "relevant securities" of EcoSecurities by Carbon Acquisition Company or EcoSecurities, or by any of their respective "associates" must also be disclosed by no later than 12 noon (Dublin time) on the Business Day following the date of the relevant transaction.

A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose "relevant securities" "dealings" should be disclosed can be found on the Irish Takeover Panel's website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie.

"Interests in securities" arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an "interest" by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities.

Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Irish Takeover Rules, which can also be found on the Irish Takeover Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a dealing under Rule 8, please consult the Irish Takeover Panel's website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie or contact the Irish Takeover Panel on telephone number +353 (0)1 678 9020; fax number +353 (0)1 678 9289.