IDEA.L Regulatory News (IDEA)

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION HEREIN, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, OR FORWARDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO OR FROM AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, THE UNITED STATES, OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH JURISDICTION.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014.

PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

9 December 2020

Ideagen Plc

("Ideagen" or the "Company")

Result of Placing and PrimaryBid Offer

Ideagen (AIM: IDEA), a leading supplier of Information Management software to highly regulated industries, announces that further to the announcement made yesterday regarding the proposed Fundraising, the Company has raised total gross proceeds of £48.7 million through the Placing of 21,964,921 new Ordinary Shares ("Placing Shares") and subscriptions for a further 697,674 new Ordinary Shares through the PrimaryBid Offer ("PrimaryBid Shares", together with the Placing Shares the "Fundraising Shares"), in each case at a price of 215 pence per Ordinary Share representing a 2.1% discount to the volume weighted average closing price for the 5 days to 8 December 2020 (being the last practicable date prior to the publication of this announcement). The Fundraising Shares represent approximately 9.9% of the Company's current issued share capital.

 David Hornsby, Executive Chairman of Ideagen, commented:

"I am delighted to announce the successful conclusion of this fundraising which was heavily oversubscribed with support from both existing and new shareholders. We truly value the ongoing support from our existing shareholders and welcome the new institutional investors to the share register. The net proceeds allow us to accelerate our inorganic growth objectives, strengthen our negotiating position in M&A discussions and allow us to capitalise more quickly on M&A opportunities as they arise."

Related Party Transaction

Liontrust Asset Management PLC ("Liontrust") has agreed to subscribe for 3,376,142 Ordinary Shares as part of the Placing. Liontrust is a related party of the Company for the purposes of the AIM Rules by virtue of its status as a substantial shareholder of the Company. The Directors consider, having consulted with the Company's nominated adviser, finnCap, that the terms of the Placing with regards to Liontrust are fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned.

Total Voting Rights

Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the 22,662,595 new Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM ("Admission") and it is expected that Admission will become effective and trading will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 14 December 2020.

After Admission, the total number of Ordinary Shares in issue will be 252,115,745 and the total number of voting rights will therefore be 252,115,745. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalised terms used in this announcement shall have the same meanings as defined in the Company's announcement released yesterday, 8 December 2020.

Enquiries:

About Ideagen plc

Ideagen is a UK-headquartered, global technology company quoted on the London Stock Exchange AIM market (Ticker: IDEA.L). 

A global supplier of regulatory and compliance solutions, Ideagen provides a common software platform and an integrated risk-based approach to meet multi-industry standards, enabling compliance with relevant laws, policies, and regulations. 

The Group provides software and services to organisations operating within highly regulated industries such as life sciences, healthcare, banking and finance, insurance, aviation, and aerospace and defence, with its main operational premises spread throughout the UK, EU, US, Middle East and SE Asia. 

Currently, more than 5,700 organisations use Ideagen's products including eight of the top 10 UK accounting firms, all of the top aerospace and defence companies and 75% of the world's leading pharmaceutical firms. 

Ideagen's diverse and varied customer base includes many well-known, global brands such as British Airways, Aggreko, BAE, Ryanair, US Navy, KLM, BBVA, Bank of New York, Commerzbank, Meggitt, Heineken, Johnson Matthey, Haeco Group and European Central Bank. As well as this, Ideagen counts 250 hospitals across the UK and US amongst its client base. For further information please visit www.ideagen.com.

IMPORTANT NOTICES AND DISCLAIMER

This announcement (the "Announcement") and the information contained in it is not for publication, release, transmission distribution or forwarding, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into or from Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa, the United States or any other jurisdiction in which publication, release or distribution would be unlawful. This Announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or issue, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, acquire or subscribe for shares in the capital of the Company in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, the Republic of South Africa, the United States or any other state or jurisdiction where to do so would be unlawful. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of such jurisdictions. This Announcement has not been approved by the London Stock Exchange or by any other securities exchange.

Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent (i) registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or (ii) an available exemption from registration requirements of the Securities Act. The new Ordinary Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered, sold, pledged, taken up, exercised, resold, renounced, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States absent registration under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. Consequently, the new Ordinary Shares are "restricted securities" as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act and none of the securities may be offered or sold or otherwise transferred within the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, US Persons (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S")) except pursuant to (a) a transaction meeting the requirements of Rules 901 to 905 of Regulation S, (b) an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (c) an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The new Ordinary Shares have not been approved, disapproved or recommended by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other U.S. regulatory authority, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of new Ordinary Shares. Subject to certain exceptions, (a) the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa, the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa or the United States and (b) this Announcement may not be published, distributed, forwarded, transferred, copied or otherwise transmitted by any means or media, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, to any persons within the United States or to any US Persons.

This Announcement does not constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or to buy, any new Ordinary Shares to any person in the United States or to US Persons to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation or which may result in the requirement to register the new Ordinary Shares under the Securities Act. The new Ordinary Shares will be sold (a) to investors outside the United States in offshore transactions pursuant to Regulation S and (ii) to investors located in the United States that are reasonably believed to be "qualified institutional buyers" (as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) who have executed and delivered a QIB Representation Letter.

No public offering of the new Ordinary Shares is being made in the United States, United Kingdom or elsewhere. All offers of the new Ordinary Shares will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended from time to time, and includes any relevant implementing measure in any member state (the "Prospectus Regulation") from the requirement to produce a prospectus. This Announcement is being distributed to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA") does not apply.

No prospectus will be made available in connection with the matters contained in this Announcement and no such prospectus is required (in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation) to be published. This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein are for information purposes only and are directed only at persons who are: (a) persons in Member States of the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom, who are qualified investors (within the meaning of article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation) ("Qualified Investors"); and (b) in the United Kingdom, Qualified Investors who are persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of "investment professionals" in article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"); (ii) are persons falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc") of the Order; or (iii) are persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated; (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Persons distributing this Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. Any investment or investment activity to which this Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

This Announcement has been issued by, and is the sole responsibility of, the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by the directors or the Company, or by any of its or their respective partners, employees, advisers, affiliates or agents as to or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.

This Announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 ("MAR"), encompassing information relating to the Placing described above, and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR. In addition, market soundings (as defined in MAR) were taken in respect of the Placing with the result that certain persons became aware of inside information (as defined in MAR), as permitted by MAR. This inside information is set out in this Announcement. Therefore, upon publication of this announcement, those persons that received such inside information in a market sounding are no longer in possession of such inside information relating to the Company and its securities.

finnCap Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the conduct of regulated activities in the United Kingdom, is acting as nominated adviser, Joint Bookrunner and joint broker to the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing and is not acting for and will not be responsible to any person other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Placing. finnCap's responsibilities as the Company's nominated adviser under the AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange and are not owed to the Company or to any Director or to any other person in respect of his decision to acquire shares in the Company in reliance on any part of this Announcement.

Canaccord Genuity Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as Joint Bookrunner and joint broker to the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing and is not acting for and will not be responsible to any person other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Placing.

Except as required under applicable law, neither Canaccord Genuity, finnCap nor any of their directors, officers, partners, employees, advisers, affiliates or agents assume or accept any responsibility whatsoever for the contents of the information contained in this Announcement or for any other statement made or purported to be made by or on behalf of Canaccord Genuity, finnCap or any of their affiliates in connection with the Company, the new Ordinary Shares or the Placing. Canaccord Genuity, finnCap and each of their directors, officers, partners, employees, advisers, affiliates and agents accordingly disclaim all and any responsibility and liability whatsoever, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) in respect of any statements or other information contained in this Announcement and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Canaccord Genuity, finnCap or any of their directors, officers, partners, employees, advisers, affiliates or agents as to the accuracy, completeness or sufficiency of the information contained in this Announcement.

The distribution of this Announcement and/or the Placing in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company, Canaccord Genuity, finnCap or any of their respective affiliates that would, or which is intended to, permit an offering of the new Ordinary Shares in any jurisdiction or result in the possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to new Ordinary Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required.

This Announcement contains (or may contain) certain forward-looking statements with respect to certain of the Company's current expectations and projections about future events. These statements, which sometimes use words such as "aim", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and words of similar meaning, reflect the directors' beliefs and expectations and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may occur in the future, are beyond the Company's control and could cause actual results and performance to differ materially from any expected future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking statement. Statements contained in this Announcement regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. The information contained in this Announcement is subject to change without notice and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not assume any responsibility or obligation to update publicly or review any of the forward-looking statements contained in it, nor do they intend to. As a result of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the recipient should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results or otherwise.

This Announcement does not identify or suggest, or purport to identify or suggest, the risks (direct or indirect) that may be associated with an investment in the Placing. Any investment decision to subscribe for Placing Shares in the Placing must be made solely on the basis of publicly available information, which has not been independently verified by Canaccord Genuity or finnCap.

The information in this Announcement may not be forwarded or distributed to any other person and may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever. Any forwarding, distribution, reproduction or disclosure of this information in whole or in part is unauthorised. Failure to comply with this directive may result in a violation of the Securities Act or the applicable laws of other jurisdictions.

This Announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning any investor's option with respect to the Placing. Each investor or prospective investor should conduct his, her or its own investigation, analysis and evaluation of the business and data described in this Announcement and publicly available information. The price and value of securities can go down as well as up. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this Announcement.

Information to Distributors

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the new Ordinary Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such securities are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the new Ordinary Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the new Ordinary Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the new Ordinary Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, Canaccord Genuity and finnCap will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the new Ordinary Shares.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the new Ordinary Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.