TIDMSMV TIDMTTM
RNS Number : 7205O
Smoove PLC
04 October 2023
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, 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 AS STIPULATED
UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO 596/2014 (INCORPORATED INTO UK
LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 AS AMED
BY VIRTUE OF THE MARKET ABUSE (AMMENT) (EU EXIT) REGULATIONS 2019).
UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY
INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO
BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4 October 2023
RECOMMED CASH ACQUISITION
of
SMOOVE PLC
by
DIGCOM UK HOLDINGS LIMITED
(an indirect subsidiary undertaking of PEXA Group Limited)
to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement under Part 26
of the Companies Act 2006
Summary and highlights
-- The boards of directors of Digcom UK Holdings Limited
("Digcom"), an indirect subsidiary undertaking of PEXA Group
Limited ("PEXA"), and Smoove plc ("Smoove"), are pleased to
announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a
recommended cash acquisition by Digcom of the entire issued and to
be issued share capital of Smoove (the "Acquisition").
-- Under the terms of the Acquisition, Smoove Shareholders will be entitled to receive
-- 54 pence for each Smoove Share (the "Consideration")
-- The Consideration of 54 pence per Smoove Share values the
entire issued and to be issued share capital of Smoove at
approximately GBP30.8 million on a fully diluted basis and
represents a premium of approximately:
-> 69.3 per cent. to the Closing Price of 31.9 pence per
Smoove Share on 21 April 2023 (being the last Business Day before
the commencement of the Offer Period);
-> 74.1 per cent. to the volume-weighted average Closing
Price of 31.0 pence per Smoove Share for the one-month period ended
21 April 2023 (being the last Business Day before the commencement
of the Offer Period); and
-> 43.9 per cent. to the volume-weighted average Closing
Price of 37.5 pence per Smoove Share for the three-month period
ended 21 April 2023 (being the last Business Day before the
commencement of the Offer Period).
-- If, on or after the date of this announcement and before the
Effective Date, any dividend, distribution or other return of
capital or value is announced, declared, made or paid by Smoove or
becomes payable by Smoove in respect of the Smoove Shares, Digcom
reserves the right to reduce the Consideration payable for the
Smoove Shares pursuant to the Acquisition by an amount up to the
amount of such dividend and/or distribution and/or other return of
capital or value. In such circumstances, Smoove Shareholders would
be entitled to receive and retain any such dividend and/or other
distribution and/or return of capital or value.
Acquisition Overview
-- The Acquisition comprises an all-cash acquisition of Smoove
by Digcom, which the Smoove Directors intend to recommend
unanimously to Smoove Shareholders.
-- The PEXA Board believes that the Acquisition represents an
attractive opportunity for the PEXA Group to advance its stated
strategy of enhancing and leveraging its property exchange know-how
to deliver growth in different markets, including in other Torrens
title jurisdictions starting with the UK.
-- Both Smoove and PEXA share the common goal of simplifying and
enhancing the home moving process through digitalisation,
significantly reducing transaction times, whilst simultaneously
removing the pain points across the process.
-- The PEXA Board believes there is a significant opportunity
for Smoove's existing customers to benefit from PEXA's digital
property settlements platform and wider service offering,
leveraging PEXA's experience as the market leader in Australia.
Smoove has a long-standing relationship with Lloyds Banking Group
and a connection with over 75 conveyancer firms on its eConveyancer
platform and circa 2,100 conveyancing firms via lender panels.
-- The PEXA Board believes that by integrating Smoove into PEXA,
the Combined Group will be able to build scale and depth in the UK
market accelerating the path to enhancing the home moving process.
Smoove provides access to re-mortgage flows equivalent to 7 per
cent.(1) of the UK market and sales and purchase flows across the
Smoove platform which are equivalent to 3 per cent.(1) of the UK's
sales and purchase market which are intermediated by the Smoove
platform.
-- The PEXA Group's commitment to developing new revenue streams
through international expansion and investments in new digital
business and partnerships, supported by a strong balance sheet and
cash generative business model, will help to build a unique,
strong, and attractive business. Smoove will provide reach into the
'cash back market segment' not currently served by Optima Legal and
indirect access to sale and purchase conveyancing firms.
___
(1) Calculated based on Smoove's sale and purchase and
remortgage completion volumes for the financial year ended 31 March
2023, Bank of England sale and purchase transactions (Bank of
England data set LPMB4B3) and Bank of England remortage
transactions (Bank of England data set LPMVTVX)
Recommendation
-- Smoove's Directors, who have been so advised by Cavendish as
to the financial terms of the Acquisition, unanimously consider the
terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing
their advice to the Smoove Directors, Cavendish has taken into
account the commercial assessments of the Smoove Directors.
Cavendish is providing independent financial advice to the Smoove
Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
-- Accordingly, the Smoove Directors intend to recommend
unanimously that Smoove Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme
at the Court Meeting and the Resolution(s) to be proposed at the
General Meeting (or in the event that the Acquisition is
implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure the
acceptance of such Takeover Offer) as the Smoove Directors who are
beneficially interested in Smoove Shares (who, for the avoidance of
doubt, do not include Smoove Directors whose interests in Smoove
Shares comprise only unexercised options under the Smoove Share
Plans, nor Oliver Scott who has an indirect beneficial interest in
Smoove Shares as well as being a partner of Kestrel Partners LLP,
an entity interested in Smoove Shares) have irrevocably undertaken
to do in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of 85,000
Smoove Shares representing, in aggregate, approximately 0.15 per
cent. of Smoove's total issued share capital as at the close of
business on the Last Practicable Date.
Irrevocable undertakings and letter of intent
-- In addition to the irrevocable undertakings received from the
Smoove Directors, Digcom has also received irrevocable undertakings
from Kestrel Partners LLP (a partner of which, Oliver Scott, is a
Non-Executive Director of Smoove), Harwood Capital Management
Limited and Herald Investment Management Limited to vote in favour
(or procure the voting in favour, as applicable) of the Scheme at
the Court Meeting and the Resolution(s) to be proposed at the
General Meeting (or in the event that the Acquisition is
implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure the
acceptance of such Takeover Offer) in respect of, in aggregate,
26,560,625 Smoove Shares, representing approximately 46.58 per
cent. of Smoove's total issued share capital as at the close of
business on the Last Practicable Date.
-- In addition, Digcom has received a non-binding letter of
intent from Schroders Investment Management Limited to procure the
voting in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the
Resolution(s) to be proposed at the General Meeting (or in the
event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover
Offer, to procure the acceptance of such Takeover Offer) in respect
of 5,365,237 Smoove Shares, representing approximately 9.41 per
cent. of Smoove's total issued share capital as at the close of
business on the Last Practicable Date.
-- Further details of these irrevocable undertakings and letter
of intent, together with the irrevocable undertakings received from
the Smoove Directors, are set out in Appendix 3 to this
announcement.
-- Accordingly, Digcom has received irrevocable undertakings and
a letter of intent to vote, or procure the voting, in favour of the
Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution(s) to be proposed at
the General Meeting (or in the event that the Acquisition is
implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure the
acceptance of such Takeover Offer) in respect of a total of
32,010,862 Smoove Shares, representing, in aggregate, approximately
56.14 per cent. of the total issued share capital of Smoove as at
the close of business on the Last Practicable Date.
Information on the PEXA Group and Digcom
The PEXA Group
-- PEXA is the operator of the leading digital property
settlements platform in Australia, employing approximately 1,000
people and listed on the ASX with a market capitalisation of A$
2.016 billion on the Last Practicable Date.
-- Having started in 2010 as a joint initiative of various state
governments and the largest banks in Australia to phase out the use
of inefficient paper-based property settlements, the PEXA Group
today offers the world's first digital platform for managing the
lodgement and settlement of property transactions.
-- "PEXA Exchange" operates primarily as an Electronic Lodgement
Network Operator ("ELNO") facilitating the electronic lodgement and
settlement of property transactions through an integrated,
cloud-based platform connecting key property market
stakeholders.
-- PEXA Exchange's facilitation of secure, reliable and
efficient digital settlements has established the platform as a
critical and trusted component of the Australian property market,
providing confidence and stability for all participants in a
property transaction.
-- Through its PEXA Digital Growth business, PEXA offers
property-related insight and analytics solutions to its customers
and stakeholders which aim to reduce transaction costs in the
property chain and enhance the experience of developing, buying and
selling, financing, settling, owning, and servicing property. PEXA
Digital Growth also identifies and invests in opportunities across
the property ecosystem to complement and enhance its core insights
and analytics offering.
-- For the year ended 30 June 2023, PEXA Group generated
business revenue of A$283.4m and an operating EBITDA of A$98.7m.
Additional information on PEXA Group's latest financial results can
be found at
https://investors.pexa.com.au/investor-centre/?page=results-centre.
Digcom
-- Having created the leading digital property settlements
platform in Australia, PEXA established Digcom in 2020 to enable it
to enter the UK market and implement its strategy to transform the
UK property market.
-- In seeking to extend its digital property settlements
platform knowledge in new geographies, the PEXA Group launched its
initial remortgage offering in the UK in September 2022 following
the successful testing of the PEXA settlement payment solution with
the Bank of England. Shortly after the UK launch, Digcom acquired
Optima Legal, a high-volume remortgage conveyancing firm that
provides legal services in the UK remortgage market.
Timetable and Conditions
-- It is intended that the Acquisition will be implemented by
way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of
the Companies Act (although Digcom reserves the right to effect the
Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer, subject to the consent of
the Panel and the terms of the Co-operation Agreement).
-- The Acquisition will be put to Smoove Shareholders at the
Court Meeting and the General Meeting. The Court Meeting and the
General Meeting are required to enable Smoove Shareholders to
consider and, if thought fit, to vote in favour of the Scheme and
the Resolution(s) to implement the Scheme. In order to become
Effective, the Scheme must be approved by a majority in number of
Scheme Shareholders present and voting (and entitled to vote) at
the Court Meeting, whether in person or by proxy, representing 75
per cent. or more in value of the Scheme Shares held by those
Scheme Shareholders (or the relevant class or classes thereof). In
addition, in order for the Scheme to become Effective, at the
General Meeting, the Resolution(s) must be passed by Smoove
Shareholders representing at least 75 per cent. of the votes
validly cast on the Resolution(s). The General Meeting will be held
immediately after the Court Meeting.
-- The Acquisition will be subject to the other Conditions and
terms set out in Appendix 1 of this announcement, including the
receipt of regulatory approvals, and to the full terms and
conditions of the Acquisition which will be set out in the Scheme
Document.
-- The Scheme Document containing further information about the
Acquisition and the notices of the Meetings, together with the
accompanying Forms of Proxy, are expected to be published within 28
days of the date of this announcement (unless the Panel agrees
otherwise). An expected timetable of principal events will be
included in the Scheme Document.
-- The Acquisition is expected to become Effective in Q4 2023,
subject to the satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the
Conditions and further terms set out in Appendix 1.
Commenting on today's announcement, Glenn King, PEXA Group CEO
and Managing Director said:
"The acquisition is aligned with PEXA Group's strategy of
enhancing and leveraging our property exchange know-how to deliver
growth from different markets, including in other Torrens title
jurisdictions, starting with the UK.
Since entering the UK market, the PEXA Group has launched its
first re-mortgage product, successfully brought two lenders onto
the PEXA platform and acquired and progressed integration of
specialist re-mortgage conveyancer, Optima Legal.
The acquisition and integration of Smoove into the PEXA UK
business will further help us address the many detriments suffered
by consumers due to the UK's fragmented, inefficient conveyancing
processes. The acquisition will allow us to build additional scale
and depth in the UK market, enabling the PEXA product suite to
reach more customers, whilst streamlining and improving the UK
property transaction experience."
Commenting on the Acquisition, Martin Rowland, the Chairman of
Smoove, said:
"Both Smoove and PEXA share a common objective, to simplify and
improve the home moving experience for consumers. The acquisition
of Smoove by Digcom accelerates execution of the plans for both
Smoove and PEXA. Whist the Board of Smoove continues to believe in
Smoove's strategy and prospects as an independent company, they
believe that the combination may provide Smoove with additional
scale and help accelerate its plans to materially change the home
moving experience.
The offer from PEXA allows shareholders to receive all cash
consideration at a 69.3 per cent. premium to the Closing Price of
31.9 pence per Smoove Share on 21 April 2023 (being the last
Business Day before the commencement of the Offer Period) which the
Smoove Board believes to represent an attractive price for the
business ."
This summary should be read in conjunction with, and is subject
to, the full text of this announcement and the Appendices. The
Acquisition will be subject to the Conditions and other terms set
out in Appendix 1 and to the full terms and conditions which will
be set out in the Scheme Document. Appendix 2 contains the bases of
calculation and sources of certain information contained in this
announcement. Details of irrevocable undertakings and the letter of
intent received by Digcom in connection with the Acquisition are
set out in Appendix 3. Certain terms used in this announcement are
defined in Appendix 4.
The person responsible for making this announcement on behalf of
Smoove is Martin Rowland, Chairman.
Enquiries:
PEXA Group Limited
Numis Securities Limited (Financial Tel: +44 20 7260 1000
adviser to PEXA)
Simon Willis, Stuart Ord, William
Wickham
Cato & Clive (Media and PR adviser Tel: +61 411 888 425
to PEXA)
Clive Mathieson
MHP Group (Media and PR adviser Tel: +44 20 3128 8100
to PEXA)
Dan Pike; Chanice Smith; Issie Rees-Davies
Smoove plc Via Walbrook PR
Jesper With-Fogstrup, CEO
Michael Cress, CFO
Cavendish Securities plc (Rule 3 Tel: +44 (0)20 7220 0500
Adviser to Smoove)
Adrian Hadden, George Lawson, Hamish
Waller
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (NOMAD Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 2500
and Broker to Smoove)
Dominic Morley
Amrit Mahbubani
Walbrook PR Limited (PR to Smoove) smoove@walbrookpr.com or
Tom Cooper, Nick Rome Tel: 020 7933 8780
Addleshaw Goddard LLP is acting as legal adviser to PEXA and
Digcom in connection with the Acquisition.
Shoosmiths LLP is acting as legal adviser to Smoove in
connection with the Acquisition.
Further information
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not
intended to, and does not constitute, or form any part of any
offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase,
otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose 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 securities of Smoove in
any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The
Acquisition will be made and implemented solely pursuant to the
terms of the Scheme Document (or if the Acquisition is implemented
by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document), which will contain
the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details
of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition. Any vote in respect
of, or other response to, the Acquisition should be made only on
the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document (or
if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the
Offer Document).
Smoove and Digcom will prepare the Scheme Document (or if the
Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer
Document) to be distributed to Smoove Shareholders. Smoove and
Digcom urge Smoove Shareholders to read the Scheme Document (or if
the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the
Offer Document) when it becomes available because it will contain
important information relating to the Acquisition.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus, prospectus
equivalent document or an exempted document.
The statements contained in this announcement are made as at the
date of this announcement, unless some other time is specified in
relation to them, and publication of this announcement shall not
give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the
facts set forth in this announcement since such date.
Disclaimers
Numis Securities Limited ("Numis"), which is authorised and
regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority,
is acting as financial adviser to Digcom and PEXA, and no one else,
in connection with the matters set out in this announcement, and
will not be responsible to anyone other than the Boards of Digcom
and PEXA for providing the protections afforded to clients of Numis
nor for providing advice in relation to the contents of this
announcement or any other matter or arrangement referred to herein.
Neither Numis nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty,
liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect,
whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any
person who is not a client of Numis in connection with this
announcement, any matter, arrangement or statement contained or
referred to herein or otherwise.
Cavendish Securities plc ("Cavendish") is acting for Smoove and
no one else in connection with the matters set out in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than
Smoove for providing the protections afforded to clients of
Cavendish for providing advice in relation to the possible offer,
the contents of this announcement or any other matters referred to
in this announcement.
Overseas jurisdictions
This announcement has been prepared in accordance with, and for
the purposes of complying with, English law, the Takeover Code, the
Market Abuse Regulation and the AIM Rules, and 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 of England.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement
in, into or from jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be
restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the
laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should
inform themselves about and observe any applicable
requirements.
The availability of the Acquisition to Smoove Shareholders who
are not resident in and citizens of the United Kingdom may be
affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they
are located or of which they are citizen. Persons who are not
resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and
observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their
jurisdictions. In particular, the ability of persons who are not
resident in the United Kingdom to vote their Smoove Shares with
respect to the Scheme at the Meetings, or to execute and deliver
Forms of Proxy (or other proxy instructions) appointing another to
vote at the Meetings on their behalf, may be affected by the laws
of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. 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, the companies and
persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or
liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.
Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be
contained in the Scheme Document.
Unless otherwise determined by Digcom or required by the
Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the
Acquisition will not be made available, in whole or in part,
directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction
where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws or
regulations of such jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour
of the Acquisition by any such use, means, instrumentality or from
within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do
so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction.
Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating
to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or
indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in
or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving
such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must
not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in or into or
from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any
related purported vote in respect of the Acquisition. If the
Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless
otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover
Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by
the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but
not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission,
telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any
facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any
Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer may not be capable
of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or
facilities.
The Acquisition will be subject to English law and the
jurisdiction of the Court, and the applicable requirements of the
Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange (including
pursuant to the AIM Rules) and the Registrar of Companies.
Notice to US investors in Smoove
The Acquisition relates to the shares of an English company with
a quotation on AIM and is being made by means of a scheme of
arrangement provided for under English company law. A transaction
effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the
tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the US
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Accordingly, the Acquisition is
subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in
the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement which differ from the
disclosure requirements of United States tender offer and proxy
solicitation rules. Neither the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission, nor any securities commission of any state of
the United States, has approved or disapproved any offer, or passed
comment upon the adequacy or completeness of any of the information
contained in this announcement. Any representation to the contrary
may be a criminal offence.
If, in the future, Digcom exercises the right, with the consent
of the Panel (where necessary), to implement the Acquisition by way
of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend the offer into the
United States, the Acquisition will be made in compliance with
applicable United States laws and regulations, including Section
14(e) of the US Securities Exchange Act 1934 and Regulation 14E
thereunder.
Financial information included in this announcement and the
Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a
Takeover Offer, the Offer Document) has been or will have been
prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the
United Kingdom or Australia (as applicable) that may not be
comparable to financial information of US companies or companies
whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US holder
of Smoove Shares as consideration for the transfer of its Scheme
Shares pursuant to the Scheme 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 Smoove
Shareholder is therefore urged to consult with independent legal,
tax and financial advisers in connection with making a decision
regarding the Acquisition.
It may be difficult for US holders of Smoove Shares to enforce
their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal laws in
connection with the Acquisition, since Digcom and Smoove are
located in, and organised under the laws of, a non-US jurisdiction,
and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of
a non-US jurisdiction. US holders of Smoove Shares may not be able
to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US
court for violations of the 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 jurisdiction or judgement.
In accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule
14e-5(b) of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Digcom, certain
affiliated companies and their nominees or brokers (acting as
agents), may from time to time make certain purchases of, or
arrangements to purchase, Smoove Shares outside of the US, other
than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date on which the
Acquisition and/or Scheme becomes Effective, lapses or is otherwise
withdrawn. Also, in accordance with Rule 14e-5(b) of the US
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each of Numis and Cavendish will
continue to act as an exempt principal trader in Smoove Shares on
the London Stock Exchange. If such purchases or arrangements to
purchase were to be made, they would occur either in the open
market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at
negotiated prices and comply with applicable law, including the US
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any information about such
purchases will be disclosed as required in the UK, will be reported
to the Regulatory News Service of the London Stock Exchange and
will be available on the London Stock Exchange website at
www.londonstockexchange.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by
reference into this announcement), statements made regarding the
Acquisition, and other information to be published by Digcom, PEXA
and/or Smoove, contain statements which are, or may be deemed to
be, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are
prospective in nature and not based on historical facts, but rather
are based on current expectations and projections of the management
of Digcom, PEXA and/or Smoove about future events, and are
therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause
actual results to differ materially from the future results
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement
include statements with respect to the financial condition, results
of operations and business of Smoove and certain plans and
objectives of Digcom and PEXA with respect thereto and other
statements other than historical facts. Often, but not always,
forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they
do not relate only to historical or current facts and may use words
such as "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "forecast",
"intend", "plan", "budget", "scheduled", "goal", "believe", "hope",
"aims", "continue", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could", or
other words of similar meaning. These statements are based on
assumptions and assessments made by Smoove and/or Digcom and/or
PEXA in light of their experience and their perception of
historical trends, current conditions, future developments and
other factors they believe appropriate. By their nature,
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risk and
uncertainty and other factors which may cause actual results,
performance or developments to differ materially from those
expressed in or implied by such, because they relate to events and
depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Although
Digcom and/or PEXA and/or Smoove believe that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no
assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have
been correct and you are therefore cautioned not to place reliance
on these forward-looking statements which speak only as at the date
of this announcement. Neither Digcom nor PEXA nor Smoove assumes
any obligation to update or correct the information contained in
this announcement (whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise), except as required by applicable law.
There are a number of factors which could cause actual results
and developments to differ materially from those expressed or
implied in forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the
ability to complete the Acquisition; the ability to obtain
requisite regulatory and shareholder approvals and the satisfaction
of other Conditions on the proposed terms; changes in the global,
political, economic, business and competitive environments and in
market and regulatory forces; changes in future exchange and
interest rates; changes in tax rates; future business combinations
or dispositions; changes in general and economic business
conditions; changes in the behaviour of other market participants;
the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition not being realised as a
result of changes in general economic and market conditions in the
countries in which Digcom, PEXA and Smoove operate; weak, volatile
or illiquid capital and/or credit markets; changes in the degree of
competition in the geographic and business areas in which Digcom,
PEXA and Smoove operate; and changes in laws or in supervisory
expectations or requirements. Other unknown or unpredictable
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expected, estimated or projected in the forward-looking statements.
If any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialises or
if any one or more of the assumptions proves incorrect, actual
results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or
projected. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be
construed in the light of such factors.
Neither Digcom nor PEXA nor Smoove, nor any of their respective
associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any
representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the
events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in
their announcement will actually occur. Given the risks and
uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place any reliance on these
forward-looking statements.
Other than in accordance with their legal or regulatory
obligations, neither Digcom nor PEXA nor Smoove is under any
obligation, and Digcom, PEXA and Smoove expressly disclaim any
intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
Dealing and Opening Position Disclosure Requirements
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover 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 10(th) business day
following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate,
by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10(th) 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 Takeover 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 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.
Publication on website
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code a copy of this
announcement and the documents required to be published under Rule
26 of the Takeover Code, will be made available free of charge,
subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in
Restricted Jurisdictions, on PEXA's website at
https://investors.pexa.com.au/investor-centre and Smoove's website
at www.hellosmoove.com/investorrelations by no later than 12 noon
(London time) on the first business day following the date of this
announcement. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the contents of
these websites nor the contents of any websites accessible from any
hyperlinks are incorporated into or form part of this
announcement.
Neither the contents of PEXA's website, nor those of Smoove's
website, nor those of any other website accessible from hyperlinks
on either PEXA's or Smoove's websites, are incorporated into or
form part of this announcement.
No profit forecasts, profit estimates or quantified benefits
statements
No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit
forecast, profit estimate or quantified benefits statement for any
period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted
to mean that earnings or earnings per share for Smoove for the
current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed
the historical published earnings or earnings per share for
Smoove.
Requesting hard copy documents
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, Smoove
Shareholders, persons with information rights and participants in
the Smoove Share Plans may request a hard copy of this announcement
by contacting Smoove's registrars, Equiniti, by: (i) submitting a
request in writing to Equiniti, Aspect House, Spencer Road,
Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA, United Kingdom; or (ii) calling +44
(0)371 384 2050. Calls are charged at the standard geographical
rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom
will be charged at the applicable international rate. Phone lines
are open between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. (London time), Monday to
Friday (excluding public holidays in England and Wales). Please
note that Equiniti cannot provide any financial, legal or tax
advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and
training purposes.
For persons who receive a copy of this announcement in
electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this
announcement will not be sent unless so requested. Such persons 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.
Electronic communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain
other information provided by Smoove Shareholders, persons with
information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of
communications from Smoove may be provided to Digcom and/or PEXA
during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4
to the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover
Code.
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 figures that precede them.
General
Digcom reserves the right to elect, with the consent of the
Panel (where necessary), and subject to the terms and conditions of
the Co-operation Agreement, to implement the Acquisition by way of
a Takeover Offer for the entire issued and to be issued share
capital of Smoove not already held by Digcom as an alternative to
the Scheme. In such an event, a Takeover Offer will be implemented
on substantially the same terms, so far as applicable, as those
which would apply to the Scheme.
If the Acquisition is effected by way of Takeover Offer, and
such Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional and
sufficient acceptances are received, Digcom intends to exercise its
rights to apply the provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the
Companies Act so as to acquire compulsorily the remaining Smoove
Shares in respect of which the Takeover Offer has not been
accepted.
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 appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, 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 AS STIPULATED
UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO 596/2014 (INCORPORATED INTO UK
LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 AS AMED
BY VIRTUE OF THE MARKET ABUSE (AMMENT) (EU EXIT) REGULATIONS 2019).
UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY
INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO
BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4 October 2023
RECOMMED CASH ACQUISITION
of
SMOOVE PLC
by
DIGCOM UK HOLDINGS LIMITED
(an indirect subsidiary undertaking of PEXA Group Limited)
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 Digcom UK Holdings Limited
("Digcom"), an indirect subsidiary undertaking of PEXA Group
Limited ("PEXA"), and Smoove plc ("Smoove"), are pleased to
announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a
recommended cash acquisition by Digcom of the entire issued and to
be issued share capital of Smoove (the "Acquisition").
2. The Acquisition
It is intended that the Acquisition will be implemented by way
of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the
Companies Act. The purpose of the Scheme is to enable Digcom to
acquire the whole of the issued and to be issued share capital of
Smoove.
Under the terms of the Acquisition, which will be subject to the
Conditions and other terms set out in this announcement and to the
full terms and conditions which will be set out in the Scheme
Document, Smoove Shareholders will be entitled to receive:
54 pence for each Smoove Share (the "Consideration")
The Consideration of 54 pence per Smoove Share values the entire
issued and to be issued share capital of Smoove at approximately
GBP30.8 million on a fully diluted basis and represents a premium
of approximately:
-> 69.3 per cent. to the Closing Price of 31.9 pence per
Smoove Share on 21 April 2023 (being the last Business Day before
the commencement of the Offer Period);
-> 74.1 per cent. to the volume-weighted average Closing
Price of 31.0 pence per Smoove Share for the one-month period ended
21 April 2023 (being the last Business Day before the commencement
of the Offer Period); and
-> 43.9 per cent. to the volume-weighted average Closing
Price of 37.5 pence per Smoove Share for the three-month period
ended 21 April 2023 (being the last Business Day before the
commencement of the Offer Period).
If, on or after the date of this announcement and before the
Effective Date, any dividend, distribution or other return of
capital or value is announced, declared, made or paid by Smoove or
becomes payable by Smoove in respect of the Smoove Shares, Digcom
reserves the right to reduce the Consideration payable pursuant to
the Acquisition by an amount up to the amount of such dividend
and/or distribution and/or other return of capital or value. In
such circumstances, Smoove Shareholders would be entitled to
receive and retain any such dividend and/or other distribution
and/or return of capital or value.
In the event that the Acquisition is to be implemented by way of
a Takeover Offer, Smoove Shares will be acquired pursuant to the
Takeover Offer fully paid and free from all liens, charges,
equitable interests, encumbrances and rights of pre-emption and any
other interests of any nature whatsoever and together with all
rights attaching thereto including the right to receive and retain
all dividends and distributions declared, made or paid by reference
to a record date after the Effective Date.
3. Background to and reasons for the Acquisition
The PEXA Group's strategy is to enhance and leverage its
property exchange know-how to deliver growth from different
markets, including in other Torrens title jurisdictions starting
with the UK.
Since entering the UK market at the end of 2020, the PEXA Group,
via Digital Completion UK Limited, has launched its first
re-mortgage product, brought two lenders onto the platform, and
acquired a specialist re-mortgage conveyancer, Optima Legal. The
Acquisition will provide PEXA with a growing conveyancer presence
via Amity Law and Smoove Complete. The PEXA Group's aim in
executing this strategy is to help solve the many detriments
consumers and property stakeholders suffer due to the UK's
fragmented, inefficient conveyancing processes. The Acquisition
will allow PEXA to leverage Smoove's experience to obtain expert
input into development of PEXA's sale and purchase platform and
potential PEXA product enhancements.
Both Smoove and PEXA share a common goal of simplifying and
enhancing the home moving process through digitalisation,
significantly reducing transaction times, whilst simultaneously
removing the pain points across the process. The PEXA Board
believes there is an opportunity for Smoove's existing customers to
benefit from PEXA's digital property settlements platform and wider
service offering, leveraging PEXA's experience as the market leader
in Australia. Smoove has a long-standing relationship with Lloyds
Banking Group and a connection with over 75 conveyancer firms on
its eConveyancer platform and circa 2,100 conveyancing firms via
lender panels.
The PEXA Board strongly believes that by integrating Smoove into
Digcom, the Combined Group will be able to address the challenges
of building scale and depth in the UK market, accelerating the path
to enhancing the home moving process. Smoove provides access to
re-mortgage flows equivalent to 7 per cent.(2) of the UK market and
sales and purchase flows across the Smoove platform which are
equivalent to 3 per cent.(2) of the UK's sales and purchase market
which are intermediated by the Smoove platform.
PEXA's existing business, commitment to developing new revenue
streams through international expansion and investments in new
digital business and partnerships, supported by a strong balance
sheet and cash generative business model, will help to build a
unique, strong and attractive business. Smoove will provide reach
into the 'cash back market segment' not currently served by Optima
Legal and indirect access to sale and purchase conveyancing firms.
The Acquisition also presents an opportunity to cross-sell the PEXA
platform to panel firms of Smoove (which provides access to volumes
both on and outside of the Smoove platform).
The Consideration represents:
-- an Enterprise Value of GBP20.8 million;
-- an implied Enterprise Value / FY23 revenue multiple of 1.0x; and
-- an implied Enterprise Value / FY23 gross profit multiple of 2.7x.
4. Recommendation
Smoove's Directors, who have been so advised by Cavendish as to
the financial terms of the Acquisition, unanimously consider the
terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing
their advice to the Smoove Directors, Cavendish has taken into
account the commercial assessments of the Smoove Directors.
Cavendish is providing independent financial advice to the Smoove
Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
Accordingly, the Smoove Directors intend to recommend
unanimously that Smoove Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme
at the Court Meeting and the Resolution(s) to be proposed at the
General Meeting (or in the event that the Acquisition is
implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure the
acceptance of such Takeover Offer) as the Smoove Directors who are
beneficially interested in Smoove Shares (who, for the avoidance of
doubt, do not include Smoove Directors whose interests in Smoove
Shares comprise only unexercised options under the Smoove Share
Plans, nor Oliver Scott who has an indirect beneficial interest in
Smoove Shares as well as being a partner of Kestrel Partners LLP,
an entity interested in Smoove Shares) have irrevocably undertaken
to do in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of 85,000
Smoove Shares, representing, in aggregate, approximately 0.15 per
cent. of Smoove's total issued share capital as at the close of
business on the Last Practicable Date.
___
(2) Calculated based on Smoove's sale and purchase and
remortgage completion volumes for the financial year ended 31 March
2023, Bank of England sale and purchase transactions (Bank of
England data set LPMB4B3) and Bank of England remortage
transactions (Bank of England data set LPMVTVX)
5. Smoove Directors' interests in Smoove Shares and bonus arrangements
Each of Martin Rowland and Jesper With-Fogstrup, who are the
only Smoove Directors who are beneficially interested in Smoove
Shares (not including, for the avoidance of doubt, those Smoove
Directors whose interests in Smoove Shares comprise only
unexercised options under the Smoove Share Plans, nor Oliver Scott
who has an indirect beneficial interest in Smoove shares as well as
being a partner of Kestrel Partners LLP, an entity interested in
Smoove Shares), have given to Digcom irrevocable undertakings to
vote in favour (or procure the voting in favour, as applicable) of
the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution(s) to be
proposed at the General Meeting (or in the event that the
Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or
procure the acceptance of such Takeover Offer), in respect of their
entire beneficial holdings of, in aggregate, 85,000 Smoove Shares,
representing in aggregate approximately 0.15 per cent. of Smoove's
total issued share capital as at the close of business on the Last
Practicable Date.
In addition, Martin Rowland has been granted options over
750,000 Smoove Shares under the Smoove Share Plans, Jesper
With-Fogstrup has been granted options and JOA awards over
2,175,000 Smoove Shares under the Smoove Share Plans and Michael
Cress has been granted options over 750,000 Smoove Shares under the
Smoove Share Plans. Save for the options over 750,000 Smoove Shares
granted to Martin Rowland which will be exercisable as a result of
the Acquisition, it is not expected any of these options or awards
will be exercised or vest as part of the Acquisition as they are
either underwater (i.e. the exercise price is in excess of the
Consideration), or they are subject to performance share price
triggers which are in excess of the Consideration and so will not
be met. It is therefore expected that those options (other than the
options granted over 750,000 Smoove Shares to Martin Rowland) and
awards will lapse in accordance with the applicable Smoove Share
Plan rules.
Oliver Scott, a Non-Executive Director of Smoove, is a partner
of Kestrel Partners LLP which is interested in 15,711,095 Smoove
Shares. Kestrel Partners LLP has given an irrevocable undertaking
as detailed in paragraph 7 below.
Jesper With-Fogstrup and Michael Cress, along with two other
members of senior management, are entitled to receive transaction
bonuses in the event of a cash offer resulting in the acquisition
of Smoove by a third party. The entitlements of the relevant Smoove
Directors are:
-- Jesper With-Fogstrup - GBP150,000; and
-- Michael Cress - GBP75,000.
The bonus arrangements will be subject to usual tax and National
Insurance deduction.
6. Background to and reasons for the recommendation
Smoove has sought to make moving house in the UK a simpler, more
transparent and automated process for the benefit of both consumers
and the professionals who work in the sector. To that end, Smoove
has developed service offerings, such as eConveyancer, a two-sided
digital comparison marketplace connecting consumers to conveyancing
lawyers. eConveyancer allows the consumer, primarily through
introducers such as mortgage brokers, lenders, or estate agents, to
compare the cost, service, and location of conveyancing lawyers.
Smoove has developed further products and services to provide
solutions covering more of the end-to-end home moving
experience.
In the last 18 months, the home moving sector has been impacted
by challenging macroeconomic conditions. These factors include
sudden and persistently high inflation which has, in turn, led to a
rapid, and at times unpredictable, increase in interest rates from
historic lows. As a result, sale and purchase transaction volumes
in the market have fallen sharply over the past year and house
prices have been unstable and begun falling also in real terms.
These events have combined to erode the confidence of market
participants including home movers, mortgage brokers, lenders, and
estate agents. Meanwhile, and not unrelated, the environment for
trading in the shares in Smoove has, in recent times, been impacted
by poor sentiment around not only AIM, but particularly smaller
pre-profit companies, with limited trading liquidity on the stock
market.
Smoove's current trading has been in line with the Smoove
Board's expectations despite difficult market conditions and the
Smoove Directors continue to believe that Smoove's present strategy
is capable of delivering long-term growth in revenue and profits.
However, they also believe that PEXA's scale will help to
accelerate the execution of Smoove's strategy. Access to PEXA's
digital property settlements platform is also expected to benefit
Smoove's offering to customers. The terms of the Acquisition
provide Smoove Shareholders with an immediate, certain and
attractive cash value for their investment. The Smoove Directors
believe the Acquisition appropriately recognises the growth
potential of Smoove as a standalone business.
In considering its recommendation of the Acquisition to Smoove
Shareholders, the Smoove Directors have given due consideration to
Digcom's intentions regarding Smoove's employees and other
stakeholders as set out in paragraph 10 of this announcement.
When considering the Acquisition, the Smoove Directors have
taken into account the substantial premium of the Consideration to
the Closing Price of Smoove Shares on 21 April 2023 (being the last
Business Day before the commencement of the Offer Period) . The
Consideration of 54 pence in cash per Smoove Share represents a
premium of approximately:
-> 69.3 per cent. to the Closing Price of 31.9 pence per
Smoove Share on 21 April 2023 (being the last Business Day before
the commencement of the Offer Period);
-> 74.1 per cent. to the volume-weighted average Closing
Price of 31.0 pence per Smoove Share for the one-month period ended
21 April 2023 (being the last Business Day before the commencement
of the Offer Period); and
-> 43.9 per cent. to the volume-weighted average Closing
Price of 37.5 pence per Smoove Share for the three-month period
ended 21 April 2023 (being the last Business Day before the
commencement of the Offer Period).
The Acquisition provides the certainty of a realisable value to
all Smoove Shareholders and allows them to realise their investment
in Smoove Shares for cash without incurring broking fees.
As further described below and at Appendix 3 to this
announcement, Digcom has received irrevocable undertakings and a
non-binding letter of intent in respect of 32,010,862 Smoove Shares
representing, in aggregate, approximately 56.14 per cent. of
Smoove's total issued capital as at the close of business on the
Last Practicable Date.
The Smoove Directors consider the terms of the Acquisition to be
fair and reasonable. Accordingly, following careful consideration
of both the financial terms of the Acquisition and PEXA's
intentions regarding the conduct of the Smoove business under
PEXA's ownership, the Smoove Directors intend to recommend
unanimously the Acquisition to Smoove Shareholders. In reaching its
intention to recommend unanimously the Acquisition, the Smoove
Board, in addition to the financial terms of the Acquisition, took
account of the interests of all of its key stakeholders, including
customers, employees and shareholders.
7. Irrevocable undertakings and letter of intent
In addition to the irrevocable undertakings from the Smoove
Directors described in paragraph 5 above, Digcom has also received
irrevocable undertakings from each of Kestrel Partners LLP (a
partner of which, Oliver Scott, is a Non-Executive Director of
Smoove), Harwood Capital Management Limited and Herald Investment
Management Limited to vote in favour (or procure the voting in
favour, as applicable) of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the
Resolution(s) to be proposed at the General Meeting (or in the
event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover
Offer, to accept or procure the acceptance of such Takeover Offer)
in respect of, in aggregate, 26,560,625 Smoove Shares, representing
approximately 46.58 per cent. of Smoove's total issued share
capital as at the close of business on the Last Practicable
Date.
In addition, Digcom has received a non-binding letter of intent
from Schroders Investment Management Limited to procure the voting
in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution(s)
to be proposed at the General Meeting (or in the event that the
Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to procure
the acceptance of such Takeover Offer) in respect of 5,365,237
Smoove Shares, representing approximately 9.41 per cent. of
Smoove's total issued share capital as at the close of business on
the Last Practicable Date.
Further details of these irrevocable undertakings and letter of
intent are set out in Appendix 3 to this announcement.
Accordingly, Digcom has received irrevocable undertakings and a
letter of intent to vote, or procure the voting, in favour of the
Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution(s) to be proposed at
the General Meeting (or in the event that the Acquisition is
implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure the
acceptance of such Takeover Offer) in respect of a total of
32,010,862 Smoove Shares representing, in aggregate, approximately
56.14 per cent. of Smoove's total issued share capital of Smoove as
at the close of business on the Last Practicable Date.
8. Information relating to Smoove
Smoove provides online digital platforms for everyone involved
in the buying, selling, and refinancing of property in the UK.
Smoove is investing in new technology to generate more value from
its partner relationships, develop new revenue streams, and build
products that improve the experience of consumers.
-- eConveyancer is a platform that brings together conveyancers
and introducers such as mortgage brokers and lenders to offer a
conveyancing comparison service to consumers. The eConveyancer
offering includes value-added tools such as DigitalMove, an
onboarding and messaging service that helps all participants in the
conveyancing process to communicate and collaborate. In the most
recent financial year, eConveyancer generated 69,662 conveyancing
instructions and 53,224 conveyancing completions. eConveyancer and
its related services account for the vast majority of Smoove's
revenue.
-- Smoove Complete is a platform for self-employed Consultant
Conveyancing Lawyers ("CCLs"). In exchange for a share of the
conveyancing fee income, Smoove provides CCLs with a suite of
services including onboarding and post-completion services, as well
as support infrastructure including technology, regulatory
oversight and professional indemnity insurance. The business is an
area of strategic focus, but because it only recently began trading
in late October 2022, it made a minimal contribution to Smoove
group revenues in the most recent financial year. Smoove Complete
trades within ALL, a conveyancing law firm acquired by Smoove in
October 2021.
-- Legal Eye provides risk management and compliance services to
solicitors and licensed conveyancers. Legal Eye accounted for
approximately 4 per cent. of group revenue in the most recent
financial year.
-- Smoove Start launched in August 2022 after a well-received
limited product pilot. The software provides a service to estate
agents encompassing ID verification, anti-money laundering, and
upfront information. In response to challenging market conditions
the product was pivoted to focus on a conveyancing-led offering to
emphasise the fee earning potential to estate agents from referral
of cases into eConveyancer. Given its limited trading history,
Smoove Start made a minimal contribution to Smoove group revenues
in the most recent financial year.
Smoove's business was founded in 2003 and was admitted to AIM in
July 2014.
Current trading
To date, Smoove has continued to trade in line with the Smoove
Board's expectations during the first half of the current financial
year. This period has been characterised by continued growth in the
remortgage segment and year-on-year volume declines in the
transactional segment. The latter trend reflects deteriorating
conditions in the housing market as increased costs in mortgage
finance since the start of the current financial year have led to
lower market transaction volumes and falling real house prices. The
cash balance at 30 September 2023 was GBP9.2 million. The reduced
rate of cash burn has benefitted from the impact of previously
announced cost reduction initiatives.
9. Information on the PEXA Group and Digcom
The PEXA Group
-- PEXA is the operator of the leading digital property
settlements platform in Australia, employing approximately 1,000
people and listed on the ASX with a market cap of A$ 2.016 billion
on the Last Practicable Date.
-- Having started in 2010 as a joint initiative of various state
governments and the largest banks in Australia to phase out the use
of inefficient paper-based property settlements, the PEXA Group
today offers the world's first digital platform for managing the
lodgement and settlement of property transactions.
-- "PEXA Exchange" operates primarily as an ELNO facilitating
the electronic lodgement and settlement of property transactions
through an integrated, cloud-based platform connecting key property
market stakeholders.
-- PEXA Exchange's facilitation of secure, reliable and
efficient digital settlements has established the platform as a
critical and trusted component of the Australian property market,
providing confidence and stability for all participants in a
property transaction.
-- Through its PEXA Digital Growth business, PEXA offers
property-related insight and analytics solutions to its customers
and stakeholders which aim to reduce transaction costs in the
property chain and enhance the experience of developing, buying and
selling, financing, settling, owning, and servicing property . PEXA
Digital Growth also i dentifies and invests in opportunities across
the property ecosystem to complement and enhance its core insights
and analytics offering.
-- For the year ended 30 June 2023, PEXA Group generated
business revenue of A$283.4 million and an operating EBITDA of
A$98.7 million. Additional information on PEXA Group's latest
financial results can be found at
https://investors.pexa.com.au/investor-centre/?page=results-centre
.
-- The Acquisition will be funded through cash currently held by
PEXA, which has been drawn down by PEXA under its existing facility
and a newly established facility (which can be used for general
commercial requirements and has a limit of $40 million AUD).
Digcom
-- Having created the leading digital property settlements
platform in Australia, Digcom was established in 2020 to enable
PEXA to enter the UK market and implement its strategy to transform
the UK property market.
-- In seeking to extend its digital property settlements
platform knowledge in new geographies, the PEXA Group launched its
remortgage offering in the UK in September 2022 following the
successful testing of the PEXA settlement payment solution with the
Bank of England. Shortly after the UK launch, Digcom acquired
Optima Legal, a high-volume remortgage conveyancing firm that
provides legal services in the UK remortgage market.
10. PEXA's intentions for the Smoove business
PEXA and Digcom's strategic plans for the Combined Group
Following Completion, PEXA intends to integrate Smoove into
PEXA's existing UK business to further advance the offering of its
digital settlements platform to lenders, conveyancers and consumers
in the UK.
PEXA has been granted access to Smoove management and
information to carry out due diligence. However, due to transaction
constraints, PEXA has not yet had access to sufficiently detailed
information to formulate a complete post-Acquisition strategy for
the integration of Smoove into PEXA's UK business. To assist with
this process, PEXA intends to carry out a review of Smoove's and
PEXA's UK business. The review is expected to take at least six
months following Completion of the Acquisition. The review will
examine the current operating and organisational structures of both
businesses and provide the basis for the development of an
integration programme designed to minimise any disruption to
customers, suppliers, employees and consumers whilst delivering the
expected opportunities and benefits of the Acquisition.
Brand
In the longer term, Digcom intends that the Smoove business will
operate under the umbrella PEXA brand but, following Completion,
will undertake a review of individual product brands (including
eConveyancer, DigitalMove, Smoove Complete, Smoove Start and Legal
Eye) to ensure that their offerings are distinguishable under the
PEXA brand.
Employees, management and directors
Digcom attaches great importance to the skills and experience of
Smoove's management and employees and recognises their important
contribution to the success that has been achieved by Smoove.
Digcom confirms that, following completion of the Acquisition,
the existing contractual and statutory employment rights of Smoove
employees will be fully safeguarded in accordance with applicable
law. Following Completion, Digcom will seek to align the employment
contracts and benefits of Smoove employees with those of the PEXA
Group so that employees benefit from matters that are of cultural
importance to the PEXA Group.
Whilst Digcom's review will seek to design an optimal strategy
for integrating Smoove into PEXA's existing UK business, given the
complementary nature of both businesses Digcom does not expect the
outcome of its review to result in any material change to Smoove's
employee skills mix and headcount. To the extent that the outcome
of Digcom's review unlocks synergies and opportunities for costs
savings Digcom will endeavour to minimise their impact on
employees.
It is expected that the Non-Executive Directors of Smoove will
resign from the Smoove Board on Completion.
Pensions
Digcom intends to maintain the rate of contributions made to the
Smoove Group's pension schemes following Completion. The Smoove
Group operates defined contribution pension arrangements for its
management and employees and has no exposure under any form of
defined benefit (final salary) pension scheme.
Management incentives
PEXA has not entered into, and has not had discussion on
proposals to enter into, any form of incentive arrangements with
any of the existing members of Smoove's management. PEXA expects to
put in place appropriate incentive arrangements for Smoove's
management following Completion.
Locations of business, fixed assets and research and
development
Following Completion, it is intended that Smoove will continue
to operate from its head office in Thame, Oxfordshire. Digcom will
review the Smoove Group's leasing arrangements in the ordinary
course to ensure they continue to meet the Smoove Group's operating
needs moving forward. Smoove does not have any material fixed
assets and the PEXA Board does not intend to redeploy any of
Smoove's fixed assets following Completion.
Smoove has no dedicated research and development function.
Trading facilities
Smoove Shares are currently traded on AIM. As set out in
paragraph 17 below, it is intended that a request will be made to
the London Stock Exchange to cancel trading in Smoove Shares on
AIM, subject to the Acquisition becoming Effective, such
cancellation to take effect from or shortly after the Effective
Date. At the same time, it is intended that Smoove will be
re-registered as a private limited company. As stated in paragraph
17 below, dealings in Smoove Shares will be suspended prior to the
Effective Date and, thereafter, there will be no trading facilities
in relation to Smoove Shares.
As a result of the cancellation of trading in Smoove Shares on
AIM, the Combined Group expects to achieve savings from Smoove no
longer having to comply with its ongoing public company reporting
obligations.
No "post-offer undertakings"
No statements in this paragraph 10 are "post-offer undertakings"
for the purposes of Rule 19.5 of the Takeover Code.
11. Share Schemes
Participants in the Smoove Share Plans will be contacted
regarding the effect of the Acquisition on their rights under the
Smoove Share Plans and provided with further details concerning the
proposals which will be made to them in due course. Details of the
proposals will be set out in the Scheme Document (or, as the case
may be, the Offer Document) and in separate letters to be sent to
participants in the Smoove Share Plans.
12. Financing of the Acquisition
The Consideration payable to Smoove Shareholders pursuant to the
Acquisition will be financed using existing cash resources of the
PEXA Group.
Numis, in its capacity as financial adviser to PEXA and Digcom,
is satisfied that sufficient resources are available to Digcom to
satisfy in full the Consideration payable by Digcom to Smoove
Shareholders pursuant to the Acquisition.
Further information on the financing of the Acquisition will be
set out in the Scheme Document.
13. Offer-related Arrangements
Confidentiality Agreement
On 9 August 2023, PEXA and Smoove entered into the
Confidentiality Agreement in connection with the Acquisition,
pursuant to which, amongst other things, the parties gave certain
undertakings to: (i) subject to certain exceptions, keep
information relating to the Acquisition and each other party
confidential and not to disclose it to third parties; and (ii) use
such confidential information only in connection with the
Acquisition. These confidentiality obligations will remain in force
until the earlier of 12 months from the date of the agreement and
Completion.
Co-operation Agreement
On 4 October 2023, Digcom and Smoove entered into the
Co-operation Agreement in relation to the Acquisition. Pursuant to
the Co-operation Agreement: (i) Digcom and Smoove have agreed to
co-operate to assist with the satisfaction of certain regulatory
conditions, subject to certain customary carve-outs; (ii) the
parties have agreed to implement certain arrangements with respect
to the Smoove Share Plans and other employee-related matters; and
(iii) the parties have agreed to certain provisions if the
Acquisition should switch to a Takeover Offer. In addition, Digcom
has agreed to provide Smoove with certain information for the
purposes of the Scheme Document and to otherwise assist with the
preparation of the Scheme Document.
The Co-operation Agreement shall terminate, amongst other
things: (i) where: (a) such termination is agreed between Digcom
and Smoove; (b) the Scheme is not approved by the requisite
majority of the Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting or the
Resolutions are not passed by the requisite majority at the General
Meeting; (c) the Scheme is not sanctioned by the Court; (ii) upon
written notice of either party where: (a) prior to the Long Stop
Date, a competing offer becomes effective or is declared
unconditional; (b) the Smoove Directors withdraw their
recommendation of the Acquisition or if the Smoove Directors
recommend a competing proposal; or (iii) upon written notice by
Digcom on Smoove: (a) prior to the Long Stop Date, a Condition
which is either not capable of being waived or, where capable of
being waived Digcom has confirmed that it will not waive said
Condition, becomes incapable of satisfaction by the Long Stop Date
in circumstances where invocation of the relevant Condition is
permitted by the Panel.
14. Scheme process
It is intended that the Acquisition will be effected by a
Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement between Smoove and the
Scheme Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act. Digcom
reserves the right, however, to effect the Acquisition by way of
Takeover Offer, subject to the consent of the Panel and the terms
of the Co-operation Agreement.
The purpose of the Scheme is to provide for Digcom to become the
owner of the whole of the issued and to be issued share capital of
Smoove. Under the Scheme, the Acquisition is to be achieved by the
transfer of the Scheme Shares held by Scheme Shareholders to Digcom
in consideration for which Scheme Shareholders will receive the
Consideration on the basis set out in paragraph 2 of this
announcement. The process involves, amongst other things, an
application by Smoove to the Court to sanction the Scheme.
The Acquisition will be subject to the Conditions and further
terms and conditions referred to in Appendix 1 to this announcement
and to be set out in the Scheme Document. Subject, amongst other
things, to the satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the
Conditions, the Scheme will only become Effective if, amongst other
things, the following events occur on or before the Long Stop Date
(or such later date as Digcom and Smoove may, with the consent of
the Panel, agree and, if required, the Court may approve):
-- a resolution to approve the Scheme is passed by a majority in
number of the Scheme Shareholders present and voting (and entitled
to vote) at the Court Meeting, either in person or by proxy,
representing 75 per cent. or more in value of each class of the
Scheme Shares held by those Scheme Shareholders;
-- the Resolution(s) is (or are, as applicable) passed by the
requisite majority of Smoove Shareholders at the General
Meeting;
-- certain regulatory approvals as described in Appendix 1
(including approvals from the CLC (being a regulator of ALL, a
subsidiary of Smoove)) are obtained (or waived, as applicable);
-- following the Meetings, the Scheme is sanctioned by the Court
(with or without modification, and, if with modification, on terms
agreed by Digcom and Smoove); and
-- following such sanction, an office copy of the Court Order is
delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
Upon the Scheme becoming Effective, it will be binding on all
Smoove Shareholders, irrespective of whether or not they attended
or voted at the Meetings (and if they attended and voted, whether
or not they voted in favour) and the Consideration will be
despatched by Digcom to Scheme Shareholders no later than 14 days
after the Effective Date. In addition, share certificates in
respect of the Smoove Shares will cease to be valid and
entitlements to Smoove Shares held within the CREST system will be
cancelled.
Any Smoove Shares issued before the Scheme Record Time will be
subject to the terms of the Scheme. The Resolution(s) to be
proposed at the General Meeting will, amongst other matters,
provide that the articles of association of Smoove be amended to
incorporate provisions requiring any Smoove Shares issued after the
Scheme Record Time (other than to Digcom and/or its nominees) to be
automatically transferred to Digcom on the same terms as the
Acquisition (other than terms as to timings and formalities). These
provisions of the Articles (as amended) will avoid any person
(other than Digcom and/or its nominees) holding Smoove Shares after
the Effective Date.
The Scheme Document will include full details of the Scheme,
together with notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting
and the expected timetable for the implementation of the Scheme,
and will specify the action to be taken by Scheme Shareholders. The
Scheme Document, together with accompanying Forms of Proxy, are
expected to be published and sent to Smoove Shareholders within 28
days of the date of this announcement (unless the Panel agrees
otherwise). The Acquisition will lapse if the Scheme does not
become Effective by the Long Stop Date (or such later date as
Digcom and Smoove may agree, with the consent of the Panel and as
the Court may approve, if such approval is required ).
Subject to, amongst other things, the satisfaction (or, where
applicable, waiver) of the Conditions, it is expected that the
Acquisition will become Effective in Q4 2023.
The Scheme will be governed by English law. The Scheme will be
subject to the applicable requirements of the Takeover Code, the
Panel, the London Stock Exchange (including pursuant to the AIM
Rules) and the Registrar of Companies.
15. Dividends
If, on or after the date of this announcement and before the
Effective Date, any dividend, distribution or other return of
capital or value is announced, declared, made or paid by Smoove or
becomes payable by Smoove in respect of the Smoove Shares, Digcom
reserves the right to reduce the Consideration payable pursuant to
the Acquisition for the Smoove Shares by an amount up to the amount
of such dividend and/or distribution and/or other return of capital
or value. In such circumstances, Smoove Shareholders would be
entitled to receive and retain any such dividend and/or other
distribution and/or return of capital or value.
16. Disclosure of interests
Except for the interests in Smoove Shares referred to in
paragraph 5 above and the irrevocable commitments referred to in
paragraph 7 above, as at the date of this announcement neither PEXA
nor Digcom, nor any of their respective directors, nor, so far as
PEXA and Digcom are aware, any person acting in concert (within the
meaning of the Takeover Code) with Digcom:
-- has any interest in, or right to subscribe for, any relevant securities of Smoove; nor
-- has any short position in respect of any relevant securities
of Smoove, including any short position under a derivative, any
agreement to sell, any delivery obligation or right to require
another person to purchase or take delivery of relevant securities
of Smoove; nor
-- has borrowed or lent any relevant securities of Smoove or
entered into any financial collateral arrangements relating to
relevant securities of Smoove; nor
-- is party to any dealing arrangement of the kind referred to
in Note 11 of the definition of acting in concert in the Takeover
Code in relation to relevant securities of Smoove.
An "interest in" securities for these purposes arises, 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' by virtue of the ownership, voting
rights or control of securities, or by virtue of any agreement to
purchase, option in respect of, or derivative referenced to
securities.
17. Cancellation of admission to trading on AIM and
re-registration of Smoove
Prior to the Scheme becoming Effective, it is intended that an
application will be made to the London Stock Exchange to, subject
to the Acquisition becoming Effective, cancel trading in Smoove
Shares on AIM, with effect from or shortly after the Effective
Date.
The last day of dealings in, and registration of transfers of,
Smoove Shares on 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. (London time) on that
date.
On the Effective Date, Smoove will become a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Digcom and share certificates in respect of Smoove
Shares will cease to be valid and should be destroyed. In addition,
entitlements held within CREST to the Smoove Shares will be
cancelled on the Effective Date.
Upon the Scheme becoming Effective, Digcom will acquire the
Smoove Shares fully paid and free from all liens, charges,
equitable interests, encumbrances and rights of pre-emption and any
other interests of any nature whatsoever and together with all
rights attaching thereto including the right to receive and retain
all dividends and distributions declared, made or paid by reference
to a record date after the Effective Date.
It is also intended that, subject to and with effect from the
Scheme becoming Effective, Smoove will be re-registered as a
private limited company.
18. Consents
Numis and Cavendish have each given and not withdrawn their
consent to the publication of this announcement with the inclusion
herein of the references to their names in the form and content in
which they appear.
19. Documents available for inspection
Copies of this announcement and the following documents will, by
no later than 12 noon on the business day following the date of
this announcement, be published on PEXA's website at
https://investors.pexa.com.au/investor-centre and Smoove's website
at www.hellosmoove.com/investorrelations until the end of the Offer
Period:
-- this announcement;
-- the irrevocable undertakings and letter of intent referred to
in paragraph 7 above and further described in Appendix 3 to this
announcement;
-- the Confidentiality Agreement;
-- the Co-operation Agreement; and
-- the consent letters referred to in paragraph 18 above.
The contents of PEXA's website and Smoove's website are not
incorporated into and do not form part of this announcement.
20. General
Digcom reserves the right to elect, with the consent of the
Panel (where necessary) and subject to the terms and conditions of
the Co-operation Agreement, to implement the Acquisition by way of
a Takeover Offer for the entire issued and to be issued share
capital of Smoove not already held by Digcom as an alternative to
the Scheme. In such an event a Takeover Offer will be implemented
on substantially the same terms, so far as applicable, as those
which would apply to the Scheme.
If the Acquisition is effected by way of a Takeover Offer and
such Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional and
sufficient acceptances are received, Digcom intends to: (i) request
that the London Stock Exchange cancels trading in Smoove Shares on
AIM; 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 Smoove Shares
in respect of which the Takeover Offer has not been accepted.
The Acquisition will be subject to the Conditions and other
terms set out in Appendix 1 and to the full terms and conditions
which will be set out in the Scheme Document. The formal Scheme
Document containing further information about the Acquisition and
notices of the Meetings, together with the accompanying Forms of
Proxy, are expected to be published and sent to Smoove Shareholders
within 28 days of the date of this announcement (unless the Panel
agrees otherwise).
Appendix 2 contains the bases of calculation and sources of
certain information contained in this announcement. Details of the
irrevocable undertakings and letter of intent received by Digcom in
connection with the Acquisition are set out in Appendix 3 to this
announcement. Certain terms used in this announcement are defined
in Appendix 4.
Enquiries:
PEXA Group Limited
Numis Securities Limited (Financial Tel: +44 20 7260 1000
adviser to PEXA)
Simon Willis, Stuart Ord, William
Wickham
Cato & Clive (Media and PR adviser Tel: +61 411 888 425
to PEXA)
Clive Mathieson
MHP (Media and PR adviser to PEXA) Tel: +44 20 3128 8100
Dan Pike; Chanice Smith; Issie Rees-Davies
Smoove plc Via Walbrook PR
Jesper With-Fogstrup, CEO
Michael Cress, CFO
Cavendish Securities plc (Rule 3 Tel: +44 (0)20 7220 0500
Adviser to Smoove)
Adrian Hadden, George Lawson, Hamish
Waller
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (NOMAD Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 2500
and Broker to Smoove)
Dominic Morley
Amrit Mahbubani
Walbrook PR Limited (PR to Smoove) smoove@walbrookpr.com or
Tom Cooper, Nick Rome Tel: 020 7933 8780
Addleshaw Goddard LLP is acting as legal adviser to PEXA and
Digcom in connection with the Acquisition.
Shoosmiths LLP is acting as legal adviser to Smoove in
connection with the Acquisition.
Further information
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not
intended to, and does not constitute, or form part of any offer,
invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise
acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose 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 securities of Smoove in
any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The
Acquisition will be made and implemented solely pursuant to the
terms of the Scheme Document (or if the Acquisition is implemented
by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document), which will contain
the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details
of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition. Any vote in respect
of, or other response to, the Acquisition should be made only on
the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document (or
if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the
Offer Document).
Smoove and Digcom will prepare the Scheme Document (or if the
Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer
Document) to be distributed to Smoove Shareholders. Smoove and
Digcom urge Smoove Shareholders to read the Scheme Document (or if
the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the
Offer Document) when it becomes available because it will contain
important information relating to the Acquisition.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus, prospectus
equivalent document or an exempted document.
The statements contained in this announcement are made as at the
date of this announcement, unless some other time is specified in
relation to them, and publication of this announcement shall not
give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the
facts set forth in this announcement since such date.
Disclaimers
Numis Securities Limited ("Numis"), which is authorised and
regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority,
is acting as financial adviser to Digcom and PEXA, and no one else,
in connection with the matters set out in this announcement, and
will not be responsible to anyone other than the Boards of Digcom
and PEXA for providing the protections afforded to clients of Numis
nor for providing advice in relation to the contents of this
announcement or any other matter or arrangement referred to herein.
Neither Numis nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty,
liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect,
whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any
person who is not a client of Numis in connection with this
announcement, any matter, arrangement or statement contained or
referred to herein or otherwise.
Cavendish Securities plc ("Cavendish") is acting for Smoove and
no one else in connection with the matters set out in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than
Smoove for providing the protections afforded to clients of
Cavendish for providing advice in relation to the possible offer,
the contents of this announcement or any other matters referred to
in this announcement.
Overseas jurisdictions
This announcement has been prepared in accordance with, and for
the purposes of complying with, English law, the Takeover Code and
the AIM Rules, and 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 of
England.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement
in, into or from jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be
restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the
laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should
inform themselves about and observe any applicable
requirements.
The availability of the Acquisition to Smoove Shareholders who
are not resident in and citizens of the United Kingdom may be
affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they
are located or of which they are citizen. Persons who are not
resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and
observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their
jurisdictions. In particular, the ability of persons who are not
resident in the United Kingdom to vote their Smoove Shares with
respect to the Scheme at the Meetings, or to execute and deliver
Forms of Proxy (or other proxy instructions) appointing another to
vote at the Meetings on their behalf, may be affected by the laws
of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. 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, the companies and
persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or
liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.
Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be
contained in the Scheme Document.
Unless otherwise determined by Digcom or required by the
Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the
Acquisition will not be made available, in whole or in part,
directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction
where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws or
regulations of such jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour
of the Acquisition by any such use, means, instrumentality or from
within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do
so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction.
Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating
to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or
indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in
or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving
such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must
not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in or into or
from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any
related purported vote in respect of the Acquisition. If the
Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless
otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover
Offer may not be made directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the
use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but not
limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission,
telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any
facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any
Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer may not be capable
of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or
facilities.
The Acquisition will be subject to English law and the
jurisdiction of the Court, and the applicable requirements of the
Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange (including
pursuant to the AIM Rules) and the Registrar of Companies.
Notice to US investors in Smoove
The Acquisition relates to the shares of an English company with
a quotation on AIM and is being made by means of a scheme of
arrangement provided for under English company law. A transaction
effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the
tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the US
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Accordingly, the Acquisition is
subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in
the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement which differ from the
disclosure requirements of United States tender offer and proxy
solicitation rules. Neither the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission, nor any securities commission of any state of
the United States, has approved or disapproved any offer, or passed
comment upon the adequacy or completeness of any of the information
contained in this announcement. Any representation to the contrary
may be a criminal offence.
If, in the future, Digcom exercises the right, with the consent
of the Panel (where necessary), to implement the Acquisition by way
of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend the offer into the
United States, the Acquisition will be made in compliance with
applicable United States laws and regulations, including Section
14(e) of the US Securities Exchange Act 1934 and Regulation 14E
thereunder.
Financial information included in this announcement and the
Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a
Takeover Offer, the Offer Document) has been or will have been
prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the
United Kingdom or Australia (as applicable) that may not be
comparable to financial information of US companies or companies
whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US holder
of Smoove Shares as consideration for the transfer of its Scheme
Shares pursuant to the Scheme 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 Smoove
Shareholder is therefore urged to consult with independent legal,
tax and financial advisers in connection with making a decision
regarding the Acquisition.
It may be difficult for US holders of Smoove Shares to enforce
their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal laws in
connection with the Acquisition, since Digcom and Smoove are
located in, and organised under the laws of, a non-US jurisdiction,
and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of
a non-US jurisdiction. US holders of Smoove Shares may not be able
to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US
court for violations of the 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 jurisdiction or judgement.
In accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule
14e-5(b) of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Digcom, certain
affiliated companies and their nominees or brokers (acting as
agents), may from time to time make certain purchases of, or
arrangements to purchase, Smoove Shares outside of the US, other
than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date on which the
Acquisition and/or Scheme becomes Effective, lapses or is otherwise
withdrawn. Also, in accordance with Rule 14e-5(b) of the US
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each of Numis and Cavendish will
continue to act as an exempt principal trader in Smoove Shares on
the London Stock Exchange. If such purchases or arrangements to
purchase were to be made they would occur either in the open market
at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated
prices and comply with applicable law, including the US Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Any information about such purchases will be
disclosed as required in the UK, will be reported to the Regulatory
News Service of the London Stock Exchange and will be available on
the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com
.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by
reference into this announcement), statements made regarding the
Acquisition, and other information to be published by Digcom, PEXA
and/or Smoove, contain statements which are, or may be deemed to
be, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are
prospective in nature and not based on historical facts, but rather
are based on current expectations and projections of the management
of Digcom, PEXA and/or Smoove about future events, and are
therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause
actual results to differ materially from the future results
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement
include statements with respect to the financial condition, results
of operations and business of Smoove and certain plans and
objectives of Digcom and PEXA with respect thereto and other
statements other than historical facts. Often, but not always,
forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they
do not relate only to historical or current facts and may use words
such as "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "forecast",
"intend", "plan", "budget", "scheduled", "goal", "believe", "hope",
"aims", "continue", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could", or
other words of similar meaning. These statements are based on
assumptions and assessments made by Smoove and/or Digcom and/or
PEXA in light of their experience and their perception of
historical trends, current conditions, future developments and
other factors they believe appropriate. By their nature,
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risk and
uncertainty and other factors which may cause actual results,
performance or developments to differ materially from those
expressed in or implied by such, because they relate to events and
depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Although
Digcom and/or PEXA and/or Smoove believe that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no
assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have
been correct and you are therefore cautioned not to place reliance
on these forward-looking statements which speak only as at the date
of this announcement. N either Digcom nor PEXA nor Smoove assumes
any obligation to update or correct the information contained in
this announcement (whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise), except as required by applicable law.
There are a number of factors which could cause actual results
and developments to differ materially from those expressed or
implied in forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the
ability to complete the Acquisition; the ability to obtain
requisite regulatory and shareholder approvals and the satisfaction
of other Conditions on the proposed terms; changes in the global,
political, economic, business and competitive environments and in
market and regulatory forces; changes in future exchange and
interest rates; changes in tax rates; future business combinations
or dispositions; changes in general and economic business
conditions; changes in the behaviour of other market participants;
the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition not being realised as a
result of changes in general economic and market conditions in the
countries in which Digcom, PEXA and Smoove operate; weak, volatile
or illiquid capital and/or credit markets; changes in the degree of
competition in the geographic and business areas in which Digcom,
PEXA and Smoove operate; and changes in laws or in supervisory
expectations or requirements. Other unknown or unpredictable
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expected, estimated or projected in the forward-looking statements.
If any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialises or
if any one or more of the assumptions proves incorrect, actual
results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or
projected. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be
construed in the light of such factors.
Neither Digcom nor PEXA nor Smoove, nor any of their respective
associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any
representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the
events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in
their announcement will actually occur. Given the risks and
uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place any reliance on these
forward-looking statements.
Other than in accordance with their legal or regulatory
obligations, neither Digcom nor PEXA nor Smoove is under any
obligation, and Digcom, PEXA and Smoove expressly disclaim any
intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
Dealing and Opening Position Disclosure Requirements
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover 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 10(th) business day
following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate,
by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10(th) 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 Takeover 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 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.
Publication on website
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code a copy of this
announcement and the documents required to be published under Rule
26 of the Takeover Code, will be made available free of charge,
subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in
Restricted Jurisdictions, on PEXA's website at
https://investors.pexa.com.au/investor-centre and Smoove's website
at www.hellosmoove.com/investorrelations by no later than 12 noon
(London time) on the first business day following the date of this
announcement. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the contents of
these websites nor the contents of any websites accessible from any
hyperlinks are incorporated into or form part of this
announcement.
Neither the contents of PEXA's website, nor those of Smoove's
website, nor those of any other website accessible from hyperlinks
on either PEXA's or Smoove's websites, are incorporated into or
form part of this announcement.
No profit forecasts, profit estimates or quantified benefits
statements
No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit
forecast, profit estimate or quantified benefits statement for any
period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted
to mean that earnings or earnings per share for Smoove for the
current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed
the historical published earnings or earnings per share for
Smoove.
Requesting hard copy documents
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, Smoove
Shareholders, persons with information rights and participants in
the Smoove Share Plans may request a hard copy of this announcement
by contacting Smoove's registrars, Equiniti, by: (i) submitting a
request in writing to Equiniti, Aspect House, Spencer Road,
Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA, United Kingdom; or (ii) calling +44
(0)371 384 2050. Calls are charged at the standard geographical
rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom
will be charged at the applicable international rate. Phone lines
are open between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. (London time), Monday to
Friday (excluding public holidays in England and Wales). Please
note that Equiniti cannot provide any financial, legal or tax
advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and
training purposes.
For persons who receive a copy of this announcement in
electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this
announcement will not be sent unless so requested. Such persons 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.
Electronic communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain
other information provided by Smoove Shareholders, persons with
information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of
communications from Smoove may be provided to Digcom and/or PEXA
during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4
to the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11I of the Takeover
Code.
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 figures that precede them.
General
Digcom reserves the right to elect, with the consent of the
Panel (where necessary), and subject to the terms and conditions of
the Co-operation Agreement, to implement the Acquisition by way of
a Takeover Offer for the entire issued and to be issued share
capital of Smoove not already held by Digcom as an alternative to
the Scheme. In such an event a Takeover Offer will be implemented
on substantially the same terms, so far as applicable, as those
which would apply to the Scheme.
If the Acquisition is effected by way of Takeover Offer, and
such Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional and
sufficient acceptances are received, Digcom intends to exercise its
rights to apply the provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the
Companies Act so as to acquire compulsorily the remaining Smoove
Shares in respect of which the Takeover Offer has not been
accepted.
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 appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.
APPIX 1
CONDITIONS TO AND CERTAIN FURTHER TERMS OF THE ACQUISITION
PART A: CONDITIONS TO THE SCHEME AND THE ACQUISITION
1. The Acquisition will be conditional upon the Scheme becoming
unconditional and becoming Effective, subject to the provisions of
the Takeover Code, by no later than 11.59 p.m. (London time) on the
Long Stop Date.
Scheme approval condition
2. The Scheme will be conditional upon:
(A) (i) its approval by a majority in number representing not
less than 75 per cent. in value of the Scheme Shareholders who are
on the register of members of Smoove (or the relevant class or
classes thereof, if applicable) at the Voting Record Time, present
and voting (and entitled to vote), whether in person or by proxy,
at the Court Meeting and at any separate class meeting which may be
required by the Court or at any adjournment of any such meeting;
and (ii) such Court Meeting and any such separate class meeting
being held on or before the 22(nd) day after the expected date of
the Court Meeting to be set out in the Scheme Document in due
course (or such later date, if any, as Digcom and Smoove may agree
and (if required) the Court may allow);
(B) (i) the Resolution(s) necessary to approve and implement the
Scheme being duly passed by the requisite majority or majorities at
the General Meeting or at any adjournment of that meeting; and (ii)
such General Meeting being held on or before the 22(nd) day after
the expected date of the General Meeting to be set out in the
Scheme Document in due course (or such later date, if any, as
Digcom and Smoove may agree and (if required) the Court may allow);
and
(C) (i) the sanction of the Scheme by the Court with or without
modification (but subject to any such modification being acceptable
to Digcom and Smoove) and the delivery of the Court Order to the
Registrar of Companies; and (ii) the Court Hearing being held on or
before the 22(nd) 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 Digcom and Smoove may agree and (if required) the
court may allow).
General conditions
3. In addition, subject to as stated in Part B of this Appendix
1 and to the requirements of the Panel, Digcom and Smoove have
agreed that the Acquisition will be conditional upon the following
Conditions and, accordingly, the necessary actions to make the
Scheme Effective will not be taken unless the following Conditions
(as amended if appropriate) have been satisfied, or, where
relevant, waived (subject in respect of Conditions 3 (A) and 3 (B)
to Digcom only being required to accept an outcome consistent with
its commitment to use reasonable endeavours to satisfy the
Conditions as set out in Clause 3 of the Co-operation
Agreement):
Regulatory
(A) CLC Approvals
(i) in respect of each person who will, as a result of the
Acquisition, acquire a restricted interest (as defined in Schedule
13, Paragraph 2(1) of the LSA) in ALL (the "CLC Regulated Firm"),
and who is required to notify the CLC of such acquisition under
Schedule 13, Paragraph 21(2) of the LSA, the CLC:
(a) providing its unconditional approval (by virtue of Schedule
13, Paragraph 27 of the LSA) of the acquisition of the relevant
interest in the CLC Regulated Firm; or
(b) making a conditional approval of the acquisition of such
notifiable interest (as defined in Schedule 13, Paragraph 21(4)(b)
of the LSA) by virtue of Schedule 13, Paragraph 28 of the LSA, with
such conditions being on terms satisfactory to Digcom (acting
reasonably);
(ii) in respect of each natural person who will, as a result of
the Acquisition, be deemed to be a beneficial owner (as defined in
the MLRs) of the CLC Regulated Firm, the CLC:
(a) providing its unconditional approval of the deemed
beneficial ownership (as applicable); or
(b) making a conditional approval of the deemed beneficial
ownership (as applicable), with such conditions being on terms
satisfactory to Digcom (acting reasonably); and
(iii) in respect of each other approval from the CLC (in
relation to the CLC Regulated Firm or any other person or
otherwise) as a result of the Acquisition as the CLC shall require
(each, an "Additional CLC Approval Matter"), the CLC:
(a) providing its unconditional approval in respect of each
Additional CLC Approval Matter; or
(b) making a conditional approval in respect of the Additional
CLC Approval Matter, with such conditions being on terms
satisfactory to Digcom (acting reasonably); and
(iv) the CLC not having cancelled or materially varied, and not
having notified (or intimated that it intends to notify) any
proposal to cancel or materially vary, any permission or approval
or authorisation in respect of the CLC Regulated Firm including,
without limitation, in respect of any approval or authorisation
granted in accordance with paragraphs (A)(i) or (A)(ii) or (A)(iii)
above;
Antitrust approvals and clearances
(B) one of the following has occurred:
(i) the CMA having indicated in a response to a briefing paper
that it has no further questions at that stage in relation to the
Acquisition; and as at the date on which all other Conditions are
satisfied or waived, the CMA has not: (1) requested submission of a
merger notice; or (2) otherwise given notice to either party that
it is commencing an investigation under the merger control
provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002; or
(ii) where the CMA has commenced an investigation following the
submission of a merger notice or a briefing paper, the CMA:
(a) in accordance with section 33(1) of the Enterprise Act 2002,
announcing that it has decided not to refer the Acquisition to the
chair of the CMA for the constitution of a group under Schedule 4
to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (a Referral);
or
(b) in accordance with section 73(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002,
formally accepting undertakings in lieu of a Referral offered by
Digcom, or a modified version of them;
General Third Party clearances
(C) other than in respect of any briefing paper, notification
and/ or filing required in connection with the Conditions set out
in paragraphs 3 (A) and 3 (B) above (to which only Conditions 3 (A)
and 3 (B) above shall apply, as applicable), the waiver (or
non-exercise within any applicable time limits) by any relevant
government or governmental, quasi-governmental, supranational,
statutory, regulatory, environmental or investigative body, court,
trade agency, association, institution, any entity owned or
controlled by any relevant government or state, or any other body
or person whatsoever in any jurisdiction (each a "Third Party") of
any termination right, right of pre-emption, first refusal or
similar right (which is material in the context of the Wider Smoove
Group taken as a whole) arising as a result of or in connection
with the Scheme or the Acquisition;
(D) other than in respect of any briefing paper, notification
and/ or filing required in connection with the Conditions set out
in paragraphs 3 (A) and 3 (B) above (to which only Conditions 3 (A)
and 3 (B) above shall apply, as applicable), all notifications,
necessary filings or applications having been made in connection
with the Acquisition and all statutory or regulatory obligations in
any jurisdiction which are necessary or reasonably considered
necessary by Digcom having been complied with in connection with
the Acquisition or the acquisition by any member of the Wider PEXA
Group of any shares or other securities in, or control of, Smoove
and all authorisations, orders, recognitions, grants,
determinations, confirmations, consents, licences, clearances,
permissions, exemptions and approvals reasonably deemed necessary
or appropriate by Digcom or any member of the Wider PEXA Group for
or in respect of the Acquisition including without limitation, its
implementation or the proposed direct or indirect acquisition of
any shares or other securities in, or control of, Smoove or any
member of the Wider Smoove Group by any member of the Wider PEXA
Group having been obtained in terms and in a form reasonably
satisfactory to Digcom from all appropriate Third Parties or
persons with whom any member of the Wider Smoove Group has entered
into contractual arrangements in each case where the direct
consequence of the absence of such notification, filing or
application would have a material adverse effect on the Wider
Smoove Group or the Wider PEXA Group in each case taken as a whole
or in the context of the Acquisition, and all such authorisations,
orders, grants, recognitions, determinations, confirmations,
consents, licences, clearances, permissions, exemptions and
approvals necessary or appropriate to carry on the business of any
member of the Wider Smoove Group which is material in the context
of the Wider PEXA Group or the Wider Smoove Group as a whole or in
the context of the Acquisition remaining in full force and effect
and all filings necessary for such purpose having been made and
there being no notice or intimation of any intention to revoke or
not to renew any of the same at the time at which the Acquisition
becomes otherwise unconditional and all necessary statutory or
regulatory obligations in any jurisdiction having been complied
with;
(E) other than in respect of any briefing paper, notification
and/ or filing required in connection with the Conditions set out
in paragraphs 3 (A) and 3 (B) above (to which only Conditions 3 (A)
and 3 (B) above shall apply, as applicable), no Third Party having
given notice of a decision to take, institute, implement or
threaten 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, decision or order or change to published practice, and
there not continuing to be outstanding any statue, regulation,
decision or order or having taken any other action or step which
would or might reasonably be expected to:
(i) require, prevent or delay the divestiture, or alter the
terms envisaged for any proposed divestiture, by any member of the
Wider PEXA Group or any member of the Wider Smoove Group of all or
any portion of their respective businesses, assets or property or
impose any limitation on the ability of any of them to conduct
their respective businesses (or any of them) or to own any of their
respective assets or properties or any part thereof which, in any
such case, is material in the context of the Wider PEXA Group or
the Wider Smoove Group in either case taken as a whole or in the
context of the Acquisition;
(ii) require, prevent or materially delay the divestiture by any
member of the Wider PEXA Group of any shares or other securities in
Smoove;
(iii) impose any limitation on, or result in a delay in, the
ability of any member of the Wider PEXA Group directly or
indirectly to acquire or to hold or to exercise effectively any
rights of ownership in respect of shares or loans or securities
convertible into shares or any other securities (or the equivalent)
in any member of the Wider Smoove Group or the Wider PEXA Group or
to exercise voting or management control over any such member
which, in any such case, is material in the context of the Wider
PEXA Group or the Wider Smoove Group in either case taken as a
whole;
(iv) otherwise adversely affect the business, assets, profits or
prospects of any member of the Wider PEXA Group or of any member of
the Wider Smoove Group to an extent which is material in the
context of the Wider PEXA Group or the Wider Smoove Group in either
case taken as a whole;
(v) make the Scheme or Acquisition or, in each case, its
implementation or the acquisition or proposed acquisition by Digcom
or any member of the Wider PEXA Group of any shares or other
securities in, or control of, Smoove void, illegal, and/or
unenforceable under the laws of any jurisdiction, or otherwise,
directly or indirectly, restrain, restrict, prohibit, materially
delay or challenge or otherwise interfere with the same, or impose
additional conditions or obligations with respect thereto;
(vi) require any member of the Wider PEXA Group or the Wider
Smoove Group to offer to acquire any shares or other securities (or
the equivalent) or interest in any member of the Wider Smoove Group
or the Wider PEXA Group owned by any third party;
(vii) impose any limitation on the ability of any member of the
Wider Smoove Group to co-ordinate its business, or any part of it,
with the businesses of any other members which is adverse to and
material in the context of the Wider Smoove Group taken as a whole
or in the context of the Acquisition; or
(viii) result in any member of the Wider Smoove Group ceasing to
be able to carry on business under any name under which it
presently does so,
and all applicable waiting and other time periods (including any
extensions thereof) during which any such Third Party could
institute, implement or threaten any action, proceeding, suit,
investigation, enquiry or reference or any other step under the
laws of any jurisdiction in respect of the Scheme or the
Acquisition, or the acquisition or proposed acquisition of any
Smoove Shares having expired, lapsed or been terminated;
Certain matters arising as a result of any arrangement,
agreement etc.
(F) save as Disclosed, there being no provision of any
agreement, arrangement, licence, permit or other instrument to
which any member of the Wider Smoove Group is a party or by or to
which any such member or any of its assets may be bound, entitled
or subject, or any circumstance which in consequence of the
Acquisition, or the acquisition or proposed acquisition by a member
of the Wider PEXA Group of any shares or other securities (or
equivalent) in Smoove or because of a change in the control or
management of Smoove or otherwise, could or might reasonably result
in (to an extent which is material and adverse in the context of
the Wider Smoove Group or Wider PEXA Group, in either case, taken
as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition):
(i) any moneys borrowed by or any other indebtedness or
liabilities (actual or contingent) of, or grant available to, any
such member, being or becoming repayable or capable of being
declared repayable immediately or earlier than their or its stated
maturity date or repayment date or the ability of any such member
to borrow moneys or incur any indebtedness being withdrawn or
inhibited or being capable of becoming or being withdrawn or
inhibited;
(ii) any such agreement, arrangement, licence, permit or
instrument or the rights, liabilities, obligations or interests of
any such member thereunder being terminated or adversely modified
or affected or any obligation or liability arising or any action
being taken or arising thereunder;
(iii) any assets or interests of any such member being or
failing to be disposed of or charged or ceasing to be available to
any such member or any right arising under which any such asset or
interest could be required to be disposed of or charged or could
cease to be available to any such member otherwise than in the
ordinary course of business;
(iv) the creation or enforcement of any mortgage, charge or
other security interest over the whole or any part of the business,
property, assets or interests of any such member;
(v) the rights, liabilities, obligations or interests of any
such member in, or the business of any such member with, any
person, firm, company or body (or any arrangement or arrangements
relating to any such interest or business) being terminated,
adversely modified or affected or any obligation or liability
arising or any adverse action being taken thereunder;
(vi) the value of any such member or its financial or trading
position or prospects being prejudiced or adversely affected;
(vii) any such member ceasing to be able to carry on business
under any name under which it presently does so; or
(viii) the creation or acceleration of any liability, actual or
contingent, by any such member, other than trade creditors or other
liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business or in
connection with the Acquisition,
and, save as Disclosed, no event having occurred which, under
any provision of any agreement, arrangement, licence, permit or
other instrument to which any member of the Wider Smoove Group is a
party or by or to which any such member or any of its assets may be
bound, entitled or subject, would or might reasonably be expected
to result in any of the events or circumstances as are referred to
in sub-paragraphs (i) to (viii) (inclusive) of this paragraph 3(F)
, in each case to the extent material in the context of the Wider
Smoove Group taken as a whole or in the context of the
Acquisition;
Certain events occurring since 31 March 2023
(G) save as Disclosed, no member of the Wider Smoove Group, since 31 March 2023, having:
(i) save as between Smoove and wholly-owned subsidiaries of
Smoove or for Smoove Shares issued under or pursuant to the
exercise of options and vesting of awards granted under the Smoove
Share Plans, issued, or agreed to issue, authorised or proposed or
announced its intention to authorise or propose the issue of
additional shares of any class;
(ii) save as between Smoove and wholly-owned subsidiaries of
Smoove or for the grant of options and awards and other rights
granted under the Smoove Share Plans, issued or agreed to issue,
authorised or proposed the issue of securities convertible into
shares of any class or rights, warrants or options to subscribe
for, or acquire, any such shares or convertible securities;
(iii) other than to another member of the Smoove Group, prior to
the Acquisition becoming Effective, recommended, declared, paid or
made or proposed to recommend, declare, pay or make any bonus,
dividend or other distribution whether payable in cash or
otherwise;
(iv) save for intra-Smoove Group transactions, merged or
demerged with any body corporate or acquired or disposed of or
transferred, mortgaged or charged or created any security interest
over any assets or any right, title or interest in any asset
(including shares and trade investments) or authorised or proposed
or announced any intention to propose any merger, demerger,
acquisition or disposal, transfer, mortgage, charge or security
interest, in each case other than in the ordinary course of
business;
(v) save for intra-Smoove Group transactions, made or authorised
or proposed or announced an intention to propose any change in its
loan capital;
(vi) issued, authorised or proposed the issue of, or made any
changes in or to, any debentures or (save for intra-Smoove Group
transactions), save in the ordinary course of business, incurred or
increased any indebtedness or become subject to any contingent
liability;
(vii) purchased, redeemed or repaid or announced any proposal to
purchase, redeem or repay any of its own shares or other securities
or reduced or, save in respect to the matters mentioned in
sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii) of this paragraph 3 (G) , made any other
change to any part of its share capital;
(viii) save for intra-Smoove Group transactions, implemented, or
authorised, proposed or announced its intention to implement, any
reconstruction, amalgamation, scheme, commitment or other
transaction or arrangement otherwise than in the ordinary course of
business;
(ix) entered into or varied or authorised, proposed or announced
its intention to enter into or vary any contract, transaction,
arrangement or commitment (whether in respect of capital
expenditure or otherwise) which:
(a) is of a long term, onerous or unusual nature or magnitude or
which involves or could involve an obligation of such nature or
magnitude (save in the ordinary course of business); or
(b) would or could reasonably be expected to be restrictive on
the businesses of any member of the Wider Smoove Group or the Wider
PEXA Group (other than to a nature and extent which is normal in
the context of the business concerned),
and, in either case, is material in the context of the Wider
Smoove Group taken as a whole or in the context of the
Acquisition;
(x) (other than in respect of a member which is dormant and was
solvent at the relevant time) taken any corporate action or steps
or had any legal proceedings started or threatened against it in
relation to the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any
indebtedness, or petition presented or order made for its
winding-up, dissolution or reorganisation or for the appointment of
a receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, manager,
trustee or similar officer of all or any part of its assets or
revenues or any analogous proceedings in any jurisdiction or had
any such person appointed in each case to the extent material in
the context of the Wider Smoove Group taken as a whole or in the
context of the Acquisition;
(xi) waived or compromised any claim otherwise than in the
ordinary course of business which is material in the context of the
Wider Smoove Group taken as a whole;
(xii) made any material alteration to its memorandum or Articles
or other incorporation documents;
(xiii) been unable, or admitted in writing that it is unable, to
pay its debts or commenced negotiations with one or more of its
creditors with a view to rescheduling or restructuring any of its
indebtedness, 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;
(xiv) entered into any contract, commitment, arrangement or
agreement otherwise than in the ordinary course of business or
passed any resolution or made any offer (which remains open for
acceptance) with respect to or announced any intention to, or
proposed to, effect any of the transactions, matters or events
referred to in this paragraph 3 (G) ;
(xv) made or agreed or consented to any change to:
(a) the terms of the trust deeds constituting the pension
scheme(s) established by any member of the Wider Smoove Group for
its directors, employees or their dependents;
(b) the contributions payable to any such scheme(s) or to the
benefits which accrue or to the pensions which are payable
thereunder;
(c) the basis on which qualification for, or accrual or
entitlement to, such benefits or pensions are calculated or
determined; or
(d) the basis upon which the liabilities (including pensions) of
such pension schemes are funded, valued or made,
in each case, to the extent material in the context of the Wider
Smoove Group taken as a whole or in the context of the
Acquisition;
(xvi) save as agreed by the Panel (if required) and Digcom,
proposed, agreed to provide or modified the terms of any of the
Smoove Share Plans or other benefit constituting a material change
relating to the employment or termination of employment of a
material category of persons employed by the Wider Smoove Group or
which constitutes a material change to the terms or conditions of
employment of any senior employee of the Wider Smoove Group, or
entered into or changed the terms of or made any offer (which
remains open for acceptance) to enter into or change the terms of
any contract with any director or senior executive employed by the
Wider Smoove Group;
(xvii) taken (or agreed or proposed to take) any action which
requires, or would require, the consent of the Panel or the
approval of Smoove Shareholders in general meeting in accordance
with, or as contemplated by, Rule 21.1 of the Takeover Code;
No adverse change, litigation or regulatory enquiry
(H) save as Disclosed, since 31 March 2023:
(i) no adverse change or deterioration having occurred in the
business, assets, financial or trading position or profits,
operational performance or prospects of any member of the Wider
Smoove Group which, in any such case, is material in the context of
the Wider Smoove Group taken as a whole or in the context of the
Acquisition;
(ii) no litigation, arbitration proceedings, prosecution or
other legal proceedings to which any member of the Wider Smoove
Group is or may become a party (whether as a plaintiff, defendant
or otherwise) and no enquiry, review or investigation by, or
complaint or reference to, any Third Party or other investigative
body against or in respect of any member of the Wider Smoove Group
having been instituted announced, implemented or threatened by or
against or remaining outstanding in respect of any member of the
Wider Smoove Group which in any such case has or would reasonably
be expected to materially adversely affect any member of the Wider
Smoove Group taken as a whole or in the context of the
Acquisition;
(iii) no contingent or other liability of any member of the
Wider Smoove Group having arisen or become apparent to Digcom which
has or would reasonably be likely to materially adversely affect
any member of the Wider Smoove Group or in the context of the
Acquisition;
(iv) no member of the Wider Smoove Group having conducted it
business in breach of any applicable laws and regulations which is
material in the context of the Wider Smoove Group taken as a whole
or in the context of the Acquisition;
(v) no steps having been taken which are reasonably likely to
result in the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification
of any licence or permit held by any member of the Wider Smoove
Group which is necessary for the proper carrying on of its business
and the withdrawal, cancellation, termination or modification of
which has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a material
adverse effect on the Wider Smoove Group taken as a whole or in the
context of the Acquisition;
No discovery of certain matters
(I) save as Disclosed, Digcom not having discovered:
(i) that any financial, business or other information concerning
the Wider Smoove Group as contained in the information publicly
disclosed at any time by or on behalf of any member of the Wider
Smoove Group is misleading, contains a misrepresentation of fact or
omits to state a fact necessary to make that information not
misleading, and which was not subsequently corrected before the
date of this announcement by public disclosure, in each case, to
the extent material in the context of the Wider Smoove Group taken
as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition;
(ii) that any member of the Wider Smoove Group or partnership,
company or other entity in which any member of the Wider Smoove
Group has a significant economic interest and which is not a
subsidiary undertaking of Smoove is subject to any liability
(contingent or otherwise), other than in the ordinary course of
business and, in each case, to the extent material in the context
of the Wider Smoove Group taken as a whole or in the context of the
Acquisition; or
(iii) any information which affects the import of any
information Disclosed and which is material in the context of the
Wider Smoove Group taken as a whole or in the context of the
Acquisition;
(J) save as Disclosed, Digcom not having discovered that, in
relation to any release, emission, accumulation, discharge,
disposal or other similar circumstance which has impaired or is
likely to impair the environment (including property) or harmed or
is likely to harm the health of humans, animals or other living
organisms or eco -- systems, any past or present member of the
Wider Smoove Group, in a manner or to an extent which is material
in the context of the Wider Smoove Group, (i) has committed any
violation of any applicable laws, statutes, regulations, consents,
licences, permissions, authorisations, notices or other
requirements of any Third Party giving rise to a liability; and/or
(ii) has incurred any liability (whether actual or contingent) to
any Third Party; and/or (iii) is likely to incur any liability
(whether actual or contingent), or is required, to make good,
remediate, repair, re -- instate or clean up the environment
(including any property) in each case of (i), (ii) or (iii) which
such liability or requirement would be material to the Wider Smoove
Group taken as a whole or in the context of the Acquisition;
Anti-corruption, economic sanctions, criminal property and money
laundering
(K) save as Disclosed, Digcom not having discovered that:
(i) any:
(a) past or present member, director, officer or employee of the
Wider Smoove Group, in connection with their position in the Wider
Smoove 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 of 1977 or
any other applicable anti-corruption or anti-bribery law, rule or
regulation or any other applicable law, rule, or regulation
concerning improper payments or kickbacks; or
(b) person that performs or has performed services for or on
behalf of the Wider Smoove Group is or has at 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 of
1977 or any other applicable anti-corruption or anti-bribery law,
rule or regulation or any other applicable law, rule, or regulation
concerning improper payments or kickbacks;
(ii) any asset of any member of the Wider Smoove 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 proceeds of crime under any other applicable law,
rule, or regulation concerning money laundering or proceeds of
crime or any member of the Wider Smoove Group is found to have
engaged in activities constituting money laundering under any
applicable law, rule, or regulation concerning money
laundering;
(iii) any past or present member, director, officer or employee
of the Wider Smoove Group, or any other person for whom any such
person may be liable or responsible, is or has engaged in any
conduct which would violate applicable economic sanctions or dealt
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,
UK 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, UK or European Union laws or regulations,
including the economic sanctions administered by the United States
Office of Foreign Assets Control, or HM Revenue and Customs; or
(b) any government, entity or individual targeted by any of the
economic sanctions of the United Nations, the United Kingdom, the
European Union or any of their respective member states;
(iv) any past or present member, director, officer or employee
of the Wider Smoove Group, or any other person for whom any such
person may be liable or responsible:
(a) has engaged in conduct which would violate any relevant
anti-terrorism laws, rules, or regulations, including but not
limited to the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act;
(b) has engaged in conduct which would violate any relevant
anti-boycott law, rule, or regulation or any applicable export
controls, including but not limited to the Export Administration
Regulations administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of
Commerce or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations
administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of State;
(c) has engaged in conduct which would violate any relevant
laws, rules, or regulations concerning human rights, including but
not limited to any law, rule, or regulation concerning false
imprisonment, torture or other cruel and unusual punishment, or
child labour; or
(d) is debarred or otherwise rendered ineligible to bid for or
to perform contracts for or with any government, governmental
instrumentality, or international organization or found to have
violated any applicable law, rule, or regulation concerning
government contracting or public procurement; or
(v) any member of the Wider Smoove Group is or has been engaged
in any transaction which would cause Digcom or any member of the
Wider PEXA Group to be in breach of any law or regulation upon its
offer for Smoove, including but not limited to the economic
sanctions of the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control, or
HM Revenue and Customs, or any other relevant government
authority.
PART B: FURTHER TERMS OF THE ACQUISITION
1. Subject to the requirements of the Panel and the Takeover
Code, Digcom reserves the right in its sole discretion to
waive:
(A) the deadline set out in paragraph 1 of Part A of this
Appendix 1, and any of the deadlines set out in paragraph 2 of Part
A of this Appendix 1 for the timing of the Court Meeting, the
General Meeting and the Court Hearing. If any such deadline is not
met, Digcom shall make an announcement by 8.00 am on the Business
Day following such deadline confirming whether it has invoked or
waived the relevant Condition or agreed with Smoove to extend the
deadline in relation to the relevant Condition; and
(B) in whole or in part, all or any of the Conditions set out in
paragraphs 3(A) to 3(K) (inclusive) of Part A of this Appendix
1.
2. Digcom shall be under no obligation to waive (if capable of
waiver), to determine to be or remain satisfied or to treat as
satisfied any of Conditions set out in paragraphs 3(A) to 3 (K)
(inclusive) of Part A of this Appendix 1 that it is entitled (with
the consent of the Panel and subject to the requirements of the
Takeover Code) to invoke, by a date earlier than the latest date
specified above for the fulfilment or waiver thereof,
notwithstanding that the other Condition may at such earlier date
have been waived or fulfilled and that there are at such earlier
date no circumstances indicating that any such Conditions may not
be capable of fulfilment.
3. Under Rule 13.5(a) of the Takeover Code, Digcom 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 Digcom in the context of the Acquisition.
Conditions 2(A)(i), 2(B)(i) and 2(C)(i) of Part A of this Appendix
1, and, if applicable, any acceptance condition if the Acquisition
is implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, are not subject to
Rule 13.5(a) of the Takeover Code. Digcom may only invoke a
Condition that is subject to Rule 13.5(a) with the consent of the
Panel and any Condition that is subject to Rule 13.5(a) may be
waived by Digcom.
4. If Digcom is required by the Panel to make an offer for
Smoove Shares under the provisions of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code,
Digcom may make such alterations to any of the above Conditions and
the terms of the Acquisition as are necessary to comply with the
provisions of Rule 9.
5. Digcom reserves the right to elect to implement the
Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer as an alternative to the
Scheme (subject to the Panel's consent (where necessary) and the
terms of the Co-operation Agreement). In such an event, the
Acquisition will be implemented on the same terms and conditions
(subject to appropriate amendments including (without limitation)
the inclusion of an acceptance condition set at 90 per cent. of the
Smoove Shares (or such other percentage as Digcom and Smoove may,
subject to the rules of the Takeover Code and the terms of the
Co-operation Agreement and with the consent of the Panel, decide,
being in any case more than 50 per cent. of the Smoove Shares), or
any amendments required by, or deemed appropriate by, Digcom under
applicable law or any amendments necessary to reflect the Takeover
Offer) as those that would apply to the Scheme. Further, if
sufficient acceptances of such Takeover Offer are received and/or
sufficient Smoove Shares are otherwise acquired, it is the
intention of Digcom to apply the provisions of the Companies Act to
acquire compulsorily any outstanding Smoove Shares to which such
Takeover Offer relates.
6. Each of the Conditions shall be regarded as a separate
Condition and shall not be limited by reference to any other
Condition.
7. Smoove Shares which will be acquired pursuant to the
Acquisition will be acquired fully paid and free from all liens,
equities, charges, encumbrances, options, rights of pre-emption and
any other third party rights and interests of any nature whatsoever
and together with all rights now or hereafter attaching or accruing
to them, including voting rights and the right to receive and
retain in full all dividends and other distributions (if any)
declared, made or paid or any other return of capital or value
(whether by reduction of share capital or share premium account or
otherwise) made on or after the Effective Date.
8. If on or after the date of this announcement and before the
Effective Date any dividend, distribution or other return of
capital or value is announced, declared, made or paid by Smoove or
becomes payable by Smoove in respect of the Smoove Shares, Digcom
reserves the right (without prejudice to any right of Digcom, with
the consent of the Panel, to invoke the Condition set out in
paragraph 3 (G)(iii) of Part A to this Appendix 1) to reduce the
Consideration payable under the terms of the Acquisition for the
Smoove Shares by an amount up to the amount of such dividend and/or
distribution and/or other return of capital or value. In such
circumstances, Smoove Shareholders would be entitled to receive and
retain any such dividend and/or other distribution and/or return of
capital or value. Any exercise by Digcom of its rights referred to
in this paragraph 8 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 Acquisition.
9. The Acquisition will be governed by the laws of England and
Wales and be subject to the jurisdiction of the English Courts and
to the Conditions and certain further terms which are set out in
this Appendix 1 and to the full terms which will be set out in the
Scheme Document. The Scheme will be subject to the applicable
requirements of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock
Exchange (including pursuant to the AIM Rules) and the Registrar of
Companies.
10. The Acquisition will not be made, directly or indirectly, in
or into, or by use of the mails of, or by any means or
instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile
transmission, telex, telephone, internet or e-mail) of interstate
or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of, any Restricted
Jurisdiction.
11. The availability of the Acquisition to persons not resident
in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant
jurisdictions. Any persons who are subject to the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves
about and observe any applicable requirements.
APPIX 2
BASES AND SOURCES
In this announcement, unless otherwise stated or the context
otherwise requires, the following bases and sources have been
used.
1. As at the Last Practicable Date, Smoove had in issue
57,016,550 Smoove Shares, which includes 1,632,314 Smoove Shares
(as at the Last Practicable Date) held by the trustee of the Smoove
Employee Benefit Trust that can be used to satisfy the exercise of
options and vesting of awards granted under the Smoove Share Plans
.
2. The fully diluted share capital of Smoove (being 57,060,216
Smoove Shares) is calculated on the basis of:
-- the number of Smoove Shares referred to in paragraph 1 above; and
-- 43,666 Smoove Shares which may be issued on or after the date
of this announcement on the exercise of options granted under the
Smoove Share Plans .
3. A value of approximately GBP30.8 million for the entire
issued and to be issued share capital of Smoove is based on:
-- the Consideration of 54 pence per Smoove Share; and
-- Smoove's assumed fully diluted issued ordinary share capital
of 57,060,216 Smoove Shares, as set out in paragraph 2 above.
4. The premium calculations to the price per Smoove Share used
in this announcement have been calculated based on the
Consideration of 54 pence per Smoove Share, and by reference
to:
-- the Closing Price on 21 April 2023 (being the last Business
Day before the commencement of the Offer Period) of 31.9 pence per
Smoove Share, derived from Bloomberg;
-- the one-month volume weighted average Closing Price of 31.0
pence per Smoove Share as at 21 April 2023 (being the last Business
Day before the commencement of the Offer Period), derived from
Bloomberg; and
-- the three-month volume weighted average Closing Price of 37.5
pence per Smoove Share as at 21 April 2023 (being the last Business
Day before the commencement of the Offer Period), derived from
Bloomberg.
5. The Enterprise Value of GBP20.8 million is calculated on the basis of:
-- a fully diluted equity value of GBP30.8 million as calculated
in accordance with paragraph 3 above;
-- Smoove's net cash position of GBP9.2 million as at 30 September 2023; and
-- GBP0.8 million received from the proceeds of exercised options.
6. The implied Enterprise Value / FY23 revenue multiple of 1.0x
is calculated on the basis of:
-- an Enterprise Value of GBP20.8 million calculated in accordance with paragraph 5 above; and
-- Smoove revenue of GBP20.6 million for its financial year ended 31 March 2023.
7. The implied Enterprise Value / FY23 gross profit multiple of
2.7x is calculated on the basis of:
-- an Enterprise Value of GBP20.8 million calculated in accordance with paragraph 5 above; and
-- Smoove gross profit of GBP7.8 million for its financial year ended 31 March 2023.
8. Unless otherwise stated, the financial information of Smoove
is extracted (without material adjustment) from the annual report
and audited consolidated accounts of Smoove for the 12 months ended
31 March 2023.
9. Certain figures included in this announcement have been subject to rounding adjustments.
APPIX 3
DETAILS OF IRREVOCABLE UNDERTAKINGS AND LETTER OF INTENT
Irrevocable Undertakings
From Smoove Directors as shareholders
The following Smoove Directors have each given an irrevocable
undertaking to vote (or procure the voting, as applicable) in
favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution(s) at
the General Meeting, or to accept, or procure the acceptance of,
the Takeover Offer (if the Acquisition is implemented as a Takeover
Offer), in respect of their beneficial holdings of Smoove
Shares:
Name Number of Smoove Percentage of Smoove's
Shares in respect issued share capital
of which undertaking at the Last Practicable
is given Date (%)
Jesper With-Fogstrup 25,000 0.04
Martin Rowland 60,000 0.11
Total 85,000 0.15
The irrevocable undertakings from the Smoove Directors listed
above will cease to be binding, inter alia:
-- if the Scheme Document or Offer Document (as the case may be)
has not been posted within 28 days of the issue of the announcement
(or within such longer period as Digcom and Smoove, with the
consent of the Panel determines), provided that if the Acquisition
was initially being implemented by way of a Scheme, and Digcom
elects to exercise its right to implement the Acquisition by way of
a Takeover Offer or vice versa, such time period shall be extended
to refer to within 28 days of the issue of the press announcement
announcing the change in structure (or such other date for the
posting of the Offer Document or Scheme Document (as applicable) as
the Panel may require);
-- on the date on which the Acquisition (whether implemented by
way of a Scheme or a Takeover Offer) is withdrawn or lapses in
accordance with its terms, provided that this shall not apply where
the Acquisition is withdrawn or lapses as a result of Digcom
exercising its right, in accordance with the Takeover Code, to
implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer rather than by
way of a Scheme or vice versa;
-- if the Scheme or the Takeover Offer (as applicable) has not
become Effective, or become or been declared unconditional (as the
case may be), on or before the Long Stop Date, provided that this
shall not apply where the Scheme or Takeover Offer failing to
become effective, or to become or have been declared unconditional
(as applicable), is as a result of Digcom exercising its right, in
accordance with the Takeover Code, to implement the Acquisition by
way of a Takeover Offer rather than by way of a Scheme or vice
versa; or
-- if Digcom announces that it does not intend to proceed with
the Acquisition and no new, revised or replacement Scheme or
Takeover Offer is announced by Digcom in accordance with Rule 2.7
of the Takeover Code at the same time.
From other Smoove Shareholders
In addition to the Smoove Directors, the following Smoove
Shareholders have each given an irrevocable undertaking to vote (or
procure the voting, as applicable) in favour of the Scheme at the
Court Meeting and the Resolution(s) at the General Meeting, or to
accept, or procure the acceptance of, the Takeover Offer if the
Acquisition is implemented as a Takeover Offer, in respect of their
interests in Smoove Shares:
Name Number of Smoove Percentage of Smoove's
Shares in respect issued share capital
of which undertaking at the Last Practicable
is given Date (%)
Kestrel Partners
LLP 15,711,095 27.56
Harwood Capital Management
Limited 7,296,970 12.80
Herald Investment
Management Limited 3,552,560 6.23
Total 26,560,625 46.58
*Kestrel Partners LLP, whose partner Oliver Scott is a
Non-Executive Director of Smoove, is amongst the Smoove
Shareholders that have given irrevocable undertakings to
Digcom.
The irrevocable undertakings from the Smoove Shareholders listed
above will cease to be binding, inter alia:
-- if the Scheme Document or Offer Document (as the case may be)
has not been posted within 28 days of the issue of the announcement
(or within such longer period as Digcom and Smoove, with the
consent of the Panel determine), provided that if the Acquisition
was initially being implemented by way of a Scheme, and Digcom
elects with the consent of the Panel (where necessary) and subject
to the terms and conditions of the Co-operation Agreement to
exercise its right to implement the Acquisition by way of a
Takeover Offer or vice versa, such time period shall be extended to
refer to within 28 days of the issue of the press announcement
announcing the change in structure (or such other date for the
posting of the Offer Document or Scheme Document (as applicable) as
the Panel may require);
-- on the date on which the Acquisition (whether implemented by
way of a Scheme or a Takeover Offer) is withdrawn or lapses in
accordance with its terms, provided that this shall not apply where
the Acquisition is withdrawn or lapses as a result of Digcom
exercising its right with the consent of the Panel (where
necessary) and subject to the terms and conditions of the
Co-operation Agreement to implement the Acquisition by way of a
Takeover Offer rather than by way of a Scheme or vice versa;
-- if the Scheme or the Takeover Offer (as applicable) has not
become Effective, or become or been declared unconditional (as the
case may be), on or before the Long Stop Date, provided that this
shall not apply where the Scheme or Takeover Offer failing to
become effective, or to become or have been declared unconditional
(as applicable), is as a result of Digcom exercising its right with
the consent of the Panel (where necessary) and subject to the terms
and conditions of the Co-operation Agreement to implement the
Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer rather than by way of a
Scheme or vice versa;
-- if Digcom announces that it does not intend to proceed with
the Acquisition and no new, revised or replacement Scheme or
Takeover Offer is announced by Digcom in accordance with Rule 2.7
of the Takeover Code at the same time; or
-- in the case of Herald Investment Management Limited only, if
a third party announces a firm intention to make an offer for the
entire issued and to be issued share capital of Smoove at a price
per Smoove Share which is at least 10 per cent. greater than the
Consideration.
Letter of intent
Schroders Investment Management Limited has given to Digcom a
non-binding letter of intent to procure the voting in favour of the
Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution(s) to be proposed at
the General Meeting (or in the event that the Acquisition is
implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to procure the acceptance
of such Takeover Offer) in respect of 5,365,237 Smoove Shares,
representing approximately 9.4 per cent. of Smoove's total issued
share capital as at the close of business on the Last Practicable
Date.
APPIX 4
DEFINITIONS
"Acquisition" the acquisition of the entire issued
and to be issued share capital of Smoove
by Digcom to be implemented by way of
the Scheme or, should Digcom so elect
(with the consent of the Panel and subject
to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement)
by way of the Takeover Offer, and, where
the context admits, any subsequent revision,
variation, extension or renewal thereof
"AIM" the market of that name operated by
the London Stock Exchange
"AIM Rules" the Rules and Guidance notes for companies
listed on AIM issued by the London Stock
Exchange from time to time
"ALL" Amity Law Limited, a private limited
company incorporated in England and
Wales with registered number 5490029
and whose registered office is at The
Loweswater Suite, Second Floor Paragon
House, Paragon Business Park, Chorley
New Road, Horwich, Bolton, Lancashire
BL6 6HG
"ASX" Australian Securities Exchange
"Articles" the articles of association of Smoove
from time to time
"Business Day" a day (other than a Saturday, Sunday,
public or bank holiday) on which banks
are generally open for business in London,
England
"Cavendish" Cavendish Securities plc
"CLC" The Council for Licensed Conveyancers
"Closing Price" the closing middle market quotation
for a Smoove Share on the day to which
such price relates, derived from the
AIM appendix to the Daily Official List
of the London Stock Exchange
"CMA" the Competition and Markets Authority
of the United Kingdom
"Combined Group" PEXA Group, including the Smoove Group,
following the Acquisition becoming Effective
"Companies Act" the Companies Act 2006, as amended from
time to time
"Completion" completion of the Acquisition
"Conditions" the conditions to which the Acquisition
is subject, as set out in Appendix 1
to this announcement and to be set out
in the Scheme Document
"Confidentiality Agreement" the confidentiality agreement entered
into between PEXA and Smoove in relation
to the Acquisition dated 9 August 2023,
a summary of which is set out in paragraph
13 of this announcement
"Consideration" the cash consideration of 54 pence per
Smoove Share
"Co-operation Agreement" the co-operation agreement entered into
between Digcom and Smoove dated 4 October
2023, a summary of which is set out
in paragraph 13 of this announcement
"Court" the High Court of Justice in England
and Wales
"Court Hearing" the hearing of the Court to sanction
the Scheme under section 899 of the
Companies Act
"Court Meeting" the meeting of Scheme Shareholders 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) and any adjournment thereof
"Court Order" the order of the Court sanctioning the
Scheme under section 899 of the Companies
Act
"CREST" the relevant system (as defined in the
Uncertificated Securities Regulations
2001 (SI 2001/3755) in respect of which
Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited is the
Operator (as defined in the Regulations))
"Dealing Disclosure" an announcement pursuant to Rule 8 of
the Takeover Code containing details
of dealings in interests in relevant
securities of a party to an offer
"Digcom" Digcom UK Holdings Limited, a private
limited company incorporated in England
and Wales with registered number 12829486
and whose registered office is at 85
Great Portland Street, First Floor,
London W1W 7LT
"Disclosed" (a) disclosed by, or on behalf of, Smoove
in Smoove's annual report and financial
statements for the year ended 31 March
2023;
(b) fairly disclosed prior to the date
of this announcement by, or on behalf
of, Smoove to Digcom or PEXA (or any
of their respective officers , employees,
agents or advisers in their capacity
as such), including (without limitation)
via the virtual data room operated on
behalf of Smoove in respect of the Acquisition
or via email;
(c) as otherwise publicly announced
by Smoove prior to the date of this
announcement (by delivery of an announcement
to a Regulatory Information Service);
or
(d) disclosed in this announcement
"Effective" either:
(a) if the Acquisition is implemented
by way of Scheme, the Scheme having
become effective pursuant to its terms;
or
(b) if the Acquisition is implemented
by way of Takeover Offer, the Takeover
Offer having been declared or having
become unconditional in accordance with
the requirements of the Takeover Code
"Effective Date" the date on which the Acquisition becomes
Effective in accordance with its terms
"ELNO" Electronic Lodgement Network Operator
"Enterprise Value" the enterprise value of the Acquisition
of Smoove calculated in accordance with
paragraph 5 of Appendix 2
"Excluded Shares" any Smoove Shares:
(a) registered in the name of, or beneficially
owned by:
(i) PEXA or any member of the PEXA Group;
(ii) any nominee of any of the foregoing;
or
(b) held by Smoove in treasury as at
the Scheme Record Time
"FCA" the Financial Conduct Authority
"Forms of Proxy" the forms of proxy for use in connection
with each of the Court Meeting and the
General Meeting, which shall accompany
the Scheme Document
"FSMA" the Financial Markets and Services Act
2000, as amended from time to time
"General Meeting" the general meeting of Smoove Shareholders
to be convened to consider and, if thought
fit, approve the Resolution(s) (with
or without amendment) including any
adjournment, postponement or reconvening
thereof
"group undertaking" has the meaning given in section 1161
of the Companies Act
"JOA" joint ownership agreement entered into
in January 2023
"Last Practicable Date" 3 October 2023
"London Stock Exchange" London Stock Exchange plc
"Long Stop Date" 30 April 2024, or such later date as
may be agreed between Digcom and Smoove
(with the Panel's consent and as the
Court may approve, if such approval
is required)
"LSA" Legal Services Act 2007 (as amended
from time to time)
"Market Abuse Regulation" Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, as it forms
part of domestic law of the United Kingdom
by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal)
Act 2018, as amended from time to time
"Meetings" the Court Meeting and the General Meeting
"MLRs" The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing
and Transfer of Funds (Information on
the Payer) Regulations 2017 (as amended
from time to time)
"Numis" Numis Securities Limited
"Offer Document" should the Acquisition be implemented
by means of the Takeover Offer, the
document to be sent to Smoove Shareholders
which will contain, amongst other things
alia, the terms and conditions of the
Takeover Offer
"Offer Period" the offer period (as defined in the
Takeover Code) relating to Smoove which
commenced on 24 April 2023
"Opening Position Disclosure" has the meaning given in Rule 8 of the
Takeover Code
"Optima Legal" Optima Legal Services Limited , a private
limited company incorporated in England
and Wales with registered number 05781608
and whose registered office is at Hepworth
House, Claypit Lane, Leeds LS2 8AE
"Overseas Shareholders" Scheme Shareholders who are resident
in, ordinarily resident in, or citizens
of, jurisdictions outside the United
Kingdom
"Panel" the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
"PEXA" PEXA Group Limited an Australian public
company limited by shares with company
number 629193764 whose registered office
is Docklands, Victoria 3008 Australia
"PEXA Board" the board of directors of PEXA
"PEXA Group" PEXA and its group undertakings from
time to time
" Registrar of Companies" the registrar of companies in England
and Wales
"Resolution(s)" the resolution(s) to be proposed at
the General Meeting necessary to implement
the Scheme, including, amongst other
things, to make certain amendments to
the Articles and to approve the re-registration
of Smoove as a private limited company
in accordance with the Companies Act
"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 Smoove Shareholders in that jurisdiction
"Scheme" the proposed scheme of arrangement under
Part 26 of the Companies Act between
Smoove and Smoove Shareholders to implement
the Acquisition
"Scheme Document" the document to be dispatched to Smoove
Shareholders and other persons with
information rights setting out, amongst
other things, the details of the Acquisition,
the full terms and conditions of the
Scheme and containing notices convening
the Meetings
"Scheme Record Time" the time and date specified as such
in the Scheme Document, expected to
be 6.00 p.m. (London time) on the Business
Day immediately after the date of the
Court Hearing, or such later time as
Digcom and Smoove may agree
"Scheme Shareholder" a holder of Scheme Shares
"Scheme Shares" all Smoove Shares:
(a) in issue at the date of the Scheme
Document;
(b) (if any) issued after the date of
the Scheme Document and prior to the
Voting Record Time; and
(c) (if any) issued at or after the
Voting Record Time and prior to the
Scheme Record Time in respect of which
the original or any subsequent holder
thereof is bound by the Scheme, or shall
by such time have agreed in writing
to be bound by the Scheme,
but excluding any Excluded Shares
"Smoove" Smoove plc, a public limited company
incorporated in England and Wales with
registered number 07466574 and whose
registered office is at Masters Court,
Church Road, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9
3FA
"Smoove Board" the board of directors of Smoove
"Smoove Directors" the directors of Smoove as at the date
of this announcement
"Smoove Group" Smoove and its group undertakings from
time to time
"Smoove Shareholders" the holders of Smoove Shares
"Smoove Shares" the ordinary shares of 0.4 pence each
in the capital of Smoove
"Smoove Share Plans" the ULS Technology plc Enterprise Management
Incentive and Non-Tax Advantaged Share
Option Plan 2014, the Smoove Share Option
Scheme 2023, the joint ownership agreement
entered into in January 2023 and the
ULS Technology PLC Share Incentive Plan
dated 15 September 2020
"subsidiary" has the meaning given in section 1159
of the Companies Act
"subsidiary undertaking" has the meaning given in section 1162
of the Companies Act
"Takeover Code" the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers
"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 offer to be made by or on behalf
of Digcom to acquire the entire issued
and to be issued share capital of Smoove
and, where the context admits, any subsequent
revision, variation, extension or renewal
of such offer
"Torrens title jurisdiction" a jurisdiction that uses a centralised
land register that represents an authoritative
register of real property interests
"UK" or "United Kingdom" the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
"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" 6.30 p.m. (London time) on the day two
days prior to the Court Meeting or any
adjournment thereof (as the case may
be)
"Wider PEXA Group" PEXA and its subsidiary undertakings,
associated undertakings and any other
undertaking in which PEXA and/or such
undertakings (aggregating their interests)
have a significant interest
"Wider Smoove Group" Smoove and its subsidiary undertakings,
associated undertakings and any other
undertaking in which Smoove and/or such
undertakings (aggregating their interests)
have a significant interest
For the purpose of this announcement "subsidiary undertaking"
and "undertaking" have the meanings given by the Companies Act,
"associated undertaking" has the meaning given by paragraph 19 of
Schedule 6 to the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, other than paragraph
19(1)(b) of Schedule 6 to those regulations which shall be excluded
for this purpose, and "significant interest" means a direct or
indirect interest in 20 per cent. or more of the total voting
rights conferred by the equity share capital (as defined in section
548 of the Companies Act).
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END
SOANKQBKPBDDBKK
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 04, 2023 11:35 ET (15:35 GMT)
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