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Placing and Open Offer

4 May 2021 10:39

RNS Number : 4501X
Infrastrata PLC
04 May 2021
 

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO, THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA), CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SAME WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK version of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014 ("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, those persons that received inside information in a market sounding are no longer in possession of such inside information relating to the Company and its securities. 

 

4 May 2021

 

InfraStrata plc

("InfraStrata" or the "Company")

Proposed Placing to raise a minimum of £9.0 million by way of accelerated bookbuild

Proposed Open Offer to raise up to an additional £4.1 million

&

Notice of General Meeting

 

InfraStrata plc (AIM: INFA), the UK quoted company focused on strategic infrastructure projects and physical asset lifecycle management, announces its intention to raise an expected minimum of £9 million (before expenses) by way of a placing of a minimum of 30,000,000 new Ordinary Shares at a price of 30 pence per share to existing and new investors (the "Placing"), as well as an Open Offer of up to 13,567,696 new Ordinary Shares to be issued to Qualifying Shareholders at a price of 30 pence per share to raise up to an additional £4.1 million. The Placing is being conducted in two tranches.

 

The First Placing will utilise the Company's existing authorities to allot shares and disapply pre-emption rights granted at the general meeting held on 13 January 2021, whilst the Second Placing and Open Offer will be subject to the approval of Shareholders to allot the Second Placing Shares and the Open Offer Shares at a general meeting. A circular (the "Circular") containing further details of the Fundraising and the General Meeting to be held on 24 May 2021 is being posted to Shareholders on or around 6 May 2021 and will be available to view on the Company's website.

 

Capitalised terms not otherwise defined in the text of this Announcement have the meaning given to them in the section headed "Definitions" below.

 

Transaction Highlights:

 

o Placing to raise an expected minimum of £9 million (before expenses) in two tranches, the First Placing of approximately £3.6 million and the Second Placing of an expected minimum of approximately £5.4 million.

 

o Open Offer of up to 13,567,696 Ordinary Shares to raise up to £4.1 million (before expenses), assuming full take up from Shareholders.

 

o The net proceeds from the Fundraising will be used to carry out material fabrication works as the Company has now secured its first major contract through the £26m Saipem contract recently won, as well as to:

o satisfy the performance bond required for phase I of the Saipem contract;

o provide capital expenditure for, inter alia, site improvements to ensure that the works can be carried out to the requisite standard; and

o additional working capital to support enlarged business activities.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Company announces a conditional placing to raise an expected minimum of £9 million (before expenses) by way of the issue of an expected minimum of 30,000,000 Placing Shares in two tranches at the Issue Price. The Placing will be conducted by way of an accelerated bookbuild process which will be launched immediately following this Announcement, in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the Appendix to this Announcement. The bookbuild is expected to close on 4 May 2021. A further announcement will be made in due course, confirming the final quantum and number of shares to be raised pursuant to the Placing once the bookbuild is closed. Cenkos is acting as sole bookrunner in connection with the Placing.

In addition to the Placing, in order to provide Shareholders with an opportunity to participate in the proposed issue of new Ordinary Shares, the Company is providing all Qualifying Shareholders the opportunity to subscribe for an aggregate of 13,567,696 Open Offer Shares, to raise up to approximately £4.1 million, on the basis of 1 new Ordinary Share for every 6 Existing Ordinary Shares held on the Record Date, at the Issue Price, payable in full on acceptance.

The Second Placing and the Open Offer are conditional, inter alia, upon Shareholders approving the Resolution numbered 1 on the Notice of Meeting at the General Meeting which will be held at 11.00 a.m. on 24 May 2021 at the offices of the Company, at Northern & Shell Building, 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN, at which the Resolutions will be proposed.

The purpose of this Announcement and the Circular is, amongst other things, to explain the background to and reasons for the Fundraising and to explain why the Board believes that it will promote the growth and success of the Company for the benefit of the Shareholders as a whole, and to seek Shareholder approval for the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting.

BACKGROUND TO AND REASONS FOR THE PLACING

 

Since the Company's acquisition of the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast in December 2019, Infrastrata has made considerable progress in its strategy to become a leading infrastructure and physical asset life-cycle management business. Importantly, the Company has further expanded its geographic reach though the acquisition of additional sites across the UK, namely those of Appledore in North Devon, and most recently, the twin assets of Methil (east coast Scotland) and Arnish (west coast Scotland). With the most recent acquisition of assets in Scotland, the Group now has the largest fabrication footprint across the UK, increasing its ability to tender on large wind farm projects all around the UK.

The Company also possesses unique facilities at the top and bottom end of the UK shipyard market respectively, owning two of the largest dry docks in Europe (Harland & Wolff (Belfast)), as well as the largest undercover drydock specialising in vessels less than 120m long (Harland & Wolff (Appledore)). Its two specialist fabrication facilities are also capable of shipbuilding and offshore renewable, oil & gas and commercial fabrication projects. Infrastrata owns one of only two docks licensed for marine waste disposal in the UK and one of three UK shipbuilders suitable for major MOD contract work, presenting opportunities for sovereign contracts. Since the commencement of the Company's trading at Harland and Wolff (Belfast) in 2019, over 37 vessels have been welcomed into the site and successfully redelivered to its clients on time and on budget; with repeat business from key clients such as Stena, P&O, Irish Ferries and Sea Trucks. The spread of the Group's sites provides strong competitive positioning, as it allows a large enough fabrication footprint to compete for large scale projects, spreads project risk and allows balanced work loading between sites. The Company can be competitive on overall project costs compared with operators in the Far East, with lower shipping costs and in-transit damage risk.

With the various sites now acquired and UK geographical footprint well established with a total of 256 acres, the Group has been implementing necessary capital expenditure to ensure that its offering is suitable to carry out a variety of planned contract wins across its key target market sectors in the areas of defence, commercial, oil & gas, cruise & ferry and renewables.

Growth within the Company's target markets is supported by government policy around the shift towards renewable energy, as well as a focus on retaining infrastructure work within the UK. The UK Government has publicly stated that it seeks to level up UK shipbuilding and increase investment in UK shipyards as a result of Brexit. Furthermore, the UK Government wishes to promote "shovel ready" infrastructure projects and has implemented policy to move energy reliance to renewable sources, with the goal of powering every home in the UK from renewables by 2030. UK energy supplies are expected to come under greater pressure as a result of Brexit and the inability to store excess renewable power. A publication from the International Renewable Energy Agency states that offshore wind power generation could provide 4% of global power generation by 2050, and that new turbine capacity is set to reach 8.3MW by 2022, a 184% increase since 2010. The Company is now well positioned to capitalise on associated projects across the renewables, defence, commercial, oil & gas, and cruise & ferry markets across its four main sites.

As reported in its recently published interim results, the Company is gaining significant traction in revenue growth as demonstrated by the generation of over £5m in sales for the six months to January 2021, representing a ten-fold increase to those of the prior year's interim period. The Company has carried out a number of smaller projects and is now seeing values of contracts on which is tendering and winning increase significantly. Notably, the Company was pleased to recently announce a major fabrication contract with leading engineering company Saipem Limited, for the fabrication and load-out of eight wind turbine generator (WTG) jacket foundations for the EDF Renewables and ESB Energy owned Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Wind Farm project located in the outer Firth of Forth in Scotland. This binding contract is valued at approximately £26 million, and contains contractual conditions and obligations on both parties, which are standard in contracts of this type. The Company's work under this contract shall commence from 1 July 2021. Key to winning this contract was the Company's ability to split work across its yards in order to reduce completion risk and meet schedules. Should the Company deliver to expectations on this phase I of the Saipem contract, the Directors believe that it is well placed to be awarded with further contract work for phase II, estimated to be worth £43m.

This work represents the first major contract for the business, and is one of several within the Company's pipeline of opportunities. The Company's capacities, capabilities and strategic locations naturally lend themselves to substantial projects around the UK and export opportunities further ashore. Since the Harland & Wolff (Belfast) acquisition in December 2019, the Group has built a sizeable, weighted pipeline of opportunities across its five markets, which amounts to £800m in potential contract values over the next 18 months. Of this pipeline, the Company has identified £72.5m in near term revenue opportunities. The Group is currently in ongoing discussions with prime defence contractors regarding subcontract fabrication opportunities for a series of defence contracts, and has received several approaches from cruise operators for technical dry dockings before cruise vessels are brought back into operation.

Between now and 2025, the Directors have estimated a weighted pipeline of potential contract opportunities for the Group of £1.68 billion, which applies a probability factor to the £6.4bn of unweighted opportunities identified across the Group's five key markets. As the Company executes on this pipeline, the Directors anticipate that the Group will be cash break-even by end of 2021 on an annualised basis.

Use of Proceeds

As described above, the Company has significantly expanded its operational footprint with a view to being able to carry out material fabrication works, and has now secured its first major contract through the £26m Saipem contract recently won. As a condition of the Sapiem contract, Infrastrata is required to put in place a £4m performance bond as cash collateral, which is a common condition for contracts of this nature. Furthermore, the Company requires further capital expenditure of up to £2m for site improvements to ensure that the works can be carried out to the requisite standard and within the contractual delivery schedule. Additional working capital will also be required for the enlarged Group. Accordingly the net proceeds of the Placing, expected to be a minimum of approximately £8.3 million will be used as follows:

• £4.0 million to satisfy performance bond required for phase I of Saipem contract;

• up to £2.0 million for necessary capital expenditure to ensure Saipem contract can be carried out; and

• £2.3 million for additional working capital to support enlarged business.

Any proceeds raised from the Open Offer will be used for further capital expenditure and working capital and to improve the Company's balance sheet to tender on its pipeline of contract win opportunities.

DETAILS OF THE PLACING AND THE PLACING AGREEMENT

 

On 4 May 2021, the Company has entered into a Placing Agreement with Cenkos under which Cenkos has agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to procure Placees for the Placing Shares at the Issue Price, to raise an expected minimum of £9 million (before expenses) through the issue of an expected minimum of 30,000,000 Placing Shares. The Placing has not been underwritten.

The Issue Price represents a discount of approximately 24 per cent. to the Company's closing mid-market price on AIM of 39.5 pence per Ordinary Share on 30 April 2021, being the last dealing day prior to the date of this Announcement.

The Placing is being conducted in two tranches. The First Placing will utilise the Company's existing authorities to allot shares and for the disapplication of pre-emption rights granted at the general meeting held on 13 January 2021, whilst the Second Placing will be subject to the approval of Shareholders to allot the Second Placing Shares and to disapply pre-emption rights in respect of such allotment at the General Meeting.

The first tranche of the Placing is expected to raise a total of approximately £3.6 million (before expenses) by the issue of 12,160,353 new Ordinary Shares (being the First Placing Shares) at the Issue Price. The First Placing is conditional upon, inter alia, First Admission becoming effective at 8.00 a.m. on 7 May 2021 (or such later date as the Company and Cenkos may agree, being not later than 8.00 a.m. on 8 June 2021). The First Placing is not conditional on completion of the Second Placing occurring so there is a possibility that the First Placing may complete and the First Placing Shares are issued but that the Second Placing does not complete.

The second tranche of the Placing is expected to raise a minimum of approximately £5.4 million (before expenses) by the issue of an expected minimum of 17,839,647 Second Placing Shares at the Issue Price. The Second Placing is conditional upon, inter alia, First Admission becoming effective. In addition, the Second Placing is conditional, inter alia, on Second Admission becoming effective at 8.00 a.m. on 25 May 2021 (or such later date as the Company and Cenkos may agree, being not later than 8.00 a.m. on 8 June 2021).

The Issue Price represents a discount of approximately 24 per cent. to the Company's closing mid-market price on AIM of 39.5 pence per Ordinary Share on 30 April 2021, being the last dealing day prior to the date of this Announcement. The Directors believe that the Issue Price is fair and reasonable as far as Shareholders are concerned, particularly given the ability for Shareholders to subscribe for New Shares at the Issue Price pursuant to the Open Offer.

The Placing Agreement contains, inter alia, customary undertakings and warranties given by the Company in favour of Cenkos as to the accuracy of information contained in this Announcement and the Circular and other matters relating to the Company. Cenkos may terminate the Placing Agreement in specified circumstances prior to Admission, including, inter alia, for material breach of the Placing Agreement by the Company or of any other warranties contained in it and in the event of a force majeure event occurring.

The Placing Shares will be issued credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the Existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive dividends and other distributions declared on or after the date on which they are issued.

It is expected that CREST accounts will be credited on the relevant day of Admission and that share certificates (where applicable) will be dispatched within 10 working days of each Admission.

Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the New Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is anticipated that First Admission will become effective and that dealings in the First Placing Shares will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 7 May 2021 and that Second Admission will become effective and dealings in the Second Placing Shares and the Open Offer Shares will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 25 May 2021.

DETAILS OF THE OPEN OFFER

 

The Company is proposing to raise up to approximately £4.1 million (before expenses) under the Open Offer. Up to 13,567,696 new Ordinary Shares are available to Qualifying Shareholders pursuant to the Open Offer at the Issue Price, payable in full on acceptance. Any Open Offer Shares not subscribed for by Qualifying Shareholders will be available to Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility. Qualifying Shareholders may apply for Open Offer Shares under the Open Offer at the Issue Price on the following basis:

 

1 Open Offer Share for every 6 Existing Ordinary Shares

 

and so in proportion to the number of Existing Ordinary Shares held on the Record Date.

Entitlements of Qualifying Shareholders will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Open Offer Shares. Fractional entitlements which would otherwise arise will not be issued to the Qualifying Shareholders but will be made available under the Excess Application Facility. The Excess Application Facility enables Qualifying Shareholders to apply for Excess Shares in excess of their Open Offer Entitlement.

Not all Shareholders will be Qualifying Shareholders. Shareholders who are located in, or are citizens of, or have a registered office in certain overseas jurisdictions will not qualify to participate in the Open Offer.

Application will be made for the Open Offer Entitlements to be admitted to CREST. It is expected that such Open Offer Entitlements will be credited to CREST on 7 May 2021. Applications through the CREST system may only be made by the Qualifying CREST Shareholder originally entitled or by a person entitled by virtue of bona fide market claims. The Open Offer Shares must be paid in full on application. The latest time and date for receipt of completed Application Forms or CREST applications and payment in respect of the Open Offer is 11.00 a.m. on 21 May 2021.

The Open Offer is conditional on the following:

· the Resolution numbered 1 in the Notice of Meeting being passed at the General Meeting;

· the Placing Agreement not being terminated prior to Second Admission and becoming unconditional in all respects; and

· Admission of the Open Offer Shares becoming effective on or before 8.00 a.m. on 25 May 2021 (or such later date as the Company and Cenkos may agree, being not later than 8 June 2021).

Accordingly, if the Placing Agreement conditions are not satisfied or waived (where capable of waiver), the Open Offer will not proceed and the Open Offer Shares will not be issued and all monies received by Link Group will be returned to the applicants (at the applicants' risk and without interest) as soon as possible thereafter. Any Open Offer Entitlements admitted to CREST will thereafter be disabled. Application will be made for the Open Offer Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected that dealings in the Open Offer Shares will commence on AIM at 8.00 a.m. on 25 May 2021.The ISIN for the entitlements under the Open Offer is GB00BMDTXP38 and the ISIN for Excess Shares under the Excess Application Facility is GB00BMDTXV97.

 

GENERAL MEETING AND THE RESOLUTIONS

Set out at the end of the Circular, expected to be published on or around 6 May 2021, is the notice convening a General Meeting of the Company to be held at 11.00 a.m. on 24 May 2021 at the offices of the Company, at Northern & Shell Building, 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN at which the Resolutions will be put to the Company's Shareholders. In particular, the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting will be as follows:

Resolution 1 - Authority to allot the Second Placing Shares and the Open Offer Shares and disapplication of pre-emption rights

Resolution 1 will be proposed as a special resolution of the Company. The Directors will be seeking authority in accordance with section 551 of the Act to allot New Shares (being the maximum required for the purposes of issuing the Second Placing Shares and the Open Offer Shares) and for such shares to be allotted on a non-pre-emptive basis in accordance with section 571 of the Act.

Resolution 2 - Directors' authority to allot shares

Resolution 2 is an ordinary resolution authorising the Directors to allot relevant securities, in addition to the Second Placing Shares and the Open Offer Shares. If granted, Resolution 2 provides further authority following the Placing and the Open Offer to allot additional Ordinary Shares. The Resolution is specifically proposed to enable the Directors to have the flexibility to grow the Company in an appropriate manner.

Resolution 3 - Disapplication of pre-emption rights

Resolution 3 is a special resolution to renew the Directors' powers to allot shares for cash without first offering them to existing shareholders, pro-rata to their existing holdings. The Directors consider that it is in the interests of the Company, in certain circumstances, for the Directors to have a limited ability to allot shares for cash without having first to offer them to existing shareholders.

The authorities to be granted pursuant to Resolutions 2 and 3 are consistent with the levels approved at the general meeting of the Company in January 2021 and shall expire on the earlier of the date falling 15 months from the date of the passing of such resolution and the annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2022 (unless renewed, varied or revoked by the Company prior to or on that date). The Directors consider that it is prudent and desirable that the Company be granted these authorities.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

The Directors unanimously believe that the Fundraising is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders and unanimously recommend Shareholders to vote in favour of the Resolutions as they intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings in the Company.

 

For further information, please visit www.infrastrataplc.com or contact:

 

InfraStrata plc

John Wood, Chief Executive

Seena Shah, Interim Head of Marketing & Communications

 

+44 (0)20 3900 2122

media@infrastrataplc.com

  

Cenkos Securities plc (Nominated Adviser & Broker)

Stephen Keys / Callum Davidson / Dan Hodkinson (Corporate Finance)

Michael Johnson (Sales)

 

+44 (0)20 7397 8900

 

 

 

 

 

EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS

 

Record Date for the Open Offer

6.00p.m. on 30 April 2021

 

Announcement of the Fundraising

4 May2021

 

Announcement of the result of the Placing

5 May 2021

Ex-entitlement Date for the Open Offer

7.00 a.m. on 5 May 2021

 

Posting of the Circular

6 May 2021

 

Admission and commencement of dealings of the First Placing Shares on AIM

8.00 a.m. on 7 May 2021

 

 

Open Offer Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements credited to stock accounts of Qualifying CREST Shareholders in CREST

As soon as practical after 8.00 a.m. on 7 May 2021

 

 

CREST accounts credited in respect of the First Placing Shares (subject to First Admission)

7 May 2021

 

 

Where applicable, expected date for dispatch of definitive share certificates for First Placing Shares in certificated form

Within 10 Business Days of First Admission

 

Latest recommended time and date for requesting withdrawal of Open Offer Entitlements from CREST

4.30p.m. 17May 2021

 

 

Latest time and date for depositing Open Offer Entitlements into CREST

3.00 p.m. on 18 May 2021

 

 

Latest time and date for splitting of Application Forms (to satisfy bona fide market claims only)

3.00 p.m. on 19 May 2021

 

 

Latest time and date for receipt of proxy voting instructions for the General Meeting

11.00 a.m. on 20 May 2021

 

 

Latest time and date for receipt of the completed Application Form and appropriate payment in respect of Open Offer Shares or settlement of relevant CREST instruction

11.00 a.m. on 21 May 2021

 

 

 

General Meeting

11.00 a.m. on 24 May 2021

 

Announcement of result of General Meeting and Placing and Open Offer

24 May 2021

 

 

Admission and commencement of dealings of the Second Placing Shares and Open Offer Shares on AIM

8.00 a.m. on 25 May 2021

 

 

CREST accounts credited in respect of the Second Placing Shares (subject to Second Admission) and Open Offer Shares

25 May 2021

 

 

Where applicable, expected date for dispatch of definitive share certificates for Second Placing Shares and Open Offer Shares in certificated form

Within 10 Business Days of Second Admission

 

 

Note: All references to times in this timetable are to London times and each of the times and dates are indicative only and may be subject to change. Any such change will be notified by an announcement on a Regulatory Information Service.

 

DEFINITIONS

In this Announcement, the following expressions shall have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Act"

the Companies Act 2006 (as amended)

"Admission"

in respect of the Placing Shares means First Admission and/or Second Admission (as the context requires) and in respect of the Open Offer Shares means admission of the Open Offer Shares to trading on AIM becoming effective in accordance with the AIM Rules

"AIM"

the market of that name operated by the London Stock Exchange

"AIM Rules"

the AIM Rules for Companies as published and amended from time to time by the London Stock Exchange

"Announcement"

this announcement, including the terms and conditions of the Placing in the appendix

"Application Form"

the application form relating to the Open Offer to be enclosed with the Circular for use by Qualifying non-CREST Shareholders

"Board" or "Directors"

the directors of the Company, as at the date of the Circular, whose names are set out in the Circular

"Business Days"

any day on which banks in London are open for business (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)

"Cenkos" or "Nominated Adviser" or "Broker"

Cenkos Securities plc, as the Company's nominated adviser and sole broker

"certificated" or "in certificated form"

where an Ordinary Share is not in uncertificated form (i.e. not in CREST)

"Company" or "InfraStrata"

InfraStrata plc, a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 06409712 whose registered office is at Riverbank House, 2 Swan Lane, London EC4R 3TT

"CREST"

the relevant system for the paperless settlement of trades and the holding of uncertificated securities operated by Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/3755)

"Excess Application Facility"

the arrangement pursuant to which Qualifying Shareholders may apply for additional Open Offer Shares in excess of their Open Offer Entitlement in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Open Offer

"Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement"

in respect of each Qualifying CREST Shareholder, their entitlement (in addition to their Open Offer Entitlement) to apply for Open Offer Shares pursuant to the Excess Application Facility, which is conditional on them taking up their Open Offer Entitlement in full

"Excess Shares"

Ordinary Shares applied for by Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility

"Ex-entitlement Date"

the date on which the Existing Ordinary Shares are marked "ex" for entitlement under the Open Offer, being 5 May 2021;

"Existing Ordinary Shares"

the 81,406,176 Ordinary Shares in issue as at the date of the Circular

"FCA"

the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom

"First Admission"

admission of the First Placing Shares to trading on AIM becoming effective in accordance with Rule 6 of the AIM Rules which is expected to take place on 6 May 2021

"First Placing"

the placing by Cenkos on behalf of the Company of the First Placing Shares at the Issue Price pursuant to the terms of the Placing Agreement

"First Placing Shares"

the 12,160,353 new Ordinary Shares to be issued to Placees pursuant to the First Placing

"FSMA"

the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended)

"Fundraising"

the Placing and the Open Offer

"General Meeting" or "GM"

the general meeting of the Company to be convened for 11.00 a.m. on 24 May 2021 pursuant to the Notice of Meeting

"Group"

the Company and its subsidiaries from time to time

"ISIN"

International Securities Identification Number

"Issue Price"

30 pence per New Share

"Link Group"

a trading name of Link Market Services Limited

"London Stock Exchange"

London Stock Exchange plc

"Money Laundering Regulations"

the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on Payer) Regulations 2017 and obligations in connection with money laundering under the Criminal Justice Act 1993 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

"New Shares"

the Placing Shares and the Open Offer Shares

"Notice of Meeting"

the notice convening the General Meeting which will be set out at the end of the Circular

"Open Offer"

the proposed conditional invitation to Qualifying Shareholders to apply for the Open Offer Shares at the Issue Price on the terms and conditions to be outlined in the Circular and, where relevant, in the Application Form

"Open Offer Entitlement"

the pro rata basic entitlement for Qualifying Shareholders to subscribe for 1 Open Offer Share for every 6 Existing Ordinary Shares held on the Record Date pursuant to the Open Offer

"Open Offer Shares"

up to 13,567,696 Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to the Open Offer

"Ordinary Shares"

ordinary shares of 1 penny each in the Company

"Overseas Shareholders"

Shareholders with registered addresses, or who are citizens or residents of, or incorporated in a Restricted Jurisdiction

"Placees"

those persons who conditionally agreed to subscribe for Placing Shares

"Placing"

together, the First Placing and the Second Placing

"Placing Agreement"

the conditional agreement dated 4 May 2021 between the Company and Cenkos relating to the Placing

"Placing Shares"

the First Placing Shares and/or the Second Placing Shares (as the context requires)

"Qualifying CREST Shareholders"

Qualifying Shareholders holding Existing Ordinary Shares, which, on the register of members of the Company on the Record Date, are in a CREST account

"Qualifying Non CREST Shareholders"

Qualifying Shareholders holding Existing Ordinary Shares, which, on the register of members of the Company on the Record Date, are in certificated form

"Qualifying Shareholders"

holders of Existing Ordinary Shares on the register of members of the Company at the Record Date (but excluding, subject to certain exceptions, any Overseas Shareholder who is located or resident or who has a registered address in, or who is a citizen of, the United States of America or any other Restricted Jurisdiction)

"Regulation S"

Regulation S under the Securities Act

"Record Date"

6.00 p.m. on 30 April 2021 being the latest time by which transfers of Existing Ordinary Shares must be received for registration by the Company in order to allow transferees to be recognised as Qualifying Shareholders

"Restricted Jurisdiction"

the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa or Japan, and any of their territories or possessions

"Resolutions"

the resolutions to be set out in the Notice of Meeting

"Second Admission"

admission of the Second Placing Shares to trading on AIM becoming effective in accordance with Rule 6 of the AIM Rules which is expected to take place on 25 May 2021

"Second Placing"

the placing by Cenkos on behalf of the Company of the Second Placing Shares at the Issue Price pursuant to the terms of the Placing Agreement

"Second Placing Shares"

the new Ordinary Shares to be issued to Placees pursuant to the Second Placing, expected to be a minimum of 17,839,647 new Ordinary Shares

"Securities Act"

the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended

"Shareholders"

holders of Existing Ordinary Shares

"UK MAR"

means the Market Abuse Regulation ((EU) No 596/2014) as it forms part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and the relevant technical standards relating thereto

"United Kingdom' or "UK'

the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

"VWAP"

the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares on AIM

"£"

UK pounds sterling, being the lawful currency of the United Kingdom

 

Important Notices

This Announcement is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy the Placing Shares in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of South Africa, Japan, or in any other jurisdiction where such offer or sale would be unlawful.

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 into 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 communication is only addressed to, and directed at, persons in member states of the European Economic Area who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation ("Qualified Investors"). For the purposes of this provision, the expression "Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129. In the United Kingdom, this communication is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, "qualified investors" (as defined in the UK version of the Prospectus Regulation, which forms part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended from time to time)): (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of "investment professional" in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), or (ii) who are high net worth companies, unincorporated associations and partnerships and trustees of high value trusts as described in Article 49(2) of the Order, and (iii) other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to and will only be engaged in with such persons. This communication must not be acted on or relied on in any member state of the European Economic Area who are not Qualified Investors or in the United Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons.

The merits or suitability of any securities must be independently determined by the recipient on the basis of its own investigation and evaluation of the proposed investment. Any such determination should involve, among other things, an assessment of the legal, tax, accounting, regulatory, financial, credit and other related aspects of the securities.

This Announcement may not be used in making any investment decision. This Announcement does not contain sufficient information to support an investment decision and investors should ensure that they obtain all available relevant information before making any investment. This Announcement does not constitute and may not be construed as an offer to sell, or an invitation to purchase or otherwise acquire, investments of any description, nor as a recommendation regarding the possible offering or the provision of investment advice by any party. No information in this Announcement should be construed as providing financial, investment or other professional advice and each prospective investor should consult its own legal, business, tax and other advisers in evaluating the investment opportunity. No reliance may be placed for any purposes whatsoever on this Announcement or its completeness.

Nothing in this Announcement constitutes investment advice and any recommendations that may be contained herein have not been based upon a consideration of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any specific recipient.

The information and opinions contained in this Announcement are provided as at the date of the Announcement and are subject to change and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein and no responsibility, obligation or liability or duty (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) is or will be accepted by the Company, Cenkos or any of their respective affiliates or by any of their respective officers, employees or agents in relation to it. No reliance may be placed for any purpose whatsoever on the information or opinions contained in this Announcement or on its completeness, accuracy or fairness. This Announcement has not been approved by any competent regulatory or supervisory authority.

Potential investors should be aware that any investment in the Company is speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and could result in the loss of all or substantially all of their investment. Results can be positively or negatively affected by market conditions beyond the control of the Company or any other person. There may be other additional risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause the results or returns generated by the Company to be materially lower than anticipated. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.

The information in this Announcement may include forward-looking statements, which are based on the current expectations and projections about future events and in certain cases can be identified by the use of terms such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "estimate", "intend", "continue", "target", "believe" (or the negatives thereon) or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements, as well as those included in any related materials, are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company, including, among other things, the development of its business, trends in its operating industry, and future capital expenditures and acquisitions. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events in the forward-looking statements may not occur.

Both the Company and Cenkos and their respective affiliates and their respective officers, employees and agents expressly disclaim any and all liability which may be based on this Announcement and any errors therein or omissions therefrom.

No representation or warranty is given to the achievement or reasonableness of future projections, management targets, estimates, prospects or returns, if any. Any views contained herein are based on financial, economic, market and other conditions prevailing as at the date of this Announcement. The information contained in this Announcement will not be updated.

This Announcement does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, any offer or invitation or inducement for sale, transfer or subscription of, or any solicitation of any offer or invitation to buy or subscribe for or to underwrite, any share in the Company or to engage in investment activity (as defined by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in any jurisdiction nor shall it, or any part of it, or the fact of its distribution form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or investment decision whatsoever, in any jurisdiction. This Announcement does not constitute a recommendation regarding any securities.

Cenkos, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting as nominated adviser and broker to the Company and for no one else, including any recipient of this Announcement, in connection with the Placing and other matters referred to in this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Cenkos or for affording advice in relation to the Placing or any other matter referred to in this Announcement. Cenkos has not authorised the contents of, or any part of, this Announcement and no liability whatsoever is accepted by Cenkos nor does it make any representation or warranty, express or implied, for the accuracy of any information or opinions contained in this Announcement or for the omission of any information. Cenkos expressly disclaims all and any responsibility or liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise which it might otherwise have in respect of this Announcement. The responsibilities of Cenkos as the Company's nominated adviser and broker under the AIM Rules and the AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers are owed to the London Stock Exchange solely and are not owed to the Company or to any director, shareholder or any other person in respect of such person's decision to acquire Ordinary Shares in reliance on any part of this Announcement or otherwise.

 

Information for 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 ("Directive 2014/65/EU"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; (c) local implementing measures and/or (d) (where applicable to UK investors or UK firms) the relevant provisions of the UK MiFID Laws (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 Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the 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 investors who meet the criteria of retail and professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in Directive 2014/65/EU or the UK MiFID Laws, as applicable; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by Directive 2014/65/EU or the UK MiFID Laws, as applicable (the "Target Market Assessment").

Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Ordinary Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Ordinary Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in 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, Cenkos 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 Directive 2014/65/EU or the UK MiFID Laws, as applicable; 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 pursuant to the Placing and/or Open Offer.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own Target Market Assessment in respect of the Ordinary Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

"UK MiFID Laws" (i) the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/701), The Data Reporting Services Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/699) and the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2017 (SI 2017/488), and any other implementing measure which operated to transpose EU MiFID II into UK law before 31 January 2020 (as amended and supplemented from time to time); and

(ii) the UK version of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 of the European Parliament, which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended and supplemented from time to time.

 

APPENDIX

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY REGARDING THE PLACING SHARES.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE INTO 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, INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX (TOGETHER, THE "ANNOUNCEMENT") AND THE INFORMATION IN IT, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, (SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITED EXCEPTIONS) THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. 

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

THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR ANY PART OF IT AND THE PLACING AND ISSUE OF THE PLACING SHARES IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS MAY BE RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED BY LAW. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE COMPANY, CENKOS SECURITIES PLC ("CENKOS") OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, AGENTS, CONSULTANTS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES OR OFFICERS THAT WOULD PERMIT AN OFFER OF THE PLACING SHARES OR POSSESSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR ANY OTHER OFFERING OR PUBLICITY MATERIAL RELATING TO SUCH PLACING SHARES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE ACTION FOR THAT PURPOSE IS REQUIRED, OTHER THAN THE UK. PERSONS TO WHOSE ATTENTION THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN DRAWN ARE REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY AND CENKOS TO INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT AND TO OBSERVE ANY SUCH RESTRICTIONS.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS DIRECTED ONLY AT (A) PERSONS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EEA WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(E) OF THE EU PROSPECTUS REGULATION ("EU QUALIFIED INVESTORS"), AND (B) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF THE UK PROSPECTUS REGULATION ("UK QUALIFIED INVESTORS") WHO ALSO (I) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER") (INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS); (II) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.) OF THE ORDER; OR (C) ARE PERSONS TO WHOM IT IS OTHERWISE LAWFUL TO COMMUNICATE IT TO (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION IN IT 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 RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY. EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO THE LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF AN INVESTMENT IN PLACING SHARES.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF ANY OFFER OR INVITATION TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR THE PLACING SHARES OR ANY OTHER SECURITY IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF, OR WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF, ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, RESOLD, TRANSFERRED OR DELIVERED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE US SECURITIES ACT. THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN THE UNITED STATES, NOR HAVE ANY OF THE FOREGOING AUTHORITIES PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE PLACING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC OFFER OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR ANY PART OF IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF ANY OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO ACQUIRE, PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR PLACING SHARES IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS OR MAY BE RESTRICTED OR UNLAWFUL. THE RELEVANT CLEARANCES HAVE NOT BEEN, NOR WILL THEY BE, OBTAINED FROM THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY PROVINCE OR TERRITORY OF CANADA, NO PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN LODGED WITH, OR REGISTERED BY, THE AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION OR THE JAPANESE MINISTRY OF FINANCE; THE RELEVANT CLEARANCES HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, OBTAINED FOR THE SOUTH AFRICA RESERVE BANK OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE BODY IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA IN RELATION TO THE PLACING SHARES AND THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN, NOR WILL THEY BE, REGISTERED UNDER OR OFFERED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, PROVINCE OR TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. ACCORDINGLY, THE PLACING SHARES MAY NOT (UNLESS AN EXEMPTION UNDER THE RELEVANT SECURITIES LAWS IS APPLICABLE) BE OFFERED, SOLD, RESOLD OR DELIVERED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM. PERSONS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, NOMINEES AND TRUSTEES) WHO HAVE A CONTRACTUAL RIGHT OR OTHER LEGAL OBLIGATION TO FORWARD A COPY OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD SEEK APPROPRIATE ADVICE BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION.

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", "PLANS", "PROJECTS", "ANTICIPATES", "EXPECTS", "INTENDS", "MAY", "WILL" OR "SHOULD", OR, IN EACH CASE, THEIR NEGATIVE OR OTHER VARIATIONS OR COMPARABLE TERMINOLOGY. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDE MATTERS THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS. THEY APPEAR IN A NUMBER OF PLACES THROUGHOUT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND INCLUDE STATEMENTS REGARDING THE DIRECTORS' CURRENT INTENTIONS, BELIEFS OR EXPECTATIONS CONCERNING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE COMPANY'S RESULTS OR OPERATIONS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY, PROSPECTS, GROWTH, STRATEGIES AND THE COMPANY'S MARKETS. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ARE BASED ON CERTAIN FACTORS AND ASSUMPTIONS, INCLUDING THE DIRECTORS' CURRENT VIEW WITH RESPECT TO FUTURE EVENTS AND ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS RELATING TO FUTURE EVENTS AND OTHER RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND ASSUMPTIONS RELATING TO THE COMPANY'S OPERATIONS, GROWTH STRATEGY AND LIQUIDITY. WHILST THE DIRECTORS CONSIDER THESE ASSUMPTIONS TO BE REASONABLE BASED UPON INFORMATION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, THEY MAY PROVE TO BE INCORRECT. SAVE AS REQUIRED BY LAW OR BY THE AIM RULES THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO PUBLICLY RELEASE THE RESULTS OF ANY REVISIONS TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT THAT MAY OCCUR DUE TO ANY CHANGE IN THE DIRECTORS' EXPECTATIONS OR TO REFLECT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER THE DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN PREPARED AND ISSUED BY THE COMPANY AND IS AND WILL BE 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 CENKOS OR ANY OF ITS ADVISERS, AFFILIATES, AGENTS, BRANCHES, CONSULTANTS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS OR ANY OTHER PERSON 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 PLACEE, ANY PERSON ACTING ON SUCH PLACEE'S BEHALF OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE ADVISERS, AND ANY LIABILITY THEREFOR IS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED OR APPROVED BY THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, NOR IS IT INTENDED THAT IT WILL BE SO EXAMINED OR APPROVED.

This Announcement should be read in its entirety.

Terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Placing

This Appendix gives details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Placing.  By participating in the Placing, each Placee will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, to be participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on the terms and conditions contained herein and to be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in this Appendix. 

No commission will be paid to Placees or by Placees in respect of any Placing Shares, unless otherwise agreed by Cenkos in writing.

Terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Open Offer

A Circular which explains the background to and reasons for the Fundraising, containing a notice convening the General Meeting ("Notice") will be sent to Shareholders. The Circular will also contain the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Open Offer. The Circular is expected to be sent to Shareholders on or around 6 May 2021.

Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing Shares

Cenkos acting as broker (the "Broker") has entered into a placing and open offer agreement ("Placing Agreement") with the Company pursuant to which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in such Placing Agreement, Cenkos, as agent for and on behalf of the Company, has agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to procure Placees for the Placing Shares at the Issue Price (as defined below). The Placing and Open Offer are not being underwritten. The price at which the Placing Shares are to be placed will be 30 pence per Ordinary Share (the "Issue Price"). The final number of Placing Shares will be decided at the close of the Bookbuild. The timing of the closing of the book and allocations are at the discretion of the Company and the Broker. Details of the number of Placing Shares will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuild.

The Placing Shares will, when issued, be subject to the articles of association of the Company and credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing issued Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid in respect of such Ordinary Shares after the date of issue of the Placing Shares.

The Placing Agreement contains certain undertakings, representations, warranties and indemnities given by the Company for the benefit of Cenkos. Cenkos has absolute discretion as to whether or not to bring an action against the Company for breach of these undertakings, warranties and indemnities.

Cenkos has the right to terminate the Placing Agreement in certain circumstances, details of which are set out below.

Application for Admissions

The Placing is being conducted in two tranches (respectively the "First Placing" and the "Second Placing"). The First Placing will utilise the Company's existing shareholder authorities to allot and issue new Ordinary Shares on a non-pre-emptive basis for cash. The First Placing Shares will be allotted and issued pursuant to the Placing and are expected to be admitted to trading on AIM on 7 May 2021 ("First Admission").

Subject to the passing of the Resolutions, the Second Placing Shares will be allotted and issued pursuant to the Placing and are expected to be admitted to trading on AIM on 25 May 2021 ("Second Admission").

Applications have been, or will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the admission of the First Placing Shares the Second Placing Shares and the Open Offer Shares to trading on AIM (together, "Admissions").

First Admission is conditional, inter alia, upon the Placing Agreement not having been terminated and becoming unconditional in respect of the First Placing Shares. Second Admission of the Second Placing Shares is also conditional, inter alia, upon the passing of the Resolutions by the Shareholders at the General Meeting to be held at 11:00 a.m. on 24 May 2021 and upon the Placing Agreement not having been terminated and becoming unconditional in respect of the Second Placing Shares.

Principal terms of the Placing

Cenkos is acting as broker to the Placing, as agent for and on behalf of the Company. Cenkos, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA"), is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to the customers of Cenkos or for providing advice in relation to the matters described in this Announcement.

Participation in the Placing will only be available to persons who may lawfully be, and are, invited by Cenkos to participate. Cenkos and any of its affiliates are entitled to participate in the Placing as principal.

Cenkos is proceeding with the Bookbuild for the purpose of assessing the demand from institutional and other investors for subscribing for Placing Shares at the Issue Price and the Company then issuing the Placing Shares under the Placing to raise approximately £3.6 million for the Company under the First Placing and an expected minimum of approximately £5.4 million for the Company under the Second Placing, in each case before expenses. The exact number of Placing Shares to be allocated and issued to each Placee shall be determined by the Broker (in consultation with the Company) following completion of the Bookbuild. The Broker will commence the Bookbuild today and it is expected to close on 4 May 2021 but may be closed earlier or later at the Broker's discretion. Completion of the Bookbuild is at the discretion of the Company and there is no guarantee that the Bookbuild will be completed. The Broker may, in agreement with the Company, accept bids that are received after the Bookbuild has closed. The number of Placing Shares will be announced on a Regulatory Information Service following completion of the Bookbuild.

Each Placee's allocation of Placing Shares will be communicated orally or by email by the Broker to the relevant Placee. That oral or email confirmation will give rise to an irrevocable, legally binding commitment by such Placee, in favour of the Broker and the Company, under which it agrees to acquire the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Issue Price and otherwise on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Appendix and in accordance with the Company's articles of association. Except with the Broker's consent, such commitment will not be capable of variation, revocation, termination or rescission at either the time of such oral confirmation or any time thereafter.

The Issue Price shall be payable to the Broker by all Placees in accordance with the terms of this Appendix.

Each Placee will have an immediate, separate, irrevocable and binding obligation, owed to the Broker (as agent for the Company), to pay to it (or as it may direct) in cleared funds an amount equal to the product of the Issue Price and the number of Placing Shares such Placee has agreed to acquire and that the Company has agreed to allot and issue to that Placee.

Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's allocation(s) pursuant to the Placing is/are confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares to be acquired pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made on the basis explained below under "Registration and Settlement".

All obligations of the Broker under the Placing will be subject to fulfilment of the conditions referred to below under "Conditions of the Placing" and to the Placing not being terminated on the basis referred to below under "Termination of the Placing".

By participating in the Placing, each Placee will agree that its rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described below and/or set out in the Placing Agreement and will not otherwise be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee.

To the fullest extent permissible by law and applicable FCA rules, none of (a) the Broker, (b) any of the Broker's affiliates, agents, directors, officers, employees or consultants, (c) to the extent not contained within (a) or (b), any person connected with the Broker (as defined in the FSMA) ((b) and (c) being together "affiliates" and individually an "affiliate" of the Broker or (d) any person acting on behalf of the Broker, shall have any liability (including, to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) to any Placee or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise. In particular, neither the Broker nor any of its respective affiliates shall have any liability (including, to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of their conduct of the Placing or of such alternative method of effecting the Placing as the Broker and the Company may agree.

Registration and Settlement

Each Placee will be deemed to agree that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed as directed by the Broker in accordance with either the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions which they have in place with Cenkos (acting as settlement agent).

Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00BLPJ1272) will take place within the CREST system, subject to certain exceptions. Settlement through CREST with respect to the Placing Shares will be on a delivery versus payment basis unless otherwise notified by the Broker and it is expected to occur at 8.00 a.m. on 6 May 2021 with respect to the First Placing Shares and at 8.00 a.m. on 25 May 2021 with respect to the Second Placing Shares.

In the event of any difficulties or delays in the admission of the Placing Shares to CREST or the use of CREST in relation to the Placing, the Company and Cenkos may agree that the Placing Shares should be issued in certificated form.

Cenkos also reserves the right to require settlement for the Placing Shares, and to deliver the Placing Shares to Placees, by such other means as it deems necessary if delivery or settlement to Placees is not practicable within the CREST system or would not be consistent with regulatory requirements in a Placee's jurisdiction.

Interest is chargeable daily on payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance with the arrangements set out above, in respect of either CREST or certificated deliveries, at the rate of two percentage points above prevailing LIBOR as determined by the Broker.

Each Placee is deemed to agree that if it does not comply with these obligations, Cenkos may sell any or all of their Placing Shares on their behalf and retain from the proceeds, for Cenkos' account and benefit, an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. The relevant Placee will, however, remain liable for any shortfall below the aggregate amount owed by it and for any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties) which may arise upon the sale of their Placing Shares on their behalf.

If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent and insofar as Placing Shares are registered in a Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the name of any person for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or a nominee for such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below, be so registered free from any liability to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If there are any circumstances in which any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes or duties (including any interest and penalties relating thereto) is payable in respect of the allocation, allotment, issue, sale, transfer or delivery of the Placing Shares (or, for the avoidance of doubt, if any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax is payable in connection with any subsequent transfer or agreement to transfer Placing Shares), the Company shall not be responsible for payment thereof.

Conditions of the First Placing and Second Placing

The First Placing is conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms.

The First Placing is conditional upon, inter alia:

1. the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Placing Agreement insofar as the same fall to be performed or satisfied on or prior to First Admission;

2. the Placing Agreement having become unconditional in all respects and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms prior to First Admission; and

3. First Admission becoming effective not later than 8.00 a.m. on 7 May 2021 or such later time and/or date as the Company and Cenkos may agree, being not later than 8.00 a.m. on 8 June 2021.

The Second Placing is conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms.

The Second Placing is conditional upon, inter alia:

1. First Admission having become effective as set out above;

2. the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Placing Agreement insofar as the same fall to be performed or satisfied on or prior to Second Admission;

3. the Placing Agreement not having been terminated in accordance with its terms prior to Second Admission;

4. the General Meeting having taken place on the date set out in the Notice, no adjournment of the General Meeting having occurred without the prior written consent of the Broker and the Resolution numbered 1 in the Notice having been passed thereat by the requisite majority without amendment;

5. Second Admission occurring not later than 8.00 am on 25 May 2021 (or such later time or date as the Brokers may agree with the Company, in any event being no later than 8 June 2021),

(all conditions to the obligations of the Broker included in the Placing Agreement in respect of First Admission and Second Admission (and either or both of them as the context requires) being together, the "Conditions").

If any of the Conditions set out in the Placing Agreement are not fulfilled or, where permitted, waived in accordance with the Placing Agreement within the stated time periods (or such later time and/or date as the Company and the Broker may agree), or the Placing Agreement is terminated in accordance with the circumstances described under "Termination of the Placing" below, the First Placing and/or the Second Placing will lapse and each Placee's rights and obligations shall cease and terminate at such time in respect of the First Placing and/or the Second Placing (as applicable), all monies received from a Placee pursuant to the First Placing and/or the Second Placing (as applicable) shall be returned to such Placee without interest, at the risk of the relevant Placee, and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by or on behalf of the Placee (or any person on whose behalf the Placee is acting) in respect thereof. The First Placing and First Admission is not conditional upon the Second Placing or Second Admission becoming effective and it is therefore possible that Placees receive Placing Shares pursuant to the First Placing but not the Second Placing Shares if Second Admission does not occur.

Certain Conditions may be waived in whole or in part by the Broker in its absolute discretion and the Broker may also agree in writing with the Company to extend the time for satisfaction of any condition. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Appendix.

The Broker may terminate the Placing Agreement in certain circumstances, details of which are set out below.

Neither the Broker, the Company nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, consultants, directors, employees or officers shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision any of them may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision any of them may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in respect of the Placing generally and by participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of the Broker.

Termination of the Placing

The Broker may terminate its obligations under the Placing Agreement, in accordance with its terms, at any time prior to First Admission and/or at any time prior to Second Admission if, inter alia:

1. any statement contained in this Announcement or the Circular has become or been discovered to be untrue, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect or that there has been a material omission therefrom;

2. any warranty given in the Placing Agreement was, when given, untrue, inaccurate or has ceased to be, true, accurate or not misleading, in any respect that the Broker considers (acting reasonably) to be material in the context of the Placing;

3. the Company has failed or is unable to comply with its obligations under the Placing Agreement, in any respect that the Broker considers (acting reasonably) to be material in the context of the Placing;

4. on the occurrence of certain material adverse change or force majeure events which, in any such case, in the opinion of the Broker, acting in good faith, would or would be likely to prejudice materially the Company or the Placing.

If the Placing Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the rights and obligations of each Placee in respect of the Placing as described in this Announcement shall cease and terminate at such time, all monies received from a Placee pursuant to the Placing shall be returned to such Placee without interest, at the risk of the relevant Placee, and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by or on behalf of the Placee (or any person on whose behalf the Placee is acting) in respect thereof, provided that if any such termination occurs following First Admission, the First Placing will have become effective and the Placees will have received Placing Shares pursuant to the First Placing and accordingly no monies paid by a Placee in relation to First Placing Shares will be returned to them.

By participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees with the Company and the Broker that the exercise by the Company, or the Broker, of any right of termination or any other right or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Company or the Broker and that neither the Company nor the Broker need make any reference to such Placee and that none of the Broker, the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees shall have any liability to such Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) whatsoever in connection with any such exercise. 

No admission document or prospectus

No offering document, admission document or prospectus will be made available in connection with the matters contained or referred to in this Announcement and no such document is required to be published, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation") or Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended and retained in UK law on 31 December 2020 by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "EUWA") (the "UK Prospectus Regulation"). Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in this Announcement and subject to any further terms set forth in the contract note to be sent to individual Placees.

Representations, warranties and further terms

By participating in the Placing, each Placee and/or any person acting on such Placee's behalf irrevocably confirms, acknowledges, agrees, represents, undertakes, and warrants with the Broker that (save where the Broker expressly agrees in writing to the contrary):

1. it has read and understood this Announcement in its entirety and it agrees and acknowledges that the issue and acquisition of the Placing Shares is subject to and based upon all the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements, agreements, undertakings and other information contained in this Appendix and that it has not relied on, and will not rely on, any information given or any representations, warranties or statements made at any time by any person in connection with the Placing, the Company, the Placing Shares or otherwise, other than the information contained in this Announcement;

2. it is a Relevant Person and undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage and (if applicable) dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the purposes of its business;

3. in the case of a Relevant Person in the United Kingdom who acquires any Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing:

a. it is a UK Qualified Investor; and

b. in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Regulation 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation:

i. the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing will not be acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale (i) to persons in the United Kingdom other than UK Qualified Investors or (ii) to persons in any Relevant Member State other than EU Qualified Investors or (iii) in circumstances in which the prior consent of the Brokers has been given to the offer or resale; or

ii. where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in the United Kingdom other than UK Qualified Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the UK Prospectus Regulation as having been made to such persons; or

iii. where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons, other than EU Qualified Investors, in any Relevant Member State, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the EU Prospectus Regulation as having been made to such persons;

4. in the case of a Relevant Person in a Relevant Member State who acquires any Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing:

a. it is an EU Qualified Investor; and

b. in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Regulation 5 of the EU Prospectus Regulation:

i. the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing will not be acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale (i) to persons in the United Kingdom other than UK Qualified Investors or (ii) to persons in any Relevant Member State other than EU Qualified Investors or (iii) in circumstances in which the prior consent of the Brokers has been given to the offer or resale; or

ii. where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in the United Kingdom other than UK Qualified Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the UK Prospectus Regulation as having been made to such persons; or

iii. where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons, other than EU Qualified Investors, in any Relevant Member State, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the EU Prospectus Regulation as having been made to such persons;

5. it is not, and any person who it is acting on behalf of is not, and at the time the Placing Shares are acquired will not be, a resident of, or with an address in, or subject to the laws of, the United States (or any State or territory thereof), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the Republic of South Africa, and it acknowledges and agrees that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered or otherwise qualified under the securities legislation of the United States (or any State or territory thereof), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the Republic of South Africa and may not be offered, sold or acquired, directly or indirectly, within those jurisdictions;

6. it acknowledges that no action has been or will be taken by any of the Company, the Broker or any person acting on their behalf that would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing Shares or in any country or jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is required. In addition, the Placing Shares have not been registered or otherwise qualified, and will not be registered or otherwise qualified, for offer and sale nor will a prospectus be cleared or approved in respect of any of the Placing Shares under the securities laws of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the Republic of South Africa and, subject to certain exceptions, may not be offered, sold, taken up, renounced or delivered or transferred, directly or indirectly, within Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the Republic of South Africa or in any country or jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is required;

7. it will not distribute, forward, transfer or otherwise transmit this Announcement or any part of it, or any other presentational or other materials concerning the Placing, in or into or from the United States (including electronic copies thereof) to any person, and it has not distributed, forwarded, transferred or otherwise transmitted any such materials to any person;

8. it is purchasing the Placing Shares for investment purposes and not with a view to distribution or resale, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or otherwise in violation of the United States securities laws, and it will not reoffer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Placing Shares except (a) outside the United States in an "offshore transaction" complying with the provisions of Regulation S to a person outside the United States and not known by the transferor to be a US Person or acting for the account or benefit of a US Person, by pre-arrangement or otherwise; or (b) to the Company or a subsidiary thereof;

9. it understands that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act or with any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be reoffered or resold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the US Securities Act. It understands that the Company has no intention to register the Placing Shares with the SEC or with any state securities commission and the Company is under no obligation to assist it in obtaining or complying with any exemption from registration;

10. it and the beneficial owner of the Placing Shares is, and at the time the Placing Shares are acquired will be, outside the United States and acquiring the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction" as defined in, and in accordance with, Regulation S under the US Securities Act;

11. it (and any account for which it is purchasing) is not acquiring the Placing Shares with a view to any offer, sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the US Securities Act;

12. it will not distribute, forward, transfer or otherwise transmit this Announcement or any part of it, or any other presentational or other materials concerning the Placing in or into or from the United States (including electronic copies thereof) to any person, and it has not distributed, forwarded, transferred or otherwise transmitted any such materials to any person.

13. it and/or each person on whose behalf it is participating (i) is entitled to acquire Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing under the laws and regulations of all relevant jurisdictions; (ii) has fully observed such laws and regulations; and (iii) has the capacity and has obtained all requisite authorities and consents (including, without limitation, in the case of a person acting on behalf of a Placee, all requisite authorities and consents to agree to the terms set out or referred to in this Appendix) under those laws or otherwise and has complied with all necessary formalities to enable it to enter into the transactions and make the acknowledgements, agreements, indemnities, representations, undertakings and warranties contemplated hereby and to perform and honour its obligations in relation thereto on its own behalf (and in the case of a person acting on behalf of a Placee on behalf of that Placee); (iv) does so agree to the terms set out in this Appendix and does so make the acknowledgements, agreements, indemnities, representations, undertakings and warranties contained in this Announcement on its own behalf (and in the case of a person acting on behalf of a Placee on behalf of that Placee); and (v) is and will remain liable to the Company and the Broker for the performance of all its obligations as a Placee in the Placing (whether or not it is acting on behalf of another person);

14. unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Broker, it is acquiring the Placing Shares for its own account or if it is acquiring the Placing Shares on behalf of another person it confirms that it exercises sole investment discretion in relation to such other person's affairs and, in particular, if it is a pension fund or investment company it is aware of and acknowledges it is required to comply with all applicable laws and regulations with respect to its acquisition of Placing Shares;

15. it understands (or if acting on behalf of another person, such person has confirmed that such person understands) the resale and transfer restrictions set out in this Appendix;

16. it has not received a prospectus or other offering document in connection with the Placing and acknowledges that no prospectus or other offering document: (i) is required under the EU Prospectus Regulation, the UK Prospectus Regulation or the Prospectus Regulation Rules; or (ii) has been or will be prepared in connection with the Placing;

17. the Ordinary Shares are admitted to trading on AIM, and that the Company is therefore required to publish certain information in accordance with the AIM Rules, which includes a description of the the Placing and the Open Offer (the "AIM Information"), and that it is able to obtain or access the AIM Information without undue difficulty, and is able to obtain access to such information or comparable information concerning any other publicly traded company, without undue difficulty;

18. it has made its own assessment of the Company, the Placing Shares and the terms of the Placing and has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing. It has not relied on (i) any investigation that the Broker or any person acting on the Broker's behalf may have conducted with respect to the Company, the Placing or the Placing Shares; or (ii) any other information given or any other representations, statements or warranties made at any time by any person in connection with the Admissions, the Company, the Placing, the Placing Shares or otherwise;

19. none of the Broker, the Company nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, consultants, directors, employees, officers or any person acting on behalf of any of them has provided, nor will provide, it with any material regarding the Placing Shares or the Company or any other person in addition to the information in this Announcement; nor has it requested either of the Broker, the Company, any of their respective affiliates, agents, consultants, employees, directors or officers or any person acting on behalf of any of them to provide it with any such information;

20. the content of this Announcement has been prepared by and is exclusively the responsibility of the Company. Neither the Broker nor any persons acting on behalf of it are responsible for or has or shall have any liability for any information, representation, warranty or statement, written or oral relating to the Company and either contained in this Announcement or previously or concurrently published by or on behalf of the Company. The Broker will not be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any information, representation, warranty or statement contained in this Announcement, the AIM Information or otherwise. None of the Broker, the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, consultants, directors, employees or officers has made any representation or warranty to the Placee, express or implied, with respect to the Company, the Placing or the Placing Shares or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information in this Announcement or the AIM Information. Nothing in this Appendix shall exclude any liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation;

21. the only information on which it is entitled to rely and on which it has relied in committing to subscribe for the Placing Shares is contained in this Announcement. It has satisfied itself that such information is still current and is all that it deems necessary to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares;

22. it has the funds available to pay for the Placing Shares which it has agreed to acquire and acknowledges, agrees and undertakes that it will make payment to the Broker for the Placing Shares allocated to it in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Announcement on the due times and dates set out in this Announcement or the relevant contract note, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with others on such terms as the Broker may, in its absolute discretion, determine without liability to the Placee and it will remain liable for any shortfall below the net proceeds of such sale and the placing proceeds of such Placing Shares and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties due pursuant to the terms set out or referred to in this Announcement) which may arise upon the sale of such Placee's Placing Shares on its behalf;

23. it, or the person specified by it for registration as a holder of the Placing Shares, will be responsible for any liability to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax payable on the acquisition of any of the Placing Shares or the agreement to subscribe for the Placing Shares and shall indemnify the Company and each of the Broker in respect of the same on the basis that the Placing Shares will be allotted to a CREST stock account of the Broker who will hold them as nominee on behalf of such Placee (or the person specified by it for registration as holder of the Placing Shares) until settlement with it in accordance with its standing settlement instructions;

24. the allocation, allotment, issue and delivery to it, or the person specified by it for registration as holder, of Placing Shares will not give rise to a stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax liability under (or at a rate determined under) any of sections 67, 70, 93 or 96 of the Finance Act 1986 (depository receipts and clearance services) and that no instrument under which it subscribes for Placing Shares (whether as principal, agent or nominee) would be subject to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax at the increased rates referred to in those sections and that it, or the person specified by it for registration as holder of the Placing Shares, is not participating in the Placing as nominee or agent for any person or persons to whom the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares would give rise to such a liability;

25. it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and it will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) relating to Placing Shares in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not require approval of the communication by an authorised person and it acknowledges and agrees that the Broker has not approved this Announcement in its capacity as an authorised person under section 21 of FSMA and it may not therefore be subject to the controls which would apply if it was made or approved as a financial promotion by an authorised person;

26. it has complied and it will comply with all applicable laws with respect to anything done by it or on its behalf in relation to the Placing Shares (including all relevant provisions of the FSMA and UK MAR in respect of anything done in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom);

27. none of the Broker, the Company, any of their respective affiliates, agents, consultants, directors, employees or officers or any person acting on behalf of any of them are making any recommendations to it, advising it regarding the suitability of any transactions it may enter into in connection with the Placing nor providing advice in relation to the Placing nor in respect of any acknowledgements, agreements, indemnities, representations, undertakings or warranties contained in the Placing Agreement nor the exercise or performance of the Broker's rights and obligations thereunder, including any rights to waive or vary any conditions or exercise any termination right. Its participation in the Placing is on the basis that it is not and will not be a client of the Broker and the Broker has no duties or responsibilities to it for providing the protections afforded to its clients or customers under the rules of the FCA, and any payment by it will not be treated as client money governed by the rules of the FCA; 

28. the Broker and each of its respective affiliates, each acting as an investor for its or their own account(s), may, in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory provisions, bid or subscribe for and/or purchase Placing Shares and, in that capacity, may retain, purchase, offer to sell or otherwise deal for its or their own account(s) in the Placing Shares, any other securities of the Company or other related investments in connection with the Placing or otherwise. Accordingly, references in this Announcement to the Placing Shares being offered, subscribed, acquired or otherwise dealt with should be read as including any offer to, or subscription, acquisition or dealing by, the Broker and/or any of its affiliates, acting as an investor for its or their own account(s). Neither the Broker nor the Company intends to disclose the extent of any such investment or transaction otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so;

29. it will not make any offer to the public of the Placing Shares and it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the United Kingdom or anywhere in the EEA prior to the expiry of a period of twelve months from Second Admission (or First Admission if Second Admission does not occur), except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purpose of their business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom for the purposes of section 85(1) of the FSMA or the Prospectus Regulation Rules or an offer to the public in any Relevant Member State within the meaning of the EU Prospectus Regulation;

30. it has complied with its obligations in connection with money laundering and terrorist financing under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2000, the Terrorism Act 2006, the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 and the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (together, the "Regulations") and, if making payment on behalf of a third party, that satisfactory evidence has been obtained and recorded by it to verify the identity of the third party as required by the Regulations;

31. it is aware of the obligations regarding insider dealing in the Criminal Justice Act 1993, market abuse under the UK MAR and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and confirms that it has and will continue to comply with those obligations;

32. it has neither received nor relied on any confidential or price-sensitive information concerning the Company in accepting this invitation to participate in the Placing;

33. if it has received any 'inside information' (for the purposes of the UK MAR and section 56 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993) in relation to the Company and its securities, it confirms that it has received such information within the market soundings regime provided for in article 11 of the UK MAR and associated delegated regulations and it has not: (i) dealt (or attempted to deal) in the securities of the Company or cancelled or amended a dealing in the securities of the Company; (ii) encouraged, recommended or induced another person to deal in the securities of the Company or cancelled or amended a dealing in the securities of the Company; or (iii) unlawfully disclosed inside information to any person, prior to the information being made publicly available;

34. in order to ensure compliance with the Regulations, the Broker, for itself and as agent on behalf of the Company or the Company's registrars may, in its absolute discretion, require verification of the identity of any Placee. Pending the provision to the Broker or the Company's registrars, as applicable, of evidence of identity, definitive certificates in respect of the Placing Shares may be retained at the Broker's absolute discretion or, where appropriate, delivery of the Placing Shares to it in uncertificated form may be delayed at the Broker's or the Company's registrars', as the case may be, absolute discretion. If within a reasonable time after a request for verification of identity, the Broker, for itself and as agent on behalf of the Company, or the Company's registrars has not received evidence satisfactory to it, the Broker and/or the Company may, at their absolute discretion, terminate their commitment in respect of the Placing, in which event the monies payable on acceptance of allotment will, if already paid, be returned without interest, at the risk of the relevant Placee, to the account of the drawee's bank from which they were originally debited;

35. it acknowledges that its commitment to acquire Placing Shares on the terms set out in this Announcement and in the contract note will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may in future be made to the terms and conditions of the Placing and that Placees will have no right to be consulted or require that their consent be obtained with respect to the Company's or Broker's conduct of the Placing;

36. it has such knowledge and experience in financial, business and international investment matters as is required to evaluate the merits and risks of subscribing for the Placing Shares. It further acknowledges that it is experienced in investing in securities of this nature and is aware that it may be required to bear, and is able to bear, the economic risk of, and is able to sustain, a complete loss in connection with the Placing. It has relied upon its own examination and due diligence of the Company and its affiliates taken as a whole, and the terms of the Placing, including the merits and risks involved;

37. it irrevocably appoints any duly authorised officer of the Broker as its agent for the purpose of executing and delivering to the Company and/or its registrars any documents on its behalf necessary to enable it to be registered as the holder of any of the Placing Shares for which it agrees to subscribe upon the terms of this Announcement;

38. the Company, the Broker and others (including each of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees) will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgements and agreements, which are given to the Broker on its own behalf and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable, and agrees that if any of the representations and agreements deemed to have been made by it by its subscription for Placing Shares are no longer accurate, it shall promptly notify the Company and the Broker;

39. time is of the essence as regards its obligations under this Appendix;

40. any document that is to be sent to it in connection with the Placing will be sent at its risk and may be sent to it at any address provided by it to the Broker; and

41. the terms and conditions in this Appendix and all documents into which this Appendix is incorporated by reference or otherwise validly forms a part and/or any agreements entered into pursuant to these terms and conditions and all agreements to acquire Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing will be governed by and construed in accordance with English law and it submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts in relation to any claim, dispute or matter arising out of any such contract, except that enforcement proceedings in respect of the obligation to make payment for the Placing Shares (together with any interest chargeable thereon) may be taken by the Company or the Broker in any jurisdiction in which the relevant Placee is incorporated or in which any of its securities have a quotation on a recognised stock exchange.

By participating in the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) agrees to indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold the Company, the Broker and each of their respective affiliates, agents, consultants, directors, employees and officers harmless from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any breach of any of the acknowledgements, agreements, representations, undertakings and warranties given by the Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) in this Appendix or incurred by the Broker, the Company or any of their respective affiliates, agents, consultants, directors, employees or officers arising from the performance of the Placee's obligations as set out in this Announcement, and further agrees that the provisions of this Appendix shall survive completion of the Placing.

The agreement to allot and issue Placing Shares to Placees (or the persons for whom Placees are contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax in the United Kingdom relates only to their allotment and issue to Placees, or such persons as they nominate as their agents, directly by the Company. Such agreement assumes that the Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance service. If there are any such arrangements, or the settlement relates to any other dealings in the Placing Shares, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax may be payable. In that event, the Placee agrees that it shall be responsible for such stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax and neither the Company nor the Broker shall be responsible for such stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If this is the case, each Placee should seek its own advice and should notify the Broker accordingly. In addition, Placees should note that they will be liable for any capital duty or gains, stamp duty and all other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or other duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or penalties relating thereto) payable whether within or outside the United Kingdom by them or any other person on the acquisition by them of any Placing Shares or the agreement by them to acquire any Placing Shares and each Placee, or the Placee's nominee, in respect of whom (or in respect of the person for whom it is participating in the Placing as an agent or nominee) the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares has given rise to such stamp, registration, documentary, transfer or similar taxes or duties undertakes to pay such taxes and duties, including any interest and penalties (if applicable), forthwith and to indemnify on an after-tax basis and to hold harmless the Company and the Broker in the event that either the Company and/or the Broker have incurred any such liability to such taxes or duties.

The acknowledgements, representations, undertakings and warranties contained in this Appendix are given to the Broker for itself and as agent on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable and will survive completion of the Placing.

Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of the Placee acknowledges that the Broker does not owe any fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any acknowledgements, agreements, indemnities, representations, undertakings or warranties in the Placing Agreement.

When a Placee or any person acting on behalf of the Placee is dealing with the Broker, any money held in an account with the Broker on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee will not be treated as client money within the meaning of the relevant rules and regulations of the FCA made under FSMA. Each Placee acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections conferred by the client money rules.

References to time in this Announcement are to London time, unless otherwise stated. All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to amendment.

No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast, and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of the Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of the Company.

The price of Placing Shares and any income expected from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested upon disposal of the Placing Shares. Past performance is no guide to future performance, and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.

The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any market or other stock exchange other than AIM.

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.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
 
END
 
 
IOEUPUMWAUPGUBC
Date   Source Headline
22nd Sep 20213:37 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
21st Sep 202112:55 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
17th Sep 20217:00 amRNSBusiness Update
16th Sep 202112:15 pmRNSPrice Monitoring Extension
15th Sep 20217:00 amRNSMoU with Navantia and Windar Renovables
14th Sep 20212:01 pmRNSPrice Monitoring Extension
14th Sep 20217:00 amRNSProposed Change of Name
9th Sep 20217:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
1st Sep 20214:00 pmRNSDirectorate Change
27th Aug 20219:42 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
11th Aug 20217:00 amRNSDirectorate Change
8th Jul 202110:35 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
2nd Jul 20212:51 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
2nd Jul 20212:48 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
30th Jun 20217:00 amRNSTrading Statement
16th Jun 20213:40 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
16th Jun 20213:38 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
15th Jun 20213:51 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
14th Jun 20214:19 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
14th Jun 20214:17 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
11th Jun 20215:01 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
11th Jun 20215:00 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
1st Jun 20214:39 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
26th May 20219:32 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
25th May 20218:48 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
24th May 202111:44 amRNSResult of General Meeting and Open Offer
20th May 20219:44 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
14th May 20211:45 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
12th May 202110:12 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
11th May 20212:31 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
11th May 20217:00 amRNSContract Award
10th May 202112:28 pmRNSInvestor Event
5th May 20213:49 pmRNSResult of Placing
4th May 202110:39 amRNSPlacing and Open Offer
19th Apr 20217:00 amRNSHalf-year Report
16th Apr 20217:00 amRNSAward of Major Fabrication Contract
1st Apr 20217:00 amRNSTrading Update
10th Mar 20217:00 amRNSInvestor Roadshow Event Postponed
22nd Feb 20216:11 pmRNSResult of Meeting
12th Feb 20217:00 amRNSAcquisition of Assets
4th Feb 202110:11 amRNSIssue of Equity
1st Feb 20219:45 amRNSResult of AGM
27th Jan 20217:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
27th Jan 20217:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
26th Jan 20217:00 amRNSAnnual Report and Notice of Meeting
22nd Jan 20214:54 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
21st Jan 202111:57 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
20th Jan 202111:46 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
19th Jan 20214:21 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
19th Jan 202111:08 amRNSHolding(s) in Company

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