Smarter Web Company - WRAP Retail Offer & Accelerated Bookbuild
Announcement provided by
The Smarter Web Company Plc · SWC07/05/2025 16:35

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014 (WHICH FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OR INTO OR WITHIN
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AMOUNTS TO A FINANCIAL PROMOTION FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 21 OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 ("FSMA") AND HAS BEEN APPROVED BY SHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS LLP T/A TENNYSON SECURITIES WHICH IS AUTHORISED AND REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY (FRN 538762).
07 May 2025
The Smarter Web Company PLC
("The Smarter Web Company" or "Company")
WRAP Retail Offer & Accelerated Bookbuild
The Smarter Web Company PLC is pleased to announce a retail investor offer via the Winterflood Retail Access Platform ("WRAP Retail Offer") and a placing of the Company's shares by Tennyson Securities and Peterhouse Capital Limited to institutional investors ("Accelerated Bookbuild" or "Placing") through the issue of new ordinary shares of
Background and Use of Proceeds
The Smarter Web Company, founded in 2009 by Andrew Webley, helps businesses of all sizes enhance their online presence and return on digital investment. Its core services include web design, development and digital marketing.
Before founding The Smarter Web Company, Andrew Webley was the Head of Online at Hargreaves Lansdown, one of the
The Company has a clear strategy for growth focusing on:
· Organic growth opportunities around existing, established services
· An acquisition strategy intended to accelerate scale
· As the Company explores opportunities through organic growth and corporate acquisitions it is pioneering the adoption of a Digital Asset Treasury Policy including Bitcoin into its strategy
Please also see "The 10 Year Plan" announced by the Company via regulatory news at 07:00 on 28 April 2025 and available on the Company website.
The WRAP Retail Offer
The Company values retail shareholders and believes that it is appropriate to provide both new and existing retail shareholders in the
Therefore, the Company is making the WRAP Retail Offer open to eligible investors in the
A number of retail platforms are able to access the WRAP Retail Offer. Non-holders or existing shareholders wishing to subscribe for WRAP Retail Offer Shares should contact their broker or wealth manager who will confirm if they are participating in the WRAP Retail Offer.
The WRAP Retail Offer will open immediately following this announcement. The WRAP Retail Offer will close at 21:00 on 07 May 2025. Eligible investors are encouraged to participate early, as financial intermediaries may impose earlier deadlines, and the Company also reserves the right to close the offer earlier. The result of the WRAP Retail Offer is expected to be announced by the Company on 08 May 2025 shortly after 07:00.
Retail brokers wishing to participate in the WRAP Retail Offer on behalf of eligible retail investors, should contact WRAP@winterflood.com.
To be eligible to participate in the WRAP Retail Offer, applicants must be a customer of a participating intermediary including individuals aged 18 years or over, companies and other bodies corporate, partnerships, trusts, associations and other unincorporated organisations.
There is a minimum subscription of
The Company reserves the right to amend the size of the WRAP Retail Offer at its discretion. The Company reserves the right to scale back any order and to reject any application for subscription under the WRAP Retail Offer without giving any reason for such rejection.
It is vital to note that once an application for WRAP Retail Offer Shares has been made and accepted via an intermediary, it cannot be withdrawn.
The WRAP Retail Offer Shares will, when issued, be credited as fully paid, and have the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after their date of issue.
It is a term of the WRAP Retail Offer that the total value of the WRAP Retail Offer Shares available for subscription at the Issue Price does not exceed
Investors should make their own investigations into the merits of an investment in the Company. Nothing in this announcement amounts to a recommendation to invest in the Company or amounts to investment, taxation or legal advice.
It should be noted that a subscription for Ordinary Shares and investment in the Company carries a number of risks, including the risk that investors may lose their entire investment. Investors should take independent advice from a person experienced in advising on investment in securities such as the Ordinary Shares if they are in any doubt.
An investment in the Company will place capital at risk. The value of investments, and any income, can go down as well as up, so investors could get back less than the amount invested.
Neither past performance nor any forecasts should be considered a reliable indicator of future results.
The WRAP Retail Offer is offered in the
Instructions For AJ Bell Clients
Existing shareholders via AJ Bell will receive an email when the offer launches to let them know how to place orders. Clients that don't currently hold the stock already can call through to the dealing team on 0345 54 32 600 to subscribe.
Instructions for Interactive Investor Clients
Existing shareholders via Interactive Investor will receive an email and be able to subscribe for new shares via the Corporate Actions section of the website. Clients that don't currently hold the stock already can call through to the international dealing team on 0345 607 6001 to subscribe.
Instructions For Other Platforms & Brokers
You should contact your platform / broker and ask for instructions to take part. Retail brokers wishing to participate in the WRAP Retail Offer on behalf of eligible retail investors, should contact WRAP@winterflood.com.
Accelerated Bookbuild
The Accelerated Bookbuild will open immediately following this announcement. The Accelerated Bookbuild will close at 21:00 on 07 May 2025. Institutional investors should contact Tennyson Securities or Peterhouse Capital Limited to take part. The result of the Accelerated Bookbuild is expected to be announced by the Company on 08 May 2025 shortly after 07:00.
The WRAP Retail Offer and the Accelerated Bookbuild are conditional on the New Ordinary Shares being admitted to trading on the Access Segment of the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market ("Admission"). It is anticipated that Admission will become effective and that dealings in the New Ordinary Shares will commence on Aquis, at 08:00 on 13 May 2025.
The Smarter Web Company Andrew Webley, CEO
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+44 (0) 117 313 0459 |
Tennyson Securities (Lead Broker) Peter Krens
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+44(0) 207 186 9030 |
Peterhouse Capital Limited (AQUIS Growth Market Corporate Adviser) Guy Miller |
+44 (0) 207 469 0930 |
Winterflood Retail Access Platform Joe Winkley, Sophia Bechev
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+44(0) 20 3100 0286 |
Further information on the Company can be found on its website at www.smarterwebcompany.co.uk
The Company's LEI is 213800VQO9FUG4PZMP73.
This announcement should be read in its entirety. In particular, the information in the "Important Notices" sections of the announcement should be read and understood.
Important Notices - WRAP Retail Offer
This announcement, which has been prepared by and is the sole responsibility of the Company has been approved for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA") by Tennyson Securities which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
This announcement and the information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into or from
The Ordinary Shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act") or under the applicable state securities laws of
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for Ordinary Shares in
This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into
WRAP is a proprietary technology platform owned and operated by Winterflood (registered address at Riverbank House, 2 Swan Lane,
The value of Ordinary Shares and the income from them is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise due to stock market movements. When you sell your investment, you may get back less than you originally invested. Figures refer to past performance and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Returns may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.
Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements which are based on the Company's expectations, intentions and projections regarding its future performance, anticipated events or trends and other matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements, which may use words such as "aim", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "expect" and words of similar meaning, include all matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause the actual results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and dividend policy and the development of the industries in which the Company's businesses operate to differ materially from the impression created by the forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given those risks and uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement and cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. The Company and Winterflood expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect actual results or any change in the assumptions, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based unless required to do so by the FCA, the Aquis Stock Exchange or applicable law.
The information in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. None of Winterflood or any of its affiliates, accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for, or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to this announcement, including the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of the announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Winterflood and its affiliates, accordingly disclaim all and any liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise which they might otherwise be found to have in respect of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.
Any indication in this announcement of the price at which the Ordinary Share have been bought or sold in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. Persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser. 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 or target dividend per share of the Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or dividends per share of the Company.
Neither the content of the Company's website (or any other website) nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into or forms part of this announcement. The Ordinary Shares to be issued or sold pursuant to the WRAP Retail Offer will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the Aquis Stock Exchange.
Appendix
Terms and conditions of the Placing
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE ACCELERATED BOOKBUILD. THIS APPENDIX AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHOSE ORDINARY ACTIVITIES INVOLVE THEM IN ACQUIRING, HOLDING, MANAGING AND DISPOSING OF INVESTMENTS (AS PRINCIPAL OR AGENT) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THEIR BUSINESS AND WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND ARE: (A) PERSONS WHO ARE IN A MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA AND ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS (FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT REFERRED TO AS "EEA QUALIFIED INVESTORS"), AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF THE PROSPECTUS REGULATION (REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129) AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME (THE "EU PROSPECTUS REGULATION"); AND/OR (B) IN THE
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 JURISDICTION. THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE
RELEVANT CLEARANCES HAVE NOT BEEN, NOR WILL THEY BE, OBTAINED FROM THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY PROVINCE OR TERRITORY OF
EACH PARTICIPANT IN THE ACCELERATED BOOKBUILD ("PLACEE") SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO THE LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED IMPLICATIONS OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE PLACING SHARES AND THE INCOME FROM THEM (IF ANY) MAY GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP AND INVESTORS MAY NOT GET BACK THE FULL AMOUNT INVESTED ON A DISPOSAL OF THEIR ORDINARY SHARES.
Market Abuse Regulation
Market soundings, as defined in the
These terms and conditions apply to persons making an offer to acquire Placing Shares and should be read in their entirety. Each Placees hereby agrees with each of the Tennyson Securities and Peterhouse (each a "Broker") and the Company to be bound by these terms and conditions. A Placee shall, without limitation, become so bound if the relevant Broker confirms to such Placee its allocation of Placing Shares.
Upon being notified of its allocation of Placing Shares, a Placee shall be contractually committed to acquire the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Offer Price and otherwise on the terms and conditions set out in this Announcement and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, will be deemed to have agreed not to exercise any rights to rescind or terminate or otherwise withdraw from such commitment.
In this Appendix, unless the context otherwise requires, "Placee" means a Relevant Person (including individuals, funds or others) on whose behalf a commitment to subscribe for or acquire Placing Shares has been given.
Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing Shares
Tennyson Securities, Peterhouse and the Company have entered into the Placing Agreement, under which Tennyson Securities and Peterhouse have, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out therein, undertaken to use their respective reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for the Placing Shares at the Offer Price. The Placing is not being underwritten by Tennyson Securities or Peterhouse or any other person.
The number of the Placing Shares will be determined following completion of the Placing. The timing of the closing of the Placing and the number and allocation of Placing Shares to Placees and as between the tranches of the Placing, are at the discretion of the Brokers, following consultation with the Company. Allocations will be confirmed orally or by email by the relevant Broker following the close of the Placing. The commitment of Placees will be evidenced by a contract notes (the "Contract Note") issued to such Placee by the relevant Broker. The terms of this Appendix will be deemed incorporated in those Contract Notes. A further announcement confirming these details will then be made as soon as practicable following completion of the Placing.
The Placing Shares will, when issued, be subject to the Articles of Association of the Company ("Articles"), will be credited as fully paid and rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions (if any) declared, made or paid on or in respect of Ordinary Shares after the date of issue of the Placing Shares.
Application for admission to trading on Aquis
An application has been made to the Aquis Stock Exchange Limited for admission to trading on Access Segment of the AQSE Growth Market of the Placing Shares ("Application"). It is expected that settlement of the Placing Shares and admission of those Ordinary Shares ("Admission") will become effective at 8.00 a.m. on 13 May 2025 and that dealings in the Placing Shares will commence at that time.
Placing
The Brokers will today commence an accelerated bookbuilding process to determine demand for participation in the Placing by potential Placees at the Offer Price. This Appendix gives details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Placing. No commissions will be paid to Placees or by Placees in respect of any Placing Shares.
The Brokers and the Company shall be entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method to the Placing as they may, in their discretion, determine.
The principal terms of the Placing are as follows:
1. Tennyson Securities and Peterhouse are arranging the Placing as agents for, and Brokers of, the Company.
2. Participation in the Placing is only available to persons who are lawfully able to be, and have been, invited to participate by Tennyson Securities or Peterhouse.
3. The bookbuild, if successful, will establish the number of Placing Shares to be issued at the Offer Price, which will be determined by the Brokers, in consultation with the Company, following completion of the Placing. The results of the Placing, including the number of Placing Shares, will be announced on a Regulatory Information Service following completion of the Placing.
4. To bid in the Placing, prospective Placees should communicate their bid by telephone to their usual contact at the relevant Broker. Each bid should state the number of Placing Shares which the prospective Placee wishes to subscribe. Bids may be scaled down by the Brokers on the basis referred to in paragraph 8 below.
5. The timing of the closing of the Placing will be at the discretion of the Brokers.
6. Allocations of the Placing Shares to Placees will be determined by the Brokers following consultation with the Company. Each Placee's allocation will be confirmed to Placees orally, or by email, by the relevant Broker following the close of the Placing and a trade confirmation and the Contract Note will be dispatched as soon as possible thereafter. Oral or emailed confirmation from the relevant Broker will give rise to an irrevocable, legally binding commitment by that person (who at that point becomes a Placee), in favour of the relevant Broker and the Company, under which it agrees to acquire by subscription the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Offer Price and otherwise on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Appendix and in accordance with the Articles. Except with consent of both Brokers, such commitment will not be capable of variation or revocation.
7. The Company will make a further announcement following the close of the Placing detailing the results of the Placing and the number of Placing Shares to be issued at the Offer Price.
8. Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5 above, the Broker may choose not to accept bids and/or to accept bids, either in whole or in part, on the basis of allocations determined at its discretion (after consultation with the Company) and may scale down any bids for this purpose on such basis as it may determine.
9. A bid in the Placing will be made on the terms and subject to the conditions in the Announcement (including this Appendix) and will be legally binding on the Placee on behalf of which it is made and, except with the Brokers consent, will not be capable of variation or revocation from the time at which it is submitted.
10. Except as required by law or regulation, no press release or other announcement will be made by either the Brokers or the Company using the name of any Placee (or its agent), in its capacity as Placee (or agent), other than with such Placee's prior written consent.
11. Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's allocation pursuant to the Placing is confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares to be acquired pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made at the same time, on the basis explained below under "Registration and Settlement".
12. All obligations of the Brokers 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 "Right to terminate the Placing Agreement".
13. By participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described below and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee.
14. To the fullest extent permissible by law and the applicable rules of the FCA, neither Tennyson Securities, nor Peterhouse, nor the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees shall have any liability to Placees (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise whether or not a recipient of these terms and conditions) in respect of the Placing. In particular, neither Tennyson Securities, nor Peterhouse, nor the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees shall have any liability (including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of the Brokers' conduct of the Placing or of such alternative method of effecting the Placing as the Brokers and the Company may determine.
15. The Placing is not subject to any minimum fundraising and no element of the Placing is underwritten by either of the Brokers or any other person.
Conditions of the Placing
The Placing is conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms.
The Brokers' obligations under the Placing Agreement in respect of the Admission are conditional on, inter alia ("Conditions"):
1. the publication of this announcement not later than the Business Day following the date of Placing Agreement and having been published and made available in accordance with the Aquis Growth Market Access Rulebook ("AQSE Rules");
2. the Company having validly entered into and complied in all respects, in the reasonable opinion of the Brokers, with all its obligations and having satisfied the conditions to be performed or satisfied by any of them under Placing Agreement and/or in connection with the Placing which fall to be performed or satisfied on or prior to Admission;
3. the Company having paid the AQUIS Stock Exchange such charges and fees as are applicable in connection with the Application;
4. the delivery of placing deliverables to the Brokers;
5. each of the warranties in the Placing Agreement being, in the reasonable opinion of the Brokers, true and accurate in all material respects and not misleading in any material respect on and as at:
a. the date of Placing Agreement; and
b. the closing of the Placing ("Closing Date"),
as though they had been given and made on each such date by reference to the facts and circumstances subsisting at each such time;
6. the Placing Shares having been allotted, subject only to Admission;
7. the obligations of the Brokers not having been terminated under the Placing Agreement;
8. in the reasonable opinion of Peterhouse and Tennyson, no material adverse change in the condition or results of the group (taken as a whole) or the market which, in the reasonable opinion of any of the Brokers, makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the Placing;
9. the delivery of certain other documents to the Brokers as required by the Placing Agreement, immediately prior to Admission; and
10. Admission having become effective by the Closing Date.
If: (i) any of the conditions in respect of the Admission contained in the Placing Agreement, including those described above, are not fulfilled or (where applicable) waived by the Brokers or (ii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below, the Placing will not proceed and the Placees' rights and obligations hereunder in relation to the Placing Shares shall cease and terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by the Placee in respect thereof.
The Brokers may, at its discretion and upon such terms as it thinks fit, waive, or extend the period for, compliance by the Company with the whole or any part of any of the Company's obligations in relation to the conditions in the Placing Agreement, save that the conditions relating to either Admission taking place may not be waived. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Announcement.
Neither Tennyson Securities, nor Peterhouse nor the Company nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees 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 they 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 they 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 Brokers.
Right to terminate the Placing Agreement
The Brokers are entitled, at any time before Admission, to terminate the Placing Agreement by giving notice to the Company in certain circumstances, including, inter alia:
(a) the Company or a Director fails to materially comply with any obligation under the Placing Agreement or otherwise relating to the proposals;
(b) any matter or circumstance arises, or is likely to arise, as a result of which any of the Conditions will not be satisfied or (if possible to be waived) either not be capable of being waived or Peterhouse and Tennyson are not willing to waive by the requisite time and/or date;
(c) Peterhouse or Tennyson are of the reasonable opinion (acting in good faith) that:
(i) any of the representations, warranties or undertakings contained in the Placing Agreement is untrue or inaccurate or misleading in any material respect by reference to the facts and circumstances subsisting at that time;
(ii) any statement contained in any this announcement or the Placing Agreement (or any amendments or supplements to them) has become or been discovered to be untrue or inaccurate or misleading in any material respect;
(iii) any matter has arisen which gives rise or might reasonably be expected to give rise to a material claim under the Placing Agreement; or
(iv) there shall have occurred any material adverse change since the date of this Placing Agreement;
(d) Peterhouse or Tennyson is of the reasonable opinion (acting in good faith) that an event has occurred, or is likely to occur, and that the event is or (if it occurs) will, in the context of the proposals in this announcement, be materially adverse to the prospects of the Company's group; or
(e) the Company fail to accept reasonable advice given to them by Peterhouse and/or Tennyson on material matters concerning Admission or the Placing leading to Peterhouse's and/or Tennyson' inability to comply with the
(f) if, subsequent to the date of the Placing Agreement and prior to Admission, any of the following occurs or, with the passage of time, would be reasonably likely to occur:
(i) in the reasonable opinion of Peterhouse and/or Tennyson (acting in good faith), any:
(A) outbreak, declaration or escalation of hostilities; or
(B) act or incident of terrorism or other calamity or crisis, national or international emergency or war; or
(C) change in national or international monetary, political, financial or economic conditions or in currency exchange rates or foreign exchange controls,
which (in any such case) has a material adverse effect on the operation of any of the principal financial and investment markets in the
(ii) trading generally on any stock exchange in the
(iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in
(g) in the reasonable opinion of Peterhouse and/or Tennyson (acting in good faith), a material adverse change (or a prospective material adverse change) since the date of the Placing Agreement in the
The rights and obligations of the Placees will not be subject to termination by the Placees or any prospective Placees at any time or in any circumstances. By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by either of the Brokers of any right of termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the relevant Brokers and that the Brokers need not make any reference to Placees in this regard and that neither of the Brokers nor any of its respective affiliates shall have any liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise or failure so to exercise.
No Admission Document or Prospectus
The Placing Shares are being offered to a limited number of specifically invited persons only and have not been nor will they be offered in such a way as to require the publication of a prospectus in the
Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the Announcement (including this Appendix) and the information in the public domain ("Publicly Available Information"). Each Placee, by accepting a participation in the Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms that it has not relied on any other information (other than the Publicly Available Information), representation, warranty, or statement made by or on behalf of the Company, Tennyson Securities or Peterhouse or any other person and neither of the Brokers, the Company nor any other person will be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement which the Placees may have obtained or received and, if given or made, such information, representation, warranty or statement must not be relied upon as having been authorised by either of the Brokers, the Company or their respective officers, directors, employees or agents. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing. Neither the Company nor the Brokers are making any undertaking or warranty to any Placee regarding the legality of an investment in the Placing Shares by such Placee under any legal, investment or similar laws or regulations. Each Placee should not consider any information in this Announcement to be legal, tax or business advice. Each Placee should consult its own solicitor, tax adviser and financial adviser for independent legal, tax and financial advice regarding an investment in the Placing Shares. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation.
Registration and Settlement
Following closure of the Placing, each Placee allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a Contract Note in accordance with the standing arrangements in place with the relevant Broker, stating the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Offer Price, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee (in pounds sterling) and a form of confirmation in relation to settlement instructions.
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 relevant Broker in accordance with the standing CREST settlement instructions which they have in place with the relevant Broker.
Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00BPJHZ015) will follow Admission, the Brokers reserves the right to require settlement for, and delivery of, the Placing Shares (or a portion thereof) to Placees by such other means that it deems necessary if delivery or settlement is not possible or practicable within CREST within the timetable set out in this Announcement or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in any Placee's jurisdiction.
It is expected that settlement will take place in accordance with the instructions set out in the Contract Note.
Interest is chargeable daily on payments not received from Placees on the due date(s) in accordance with the arrangements set out above at the rate of 4 percentage points above the prevailing Bank of
Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does not comply with these obligations, the Brokers may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for the relevant Broker's account and benefit (as agent for the Company), an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. The relevant Placee will, however, remain liable and shall indemnify the relevant Broker on demand for any shortfall below the aggregate amount owed by it and may be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or securities transfer tax (together with any interest or penalties) which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf. By communicating a bid for Placing Shares, each Placee confers on the relevant Broker such authorities and powers necessary to carry out any such sale and agrees to ratify and confirm all actions which the relevant Broker lawfully takes in pursuance of such sale. Legal and/or beneficial title in and to any Placing Shares shall not pass to the relevant Placee until it has fully complied with its obligations hereunder.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the form of confirmation is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that organisation.
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 that of a nominee for such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below, be so registered free from any liability to
Representations, Warranties and Further Terms
By participating in the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) irrevocably makes the following representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings (as the case may be) to the Broker for themselves and on behalf of the Company:
1. that it has read and understood this announcement, including this Appendix, in its entirety and that its subscription for Placing Shares is subject to and based upon all the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings and other information contained herein and undertakes not to redistribute or duplicate this announcement;
2. that its obligations are irrevocable and legally binding and shall not be capable of rescission or termination by it in any circumstances;
3. that the exercise by the Brokers of any right or discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the relevant Broker, and the relevant Broker need not have any reference to it and shall have no liability to it whatsoever in connection with any decision to exercise or not to exercise any such right and each Placee agrees that it has no rights against the relevant Broker or the Company, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees agents or advisers, under the Placing Agreement pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties Act) 1999;
4. that these terms and conditions represent the whole and only agreement between it, the relevant Broker and the Company in relation to its participation in the Placing and supersedes any previous agreement between any of such parties in relation to such participation. Accordingly, each Placee, in accepting its participation in the Placing, is not relying on any information or representation or warranty in relation to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of the Placing Shares other than as contained in this Announcement and the Publicly Available Information, such information being all that it deems necessary to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares. Each Placee agrees that neither the Company, nor either of the Brokers, nor any of their respective officers, directors or employees will have any liability for any such other information, representation or warranty, express or implied;
5. that in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the EU Prospectus Regulation and Article 5(1) of the
6. that neither it nor, as the case may be, its clients expect either of the Brokers to have any duties or responsibilities to such persons similar or comparable to the duties of "best execution" and "suitability" imposed by the FCA's Conduct of Business Source Book, and that neither of the Brokers is acting for it or its clients, and that neither of the Brokers will be responsible for providing the protections afforded to customers of the relevant Broker or for providing advice in respect of the transactions described herein;
7. that it has made its own assessment of the Placing Shares and has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing and that it shall not be entitled to rely upon any material regarding the Placing Shares or the Company (if any) that either of the Brokers or the Company or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees or any person acting on behalf of any of them has provided, other than the information in this Announcement and the Publicly Available Information; nor has it requested any of the Brokers, the Company or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees or any person acting on behalf of any of them to provide it with any such information;
8. that it is: (i) located outside
9. that the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, or under the securities legislation of, or with any securities regulatory authority of, any state or other jurisdiction of
10. that the only information on which it is entitled to rely on and on which it has relied in committing to subscribe for the Placing Shares is contained in this announcement and the information publicly available in relation to the Company ("Publicly Available Information"), such information being all that it deems necessary to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares and it has made its own assessment of the Company, the Placing Shares and the terms of the Placing based on this Announcement and the Publicly Available Information only;
11. that neither of the Brokers, nor the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees has made any representation or warranty to it, express or implied, with respect to the Company, the Placing or the Placing Shares or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Publicly Available Information;
12. that, unless specifically agreed with both Brokers, it is not and was not acting on a non-discretionary basis for the account or benefit of a person located within
13. that it is not a national or resident of
14. that it does not have a registered address in, and is not a citizen, resident or national of, any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make or accept an offer of the Placing Shares and it is not acting on a non-discretionary basis for any such person;
15. that it has not, directly or indirectly, distributed, forwarded, transferred or otherwise transmitted, and will not, directly or indirectly, distribute, forward, transfer or otherwise transmit, any presentation or offering materials concerning the Placing or the Placing Shares to any persons within
16. that it is entitled to subscribe for and/or purchase Placing Shares under the laws of all relevant jurisdictions which apply to it and that it has fully observed such laws and obtained all governmental and other consents which may be required thereunder or otherwise and complied with all necessary formalities and that it has not taken any action which will or may result in the Company or either of the Brokers or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents acting in breach of any regulatory or legal requirements of any territory in connection with the Placing or its acceptance;
17. that it has obtained all necessary consents and authorities to enable it to give its commitment to subscribe for and/or purchase the Placing Shares and to perform its subscription and/or purchase obligations;
18. that where it is acquiring Placing Shares for one or more managed accounts, it is authorised in writing by each managed account: (a) to acquire the Placing Shares for each managed account; (b) to make on its behalf the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, undertakings and agreements in this Appendix and the Announcement of which it forms part; and (c), if applicable, to receive on its behalf any investment letter relating to the Placing in the form provided to it by the Brokers;
19. that if in the
20. if in a member state of the EEA, it is a EEA Qualified Investor; and, if in
21. that, unless otherwise agreed by the Brokers, it is a "professional client" or an "eligible counterparty" within the meaning of Chapter 3 of the FCA's Conduct of Business Sourcebook and it is purchasing Placing Shares for investment only and not with a view to resale or distribution;
22. that it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) relating to the Placing Shares in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not require approval of the communication by an authorised person;
23. that any money held in an account with the relevant Broker (or its nominee) on its behalf and/or any person acting on its behalf will not be treated as client money within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the FCA. Each Placee further acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections conferred by the FCA's client money rules. As a consequence, this money will not be segregated from the Broker's (or its nominee's) money in accordance with such client money rules and will be used by the Broker in the course of its own business and each Placee will rank only as a general creditor of the relevant Broker;
24. that it will (or will procure that its nominee will) if applicable, make notification to the Company of the interest in its Ordinary Shares in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 5 of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the FCA;
25. that it is not, and it is not acting on behalf of, a person falling within subsections (6), (7) or (8) of sections 67 or 70 respectively or subsections (2) and (3) of section 93 or subsection (1) of section 96 of the Finance Act 1986;
26. that it will not deal or cause or permit any other person to deal in all or any of the Placing Shares which it is subscribing for under the Placing unless and until Admission becomes effective;
27. that it appoints irrevocably any director of either of the Brokers as its agent for the purpose of executing and delivering to the Company and/or its registrars any document on its behalf necessary to enable it to be registered as the holder of the Placing Shares;
28. that the Announcement does not constitute a securities recommendation or financial product advice and that neither of the Brokers nor the Company has considered its particular objectives, financial situation and needs;
29. that it has sufficient knowledge, sophistication and experience in financial, business and investment matters as is required to evaluate the merits and risks of subscribing for or purchasing the Placing Shares and is aware that it may be required to bear, and it, and any accounts for which it may be acting, are able to bear, the economic risk of, and is able to sustain, a complete loss in connection with the Placing;
30. that it will indemnify and hold the Company and each of the Brokers and their respective affiliates 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 the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings in this Appendix and further agrees that the Company and each of the Brokers will rely on the truth and accuracy of the confirmations, warranties, acknowledgements and undertakings herein and, if any of the foregoing is or becomes no longer true or accurate, the Placee shall promptly notify the Brokers and the Company. All confirmations, warranties, acknowledgements and undertakings given by the Placee, pursuant to this Announcement (including this Appendix) are given to each of the Brokers for itself and on behalf of the Company and will survive completion of the Placing Admission;
31. that time shall be of the essence as regards obligations pursuant to this Appendix;
32. that it is responsible for obtaining any legal, financial, tax and other advice that it deems necessary for the execution, delivery and performance of its obligations in accepting the terms and conditions of the Placing, and that it is not relying on the Company or either of the Brokers to provide any legal, financial, tax or other advice to it;
33. that all dates and times in this Announcement (including this Appendix) may be subject to amendment and that the relevant Broker shall notify it of such amendments;
34. that (i) it has complied with its obligations under the Criminal Justice Act 1993, FSMA and
35. that it will not make any offer to the public within the meaning of the EU Prospectus Regulation or the
36. that it will not distribute any document relating to the Placing Shares and it will be acquiring the Placing Shares for its own account as principal or for a discretionary account or accounts (as to which it has the authority to make the statements set out herein) for investment purposes only and it does not have any contract, understanding or arrangement with any person to sell, pledge, transfer or grant a participation therein to such person or any third person with respect of any Placing Shares; save that if it is a private client stock, broker or fund manager it confirms that in purchasing the Placing Shares it is acting under the terms of one or more discretionary mandates granted to it by private clients and it is not acting on an execution only basis or under specific instructions to purchase the Placing Shares for the account of any third party;
37. that it acknowledges that these terms and conditions and any agreements entered into by it pursuant to these terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
38. that any documents sent to Placees will be sent at the Placees' risk. They may be sent by post to such Placees at an address notified to the relevant Broker;
39. that neither Broker owes no fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the Placing Agreement;
40. that either Broker may, in its absolute discretion, agree to become a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing Shares;
41. that no prospectus or offering document has been or will be prepared in connection with the Placing and it has not received and will not receive a prospectus or other offering document in connection with the Placing or the Placing Shares;
42. undertakes that it (and any person acting on its behalf) will make payment in respect of the Placing Shares allocated to it in accordance with this Appendix on the due time and date set out herein, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with other acquirers or sold as the relevant Broker may in its sole discretion determine and without liability to such Placee, who will remain liable for any amount by which the net proceeds of such sale falls short of the product of the Offer Price and the number of Placing Shares allocated to it and may be required to bear any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes (together with any interest or penalties) which may arise upon the sale of such Placee's Placing Shares;
43. that its allocation (if any) of Placing Shares will represent a maximum number of Placing Shares which it will be entitled, and required, to acquire, and that the relevant Broker and/or the Company may call upon it to acquire a lower number of Placing Shares (if any), but in no event in aggregate more than the aforementioned maximum; and
44. that if it has received any confidential price sensitive information concerning the Company in advance of the publication of this Announcement, it has not: (i) dealt in the securities of the Company; (ii) encouraged, required, recommended or induced another person to deal in the securities of the Company; or (iii) disclosed such information to any person, prior to such information being made publicly available.
The Company, the Brokers and their respective affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of each of the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgements and undertakings which are given to each of the Brokers for itself and on behalf of the Company and are irrevocable.
The provisions of this Appendix may be waived, varied or modified as regards specific Placees or on a general basis by the Brokers.
The agreement to settle a Placee's subscription and/or purchase (and/or the subscription of a person for whom such Placee is contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax depends on the settlement relating only to a subscription by it and/or such person direct from the Company for the Placing Shares in question. Such agreement assumes that the Placing Shares are not being subscribed for 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 subsequent dealing in the Placing Shares, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax may be payable, for which neither the Company nor either of the Brokers will be responsible, and the Placee to whom (or on behalf 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
In addition, Placees should note that they will be liable for any 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 outside the
All times and dates in this announcement (including the Appendices) may be subject to amendment. The relevant Broker shall notify the Placees and any person acting on behalf of the Placees of any changes.
This announcement has been issued by, and is the sole responsibility, of the Company. No representation or warranty express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by either of the Brokers or by any of their respective affiliates or agents as to or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed. Nothing in this announcement shall be effective to limit or exclude any liability for fraud or which, by law or regulator, cannot otherwise be so limited or excluded.
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