HOTC.L Regulatory News (HOTC)

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014 (AS AMENDED) AS IT FORMS PART OF THE DOMESTIC LAW OF THE UNITED KINGDOM BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (AS AMENDED).

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF ANY OFFER OR INVITATION TO SELL OR ISSUE, OR ANY SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR, ANY SECURITIES OF HOTEL CHOCOLAT GROUP PLC.

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS RESTRICTED, AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, TRANSMISSION, FORWARDING OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION OR STATE WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE, PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AMOUNTS TO A FINANCIAL PROMOTION FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 21 OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 ("FSMA") AND HAS BEEN APPROVED BY PRIMARYBID LIMITED WHICH IS AUTHORISED AND REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY (FRN 779021)

22 July 2021

Hotel Chocolat Group plc

("Hotel Chocolat" or the "Company")

PrimaryBid Offer

Hotel Chocolat (LON: HOTC), the AIM quoted British chocolatier and multi-channel retailer is pleased to announce, a conditional offer for subscription via PrimaryBid (the "PrimaryBid Offer") of new ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each in the Company ("New Ordinary Shares") at an issue price of 355 pence per New Ordinary Share (the "Issue Price"), being a discount of 2.7 per cent to the closing mid-price of 365 pence per existing ordinary share on 21 July 2021. The Company is also conducting a placing of new Ordinary Shares at the Issue Price by way of an accelerated bookbuild process (the "Placing") as announced earlier today.

The PrimaryBid Offer and the Placing are conditional on the new Ordinary Shares, to be issued pursuant to the PrimaryBid Offer and the Placing, being admitted to trading on AIM ("Admission"). Admission is expected to be take place at 8.00 a.m. on 27 July 2021. The PrimaryBid Offer will not be completed without the Placing also being completed.

The Company will use the funds raised to fund capital investment to increase long-term sales capacity and capitalise on anticipated future potential growth.

PrimaryBid Offer

The Company values its retail investor base and is therefore pleased to provide retail investors the opportunity to participate in the PrimaryBid Offer by applying exclusively through the PrimaryBid mobile app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. PrimaryBid does not charge investors any commission for this service.

The PrimaryBid Offer, via the PrimaryBid mobile app, will be open to retail investors following the release of this announcement. The PrimaryBid Offer will close on completion of the Bookbuild process. The PrimaryBid Offer may close early if it is oversubscribed.

The Company reserves the right to scale back any order at its discretion. The Company and PrimaryBid reserve the right to reject any application for subscription under the Offer without giving any reason for such rejection.

No commission is charged to investors on applications to participate in the PrimaryBid Offer made through PrimaryBid. It is vital to note that once an application for New Ordinary Shares has been made and accepted via PrimaryBid, an application cannot be withdrawn.

For further information on PrimaryBid or the procedure for applications under the PrimaryBid Offer, visit www.PrimaryBid.com or email PrimaryBid at enquiries@primarybid.com. 

The New Ordinary Shares will be issued free of all liens, charges and encumbrances and will, when issued and fully paid, rank pari passu in all respects with the Company's existing Ordinary Shares.

Details of the PrimaryBid Offer

The Company highly values its retail investor base which has supported the Company alongside institutional investors over several years. Given the longstanding support of retail shareholders, the Company believes that it is appropriate to provide retail investors the opportunity to participate in the PrimaryBid Offer. The Company is therefore making the PrimaryBid Offer available exclusively through the PrimaryBid mobile app.

The PrimaryBid Offer is offered under the exemptions against the need for a prospectus allowed under the Prospectus Rules. As such, there is no need for publication of a prospectus pursuant to the Prospectus Rules, or for approval of the same by the Financial Conduct Authority in its capacity as the UK Listing Authority. The PrimaryBid Offer is not being made into any Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so.

There is a minimum subscription of £250 per investor under the terms of the PrimaryBid Offer which is open to existing shareholders and other investors subscribing via the PrimaryBid mobile app.

For further details please refer to the PrimaryBid website at www.PrimaryBid.com. The terms and conditions on which the PrimaryBid Offer is made, including the procedure for application and payment for New Ordinary Shares, is available to all persons who register with PrimaryBid.

Investors should make their own investigations into the merits of an investment in the Company. Nothing in this announcement amounts to a recommendation to invest in the Company or amounts to investment, taxation or legal advice.

It should be noted that a subscription for New Ordinary Shares and investment in the Company carries a number of risks. Investors should consider the risk factors set out on www.PrimaryBid.com before making a decision to subscribe for New Ordinary Shares. Investors should take independent advice from a person experienced in advising on investment in securities such as the New Ordinary Shares if they are in any doubt. 

Liberum Capital Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") in the United Kingdom and is acting as Nominated Adviser to the Company in connection with PrimaryBid Offer and Liberum will not be acting for any other person or otherwise be responsible responsible to anyone for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the PrimaryBid Offer or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Liberum Capital's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser are owed solely to London Stock Exchange and are not owed to any person in respect of his or her decision to acquire any shares in the Company.

This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States of America. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from registration. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States.

This announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "forecasts", "plans", "prepares", "anticipates", "projects", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "seeks", "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this announcement and include statements regarding the Company's and the Directors' intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, amongst other things, the Company's prospects, growth and strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company's actual performance, achievements and financial condition may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this announcement. In addition, even if the Company's results of operations, performance, achievements and financial condition are consistent with the forward-looking statements in this announcement, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. Any forward-looking statements that the Company makes in this announcement speak only as of the date of such statement and (other than in accordance with their legal or regulatory obligations) neither the Company, nor any of its associates, directors, officers or advisers undertakes any obligation to update such statements. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.