TIDMEDP
RNS Number : 3468T
Eagle Bidco 2018 Limited
03 July 2018
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD
CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH
JURISDICTION
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
3 July 2018
RECOMMED CASH OFFER
for
ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
by
EAGLE BIDCO 2018 LIMITED
a newly incorporated company, ultimately owned and controlled by
Kerridge Commercial Systems Group Limited ("KCSG")
to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
Summary of the recommended cash offer
-- The boards of directors of Eagle Bidco 2018 Limited ("Bidco")
and Electronic Data Processing Public Limited Company ("EDP") are
pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms
of a recommended cash offer pursuant to which Bidco will acquire
the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of EDP
other than the Excluded Shares (the "Acquisition") to be effected
by means of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies
Act (the "Scheme").
-- Under the terms of the Acquisition, EDP Shareholders will be entitled to receive:
for each EDP Share 91 pence in cash (the "Offer Price")
-- The Offer Price values the entire issued and to be issued
ordinary share capital of EDP (excluding shares held in treasury)
at approximately GBP11.85 million and represents:
-- a premium of approximately 33.8 per cent. to the Closing
Price per EDP Share of 68 pence on the Last Practicable Date;
-- a premium of approximately 28.3 per cent. to the 12 month
volume weighted average price from 30 June 2017 to the Last
Practicable Date of 71 pence per EDP Share;
-- a premium of approximately 36.8 per cent. to the Closing
Price per EDP Share of 66.5 pence on 15 April 2016 being the
Business Day prior to the date on which EDP entered the offer
period; and
-- a Cash Adjusted Premium of approximately 135.6 per cent. to
the Closing Price per EDP Share of 68 pence on the Last Practicable
Date.
-- If any dividend or distribution or other return of value is
authorised, declared, proposed, made or paid or becomes payable by
EDP in respect of the EDP Shares on or after the date of this
Announcement and prior to the Effective Date, Bidco reserves the
right to reduce the Offer Price by an amount up to the amount per
EDP Share of any such dividend, distribution or return of value,
except where the Scheme Shares are or will be acquired pursuant to
the Scheme on a basis which entitles Bidco to receive the dividend,
distribution or return of value and to retain it.
-- The Acquisition is conditional on, amongst other things, the following matters:
-- the approval by a majority in number of Scheme Shareholders
voting at the Court Meeting, either in person or by proxy,
representing at least 75 per cent. in value of the Scheme Shares
voted;
-- the approval by EDP Shareholders of the General Meeting
Resolution in connection with the implementation of the Scheme, by
the requisite majority at the General Meeting;
-- the sanction of the Scheme by the Court; and
-- the Scheme becoming Effective by no later than the Long Stop Date.
The Acquisition is further subject to the Conditions and further
terms set out in Appendix I to this Announcement and to be set out
in the Scheme Document.
Background to Bidco, KCSG, Accel-KKR and EDP
-- Bidco is a private company limited by shares, incorporated on
23 March 2018 under the laws of England and Wales, for the purposes
of the Acquisition. Bidco has not traded since the date of its
incorporation and has not entered into any obligations, other than
in connection with the Acquisition and the funding of the
Acquisition. Bidco is ultimately owned and controlled by KCSG.
-- The KCS Group provides specialist software, services and
support to deliver fully integrated trading and business management
solutions to trade, wholesale, manufacturing, field service and
distribution customers, of all sizes, internationally. The KCS
Group employs over 650 staff at offices in the UK, Ireland, the
Netherlands, South Africa and North America, serving over 10,000
customers. KCSG's mission is to design and deliver high
performance, integrated ERP solutions that enable distributive
trade customers to source effectively, stock efficiently, sell
profitably and service competitively. KCSG has 40 years' experience
with distributive trade customers and has become a recognised
technical expert and thought leader in trading and management
technology. The KCS Group's innovative and flexible approach
ensures customers partner with it for the long-term. For the last
financial year to 30 September 2017, KCSG had revenue of GBP57.1
million generating EBITDA of GBP13.6 million. Net assets were
GBP71.0 million at 30 September 2017. KCSG has grown rapidly both
organically and through the acquisition of a number of businesses
to extend its geographical reach, add product capability and extend
into adjacent software verticals. As part of its strategy to become
a global leader in its market, KCSG has partnered with Accel-KKR
Company, LLC ("Accel-KKR"), a leading private equity firm with
extensive experience in vertically-oriented application software
markets with a track record of working with management teams to
build market leaders through growth.
-- Accel-KKR is a technology-focused investment firm with $4.3
billion in capital commitments. Accel-KKR focuses on software and
IT-enabled businesses well-positioned for top-line and bottom-line
growth. At the core of its investment strategy is a commitment to
developing strong partnerships with the management teams of its
portfolio companies and a focus on building value through
significant resources available through its network. Accel-KKR
focuses on middle-market companies and provides a broad range of
capital solutions including buyout capital, minority-growth
investments, and credit alternatives. Accel-KKR also invests across
a wide range of transaction types, including private company
recapitalisations, divisional carve-outs and public-to-private
transactions. Accel-KKR is headquartered in Menlo Park, California
with additional offices in London and Atlanta, Georgia.
-- EDP is a niche supplier of computer software solutions in the
UK and internationally. EDP provides ERP solutions for the
merchanting and wholesale distribution industry, as well as
e-business, application hosting, and sales intelligence solutions.
EDP's software applications are delivered through its hosting
centre based in Milton Keynes and/or utilising a more traditional
on-site license model. EDP's business model and value proposition
are underpinned by investment in a complementary suite of software
products that meet specific customer requirements across multiple
business functions, including accounting, supply chain and stock
management, sales intelligence and other key business areas. The
numerous value-added benefits generated by EDP's software include
operational cost savings, improved sales performance, higher
customer retention, enhanced business processes and immediate
access to critical business information.
Background to and reasons for the Acquisition
-- The boards of Bidco and KCSG believe the Acquisition
represents an opportunity to further the KCS Group's strategy to
create a global leader in provision of software, services and
support to trade, wholesale, manufacturing, field service and
distribution customers. The Acquisition brings further scale,
particularly in the UK market, and will help the KCS Group increase
its reach and relevance in its chosen markets as it brings
additional customers, products and capabilities. The board of Bidco
believes that the KCS Group can better serve the enlarged
complementary customer base with its wider range of tailored
advanced software products and solutions.
-- Given the strong fit that EDP has with the KCS Group's
strategy, Bidco is confident that EDP is well positioned to add
significant value to the Enlarged Group to serve as a catalyst for
future growth, as summarised by the key points below:
- EDP has an exceptionally strong fit with the KCS Group's
strategy - the KCS Group focuses on serving customers predominantly
in the distributives trades markets. Through a combination of
organic growth and acquisitions, KCSG has built one of the broadest
portfolios of ERP and related software serving the distributive
trades markets, with over 10,000 customers across Europe, South
Africa and the United States. As KCSG's partner, Accel-KKR is
confident that the Enlarged Group will be better positioned to
capitalise on future growth opportunities and expand its collective
addressable markets; and
- Uniquely positioned to help accelerate value creation - EDP is
a strong fit with KCS Group's strategy in terms of size and
business model. KCSG is also focused on investing in and acquiring
businesses that have the potential for further growth through
additional investment in the business. Given the fit EDP has with
KCSG's market focus, there will be ongoing opportunities to build
further value through combining the two product portfolios and
offering customers a more extensive product suite.
Recommendation
The EDP Directors, who have been so advised by BDO, as the
independent financial adviser for the purposes of Rule 3 of the
Code, as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, unanimously
consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable and
in the best interest of EDP and EDP Shareholders as a whole. In
providing its advice to the EDP Directors, BDO has taken into
account the commercial assessments of the EDP Directors.
Accordingly, the EDP Directors intend unanimously to recommend
that EDP Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court
Meeting and approve the General Meeting Resolution to be proposed
at the General Meeting (as they have irrevocably undertaken to do,
to the extent described in paragraph 6 and in Appendix III to this
Announcement).
Irrevocable undertakings
Bidco has, in total, received irrevocable undertakings to vote
in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and in favour of the
General Meeting Resolution at the General Meeting in respect of
5,922,550 EDP Shares representing, in aggregate, approximately 46.6
per cent. of the ordinary share capital of EDP in issue (excluding
shares held in treasury) on the Last Practicable Date.
Scheme Document
The Scheme Document will include further information about the
Acquisition together with notices of the Court Meeting and the
General Meeting and the expected timetable of the Scheme and will
specify the actions to be taken by EDP Shareholders. The Scheme
Document will be published as soon as practicable and, in any event
(save with the consent of the Panel), within 28 days of this
Announcement and will be made available by KCSG (on behalf of
Bidco) and EDP at www.kerridgecs.com and www.edp.co.uk (subject to
certain restrictions in relation to persons in Restricted
Jurisdictions).
Commenting on the Acquisition, Ian Bendelow, Chief Executive
Officer of KCSG said:
"The acquisition of EDP is a great opportunity to accelerate our
strategy. It brings us greater presence in the UK and an increased
platform for growth in our traditional markets. EDP is a high
quality business with customer offerings that are highly
complementary to the KCS Group and we very much look forward to
welcoming its employees into the Enlarged Group."
Commenting on the Acquisition, Sir Michael Heller, Non-Executive
Chairman of EDP said:
"The EDP and KCSG businesses have been good competitors for many
years, addressing the needs of customers in the same vertical
markets. Accordingly the EDP Directors believe that the KCS Group's
activities provide a strong fit with those of EDP and that the KCS
Group is an appropriate partner to continue the development of the
EDP business. The additional resources that the KCS Group will
bring will mean that it is well positioned and resourced to support
EDP and the future growth of the EDP business. Whilst the EDP
Directors continue to believe in the prospects for the business and
the attractiveness of its product offering, it is the EDP
Directors' belief that the Acquisition represents an acceptable and
certain valuation to EDP Shareholders."
This summary should be read in conjunction with the full text of
this Announcement. The Acquisition will be subject to the
Conditions and further terms set out in Appendix I to this
Announcement and to the full terms and conditions which will be set
out in the Scheme Document. Appendix II to this Announcement
contains the sources of information and bases of calculations of
certain information contained in this Announcement. Appendix III
contains a summary of the irrevocable undertakings received by
Bidco in relation to the Acquisition and Appendix IV contains
definitions of certain expressions used in this summary and in this
Announcement.
Enquiries:
+44 (0) 1488
Bidco / KCSG 662 000
Nigel Bedford, CFO
Raymond James (financial adviser to Bidco, +44 (0) 20 3798
KCSG and Accel-KKR) 5700
Dominic Emery / Joel Greenwood
Kathryn Cesari / August Oberbeck
+44 (0) 114 262
EDP 2010
Sir Michael Heller, Chairman
Julian Wassell, Chief Executive
BDO (Rule 3 financial adviser to EDP) +44 (0) 20 7486
John Stephan / Simon Ling / Susan Jarram 5888
Important notices
Raymond James is authorised and regulated by the Financial
Conduct Authority in the UK. Raymond James is acting exclusively as
financial adviser to Bidco, KCSG and Accel-KKR and no one else in
connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Bidco, KCSG and Accel-KKR for providing the
protections afforded to clients of Raymond James nor for providing
advice in connection with the Acquisition or any matter referred to
in this Announcement.
BDO LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom
by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively as
financial adviser to EDP and no one else in connection with the
matters referred to in this Announcement and will not be
responsible to anyone other than EDP for providing the protections
afforded to clients of BDO LLP nor for providing advice in relation
to the matters referred to in this Announcement.
This Announcement is for information purposes only and is not
intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer,
invitation, inducement or the solicitation of an offer to purchase,
otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of or
exercise rights in respect of any securities or the solicitation of
any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the
Acquisition or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or
transfer of any securities pursuant to the Acquisition in any
jurisdiction in contravention of any applicable laws.
The Acquisition is intended to be implemented by way of the
Scheme and will be made solely by means of the Scheme Document (or,
if Bidco so elects, any document by which the Acquisition is
implemented by way of a Takeover Offer) which will contain the full
terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how
to vote in respect of the Scheme. Any decision, vote or other
response in respect of the Acquisition should be made only on the
basis of information contained in the Scheme Document. EDP
Shareholders are advised to read the formal documentation in
relation to the Acquisition carefully once it has been
despatched.
This Announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying
with English law and the Code and the information disclosed may not
be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this
Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of
jurisdictions outside England.
EDP will prepare the Scheme Document to be distributed to EDP
Shareholders. EDP and Bidco urge EDP Shareholders to read the
Scheme Document when it becomes available because it will contain
important information relating to the Acquisition.
This Announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus
equivalent document.
Overseas Shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in
certain jurisdictions may be restricted by laws and/or regulations
in those jurisdictions. Persons who are not resident in the United
Kingdom or who are subject to the laws of other jurisdictions
should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable
requirements.
Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Code,
and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition
will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or
from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the
laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote their Scheme
Shares at the Court Meeting or in respect of the General Meeting
Resolution by any means, instrumentality or form within a
Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would
constitute a violation of the laws and/or regulations of that
jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this Announcement and all
documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not
be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded,
distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction
where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction, and
persons receiving this Announcement and all documents relating to
the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must
not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such
jurisdictions where to do so would violate the laws and/or
regulations of such jurisdictions.
The availability of the Acquisition to EDP Shareholders who are
not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws
and/or regulations of the relevant jurisdiction in which they are
resident. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should
inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements. Any
failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a
violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, EDP and Bidco and their
directors, employees, officers and advisers disclaim any
responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions
by any person.
The Acquisition will be subject to the applicable requirements
of the Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange, the Financial
Conduct Authority and the UKLA.
Notice to US Shareholders
The Acquisition relates to shares of an English incorporated and
registered company and is proposed to be effected by means of a
scheme of arrangement under English law. A transaction effected by
means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to proxy
solicitation or tender offer rules under the US Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "US Exchange Act"). Accordingly, the Acquisition
is subject to the disclosure requirements, rules and practices
applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement, which
differ from the requirements of US proxy solicitation or tender
offer rules. However, if Bidco were to elect to implement the
Acquisition by means of a Takeover Offer, such Takeover Offer will
be made in compliance with all applicable US laws and regulations.
Such Takeover Offer would be made in the United States by Bidco and
no one else.
In accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule
14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, Bidco, certain affiliated
companies and their respective nominees or brokers (acting as
agents) may make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase,
EDP Shares, other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date
on which the Acquisition becomes Effective, lapses or is otherwise
withdrawn. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be
made they would be made outside the United States and would comply
with applicable law, including the US Exchange Act.
The information contained in this Announcement has neither been
approved nor disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") or any US state securities commission.
Neither the SEC, nor any state securities commission, has passed
upon or determined the fairness or merits of the proposal described
in, nor upon the accuracy or adequacy of the information contained
in, this Announcement.
The financial information included in this Announcement has been
prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the
United Kingdom that may not be comparable to the financial
statements of US companies. US generally accepted accounting
principles differ in certain respects from IFRS used in the United
Kingdom. None of the financial information in this Announcement has
been audited in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States or the auditing standards of the
Public Accounting Oversights Board (United States).
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US
Shareholder as consideration pursuant to the terms of the
Acquisition may be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax
purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as
foreign and other, tax laws. Each US Shareholder is urged to
consult his independent professional adviser immediately regarding
the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to him or
her.
It may be difficult for US Shareholders to enforce their rights
and claims arising out of the US federal securities laws, since
Bidco and EDP are located in countries other than the US and some
or all of their officers and directors may be residents of
countries other than the US. US Shareholders may not be able to sue
a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for
violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to
compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to
a US court's judgement.
Forward-looking statements
This Announcement contains statements about Bidco, KCSG,
Accel-KKR and EDP that are or may be forward-looking statements.
All statements other than statements of historical facts included
in this Announcement may be forward-looking statements. Without
limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include
the words "targets", "plans", "believes", "expects", "aims",
"intends", "will", "shall", "may", "anticipates", "estimates",
"projects" or words or terms of similar substance, or the negative
thereof, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital
expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic
performance, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy,
losses and future prospects; (ii) business and management
strategies and the expansion and growth of Bidco's, KCSG's,
Accel-KKR's or EDP's operations and potential synergies resulting
from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of government
regulation on KCSG's, Accel-KKR's or EDP's business.
Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties
that could significantly affect expected results and are based on
certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected or implied in any
forward-looking statements. Due to such uncertainties and risks,
readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
Announcement. Other than in accordance with their legal or
regulatory obligations (including, to the extent applicable, under
the Listing Rules and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency
Rules, each of the Financial Conduct Authority), Bidco, KCSG,
Accel-KKR and EDP each disclaim any obligation to update any
forward-looking or other statements contained in this Announcement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
No profit forecasts or estimates
No statement in this Announcement is intended as a profit
forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this
Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or
earnings per share for EDP for the current or future financial
years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published
earnings or earnings per share for EDP.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in
one per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an
offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any
offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been
announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash)
must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement
of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in
which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An
Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's
interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any
relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any
securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a
person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than
3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the
commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later
than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the
announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first
identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of
the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to
the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead
make a Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes,
interested in one per cent. or more of any class of relevant
securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange
offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any
relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities
exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the
dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions
in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of
(i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror,
save to the extent that these details have previously been
disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom
Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London
time) on the business day following the date of the relevant
dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an
interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a
securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single
person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree
company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be
made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons
acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and
8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose
relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing
Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on
the Panel's website at http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk/,
including details of the number of relevant securities in issue,
when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first
identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit
on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you
are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing
Disclosure.
Relevant securities in issue
In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, EDP confirms that as at
the close of business on the Last Practicable Date, it had in issue
and admitted to trading on the main market of the London Stock
Exchange 12,700,976 ordinary shares of 5 pence each. The
International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) of such
ordinary shares is GB0003101523.
Electronic communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain
information provided by EDP Shareholders, persons with information
rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications
from EDP may be provided to Bidco during the offer period if
requested under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Code to comply with
Rule 2.11(c) of the Code.
Publication on website and availability of hard copies
A copy of this Announcement will be made available subject to
certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted
Jurisdictions on EDP's website at www.edp.co.uk and KCSG's website
(on behalf of Bidco) at www.kerridgecs.com by no later than 12 noon
(London time) on 4 July 2018. For the avoidance of doubt, the
contents of those websites are not incorporated into and do not
form part of this Announcement.
EDP Shareholders may request a hard copy of this Announcement by
contacting Link Asset Services, Corporate Actions, The Registry, 34
Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU, or by telephone on 0371
664 0321 or if calling from outside the UK on +44 (0) 371 664 0321.
Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by
provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the
applicable international rate. The helpline is open between 9.00
a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in
England and Wales. EDP Shareholders may also request that all
future documents, announcements and information to be sent to them
in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy form.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this Announcement have been
subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for
the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly
and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an
arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
General
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this Announcement
or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own
independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker,
bank manager, solicitor or independent financial adviser duly
authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as
amended) if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from
another appropriate authorised independent financial adviser.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD
CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH
JURISDICTION
3 July 2018
RECOMMED CASH OFFER
for
ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
by
EAGLE BIDCO 2018 LIMITED
a newly incorporated company, ultimately owned and controlled by
Kerridge Commercial Systems Group Limited ("KCSG")
to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
1 Introduction
The boards of directors of Eagle Bidco 2018 Limited ("Bidco")
and Electronic Data Processing Public Limited Company ("EDP") are
pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms
of a recommended cash offer pursuant to which Bidco will acquire
the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of EDP
other than the Excluded Shares (the "Acquisition") to be effected
by means of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies
Act (the "Scheme").
2 The Acquisition
Under the terms of the Acquisition, which will be subject to the
Conditions and further terms set out in Appendix I to this
Announcement and to be set out in the Scheme Document, EDP
Shareholders will be entitled to receive:
for each EDP Share 91 pence in cash (the "Offer Price")
-- The Offer Price values the entire issued and to be issued
ordinary share capital of EDP (excluding shares held in treasury)
at approximately GBP11.85 million and represents:
-- a premium of approximately 33.8 per cent. to the Closing
Price per EDP Share of 68 pence on the Last Practicable Date;
-- a premium of approximately 28.3 per cent. to the volume
weighted average price for the 12 months from 30 June 2017 to the
Last Practicable Date of 71 pence per EDP Share;
-- a premium of approximately 36.8 per cent. to the Closing
Price per EDP Share of 66.5 pence on 15 April 2016 being the
Business Day prior to the date on which EDP entered the offer
period; and
-- a Cash Adjusted Premium of approximately 135.6 per cent. to
the Closing Price per EDP Share of 68 pence on the Last Practicable
Date.
The EDP Shares to be acquired pursuant to the Acquisition shall
be acquired fully paid and free from all liens, charges, equitable
interests, encumbrances, rights of pre-emption and other rights and
interests of any nature whatsoever and together with all rights now
or hereafter attaching thereto, including voting rights and the
right to receive and retain in full all dividends and other
distributions (if any) declared, made or paid on or after the date
of this Announcement.
If any dividend or distribution or other return of value is
authorised, declared, proposed, made or paid or becomes payable by
EDP in respect of the EDP Shares on or after the date of this
Announcement and prior to the Effective Date, Bidco reserves the
right to reduce the Offer Price by an amount up to the amount per
EDP Share of any such dividend, distribution or return of value,
except where the Scheme Shares are or will be acquired pursuant to
the Scheme on a basis which entitles Bidco to receive the dividend,
distribution or return of value and to retain it.
If any such dividend, distribution or return of value is paid
after the date of this Announcement and Bidco exercises its right
described above, any reference in this Announcement to
consideration payable in respect of the Acquisition will thereafter
be taken to be a reference to the Offer Price as reduced by such
exercise. Any exercise by Bidco of such right shall be the subject
of an announcement and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be
regarded as constituting any revision or variation of the terms of
the Acquisition.
3 Background to and reasons for the Acquisition
The boards of Bidco and KCSG believe the Acquisition represents
an opportunity to further the KCS Group's strategy to create a
global leader in provision of software, services and support to
trade, wholesale, manufacturing, field service and distribution
customers. The Acquisition brings further scale, particularly in
the UK market, and will help the KCS Group increase its reach and
relevance in its chosen markets as it brings additional customers,
products and capabilities. The boards of Bidco and KCSG believe
that the KCS Group can better serve the enlarged complementary
customer base with its wider range of tailored advanced software
products and solutions.
Given the strong fit that EDP has with the KCS Group's strategy,
Bidco is confident that EDP is well positioned to add significant
value to the Enlarged Group to serve as a catalyst for future
growth, as summarised by the key points below:
-- EDP has an exceptionally strong fit with the KCS Group's
strategy - the KCS Group focuses on serving customers predominantly
in the distributives trades markets. Through a combination of
organic growth and acquisitions, KCSG has built one of the broadest
portfolios of ERP and related software serving the distributive
trades markets, with over 10,000 customers across Europe, South
Africa and the United States. As part of its strategy to become a
global leader in its market, KCSG has partnered with Accel-KKR, a
leading private equity firm with extensive experience in
vertically-oriented application software markets with a track
record of working with management teams to build market leaders
through growth. As KCSG's partner, Accel-KKR is confident that the
Enlarged Group will be better positioned to capitalise on future
growth opportunities and expand its collective addressable markets;
and
-- Uniquely positioned to help accelerate value creation - EDP
is a strong fit with KCS Group's strategy in terms of size and
business model. KCSG is also focused on investing in and acquiring
businesses that have the potential for further growth through
additional investment in the business. Given the fit EDP has with
KCSG's market focus, there will be ongoing opportunities to build
further value through combining the two product portfolios and
offering customers a more extensive product suite.
4 Recommendation
The EDP Directors, who have been so advised by BDO, as the
independent financial adviser for the purposes of Rule 3 of the
Code, as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, unanimously
consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable and
in the best interest of EDP and EDP Shareholders as a whole. In
providing its advice to the EDP Directors, BDO has taken into
account the commercial assessments of the EDP Directors.
Accordingly, the EDP Directors intend unanimously to recommend
that EDP Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court
Meeting and approve the General Meeting Resolution to be proposed
at the General Meeting (as they have irrevocably undertaken to do,
to the extent described in paragraph 6 below and in Appendix III to
this Announcement).
5 Background to and reasons for the recommendation
On 18 April 2016, EDP announced the initiation of a strategic
review, which included the commencement of an offer period under
the Code. This included a review of the various options open to EDP
to maximise value for its shareholders, one of which was the
possible sale of EDP. The initial part of this review concentrated
on an evaluation of the options. However, following its
announcement, a number of approaches were received and the EDP
Board decided to explore a sale with the objective of unlocking
value for shareholders.
This decision was followed by a structured sale process based on
the sharing of an information memorandum and meetings with a number
of parties. This process was impacted by uncertainty arising
initially from the sale of a property and subsequently by further
and lengthier uncertainty arising from the actuarial valuation of
the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
The sale of the surplus freehold property in Milton Keynes was
completed on 13 December 2016 for GBP1.2 million. Around the same
time, EDP entered into more detailed discussions with one party
involving access to further due diligence. One of the key aspects
of that due diligence was the pension scheme. A preliminary scheme
valuation report indicated an adverse movement in the actuarial
valuation of the scheme at 31 July 2016 and this caused a delay in
the sale process whilst the actuary undertook more work to
investigate the movement.
The preliminary results of the formal triennial actuarial
valuation of the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme at 31 July 2016 was
announced by EDP on 6 March 2017. As detailed in that announcement,
the actuary's preliminary valuation report indicated a deficit in
the scheme as at 31 July 2016 of GBP490,000, representing a funding
level of 94 per cent. The report suggested a 10-year deficit
recovery plan involving the payment of cash contributions by EDP of
GBP75,000 per annum.
On 18 October 2017, EDP announced that further work had been
undertaken by the pension scheme actuary to finalise the valuation.
Part of that work focused on analysing the data held by the scheme
administrator for a number of deferred members who had been members
of the scheme for less than five years. On investigation, it was
determined that the liability for these members in the preliminary
valuation report had been overstated by GBP420,000.
The finalised actuary's valuation report indicated a deficit on
a scheme funding basis as at 31 July 2016 of GBP70,000,
representing a funding level of 99 per cent. The expectation is
that this deficit will have been cleared by the 2018/19 scheme year
as a result of the payment of terminal bonuses by the scheme
insurer in respect of member retirements over the next two years.
The formal deficit recovery plan did not therefore require the
immediate payment of cash contributions by EDP although EDP agreed
with the trustees to make a one-off contribution of up to a maximum
of GBP118,000, payable on or before 31 July 2020, in the event that
the terminal bonus payments do not cover the deficit in full.
Following this important clarification regarding the Defined
Benefit Pension Scheme, one of the other earlier interested
parties, KCSG, re-engaged with EDP and following initial
negotiation of terms commenced detailed due diligence in February
2018.
The EDP Directors believe that the KCS Group's activities
provide a strong fit with those of EDP and that KCSG is an
appropriate partner to continue the development of the EDP
business.
Whilst the EDP Directors continue to believe in the prospects
for the business and the attractiveness of its product offering, it
is the EDP Directors' belief that the Acquisition represents an
acceptable and certain valuation to EDP Shareholders.
The Acquisition represents an opportunity for EDP Shareholders
to realise their holding in EDP in cash for a premium of 33.8 per
cent. to the Closing Price of 68 pence per EDP Share on 2 July 2018
(being the Last Practicable Date) and also gives EDP Shareholders
an exit opportunity.
6 Irrevocable undertakings
Bidco has received irrevocable undertakings from EDP Directors
and certain associated parties to vote (or procure voting) in
favour of the Scheme, at the Court Meeting, and in favour of the
General Meeting Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting,
in respect of a total of 3,669,550 EDP Shares representing
approximately 28.9 per cent. of the ordinary share capital of EDP
in issue (excluding shares held in treasury) on the Last
Practicable Date.
Bidco has also received an irrevocable undertaking from a
further EDP Shareholder to vote in favour of the Scheme, at the
Court Meeting, and in favour of the General Meeting Resolution to
be proposed at the General Meeting in respect of a total of
2,253,000 EDP Shares representing approximately 17.7 per cent. of
the ordinary share capital of EDP in issue (excluding shares held
in treasury) on the Last Practicable Date.
Bidco has therefore received irrevocable undertakings to vote in
favour of the Scheme, at the Court Meeting, and in favour of the
General Meeting Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting in
respect of a total of 5,922,550 EDP Shares representing, in
aggregate, approximately 46.6 per cent. of the ordinary share
capital of EDP in issue (excluding shares held in treasury) on the
Last Practicable Date.
Further details of these irrevocable undertakings (including the
circumstances in which they will fall away) are set out in Appendix
III to this Announcement.
7 Information on Bidco
Bidco is a private company limited by shares, incorporated on 23
March 2018 under the laws of England and Wales, for the purposes of
the Acquisition. Bidco has not traded since the date of its
incorporation and has not entered into any obligations, other than
in connection with the Acquisition and the funding of the
Acquisition. Bidco is ultimately owned and controlled by KCSG.
8 Information on KCSG and the KCS Group
The KCS Group provides specialist software, services and support
to deliver fully integrated trading and business management
solutions to trade, wholesale, manufacturing, field service and
distribution customers, of all sizes, internationally.
The KCS Group employs over 650 staff at offices in the UK,
Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa and North America, serving
over 10,000 customers. KCSG's mission is to design and deliver high
performance, integrated ERP solutions that enable distributive
trade customers to source effectively, stock efficiently, sell
profitably and service competitively. KCSG has 40 years' experience
with distributive trade customers and has become a recognised
technical expert and thought leader in trading and management
technology. The KCS Group's innovative and flexible approach
ensures customers partner with it for the long-term. For the last
financial year to 30 September 2017, KCSG had revenue of GBP57.1
million generating EBITDA of GBP13.6 million. Net assets were
GBP71.0 million at 30 September 2017. KCSG has grown rapidly both
organically and through the acquisition of a number of businesses
to extend its geographical reach, add product capability and extend
into adjacent software verticals.
For example, in the last eight years, KCSG has acquired
Datawright, Lakeview and TIS in the UK to acquire complementary
products, extend customer reach and move into adjacent verticals
such as manufacturing software. It has also acquired AGP in the
Netherlands to extend into hire systems and project management
software, IQ Retail and Integrity in South Africa to expand into
general merchandise retail systems and Mincron and Dancik in the
USA to extend its geographical footprint into North America.
9 Information on Accel-KKR
Accel-KKR is a technology-focused investment firm with $4.3
billion in capital commitments. Accel-KKR focuses on software and
IT-enabled businesses well-positioned for top-line and bottom-line
growth. At the core of its investment strategy is a commitment to
developing strong partnerships with the management teams of its
portfolio companies and a focus on building value through
significant resources available through its network. Accel-KKR
focuses on middle-market companies and provides a broad range of
capital solutions including buyout capital, minority-growth
investments, and credit alternatives. Accel-KKR also invests across
a wide range of transaction types including private company
recapitalisations, divisional carve-outs and public to private
transactions. Accel-KKR is headquartered in Menlo Park, California
with additional offices in London, UK and Atlanta, Georgia.
10 Information on EDP
EDP is a niche supplier of computer software solutions in the UK
and internationally. EDP provides ERP solutions for the merchanting
and wholesale distribution industry, as well as e-business,
application hosting, and sales intelligence solutions.
EDP's software applications are delivered through its hosting
centre based in Milton Keynes and/or utilising a traditional
on-site license model. EDP's business model and value proposition
are underpinned by investment in a complementary suite of software
products that meet specific customer requirements across multiple
business functions, including accounting, supply chain and stock
management, sales intelligence and other key business areas. The
numerous value-added benefits generated by EDP's software include
operational cost savings, improved sales performance, higher
customer retention, enhanced business processes and immediate
access to critical business information.
11 EDP trading update
EDP announced its unaudited half-year results for the six months
ended 31 March 2018 on 28 June 2018. EDP delivered trading in line
with the EDP Board's expectations. Turnover for the six months to
31 March 2018 was GBP2.55 million (2017: GBP2.54 million), adjusted
operating profit was GBP250,000 (2017: GBP260,000) and total cash
balances at period end were GBP6.5 million (2017: GBP6.7
million).
Since 31 March 2018, EDP has continued to trade in line with the
EDP Board's expectations and the EDP Board is confident about the
outlook for the remainder of the year.
12 Employees, management, locations, and strategy
Bidco has been able to develop a preliminary strategy that it
anticipates delivering for the EDP business. Upon the Scheme
becoming Effective, Bidco will benefit from having greater access
to the business, employees and customers of EDP and will be able to
formulate more detailed long-term strategic and operational plans
for EDP and the Enlarged Group.
Bidco expects to develop more fully those strategic and
operational plans in the six months following the Effective Date,
having made detailed enquiries after the Effective Date in relation
to EDP's customers, products and services, people, skills and
processes. These enquiries will further identify customer
preferences, product characteristics and features and opportunities
for improved working for the Enlarged Group.
From the due diligence that Bidco has been able to conduct to
date, Bidco believes that the KCS Group is an excellent partner for
EDP, and that it is well positioned and resourced to support EDP
and the future growth of its business. Following the Scheme
becoming Effective, Bidco will undertake a more detailed review of
the following areas of EDP's business, identifying areas of
anticipated complementarity, overlap and duplication:
-- Product portfolio strategy
Bidco believes that the KCS Group can better serve existing and
new customers and better respond to their complex and changing
needs through a combination of KCSG's existing portfolio of
software products and services blended with some of EDP's software
solutions.
It is intended that EDP will continue to service and support its
customers on its ERP systems; Quantum, Merchant, Charisma, Esprit
and The Business Programme. Bidco also intends to continue to
service and support Vecta customers. Bidco intends that the
Enlarged Group will honour all of EDP's existing customer
contracts.
Bidco intends to integrate EDP's Vecta CRM and business
intelligence software as a module within some of the KCS Group's
products, as well as offer it to the KCS Group's wider global
customer base as a standalone product.
The KCS Group offers a range of solutions to its customer base
and looks to support and add value to its customers through
different stages of their life cycle. Over time, Bidco anticipates
that the KCS Group will offer alternative solutions (including its
main K8 ERP solution) as potential longer-term solutions for EDP's
ERP customers.
-- Hosting arrangements
Bidco expects to be able to make service improvements by taking
advantage of available technologies and scale of hosting
capabilities in the Enlarged Group, which will allow for
improvements in the delivery and cost-effectiveness of EDP's
hosting arrangements, which is likely to benefit customers through
enhanced performance and greater resilience.
This further detailed review will be focused on delivering
service improvements to EDP's customers who use EDP's existing
hosted facilities. Bidco will review how, and from where, any
potentially upgraded service is best delivered.
-- Organisation and structure
Following the Effective Date, Bidco intends to seek to integrate
the businesses of EDP and those of the KCS Group with the ambition
to operate the Enlarged Group as a single business.
Bidco attaches great importance to the skills and experience of
EDP's employees. The board of Bidco believes that the Acquisition
will result in greater opportunities for EDP's staff as part of the
Enlarged Group developing and commercialising its ERP, business
intelligence and complementary product portfolio offerings. Bidco
hopes that EDP staff will consider suitable opportunities to
develop their careers through working in, or engaging with, other
parts of the Enlarged Group.
Bidco will perform a full review of the EDP businesses to
identify any organisational and structural changes that should be
implemented to benefit the Enlarged Group. The review and
integration process may identify opportunities to leverage skills
and talent across the Enlarged Group and may lead to a limited
number of surplus staff where there is unnecessary duplication or
where operational efficiencies can be achieved. The above mentioned
review will include an assessment of management positions.
Bidco intends to continue to support and service all existing
EDP ERP systems including Quantum, Merchant, Charisma, Esprit and
The Business Programme. Over the longer term, there will inevitably
be some overcapacity of resources on those solutions as customers
migrate to the KCSG ERP suite. Bidco will look to redeploy these
resources elsewhere in the Enlarged Group as it has successfully
done in its prior acquisitions.
Bidco does not foresee any significant changes to the scope of
research and development activities carried out by the Enlarged
Group. The Enlarged Group will have the scale and capacity to
continue to invest in research and development in order to provide
innovative, cost-effective software solutions for its customers.
Bidco intends to continue the current development roadmap for the
Vecta Solution with additional functionality and features being
delivered through 2018 and 2019.
-- Brand strategy
Bidco will assess the value of the EDP brand and associated
strategy and make a decision on its continued use in part or all of
the EDP business. It is anticipated that Bidco will continue to use
the brand names associated with each of EDP's products but that the
KCSG brand will supersede the EDP brand within the next twelve
months.
Other than as described above, Bidco does not expect any
material change in the balance of skills and functions of the
employees and management of the Enlarged Group. Bidco is not
planning to relocate EDP's employees and intends that EDP's main
office will remain in Sheffield. The Enlarged Group's headquarters
will be located at KCSG's head office in Hungerford. Bidco does not
envisage any material change to employee compensation packages.
There are some minor differences in employment conditions between
EDP and those of the KCS Group, which Bidco intends to harmonise
gradually, over a few years and in consultation with employees.
Bidco has not entered into, and is not in discussion on any
proposals to enter into, any form of incentivisation arrangements
with members of EDP's management who are interested in ordinary
shares and has no plans to do so.
It is intended that each of the non-executive EDP Directors will
resign from the EDP Board, conditional upon and with effect from
the Effective Date.
It is the intention that EDP's Chief Executive, Julian Wassell,
and Finance Director, James Storey, will also resign from the EDP
Board conditional upon and with effect from the Effective Date.
Notwithstanding Julian Wassell's and James Storey's proposed
resignation from the EDP Board on the Effective Date, it is
expected that both will remain with the EDP business for one month
following completion of the Acquisition.
Julian Wassell and James Storey have entered into the Settlement
Agreements, details of which (including all payments which will
become due) are set out in in paragraph 18 below.
It is intended that, after the Scheme has become Effective, the
listing of EDP Shares on the Official List will be cancelled and
EDP Shares will cease to be admitted to trading on the London Stock
Exchange's main market for listed securities ("De-listing"). Bidco
anticipates that De-listing will reduce administrative costs in
areas connected with EDP's quoted status including, but not limited
to, fees associated with listing and brokerage and lower audit and
various advisers' fees and costs of producing its annual
report.
EDP Directors' response to Bidco's intentions
The EDP Directors welcome Bidco's belief that the KCS Group is
an excellent partner for EDP and is well positioned and resourced
to support EDP and the future growth of the EDP business. The EDP
Directors believe that KCSG's activities provide a strong fit with
those of EDP and that KCSG is an appropriate partner to continue
the development of the EDP business.
The EDP Directors note that following the Scheme becoming
Effective, Bidco will undertake a more detailed review of the
specified areas of EDP's business, identifying areas of anticipated
complementarity, overlap and duplication.
The EDP Directors welcome the KCS Group's intention to continue
to service and support EDP customers on its ERP systems, Quantum,
Merchant, Charisma, Esprit and The Business Programme, and also
Vecta customers, and that the Enlarged Group will honour all of
EDP's customer contracts.
The EDP Directors note that Bidco intends to seek to integrate
the respective businesses of EDP and those of the KCS Group with
the ambition to operate the Enlarged Group as a single business.
The EDP Directors also note that Bidco intends to perform a full
review of the EDP businesses to identify any organisational and
structural changes that should be implemented to benefit the
Enlarged Group. The EDP Directors note Bidco's comment that the
review and integration process may identify a limited number of
surplus staff where there is unnecessary duplication or where
operational efficiencies can be achieved and that the review will
include an assessment of management positions.
EDP welcomes Bidco's statement that it does not envisage any
material change to employment conditions and that Bidco is not
planning to relocate EDP's employees.
The EDP Directors welcome that Bidco attaches great importance
to the skills and experience of EDP's existing employees and that
Bidco believes that the Acquisition will result in greater
opportunities for EDP staff as part of the Enlarged Group
continuing to develop and commercialise its ERP business
intelligence and complementary product portfolio offerings.
13 Pensions
The Defined Benefit Pension Scheme was closed to new members in
2013 and to future accrual of benefits for existing members in
2014. It has 20 pensioner members and 21 deferred members (three of
whom are current EDP employees). Although the most recent actuarial
valuation at 31 July 2016 reported a deficit of GBP70,000 on an
ongoing scheme funding basis, the formal recovery plan did not
require the immediate payment of cash contributions by EDP.
However, EDP agreed to make a one-off contribution of up to a
maximum of GBP118,000, payable on or before 31 July 2020, in the
event that the terminal bonus payments expected to be paid by the
insurer at the end of the 2018/2019 scheme year do not cover the
deficit revealed at the 31 July 2016 valuation in full.
EDP will continue to make contributions to various additional
defined contribution plans in accordance with past practice,
modified as required by any new regulations.
14 EDP Share Scheme
Participants in the EDP Share Scheme will be contacted regarding
the effect of the Acquisition on their rights under the EDP Share
Scheme and appropriate proposals will be made to such participants
in due course.
All outstanding options under the EDP Share Scheme have vested
in full and are therefore currently exercisable and will remain
exercisable for the period of six weeks from the Effective
Date.
The Scheme will extend to any EDP Shares which are
unconditionally allotted, issued or transferred to satisfy the
exercise of existing options under the EDP Share Scheme prior to
the Scheme Record Time. The arrangements to be proposed will allow
participants in the EDP Share Scheme to exercise options on a
cashless basis before the Scheme Record Time.
Further details of the terms of such proposals will be included
in the Scheme Document and in separate letters to be sent to
participants in the EDP Share Scheme.
15 Financing
Raymond James, in its capacity as financial adviser to Bidco,
KCSG and Accel-KKR, is satisfied that sufficient resources are
available to satisfy in full the cash consideration payable to EDP
Shareholders under the terms of the Acquisition.
16 Offer-related arrangements
Confidentiality Agreement
On 6 December 2017, Kerridge Commercial Systems Limited (a
wholly owned subsidiary of KCSG), Accel-KKR and EDP entered into a
confidentiality agreement in relation to the Acquisition, pursuant
to which Kerridge Commercial Systems Limited has undertaken to keep
confidential information relating to EDP and not to disclose it to
third parties (other than to permitted disclosees) unless required
by law or regulation. These confidentiality obligations will remain
in force for two years from the date of the agreement.
17 Structure of the Acquisition
It is intended that the Acquisition will be effected by means of
a Court-approved scheme of arrangement between EDP and Scheme
Shareholders pursuant to Part 26 of the Companies Act.
The purpose of the Scheme is to provide for Bidco to become the
holder of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital
of EDP other than the Excluded Shares. This is to be achieved by
the transfer of the EDP Shares (other than the Excluded Shares) to
Bidco, in consideration for which the Scheme Shareholders will
receive cash consideration on the basis set out in paragraph 2
above.
Conditions to the Acquisition
The Scheme will be subject to the Conditions and further terms
set out in Appendix I to this Announcement and to be set out in the
Scheme Document. In particular, the Scheme will be subject to the
following conditions:
(i) the approval by a majority in number of Scheme Shareholders
who are present and vote, whether in person or by proxy, at the
Court Meeting, representing not less than 75 per cent. in value of
Scheme Shares voted by those Scheme Shareholders at that meeting.
At the Court Meeting voting will be by poll and not on a show of
hands and all EDP Shareholders, appearing on EDP's register of
member at the Voting Record Time, will be entitled to vote at the
Court Meeting and to cast one vote for each EDP Share held;
(ii) the resolution required to implement certain matters in
connection with the Scheme (including, inter alia: (i) authorising
the EDP Directors to take all such action as is necessary for
carrying the Scheme into effect; (ii) amendments to EDP's articles
of association to ensure that any EDP Shares issued between
approval of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Scheme Record
Time will be subject to the Scheme and that any EDP Shares issued
after the Scheme Record Time will automatically be acquired by
Bidco; and (iii) the approval of the re-registration of EDP as a
private limited company and the related change of name, each
conditional on De-listing taking place as set out in paragraph 19
below) being duly passed by EDP Shareholders representing not less
than 75 per cent. of votes cast, either in person or by proxy, at
the General Meeting. At the General Meeting, all EDP Shareholders,
appearing on EDP's register of members at the Voting Record Time,
will be entitled to vote and to cast one vote for each EDP Share
held; and
(iii) all other Conditions to the Acquisition, as set out in
Appendix I to this Announcement, being satisfied or (where
applicable) waived.
Application to the Court to sanction the Scheme
Once the necessary approvals have been obtained at the EDP
Meetings, and the other Conditions have been satisfied or (where
applicable) waived, in order for the Scheme to be capable of
becoming Effective, it must be sanctioned by the Court at the Court
Hearing.
The Scheme will only become Effective, in accordance with its
terms, on the delivery of an office copy of the Court Order to the
Registrar of Companies.
Lapsing of the Acquisition
The Acquisition will lapse if, amongst other things:
(i) the approval of the requisite majority of eligible Scheme
Shareholders at the Court Meeting is not obtained on or before the
22nd day after the expected date of the Court Meeting as set out in
the Scheme Document in due course (or such later date, if any, as
Bidco and EDP may agree and the Court may allow);
(ii) the sanction of the Scheme by the Court (without
modification or with modification on terms acceptable to Bidco and
EDP) is not procured on or before the 22nd day after the expected
date of the Court Hearing to be set out in the Scheme Document in
due course (or such later date, if any, as EDP and Bidco may agree
and the Court may allow); or
(iii) the Scheme does not become Effective by 11:59 p.m. on the Long Stop Date.
Scheme becoming Effective
Subject to the satisfaction or (where applicable) waiver of the
Conditions, the Scheme is expected to become Effective by
mid-August 2018.
Upon the Scheme becoming Effective, it will be binding on all
EDP Shareholders, irrespective of whether or not they attended or
voted at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting.
Consideration for the Acquisition will be despatched by Bidco to
EDP Shareholders no later than 14 days after the Effective
Date.
Scheme Document and Forms of Proxy
Further details of the Scheme, including an indicative timetable
for its implementation, will be set out in the Scheme Document. The
Scheme Document and the Forms of Proxy accompanying the Scheme
Document will be published as soon as practicable and, in any event
save with the consent of the Panel within 28 days of this
Announcement. The Scheme Document and Forms of Proxy will be made
available to all EDP Shareholders at no charge to them.
CREST proxy voting will be enabled in relation to EDP
Shareholders voting in connection with the Scheme and shareholders
who hold EDP Shares in uncertificated form are encouraged to avail
themselves of this facility.
General
The Scheme will be governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Scheme will also be subject to the applicable requirements of
the Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange, the Financial
Conduct Authority and the UKLA.
18 Settlement Agreements
Each of Julian Wassell and James Storey has entered into a
Settlement Agreement with EDP whereby, conditional upon the
Acquisition becoming Effective no later than 30 November 2018, his
employment with EDP will terminate by reason of redundancy one
month after the date upon which the Acquisition becomes Effective.
Under the Settlement Agreements Julian Wassell and James Storey
will each receive the following payments (subject to normal
statutory deductions, where appropriate): (i) a payment in lieu of
his six month notice period (GBP47,500 in the case of Julian
Wassell and GBP38,000 in the case of James Storey); a statutory
redundancy payment (GBP13,716 in the case of Julian Wassell and
GBP5,334 in the case of James Storey); and a termination/compromise
payment of GBP100 (together with an amount calculated as payment in
lieu of untaken holiday entitlement). EDP has agreed to pay up to a
maximum of GBP2,000 (excluding VAT) in respect of the legal costs
incurred by each of Julian Wassell and James Storey in connection
with the termination of his employment. In each case the terms of
the Settlement Agreement have been accepted, in customary form, as
being in full and final settlement of all claims against EDP or any
member of the EDP Group.
19 De-listing and re-registration
Prior to the Scheme becoming Effective, EDP will make an
application for the cancellation of the listing of EDP Shares on
the Official List of the UKLA and for the cancellation of trading
of the EDP Shares on the London Stock Exchange's main market for
listed securities, in each case to take effect on or shortly after
the Effective Date. The last day of dealings in EDP Shares on the
main market of the London Stock Exchange is expected to be the
business day immediately prior to the Effective Date and no
transfers will be registered after 6.00 p.m. on that date.
On the Effective Date, share certificates in respect of EDP
Shares will cease to be valid and entitlements to EDP Shares held
within the CREST system will be cancelled.
On or shortly after the Effective Date, and following
De-listing, EDP will be re-registered as a private limited company
with the name Electronic Data Processing Limited.
20 Disclosure of interests in EDP
Save in respect of the irrevocable undertakings referred to in
paragraph 6 above, as at the close of business on the Last
Practicable Date neither Bidco nor any of its directors nor, so far
as Bidco is aware, any person acting in concert (within the meaning
of the Code) with it had:
(i) any interest in or right to subscribe for EDP Shares; nor
(ii) any short positions in respect of relevant EDP Shares
(whether conditional or absolute and whether in the money or
otherwise), including any short position under a derivative, any
agreement to sell or any delivery obligation or right to require
another person to purchase or take delivery; nor
(iii) provided or procured an irrevocable commitment or letter
of intent to accept or vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court
Meeting and / or the General Meeting Resolution at the General
Meeting in respect of EDP Shares; nor
(iv) borrowed or lent any EDP Shares (including, for these
purposes, any financial collateral arrangements of the kind
referred to in Note 4 on Rule 4.6 of the Code), save for any
borrowed shares which had been either on-lent or sold; nor
(v) any dealing arrangement of the kind referred to in Note 11
of the definition of 'acting in concert' in the Code in relation to
EDP Shares.
'Interests in securities' for these purposes arise, in summary,
when a person has long economic exposure, whether absolute or
conditional, to changes in the price of securities (and a person
who only has a short position in securities is not treated as
interested in those securities). In particular, a person will be
treated as having an 'interest' in securities by virtue of the
ownership of them, the right (whether conditional or absolute) to
exercise or direct the exercise of the voting rights attaching to
them or general control of them or by virtue of any agreement to
purchase, option in respect of, or derivative referenced to,
them.
In the interests of maintaining confidentiality before this
Announcement, Bidco has not yet completed its enquiries in respect
of the matters referred to in this paragraph of certain parties
deemed to be acting in concert with Bidco for the purposes of the
Acquisition. Enquiries of such parties will be completed as soon as
practicable following the date of this Announcement. In accordance
with Note 2(a)(i) on Rule 8 of the Code, Bidco will make an Opening
Position Disclosure setting out details required to be disclosed by
it under Rule 8.1(a) of the Code as soon as possible and in any
event by no later than 12 noon on the day falling 10 Business Days
after the date of this Announcement.
21 General
Bidco reserves the right, subject to the consent of the Panel,
to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer for the
entire issued and to be issued share capital of EDP (other than the
Excluded Shares) as an alternative to the Scheme. In such event,
the Acquisition will be implemented on substantially the same
terms, so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the
Scheme (subject to appropriate amendments, including an acceptance
condition set at 90 per cent. of the EDP Shares to which such offer
relates or such lesser percentage, being more than 50 per cent., as
Bidco may decide or the Panel may require) so far as applicable, as
those which apply to the Scheme.
If the Acquisition is effected by way of such Takeover Offer,
there can be no certainty as to the level of the acceptance
condition, or Bidco's willingness to waive or lower such acceptance
condition. If such Takeover Offer becomes or is declared
unconditional in all respects and sufficient acceptances are
received in respect of such Takeover Offer, Bidco intends to: (i)
procure that the then appointed EDP Board (subject to its fiduciary
duties) makes an application for the cancellation of the listing of
EDP Shares on the Official List and to the London Stock Exchange to
cancel the trading of EDP Shares on the London Stock Exchange's
main market for listed securities; and (ii) exercise its rights (to
the extent such rights are available) to apply the provisions of
Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act to acquire compulsorily
the remaining EDP Shares in respect of which such Takeover Offer
has not been accepted.
The availability of any such Takeover Offer to persons not
resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the
relevant jurisdictions. Such persons should inform themselves about
and observe any applicable requirements.
The bases and sources of certain financial information contained
in this Announcement are set out in Appendix II to this
Announcement. A summary of the irrevocable undertakings given to
Bidco in relation to the Acquisition is contained in Appendix III
to this Announcement. Certain terms used in this Announcement are
defined in Appendix IV to this Announcement.
22 Documents available on website
Copies of the following documents will be made available,
subject to certain restrictions relating to persons in Restricted
Jurisdictions, on EDP's website at www.edp.co.uk and KCSG's website
(on behalf of Bidco) at www.kerridgecs.com by no later than 12 noon
on the Business Day following the date of this Announcement until
the end of the offer period:
(i) the irrevocable undertakings referred to in paragraph 6
above and summarised in Appendix III to this Announcement;
(ii) the Confidentiality Agreement; and
(iii) this Announcement.
The contents of neither EDP's nor KCSG's websites, nor the
contents of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on such
websites, is incorporated into or forms part of this
Announcement.
23 Consents
Raymond James has given and has not withdrawn its written
consent to the issue of this Announcement with the inclusion herein
of the references to its name in the form and context in which they
appear.
BDO LLP has given and has not withdrawn its written consent to
the issue of this Announcement with the inclusion herein of the
references to its name in the form and context in which they
appear.
Enquiries:
+44 (0) 1488
Bidco / KCSG 662 000
Nigel Bedford, CFO
Raymond James (financial adviser to Bidco, KCSG +44 (0) 20 3798
and Accel-KKR) 5700
Dominic Emery / Joel Greenwood
Kathryn Cesari / August Oberbeck
+44 (0) 114 262
EDP 2010
Sir Michael Heller, Chairman
Julian Wassell, Chief Executive
+44 (0) 20 7486
BDO (Rule 3 financial adviser to EDP) 5888
John Stephan / Simon Ling / Susan Jarram
Important notices
Raymond James is authorised and regulated by the Financial
Conduct Authority in the UK. Raymond James is acting exclusively as
financial adviser to Bidco, KCSG and Accel-KKR and no one else in
connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Bidco, KCSG and Accel-KKR for providing the
protections afforded to clients of Raymond James nor for providing
advice in connection with the Acquisition or any matter referred to
in this Announcement.
BDO LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom
by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively as
financial adviser to EDP and no one else in connection with the
matters referred to in this Announcement and will not be
responsible to anyone other than EDP for providing the protections
afforded to clients of BDO LLP nor for providing advice in relation
to the matters referred to in this Announcement.
This Announcement is for information purposes only and is not
intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer,
invitation, inducement or the solicitation of an offer to purchase,
otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of or
exercise rights in respect of any securities or the solicitation of
any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the
Acquisition or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or
transfer of any securities pursuant to the Acquisition in any
jurisdiction in contravention of any applicable laws.
The Acquisition is intended to be implemented by way of the
Scheme and will be made solely by means of the Scheme Document (or,
if Bidco so elects, any document by which the Acquisition is
implemented by way of a Takeover Offer) which will contain the full
terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how
to vote in respect of the Scheme. Any decision, vote or other
response in respect of the Acquisition should be made only on the
basis of information contained in the Scheme Document. EDP
Shareholders are advised to read the formal documentation in
relation to the Acquisition carefully once it has been
despatched.
This Announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying
with English law and the Code and the information disclosed may not
be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this
Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of
jurisdictions outside England.
EDP will prepare the Scheme Document to be distributed to EDP
Shareholders. EDP and Bidco urge EDP Shareholders to read the
Scheme Document when it becomes available because it will contain
important information relating to the Acquisition.
This Announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus
equivalent document.
Overseas Shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in
certain jurisdictions may be restricted by laws and/or regulations
in those jurisdictions. Persons who are not resident in the United
Kingdom or who are subject to the laws of other jurisdictions
should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable
requirements.
Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Code,
and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition
will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or
from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the
laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote their Scheme
Shares at the Court Meeting or in respect of the General Meeting
Resolution by any means, instrumentality or form within a
Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would
constitute a violation of the laws and/or regulations of that
jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this Announcement and all
documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not
be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded,
distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction
where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction, and
persons receiving this Announcement and all documents relating to
the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must
not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such
jurisdictions where to do so would violate the laws and/or
regulations of such jurisdictions.
The availability of the Acquisition to EDP Shareholders who are
not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws
and/or regulations of the relevant jurisdiction in which they are
resident. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should
inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements. Any
failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a
violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, EDP and Bidco and their
directors, employees, officers and advisers disclaim any
responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions
by any person.
The Acquisition will be subject to the applicable requirements
of the Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange, the Financial
Conduct Authority and the UKLA.
Notice to US Shareholders
The Acquisition relates to shares of an English incorporated and
registered company and is proposed to be effected by means of a
scheme of arrangement under English law. A transaction effected by
means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to proxy
solicitation or tender offer rules under the US Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "US Exchange Act"). Accordingly, the Acquisition
is subject to the disclosure requirements, rules and practices
applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement, which
differ from the requirements of US proxy solicitation or tender
offer rules. However, if Bidco were to elect to implement the
Acquisition by means of a Takeover Offer, such Takeover Offer will
be made in compliance with all applicable US laws and regulations.
Such Takeover Offer would be made in the United States by Bidco and
no one else.
In accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule
14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, Bidco, certain affiliated
companies and their respective nominees or brokers (acting as
agents) may make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase,
EDP Shares, other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date
on which the Acquisition becomes Effective, lapses or is otherwise
withdrawn. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be
made they would be made outside the United States and would comply
with applicable law, including the US Exchange Act.
The information contained in this Announcement has neither been
approved nor disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") or any US state securities commission.
Neither the SEC, nor any state securities commission, has passed
upon or determined the fairness or merits of the proposal described
in, nor upon the accuracy or adequacy of the information contained
in, this Announcement.
The financial information included in this Announcement has been
prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the
United Kingdom that may not be comparable to the financial
statements of US companies. US generally accepted accounting
principles differ in certain respects from IFRS used in the United
Kingdom. None of the financial information in this Announcement has
been audited in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States or the auditing standards of the
Public Accounting Oversights Board (United States).
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US
Shareholder as consideration pursuant to the terms of the
Acquisition may be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax
purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as
foreign and other, tax laws. Each US Shareholder is urged to
consult his independent professional adviser immediately regarding
the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to him or
her.
It may be difficult for US Shareholders to enforce their rights
and claims arising out of the US federal securities laws, since
Bidco and EDP are located in countries other than the US and some
or all of their officers and directors may be residents of
countries other than the US. US Shareholders may not be able to sue
a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for
violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to
compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to
a US court's judgement.
Forward-looking statements
This Announcement contains statements about Bidco, KCSG,
Accel-KKR and EDP that are or may be forward-looking statements.
All statements other than statements of historical facts included
in this Announcement may be forward-looking statements. Without
limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include
the words "targets", "plans", "believes", "expects", "aims",
"intends", "will", "shall", "may", "anticipates", "estimates",
"projects" or words or terms of similar substance, or the negative
thereof, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital
expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic
performance, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy,
losses and future prospects; (ii) business and management
strategies and the expansion and growth of Bidco's, KCSG's,
Accel-KKR's or EDP's operations and potential synergies resulting
from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of government
regulation on KCSG's, Accel-KKR's or EDP's business.
Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties
that could significantly affect expected results and are based on
certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected or implied in any
forward-looking statements. Due to such uncertainties and risks,
readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
Announcement. Other than in accordance with their legal or
regulatory obligations (including, to the extent applicable, under
the Listing Rules and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency
Rules, each of the Financial Conduct Authority), Bidco, KCSG,
Accel-KKR and EDP each disclaim any obligation to update any
forward-looking or other statements contained in this Announcement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
No profit forecasts or estimates
No statement in this Announcement is intended as a profit
forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this
Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or
earnings per share for EDP for the current or future financial
years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published
earnings or earnings per share for EDP.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in
one per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an
offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any
offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been
announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash)
must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement
of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in
which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An
Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's
interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any
relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any
securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a
person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than
3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the
commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later
than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the
announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first
identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of
the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to
the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead
make a Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes,
interested in one per cent. or more of any class of relevant
securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange
offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any
relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities
exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the
dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions
in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of
(i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror,
save to the extent that these details have previously been
disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom
Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London
time) on the business day following the date of the relevant
dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an
interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a
securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single
person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree
company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be
made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons
acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and
8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose
relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing
Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on
the Panel's website at http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk/,
including details of the number of relevant securities in issue,
when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first
identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit
on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you
are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing
Disclosure.
Relevant securities in issue
In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, EDP confirms that as at
the close of business on the Last Practicable Date, it had in issue
and admitted to trading on the main market of the London Stock
Exchange 12,700,976 ordinary shares of 5 pence each. The
International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) of such
ordinary shares is GB0003101523.
Electronic communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain
information provided by EDP Shareholders, persons with information
rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications
from EDP may be provided to Bidco during the offer period if
requested under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Code to comply with
Rule 2.11(c) of the Code.
Publication on website and availability of hard copies
A copy of this Announcement will be made available subject to
certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted
Jurisdictions on EDP's website at www.edp.co.uk and KCSG's website
(on behalf of Bidco) at www.kerridgecs.com by no later than 12 noon
(London time) on 4 July 2018. For the avoidance of doubt, the
contents of those websites are not incorporated into and do not
form part of this Announcement.
EDP Shareholders may request a hard copy of this Announcement by
contacting Link Asset Services, Corporate Actions, The Registry, 34
Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU, or by telephone on 0371
664 0321 or if calling from outside the UK on +44 (0) 371 664 0321.
Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by
provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the
applicable international rate. The helpline is open between 9.00
a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in
England and Wales. EDP Shareholders may also request that all
future documents, announcements and information to be sent to them
in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy form.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this Announcement have been
subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for
the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly
and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an
arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
General
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this Announcement
or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own
independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker,
bank manager, solicitor or independent financial adviser duly
authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as
amended) if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from
another appropriate authorised independent financial adviser.
APPIX I
Conditions and certain further terms of the Acquisition and the
Scheme
Part A: Conditions of the Acquisition
1. The Acquisition will be conditional upon the Scheme becoming
unconditional and becoming Effective by
no later than 11.59 p.m. on the Long Stop Date.
2. The Scheme will be conditional on:
Scheme Approval
(a) (i) the approval of the Scheme by a majority in number
representing not less than 75 per cent. in value of Scheme
Shareholders (or the relevant class or classes thereof, if
applicable) who are on the register of members of EDP at the Voting
Record Time, present and voting, whether in person or by proxy, at
the Court Meeting and at any separate class meeting which may be
required (or any adjournment of any such meeting); and (ii) the
Court Meeting (or any adjournment thereof) being held on or before
the 22nd day after the expected date of the Court Meeting to be set
out in the Scheme Document (or such later date, if any, as EDP and
Bidco may agree in writing and the Court may allow);
(b) (i) all resolutions required to approve and implement the
Scheme and certain other related matters, as set out in the notice
of the General Meeting (including, without limitation, to amend
EDP's articles of association), being duly passed by the requisite
majority required to pass such resolution at the General Meeting
(or at any adjournment of that meeting); and (ii) the General
Meeting (or any adjournment thereof) being held on or before the
22nd day after the expected date of the General Meeting to be set
out in the Scheme Document (or such later date, if any, as EDP and
Bidco may agree in writing); and
(c) the sanction of the Scheme by the Court (without
modification or with modification on terms acceptable to Bidco and
EDP) on or before the 22nd day after the expected date of the Court
Hearing to be set out in the Scheme Document (or such later date,
if any, as EDP and Bidco may agree in writing and the Court may
allow) and the delivery of an office copy of the Court Order to the
Registrar of Companies.
3. In addition, subject as stated in Part B below and to the
requirements of the Code, the Acquisition will be conditional upon
the following Conditions and, accordingly, the necessary actions to
make the Scheme Effective will not be taken unless such Conditions
(as amended if appropriate) have been satisfied or, where relevant,
waived:
Third party clearances
(a) no government or governmental, quasi-governmental,
supranational, statutory, administrative or regulatory body or
association, institution or agency (including any trade agency) or
any court or tribunal in any jurisdiction (each a "Relevant
Authority") having taken or instituted or given written notice of
any action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference
(and, in each case, not having withdrawn the same), or having
required any action to be taken or otherwise having done anything,
or having enacted, made or proposed any statute, regulation, order
or decision or change to published practice or taken any other
steps, and there not continuing to be outstanding any statute,
regulation, order or decision, that in any such case would or might
reasonably be expected to:
(i) make the Acquisition or the acquisition of EDP Shares, or of
control or management of EDP, by Bidco or any member of KCS Group
void, unenforceable or illegal in any jurisdiction or directly or
indirectly prohibit or otherwise materially restrict, delay or
interfere with the implementation of, or impose material additional
conditions or obligations with respect to, or otherwise materially
challenge or require amendment to the terms of, the Scheme or the
Acquisition or the acquisition of any EDP Shares, or of control or
management of EDP, by Bidco or any member of the KCS Group;
(ii) require, prevent or materially delay the divestiture (or
alter the terms of any proposed divestiture) by the KCS Group or
the EDP Group of all or any part of their respective businesses,
assets or properties or impose any limitation on their ability to
conduct all or any part of their respective businesses or to own,
control or manage any of their respective assets or properties (or
any part thereof);
(iii) impose any limitation on, or result in any material delay
in, the ability of any member of the KCS Group directly or
indirectly to acquire or hold, or to exercise effectively, all or
any rights of ownership of shares or other securities (or the
equivalent) in, or to exercise management control over, any member
of the EDP Group or on the ability of any member of the EDP Group
directly or indirectly to hold or to exercise effectively all or
any rights of ownership of shares or other securities (or the
equivalent) in, or to exercise management control over, any other
member of the EDP Group;
(iv) except pursuant to Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies
Act, require any member of the KCS Group or of the EDP Group to
acquire or offer to acquire any shares or other securities (or the
equivalent) or interest in any member of the EDP Group or any
member of the KCS Group owned by a third party (other than in the
implementation of the Acquisition);
(v) require the divestiture by any member of the KCS Group of
any shares, securities or other interests in any member of the EDP
Group;
(vi) impose any limitation on, or result in any material delay
in, the ability of any member of the KCS Group or the EDP Group to
integrate or co-ordinate its business, or any part of it, with the
businesses or any part of the businesses of any other member of the
KCS Group and/or the EDP Group;
(vii) result in any member of the KCS Group or any member of the
EDP Group ceasing to be able to carry on business under any name
under which, in any jurisdiction in which, it presently carries on
business; or
(viii) otherwise materially and adversely affect the business,
assets, financial or trading position or profits or prospects of
any member of the KCS Group or any member of the EDP Group,
and all applicable waiting and other time periods (including
extensions thereof) during which any such Relevant Authority could
decide to take, institute, implement or threaten any such action,
proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference having
expired, lapsed or been terminated;
(b) all filings, applications and/or notifications which are
necessary under applicable legislation or regulation of any
relevant jurisdiction having been made and all relevant waiting
periods and other time periods (including any extensions thereof)
under any applicable legislation or regulation of any relevant
jurisdiction having expired, lapsed or been terminated and all
applicable statutory or regulatory obligations in any jurisdiction
having been complied with, in each case in respect of the Scheme
and the Acquisition or the acquisition of any shares or other
securities in, or of control or management of, EDP or any member of
the EDP Group by any member of the KCS Group or the carrying on by
any member of the EDP Group of its business;
(c) other than in relation to the approvals referred to in
paragraph 2(b) above, all Authorisations which are necessary in any
jurisdiction for or in respect of the Acquisition and the
acquisition of any EDP Shares, or of control or management of EDP,
by Bidco or any member of the KCS Group being obtained on terms and
in a form reasonably satisfactory to Bidco from appropriate
Relevant Authorities, or from any persons or bodies with whom any
member of the KCS Group or the EDP Group has entered into
contractual arrangements or material business relationships, and
such Authorisations, together with all other Authorisations
necessary for any member of the EDP Group to carry on its business
(where the absence of any such Authorisation would be material and
adverse in the context of the Acquisition) remaining in full force
and effect and no written notice of any intention to revoke,
suspend, restrict or modify or not to renew any of the same having
been given.
Confirmation of absence of adverse circumstances
(d) except as Disclosed, there being no provision of any
agreement, arrangement, licence or other instrument to which any
member of the EDP Group is a party or by or to which any such
member or any of its assets is or may be bound or subject which, as
a result of the implementation of the Acquisition or other
acquisition by Bidco or any member of the KCS Group of any EDP
Shares, or change in the control or management of EDP, or
otherwise, would or might reasonably be expected to result in (in
any such case to an extent which is material in the context of the
EDP Group taken as a whole):
(i) any monies borrowed by or any other indebtedness (actual or
contingent) of, or any grant available to, any member of the EDP
Group becoming repayable, or capable of being declared repayable,
immediately or earlier than the stated repayment date or the
ability of any such member to borrow monies or incur any
indebtedness being withdrawn or inhibited;
(ii) the creation or enforcement of any mortgage, charge or
other security interest over the whole or any part of the business,
property or assets of any member of the EDP Group or any such
mortgage, charge or other security interest (whenever arising or
having arisen) becoming enforceable;
(iii) any rights, assets or interests of any member of the EDP
Group being or falling to be disposed of or ceasing to be available
to such member of the EDP Group or any right arising under which
any such asset or interest could be required to be disposed of or
could cease to be available to such member of the EDP Group;
(iv) the interest or business of any member of the EDP Group in
or with any other person, firm or company (or any agreements or
arrangements relating to such interest or business) being
terminated or adversely modified or affected;
(v) any member of the EDP Group ceasing to be able to carry on
business under any name under which it presently does so;
(vi) the value of any member of the EDP Group or its financial
or trading position or prospects being prejudiced or adversely
affected;
(vii) any such agreement, arrangement, licence or other
instrument being terminated or adversely modified or any onerous
obligation arising or any adverse action being taken or arising
thereunder;
(viii) the creation of any liability (actual or contingent) by
any member of the EDP Group, other than trade creditors or other
liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business; or
(ix) any requirement on any member of the EDP Group to acquire,
subscribe, pay up or repay any shares or other securities (or the
equivalent),
and no event having occurred which, under any provision of any
agreement, arrangement, licence or other instrument to which any
member of the EDP Group is a party or by or to which any such
member or any of its assets is or may be bound or subject, would or
might reasonably be expected to result in any event or circumstance
as is referred to in this paragraph 3(d);
No material transactions, claims or changes in the conduct of
the business of the EDP Group
(e) except as Disclosed, no member of the EDP Group having since 30 September 2017:
(i) issued or agreed to issue or authorised or proposed or
announced its intention to authorise or propose the issue of
additional shares of any class, or securities convertible into, or
exchangeable for, or rights, warrants or options to subscribe for
or acquire, any such shares or convertible or exchangeable
securities or transferred or sold (or agreed to transfer or sell)
any shares out of treasury (except, in any such case, (a) as
between EDP and its wholly-owned subsidiaries or between its
wholly-owned subsidiaries, or (b) upon, pursuant to or in respect
of the exercise of any options granted under the EDP Share
Scheme);
(ii) recommended, declared, paid or made, or resolved or
proposed to recommend, declare, pay or make, any bonus, dividend or
other distribution, whether payable in cash or otherwise, other
than any dividends or other distributions lawfully paid or made by
any wholly-owned subsidiary of EDP to EDP or to any of its
wholly-owned subsidiaries and the final dividend of 3.0p per EDP
Share approved at the annual general meeting of EDP held on 20
March 2018 and paid on 6 April 2018;
(iii) (except for the Acquisition or any transactions between
EDP and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, or between its wholly-owned
subsidiaries) implemented, effected, authorised or proposed or
announced any merger, demerger, reconstruction, amalgamation,
scheme or commitment or any acquisition or disposal of any shares
or loan capital (or equivalent thereof) or, otherwise than in the
ordinary course of business, of any assets of any undertaking;
(iv) disposed of or transferred, or mortgaged or created any
security interest over, any material asset or any right, title or
interest in any material asset or authorised, proposed or announced
any intention to do so;
(vi) entered into, implemented, effected or authorised, proposed
the entry into or announced its intention to implement or effect,
any joint venture, asset or profit sharing arrangement, partnership
or merger of businesses or corporate entities;
(vi) purchased, redeemed or repaid or announced any proposal to
purchase redeem or repay any of its own shares or other securities
or reduced or made or authorised any other change in its share
capital (except, in any such case, as between EDP and wholly owned
subsidiaries of EDP or between wholly owned subsidiaries of
EDP);
(vii) made or authorised any change in its loan capital or
issued or authorised the issue of, or proposed or announced an
intention to authorise or propose the issue of, or made any change
to the terms of, any debentures, or incurred or increased any
indebtedness or contingent liability (except, in any such case, as
between EDP and wholly-owned subsidiaries of EDP or between
wholly-owned subsidiaries of EDP);
(viii) entered into, varied or terminated, or authorised the
entry into, variation or termination of, any contract, commitment
or arrangement (whether in respect of capital expenditure, real
estate or otherwise) which is outside the ordinary course of
business or which is of a long term, onerous or unusual nature or
magnitude or which involves, or might reasonably be expected to
involve, an obligation of a nature or magnitude which is or is
likely to be restrictive on the business of any member of the EDP
Group;
(ix) been unable or deemed unable, or admitted in writing that
it is unable, to pay its debts as they fall due or having stopped
or suspended (or threatened to stop or suspend) payment of its
debts generally or ceased or threatened to cease carrying on all or
a substantial part of its business;
(x) commenced negotiations with any one or more of its creditors
or taken any step with a view to rescheduling or restructuring any
of its indebtedness or entered into a composition, compromise,
assignment or arrangement with any of its creditors whether by way
of a voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement, deed of
compromise or otherwise;
(xi) (other than in respect of a member of the EDP Group which
is dormant and was solvent at the relevant time) taken or proposed
any steps or corporate action or had any legal proceedings started,
served or threatened against it or any documents filed in court in
relation to the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any
indebtedness, its winding-up (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution
or reorganisation (or for any analogous proceedings or steps in any
jurisdiction) in respect or for the appointment of any liquidator,
provisional liquidator, receiver, administrator, administrative
receiver, trustee or similar officer (or for the appointment of any
analogous person in any jurisdiction) in respect of all or any of
its assets and revenues or had written notice given of the
intention to appoint any of the foregoing;
(xii) waived, compromised, settled, abandoned or admitted any
dispute, claim or counter-claim whether made or potential and
whether by or against any member of the EDP Group (in any such case
to an extent which is material in the context of the EDP Group
taken as a whole);
(xiii) made any alteration to its memorandum or articles of
association or other incorporation or constitutional documents
(other than the amendments to EDP's articles of association
required in connection with the Acquisition);
(xiv) entered into, or varied the terms of, or terminated or
given notice of termination of, or made any offer (which remains
open for acceptance) to enter into or vary the terms of any
contract, service agreement or arrangement with any director or
senior executive of any member of the EDP Group;
(xv) proposed, agreed to provide, or modified (or agreed to
modify) the terms of, any share option scheme, incentive scheme or
other benefit relating to the employment or termination of
employment of any person employed by any member of the EDP
Group;
(xvi) made or agreed or consented to any change to:
(A) the terms of the trust deeds and rules constituting, or
other documents containing provisions for the time being governing,
the pension scheme(s) (or other arrangements in relation to the
provision of pension, life assurance, incapacity or similar
benefits) established by any member of the EDP Group for its
directors, employees or workers or their dependants;
(B) the contributions (including expenses and premiums) payable
to any such scheme(s) or to the benefits which accrue, or to the
pensions or other benefits which are payable or contingently
payable, thereunder;
(C) the basis on which qualification for, or accrual or
entitlement to, such benefits or pensions are calculated or
determined;
(D) the basis upon which the liabilities of such pension schemes
or other arrangements providing pension, life assurance, incapacity
or similar benefits are funded, valued, made, agreed or consented
to; or
(E) the identity of the trustee(s) of such pension schemes or
other arrangements providing pension, life assurance, incapacity or
similar benefits, where applicable;
(xvii) taken (or agreed or proposed to take) any action which
requires, or would require, the consent of the Panel or the
approval of EDP Shareholders in general meeting in accordance with,
or as contemplated by, Rule 21.1 of the Code; or
(xviii) entered into any contract, commitment or arrangement or
passed any resolution or made any offer (which remains open for
acceptance) to effect, or proposed or announced any intention to
effect, any of the transactions, matters or events referred to in
this paragraph 3(e);
(f) except as Disclosed, since 30 September 2017:
(i) no adverse change having occurred, and no circumstances
having arisen which might reasonably be expected to result in any
adverse change, in the business, assets, financial or trading
position or profits or prospects or operational performance of any
member of the EDP Group (in any such case to an extent which is
material in the context of the EDP Group taken as a whole);
(ii) no litigation, arbitration proceedings, prosecution or
other legal proceedings in any jurisdiction having been threatened,
announced, instituted or remaining outstanding by, against or in
respect of any member of the EDP Group or to which any member of
the EDP Group is or may become a party (whether as claimant or
defendant or otherwise) and no investigation by any Relevant
Authority or other investigative body against or in respect of any
member of the EDP Group having been threatened, announced,
instituted or remaining outstanding (in any such case in
circumstances which might reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the EDP Group taken as a whole);
(iii) no enquiry, review or investigation by, or complaint or
reference to, any Relevant Authority against or in respect of any
member of the EDP Group having been threatened, announced or
instituted or remaining outstanding (in any such case in
circumstances which might reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the EDP Group taken as a whole);
(iv) no contingent or other liability having arisen, increased
or become apparent to Bidco which is reasonably likely adversely to
affect the business, assets, financial or trading position,
profits, prospects or operational performance of any member of the
EDP Group (in any such case in circumstances which might reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect on of the EDP Group
taken as a whole); and
(v) no steps having been taken and no omissions having been made
which would result in the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or
modification of any licence held by any member of the EDP Group
which is necessary for the proper carrying on of its business and
the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of which
might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the EDP Group taken as a whole.
(g) except as Disclosed, Bidco not having discovered that:
(i) any financial, business or other information concerning the
EDP Group publicly announced prior to the date of this Announcement
or Disclosed to any member of the KCS Group any time by or on
behalf of any member of the EDP Group is misleading, contains a
misrepresentation of fact or omits to state a fact necessary to
make the information contained therein not misleading (in any such
case to an extent which is material in the context of the EDP Group
taken as a whole);
(ii) there is any information which affects, to an extent which
is material in the context of the EDP Group taken as a whole, the
import of any information publicly announced prior to the date of
this Announcement by or on behalf of any member of the EDP
Group;
(iii) any member of the EDP Group is subject to any liability,
contingent or otherwise, other than in the ordinary course of
business, which is material in the context of the EDP Group taken
as a whole; or
(iv) any past or present member of the EDP Group has not
complied in any respect with all applicable legislation,
regulations, notices, circulars or orders of any Relevant Authority
in any jurisdiction or any Authorisations, relating to the use,
treatment, storage, carriage, disposal, discharge, spillage,
release, leak or emission of any waste or hazardous substance or
any substance likely to impair the environment or the health and
safety of humans, which non-compliance would be likely to give rise
to any liability (including any penalty for non-compliance),
whether actual or contingent, on the part of any member of the EDP
Group which would be material in the context of the EDP Group taken
as a whole;
Intellectual property
(h) except as Disclosed, no circumstance having arisen or event
having occurred in relation to any intellectual property owned or
used by any member of the EDP Group which would or might be
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the EDP
Group taken as a whole or which is otherwise material in the
context of the Acquisition, including:
(i) any member of the EDP Group losing its title to any
intellectual property material to its business, or any intellectual
property owned by the EDP Group and material to its business being
revoked, cancelled or declared invalid;
(ii) any claim being asserted in writing or threatened in
writing by any person challenging the ownership of any member of
the EDP Group to, or the validity or effectiveness of, any of its
intellectual property; or
(iii) any agreement regarding the use of any intellectual
property licensed to or by any member of the EDP Group being
terminated or varied;
Anti-corruption, sanctions and criminal property
(i) except as Disclosed, Bidco not having discovered that:
(i) any past or present member, director, officer or employee of the EDP Group is, or has at any time, engaged in any activity, practice or conduct which would constitute an offence under the Bribery Act 2010, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977 or any other applicable anti-corruption legislation or that any person that performs or has performed services for or on behalf of the EDP Group is or has any time engaged in any activity, practice or conduct in connection with the performance of such services which would constitute an offence under the Bribery Act 2010, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977 or any other applicable anti-corruption legislation; or
(ii) any asset of any member of the EDP Group constitutes
criminal property as defined by section 340(3) of the Proceeds of
Crime Act 2002 (but disregarding paragraph (b) of that definition);
or
(iii) any past or present member, director, officer or employee
of the EDP Group, or any other person for whom any such person may
be liable or responsible, has engaged in any business with, made
any investments in, made any funds or assets available to or
received any funds or assets from: (A) any government, entity or
individual in respect of which US or European Union persons, or
persons operating in those territories, are prohibited from
engaging in activities or doing business, or from receiving or
making available funds or economic resources, by US or European
Union laws or regulations, including the economic sanctions
administered by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control,
or HM Treasury & Customs; or (B) any government, entity or
individual targeted by any of the economic sanctions of the United
Nations, the United States or the European Union or any of its
member states.
Part B: Certain further terms of the Acquisition
1. Bidco reserves the right (subject to the requirements of the
Code and the Panel) to waive, in whole or in part, the above
Conditions in paragraph 3 of Part A.
2. If Bidco is required by the Panel to make an offer for EDP
Shares under the provisions of Rule 9 of the Code, Bidco may make
such alterations to any of the above Conditions and terms of the
Acquisition as are necessary to comply with the provisions of that
Rule.
3. The Acquisition shall lapse unless all the above Conditions
in paragraphs 2(a), 2(b) and 3 have been fulfilled or, where
permitted, waived by Bidco by no later than the time which is
immediately before the commencement of the Court Hearing (or such
later time and/or date as the Court may allow).
4. Bidco shall be under no obligation to waive (if capable of
waiver), to determine to be or remain satisfied or to treat as
fulfilled any of the Conditions in paragraph 3 by a date earlier
than the latest date for the fulfilment of that Condition
notwithstanding that the other Conditions of the Acquisition may at
such earlier date have been waived or fulfilled and that there are
at such earlier date no circumstances indicating that any of such
Conditions may not be capable of fulfilment.
5. Under Rule 13.5 of the Code, Bidco may not invoke a Condition
so as to cause the Acquisition not to proceed, to lapse or to be
withdrawn unless the circumstances which give rise to the right to
invoke the Condition are of material significance to Bidco in the
context of the Acquisition. The Conditions contained in paragraphs
1 and 2 of Part A are not subject to this provision of the
Code.
6. The EDP Shares to be acquired under the Acquisition shall be
acquired fully paid and free from all liens, charges, equitable
interests, encumbrances, rights of pre-emption and any other rights
and interests of any nature whatsoever and together with all rights
now and hereafter attaching thereto, including voting rights and
the right to receive and retain in full all dividends and other
distributions (if any) declared, made or paid on or after the date
of this Announcement. Accordingly, insofar as any dividend or other
distribution or return of value is authorised, declared, made or
paid in respect of Scheme Shares on or after the date of this
Announcement and prior to the Effective Date, Bidco reserves the
right to reduce the Offer Price payable by the amount per EDP Share
of any such dividend, other distribution or return of value, except
where the Scheme Shares are or will be acquired pursuant to the
Scheme on a basis which entitles Bidco to receive the dividend,
distribution or return of value and to retain it.
7. The availability of the Acquisition to Overseas Shareholders
may be affected by the laws of any Restricted Jurisdiction.
Overseas Shareholders should inform themselves about and observe
any applicable requirements.
8. Bidco reserves the right, subject to the prior consent of the
Panel, to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer. In
such event, the Takeover Offer will be implemented on the same
terms, so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the
Scheme, subject to appropriate amendments to reflect the change in
acquisition method.
9. The Acquisition is governed by English law and is subject to
the jurisdiction of the English courts and to the Conditions and
further terms set out in this Appendix I to this Announcement and
those terms which will be set out in the Scheme Document. The
Acquisition will be subject to the applicable requirements of the
Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the Financial
Conduct Authority.
10. Each of the Conditions shall be regarded as a separate
Condition and shall not be limited by reference to any other
Condition.
11. The Acquisition will lapse, and the Scheme will not become Effective, if:
(a) in so far as the Acquisition or any matter arising from or
relating to the Acquisition constitutes a concentration with a
Community dimension within the scope of the Regulation, the
European Commission either initiates proceedings under Article
6(1)(c) of the Regulation or makes a referral to a competent
authority in the United Kingdom under Article 9(1) of the
Regulation and there is then a CMA Phase 2 Reference; or
(b) in so far as the Acquisition or any matter arising from the
Acquisition does not constitute a concentration with a Community
dimension within the scope of the Regulation, the Acquisition or
any matter arising from or relating to the Acquisition becomes
subject to a CMA Phase 2 Reference,
in each case, before the Court Meeting. In such event, Bidco
will not be bound by the terms of the Scheme.
APPIX II
SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND BASES OF CALCULATION
1 As at the Last Practicable Date, EDP had 13,784,073 EDP Shares
in issue. Of these, EDP held 1,083,097 EDP Shares in treasury,
therefore 12,700,976 of such EDP Shares are subject to the
Acquisition.
2 The aggregate transaction value has been calculated based on a
fully diluted figure of 13,025,976 EDP Shares consisting of:
(a) 12,700,976 EDP Shares in issue on the Last Practicable Date
(excluding shares held by EDP in treasury); and
(b) 325,000 EDP Shares in respect of which options are exercisable.
3 325,000 of the EDP Shares held in treasury will be used to
satisfy the options stated at 2(b) above, the remaining 758,097 EDP
Shares will be Excluded Shares for the purpose of the Scheme.
4 Closing Prices are taken from the Daily Official List.
5 Unless otherwise stated, the financial information relating to
EDP is extracted from the audited consolidated financial statements
of EDP for the financial year ended 30 September 2017, prepared in
accordance with IFRS or the unaudited interim financial statements
for the six months ended 31 March 2018.
6 The number of EDP Shares in respect of which options are
exercisable is 325,000 EDP Shares. This figure is calculated on the
Last Practicable Date and assumes: (i) that all options will be
exercised to the maximum possible extent; and (ii) no options are
exercised where the exercise price is above the Offer Price.
APPIX III
IRREVOCABLE UNDERTAKINGS
Irrevocable undertakings of EDP Directors and their associated
parties
Percentage
of EDP's issued
ordinary share
Number of EDP Shares in capital (excluding
Name of EDP Director or respect of which undertaking shares held
associated party is given in treasury)
Christopher Richard Spicer 1,000 0.007 per cent.
James Michael Storey 5,000 0.04 per cent.
Michael Aron Heller 1,711,350 13.47 per cent.
Julian Howard Wassell 95,000 0.75 per cent.
The Trustees of the Simon 281,250 2.21 per cent.
Heller Settlement
The Trustees of the M 859,700 6.77 per cent.
A Heller Marriage Settlement
London & Associated Properties 26,250 0.21 per cent.
PLC
The Trustees of the Simon 370,000 2.91 per cent.
Heller Charitable Settlement
The Trustees of the Michael 150,000 1.18 per cent.
Heller Charitable Foundation
Nicola Ann Blake 170,000 1.34 per cent.
Each irrevocable undertaking outlined above binds the relevant
EDP Director (or associated party) to, amongst other things, vote
in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and in favour of the
resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting, in respect of the
number of EDP shares in respect of which the undertaking is given.
These irrevocable undertakings will cease to have effect if:
(a) Bidco announces that it does not intend to proceed with the
Acquisition and no new, revised or replacement Scheme or Takeover
Offer (on no less favourable terms) is announced by Bidco; or
(b) the Acquisition lapses or has been withdrawn (other than
where Bidco exercises its right to implement the offer as a
Takeover Offer rather than a Scheme) and no new, revised or
replacement Scheme or Takeover Offer has been or is announced by
KCSG; or
(c) the Scheme does not become Effective (or a Takeover Offer
has not become or been declared unconditional in all respects in
accordance with the requirements of the Code) prior to 30 November
2018; or
(d) in the event of the Acquisition being implemented by way of
a Takeover Offer, the Takeover Offer document is not posted to EDP
Shareholders within the permitted period under the Code; or
(e) the Panel announces that, following a request from Bidco, it
has released Bidco from its obligation to proceed with the
Acquisition or confirms to Bidco or EDP or to any of their
respective financial advisers that, following such request, it has
done so.
These irrevocable undertakings remain binding in the event of a
competing offer.
Other EDP Shareholders' irrevocable undertakings
Percentage
of EDP's issued
ordinary share
Number of EDP Shares in capital (excluding
respect of which undertaking shares held
Name of EDP Shareholder is given in treasury)
Boyles Asset Management 2,253,000 17.74 per cent.
LLC
Each irrevocable undertaking outlined above binds the relevant
shareholder to, amongst other things, vote in favour of the Scheme
at the Court Meeting and in favour of the resolution to be proposed
at the General Meeting, in respect of the number of EDP Shares in
respect of which the undertaking is given. These irrevocable
undertakings will cease to have effect if:
(a) Bidco announces that it does not intend to proceed with the
Acquisition and no new, revised or replacement Scheme or Takeover
Offer (on no less favourable terms) is announced by Bidco; or
(b) the Acquisition lapses or has been withdrawn (other than
where Bidco exercises its right to implement the offer as a
Takeover Offer rather than a Scheme) and no new, revised or
replacement Scheme or Takeover Offer has been or is announced by
KCSG; or
(c) the Scheme does not become Effective (or a Takeover Offer
has not become or been declared unconditional in all respects in
accordance with the requirements of the Code) prior to 30 November
2018; or
(d) in the event of the Acquisition being implemented by way of
a Takeover Offer, the Takeover Offer document is not posted to EDP
Shareholders within the permitted period under the Code.
These irrevocable undertakings remain binding in the event of a
competing offer.
APPIX IV
DEFINITIONS
"Acquisition" the proposed acquisition of the entire
issued and to be issued share capital
of EDP (excluding the Excluded Shares)
by Bidco (which is proposed to be effected
by the Scheme), as described in this
Announcement
"Announcement" this announcement, made in accordance
with Rule 2.7 of the Code, including
its appendices
"Authorisations" any and all authorisations, orders, grants,
recognitions, determinations, confirmations,
consents, licences, clearances, permissions,
exemptions, certificates and approvals
"Bidco" Eagle Bidco 2018 Limited, a company incorporated
in England and Wales with registered
number 11273164
"Business Day" any day (other than a Saturday, Sunday
or public or bank holiday in the UK)
on which clearing banks in the City of
London are generally open for normal
business
"Cash Adjusted Premium" a metric that measures the offer price
premium on what the value of the share
price would be without the cash on the
balance sheet of the target company as
at 31 March 2018
"Closing Price" the closing middle-market quotation of
an EDP Share on a particular trading
day, as derived from the Daily Official
List published by the London Stock Exchange
"CMA Phase 2 Reference" a reference of the Acquisition to the
chair of the Competition and Markets
Authority for the constitution of a group
under Schedule 4 to the Enterprise and
Regulatory Reform Act 2013
"Code" the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers
"Companies Act" the Companies Act 2006
"Company" or "EDP" Electronic Data Processing Public Limited
Company, incorporated in England and
Wales with registered number 00853560
"Competition and Markets the Competition and Markets Authority
Authority" in the United Kingdom, a statutory body
established under the Enterprise and
Regulatory Reform Act 2013
"Conditions" the conditions of the Acquisition, as
set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement
and to be set out in the Scheme Document
"Confidentiality Agreement" an agreement dated 6 December 2017 between
EDP, Kerridge Commercial Systems Limited
and Accel-KKR, details of which are included
at paragraph 16 of this Announcement
"Court" the High Court of Justice in England
and Wales
"Court Hearing" the hearing of the Court to sanction
the Scheme
"Court Meeting" a meeting of the Scheme Shareholders
(including any adjournment thereof) convened
by order of the Court pursuant to section
899 of the Companies Act for the purpose
of considering and, if thought fit, approving
the Scheme (with or without amendment)
"Court Order" the order of the Court sanctioning the
Scheme under section 899 of the Companies
Act
"Dealing Disclosure" has the same meaning as in Rule 8 of
the Code
"Defined Benefit Pension the Electronic Data Processing Public
Scheme" Limited Company Pension and Life Assurance
Scheme
"Disclosed" information which has been fairly disclosed:
(i) by or on behalf of EDP to Bidco (or
its advisors) in a data room established
by EDP for the purposes of the Acquisition;
(ii) in the annual report and accounts
of EDP for the year ended 30 September
2017;
(iii) in any announcement to a RIS made
by or on behalf of EDP prior to the date
of this Announcement; or
(iv) in this Announcement
"EDP Board" the board of directors of EDP
"EDP Directors" the directors of EDP for the time being
"EDP Group" or "Group" EDP and its subsidiary undertakings
"EDP Meetings" together the Court Meeting and the General
Meeting
"EDP Share Scheme" the 2010 Electronic Data Processing Public
Limited Company EMI Share Option Plan,
adopted on 16 March 2010
"EDP Shareholders" holders for the time being of EDP Shares
"EDP Shares" ordinary shares of 5 pence each in the
capital of EDP
"Effective" In the context of the Acquisition:
(a) if the Acquisition is implemented
by way of the Scheme, the Scheme becoming
effective in accordance with its terms,
upon the delivery of an office copy of
the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies;
or
(b) if the Acquisition is implemented
by way of the Takeover Offer, the Takeover
Offer becoming or being declared unconditional
in all respects in accordance with the
requirements of the Code
"Enlarged Group" the KCS Group as enlarged by the EDP
Group
"ERP" Enterprise Resource Planning
"Excluded Shares" any EDP Shares:
(i) which are registered in the name
of or beneficially owned by KCSG or its
nominee(s) or any subsidiary undertaking
of KCSG or its nominee(s); or
(ii) which are held in treasury (unless
such EDP Shares cease to be so held)
"FCA" or "Financial Conduct the United Kingdom Financial Conduct
Authority" Authority
"Forms of Proxy" the forms of proxy for use at the Court
Meeting and the General Meeting
"FSMA" the Financial Services and Markets Act
2000, as amended
"General Meeting" the general meeting of EDP Shareholders
(including any adjournment thereof) to
be convened in connection with the Scheme
to consider and, if thought fit, pass,
inter alia, the General Meeting Resolution
"General Meeting Resolution" the resolution to be proposed by EDP
at the General Meeting in connection
with (i) authorising the EDP Directors
to take all required action in relation
to the Scheme, (ii) amending EDP's articles
of association, (iii) the re-registration
of EDP as a private company and such
other matters as may be necessary to
implement the Scheme
"KCSG" Kerridge Commercial Systems Group Limited,
incorporated in England and Wales with
registered number 09353225
"KCS Group" KCSG and its subsidiary undertakings,
including Bidco
"Last Practicable Date" 2 July 2018, being the last practicable
date prior to the publication of this
Announcement
"Listing Rules" the rules and regulations made by the
FCA under Part VI of FSMA and contained
in the UK Listing Authority's publication
of the same name, as amended from time
to time
"Long Stop Date" 30 November 2018 or such later date (if
any) as Bidco and EDP may agree and (if
required) the Panel and the Court may
allow
"LSE" or "London Stock London Stock Exchange plc
Exchange"
"offer period" the offer period (as defined by the Code)
relating to EDP, which commenced on 18
April 2016
"Offer Price" 91 pence, being the consideration payable
in cash under the Scheme in respect of
each Scheme Share
"Official List" the Official List maintained by the FCA
"Opening Position Disclosure" has the same meaning as in Rule 8 of
the Code
"Overseas Shareholders" EDP Shareholders (or nominees of, or
custodians or trustees of, EDP Shareholders)
not resident in, or nationals or citizens
of, the United Kingdom
"Panel" the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
"pounds", "GBP" or "pence" the lawful currency of the United Kingdom
"Raymond James" Raymond James Financial International
Limited, registered in England and Wales
with registered number 03127076
"Regulation" Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004
"RIS" or "Regulatory any information service authorised from
Information Service" time to time by the Financial Conduct
Authority for the purpose of disseminating
regulatory announcements
"Restricted Jurisdiction" any jurisdiction where local laws or
regulations may result in a significant
risk of civil, regulatory or criminal
exposure if information concerning the
Acquisition is sent or made available
to EDP Shareholders in that jurisdiction
"Scheme" the proposed scheme of arrangement under
Part 26 of the Companies Act between
EDP and the Scheme Shareholders in order
to implement the Acquisition, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set
out in this Announcement and to be set
out in the Scheme Document (with or subject
to any modification, addition or condition
which Bidco and EDP may agree and the
Court may impose or, if required, approve)
"Scheme Document" the document to be sent to EDP Shareholders,
persons with information rights and holders
of options under the EDP Share Scheme
containing, among other things, the Scheme
(and the explanatory statement, as required
by section 897 of the Companies Act)
and notices of the Court Meeting and
the General Meeting
"Scheme Record Time" the record date and time for the Scheme,
as specified in the Scheme Document
"Scheme Shareholders" holders of Scheme Shares
"Scheme Shares" EDP Shares:
(i) in issue at the date of the Scheme
Document;
(ii) if any, issued after the date of
the Scheme Document and before the Voting
Record Time; and
(iii) if any, issued after the Voting
Record Time and before the Scheme Record
Time in respect of which the original
holder and any subsequent holders thereof
are, or shall have agreed in writing
to be, bound by the Scheme,
but excluding (a) in the case of references
in this Announcement to "Scheme Shares"
or "Scheme Shareholders" in relation
to voting at the Court Meeting, any Excluded
Shares in issue at the Voting Record
Time and any Scheme Shares referred to
in (iii) above and (b) in the case of
other references in this Announcement
to "Scheme Shares" or "Scheme Shareholders",
any Excluded Shares in issue at the Scheme
Record Time
"Settlement Agreements" the settlement agreements which have
been entered into between EDP and each
of Julian Wassell and James Storey, as
summarised in paragraph 18 of this Announcement
"subsidiary", "subsidiary shall be construed in accordance with
undertaking" and "undertaking" the Companies Act
"Takeover Offer" should the Acquisition be implemented
by way of a takeover offer, as defined
in Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies
Act, the recommended offer to be made
by or on behalf of Bidco to acquire the
entire issued and to be issued share
capital of EDP (excluding the Excluded
Shares) and, where the context admits,
any revision, variation, extension or
renewal thereof
"UK or United Kingdom" the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
"UKLA" or "UK Listing the FCA acting for the purposes of Part
Authority" VI of FSMA
"US" or "United States" the United States of America, its territories
and possessions, any state of the United
States of America and the District of
Columbia
"Voting Record Time" the date and time specified in the Scheme
Document by reference to which entitlement
to vote at the Court Meeting will be
determined, expected to be 6.30 p.m.
on the day which is two days prior to
the date of the Court Meeting or, if
the Court Meeting is adjourned, 6.30
p.m. on the day which is two days before
the date of such adjourned meeting, in
each case excluding any day falling on
a weekend or a bank or public holiday
in the UK
All references in this Announcement to any statutory provision
or law or to any order or regulation shall be construed as a
reference to that provision, law, order or regulation as extended,
modified, replaced or re-enacted from time to time and all
statutory instruments, regulations and orders from time to time
made thereunder or deriving validity therefrom.
All references to time in this Announcement are to London time
unless otherwise stated.
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.
END
OFFLIFLIDFIVIIT
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