12 Mar 2018 12:15
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION
THE FOLLOWING ANOUNCEMENT IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT A PROSPECTUS AND INVESTORS SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY INVESTMENT DECISION IN RELATION TO THE NEW GVC SHARES EXCEPT ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION IN THE PROSPECTUS (AS SUPPLEMENTED TODAY BY THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROSPECTUS) AND THE SCHEME DOCUMENT.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12 March 2018
RECOMMENDED OFFERFORLADBROKES CORAL GROUP PLCBYGVC HOLDINGS PLC
to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangementunder Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
Publication of Supplementary Prospectus
GVC Holdings PLC ("GVC" or the "Company") announces today that a Supplementary Prospectus has been approved by the UK Listing Authority which is supplemental to and must be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of GVC (the "Prospectus") which was published on 9 February 2018 in connection with the acquisition by GVC of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Ladbrokes Coral plc ("Ladbrokes Coral") (the "Acquisition").
The Supplementary Prospectus is being published to disclose details of the Company's audited results for the financial year ended 31 December 2017 and is a requirement under the Prospectus Rules.
The Supplementary Prospectus has been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM. A copy of the Supplementary Prospectus will also be available later today, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons with a registered address in, or who are citizens, residents or nationals of, a Restricted Jurisdiction, on GVC's website at www.gvc-plc.com/html/investor/welcome.asp and on Ladbrokes Coral's website at www.ladbrokescoralplc.com/investors.
GVC further notes that Ladbrokes Coral has announced that, at the meetings of the shareholders of Ladbrokes Coral held on 8 March 2018 in connection with the Acquisition, the resolutions tabled at each meeting were passed.
Capitalised terms not otherwise defined and used in this announcement have the meaning given to them in the Prospectus, as the context so requires, unless stated otherwise.
Enquiries
GVC Holdings PLC
Kenneth Alexander, Chief Executive Officer +44 (0) 1624 652 559
Paul Miles, Chief Financial Officer +44 (0) 20 3938 0079
Nick Batram, Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Strategy +44 (0) 20 3938 0066
Houlihan Lokey (Financial Adviser to GVC) +44 (0) 20 7839 3355
David Sola
Dilshad Kunnummal
Quynh Ho
Investec (Corporate Broker to GVC) +44 (0) 20 7597 5970
Chris Treneman
Garry Levin
Carlton Nelson
Buchanan (PR Adviser to GVC)
David Rydell +44 (0) 7798 646021
Henry Harrison-Topham +44 (0) 7872 604467
Chris Lane +44 (0) 7899 793612
Important notices
Houlihan Lokey EMEA, LLP ("Houlihan Lokey"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting for GVC and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement. In connection with such matters, Houlihan Lokey, its affiliates and their respective partners, directors, officers, employees and agents will not regard any person other than GVC as their client, nor will they be responsible to anyone other than GVC for providing the protections afforded to their clients or for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement or any other matter referred to in this announcement.
Investec Bank plc ("Investec"), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, is acting for GVC and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement. In connection with such matters, Investec, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents will not regard any person other than GVC as their client, nor will they be responsible to anyone other than GVC for providing the protections afforded to their clients or for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement or any other matter referred to in this announcement.
Forward‐looking statements
This announcement contains statements that are or may be forward looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement may be forward looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets", "should", "continue", "plans", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects" or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of Ladbrokes Coral's, GVC's or the Enlarged Group's operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of government regulation on Ladbrokes Coral's, GVC's or the Enlarged Group's business.
Such forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward looking statements. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Ladbrokes Coral and GVC disclaim any obligation to update any forward looking or other statements contained herein, except as required by applicable law or regulation. If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial adviser, duly authorised under the FSMA if you are resident in the United Kingdom, or from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.
Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Takeover Code"), any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) 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 Takeover Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 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.
Further information
This announcement is for information purposes only. It is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer, invitation or the solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The Acquisition is being effected solely by means of the Scheme Document which, together with the Forms of Proxy and the Ladbrokes Coral Form of Election, contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to make elections under the Mix and Match Facility.
This announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law, the rules of the London Stock Exchange and the Takeover Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws and regulations of any other jurisdictions.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent document.
Additional restrictions regarding the United States and other overseas jurisdictions
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into certain jurisdictions may be restricted by the laws of those jurisdictions. Accordingly, copies of this announcement and all other announcements and documentation relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, released, published, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction or any Restricted Jurisdiction. Persons receiving such announcements or documentation (including, without limitation, nominees, trustees and custodians) should inform themselves of, and observe, these restrictions. Failure to do so may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violations of any such restrictions by any person.
The New GVC Shares, the CVRs and any Loan Notes issued pursuant to the terms of the CVR Instrument have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and, accordingly, may not be offered, sold, resold, delivered, distributed or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States without an exemption from registration under the US Securities Act.
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any New GVC Shares, CVRs or Loan Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the New GVC Shares, CVRs or Loan Notes in any state of the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification under the securities laws of any such state. The New GVC Shares and the CVRs are expected to be offered in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act provided by Section 3(a)(10) thereof. For the purpose of qualifying for this exemption, Ladbrokes Coral will advise the Court that its sanction of the Scheme will be relied upon by GVC as an approval of the Scheme following a hearing on its fairness to Ladbrokes Coral Shareholders at which hearing all such shareholders are entitled to appear in person or through counsel to support or oppose the sanctioning of the Scheme and with respect to which notification has been given to all Ladbrokes Coral Shareholders.
Any Loan Notes issued to Ladbrokes Coral Shareholders in exchange for the CVRs issued pursuant to the Scheme will be issued in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act provided by Section 3(a)(9) thereof.
The New GVC Shares and CVRs to be issued to Ladbrokes Coral Shareholders pursuant to the Scheme and any Loan Notes to be issued to Ladbrokes Coral Shareholders in exchange for the CVRs generally should not be treated as "restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the US Securities Act and persons who receive securities in the Scheme (other than "affiliates" as described in the paragraph below) may resell them without restriction under the US Securities Act.
Under US federal securities laws, a Ladbrokes Coral Shareholder who is an "affiliate" of either Ladbrokes Coral or GVC within 90 days prior to, or of GVC at any time following, the Effective Date will be subject to certain US transfer restrictions relating to the New GVC Shares and the CVRs received in connection with the Scheme. The New GVC Shares, CVRs or Loan Notes held by such affiliates may not be sold without registration under the US Securities Act, except pursuant to the applicable resale provisions of Rule 144 under the US Securities Act or in a transaction not subject to such requirements, including transactions conducted pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. Whether a person is an "affiliate" of a company for such purposes depends upon the circumstances, but affiliates of a company can include certain officers, directors and significant shareholders. A person who believes that he or she may be an affiliate of Ladbrokes Coral or GVC should consult his or her own legal advisers prior to any sale of any New GVC Shares, CVRs or Loan Notes.
The receipt of New GVC Shares pursuant to the Acquisition by a US Ladbrokes Coral Shareholder may be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and under applicable state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Each Ladbrokes Coral Shareholder is urged to consult his independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition.
It may be difficult for US Ladbrokes Coral Shareholders to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the US federal securities laws, since GVC and Ladbrokes Coral are located in countries other than the United States, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the United States. US Ladbrokes Coral Shareholders may not be able to sue a non‐US company or its officers or directors in a non‐US court for violations of the US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non‐US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgment.
None of the securities referred to in this announcement have been approved or disapproved by the SEC, any state securities commission in the United States or any other US regulatory authority, nor have such authorities passed upon or determined the adequacy or accuracy of the information contained in this announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.
The Acquisition relates to the acquisition of shares of a UK company and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under the laws of England and Wales. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to proxy solicitation or tender offer rules under the US Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Scheme is subject to the disclosure requirements, rules and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement, which differ from the requirements of US proxy solicitation or tender offer rules. However, if GVC were to elect, with the consent of the Panel, and, in certain circumstances, the consent of Ladbrokes Coral to implement the Acquisition by means of a Takeover Offer (as defined in the Scheme Document), such Takeover Offer will be made in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and Regulation 14E thereunder.
Such a Takeover Offer would be made in the United States by GVC and no one else. In addition to any such Takeover Offer, any affiliates of GVC's financial advisers, GVC, its affiliates, any affiliates of Ladbrokes Coral's financial advisers or their respective affiliates, may make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares in Ladbrokes Coral outside such Takeover Offer during the period in which such Takeover Offer would remain open for acceptance. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be made they would be made outside the United States and would comply with applicable law, including the US Exchange Act. Any information about such purchases will be disclosed as required in the United Kingdom, will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website: www.londonstockexchange.com, or otherwise by press release.
Unless otherwise determined by GVC or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition is not being made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction.
The availability of New GVC Shares, CVRs and Loan Notes under the Acquisition to Ladbrokes Coral Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom, and the availability of the Mix and Match Facility to such shareholders, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are resident. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements.
Publication on websites and availability of hard copies
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this announcement will be available on GVC's website at http://www.gvc-plc.com/html/investor/welcome.asp and a copy of the Supplementary Prospectus will be available on GVC's website at http://www.gvc-plc.com/html/investor/welcome.asp and at Ladbrokes Coral's website at https://www.ladbrokescoralplc.com/investors as soon as possible but in any event by no later than 12 noon on 13 March 2018, but will not be available to persons in Restricted Jurisdictions or any other jurisdictions where publication of this announcement, or the Supplementary Prospectus (as relevant), would violate the laws of such jurisdiction. The contents of the websites referred to in this announcement are not incorporated into, and do not form part of, this announcement.
Subject to certain restrictions relating to persons in Restricted Jurisdictions, GVC Shareholders, Ladbrokes Coral Shareholders and persons with information rights may request a hard copy of this announcement and/or of the Supplementary Prospectus (as relevant) by contacting GVC's registrars, Link Asset Services Limited, tel: +44 (0)371 664 0321 or Ladbrokes Coral's registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC, tel: +44 (0)370 702 0127. Those persons may also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent to them in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy form.