Become a Member
  • Track your favourite stocks
  • Create & monitor portfolios
  • Daily portfolio value
Sign Up
Quickpicks
Add shares to your
quickpicks to
display them here!

Offer Updates

19th Jun 2025 07:00

RNS Number : 4831N
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co LP
19 June 2025
 

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

19 June 2025

 

RECOMMENDED BEST AND FINAL* INCREASED CASH OFFER

for

Assura plc

by

Sana Bidco Limiteda newly formed company indirectly wholly owned by (i) funds advised by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. ("KKR") and its affiliates and (ii) funds advised by Stonepeak Partners LP ("Stonepeak") and its affiliates

UPDATE ON REGULATORY CONDITIONS AND BIDCO'S FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

On 11 June 2025, the boards of directors of Assura plc ("Assura") and Sana Bidco Limited ("Bidco") respectively announced that they had reached agreement on the terms and conditions of a recommended best and final* increased cash offer by Bidco for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Assura (the "Acquisition" or "Consortium Offer"). The Acquisition is intended to be effected by way of a recommended takeover offer (as defined in section 974 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Companies Act")) (the "Takeover Offer").

Terms defined in Bidco's announcement on 11 June 2025 (the "Switch to Offer Announcement") have the same meaning when used in this announcement. Save where set out in the Switch to Offer Announcement, the terms and conditions of the Acquisition remain unchanged from those set out in the Scheme Document (subject to appropriate amendments to reflect the change in structure by which the Acquisition is to be implemented, being by the Takeover Offer rather than the Scheme). The amended conditions will be set out in full in the offer document in relation to the Takeover Offer (the "Offer Document").

It is anticipated that Bidco will publish and post the Offer Document (together with a form of acceptance) (where applicable) to Assura Shareholders (other than Assura Shareholders located in any Restricted Jurisdictions, in each case, where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction) within 28 days of the date of the Switch to Offer Announcement, or such later date as the Panel may determine in accordance with the Takeover Code.

Update on Regulatory Conditions

Bidco is pleased to announce that the Acquisition has now received merger control clearance from the European Commission. Accordingly, condition 3(b) as set out in Part A of Part 3 of the Scheme Document has been satisfied.

Of the other required antitrust and regulatory approvals, non-objections or expiry of applicable waiting periods set out in conditions 3(a) to 3(f) of Part A of Part 3 of the Scheme Document (the "Regulatory Conditions"), the only Regulatory Condition that remains outstanding at the date of this announcement is in respect of foreign direct investment in Ireland. Bidco will provide an update once all of the Regulatory Conditions have been satisfied or waived, as applicable.

The Consortium Offer remains subject to the satisfaction (or, if applicable, waiver) of the remaining conditions.

Updates on Bidco's Financing Arrangements

Bidco announces that, on 16 June 2025, Bidco entered into an ISDA-based loan agreement documented by way of a master confirmation (the "ISDA Loan Agreement") between Bidco and Jefferies International Limited ("JIL"), under which JIL agreed to provide funding to Bidco up to the maximum principal amount of £125,000,000. In conjunction with the ISDA Loan Agreement, certain funds and other entities respectively affiliated with KKR and Stonepeak entered into a fund guarantee with JIL on 13 June 2025 (as may be amended from time to time, the "Fund Guarantee"). Copies of the ISDA Loan Agreement and the Fund Guarantee are available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons in, or resident in, Restricted Jurisdictions, on Bidco's website at https://www.documentdisplay.com/offer-for-assura/ and on Assura's website at www.assuraplc.com/investor-relations/shareholder-information/offer-from-kkr-and-stonepeak.

* The financial terms of the Best and Final* Increased Cash Offer are final and will not be increased, except that Bidco reserves the right to increase the financial terms of its offer where the Panel otherwise provides its consent (which will only be provided in wholly exceptional circumstances).

Enquiries:

Jefferies International Limited (Financial Adviser to Bidco)

Philip Noblet

Dai Clement

Thomas Forrow

Tom Yeadon

Thomas Bective

Andrew Morris

+44 (0) 20 7029 8000

 

FGS Global (PR Adviser to Bidco)

Faeth Birch

Alastair Elwen

Oli Sherwood

+44 (0) 20 7251 3801

[email protected]

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is acting as legal adviser to Bidco, KKR and Stonepeak in connection with the Acquisition.

Important Notices

Jefferies, which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Bidco, KKR and Stonepeak and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than KKR or Stonepeak for providing the protections afforded to clients of Jefferies nor for providing advice in relation to any matter referred to in this announcement. Neither Jefferies nor any of its affiliates (nor their respective directors, officers, employees or agents) 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 Jefferies in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Further information

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer or inducement to sell or an invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise. The Acquisition shall be made solely by means of the Offer Document which shall contain the full terms and Conditions of the Acquisition.

This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law, the Listing Rules, the JSE Listings Requirements and the Takeover Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside of England.

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus, prospectus equivalent document or an exempted document for purposes of English law, the Listing Rules, the JSE Listings Requirements or any other law in any other jurisdiction.

Overseas Shareholders

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into certain jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom or South Africa may be restricted by law. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or South Africa or who are subject to other jurisdictions should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements. Any failure to comply with any such requirements 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 requirements by any person.

Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition shall not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction, and persons receiving this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such jurisdictions where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction.

The availability of the Acquisition to Assura Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom or South Africa may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are resident. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or South Africa should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements, as any failure to comply with such requirements 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.

The Acquisition shall be subject to the applicable requirements of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Listing Rules, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Finsurv, the JSE Listings Requirements and the Registrar of Companies. Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be contained in the Offer Document.

The information contained in this announcement constitutes factual information as contemplated in section 1(3)(a) of the FAIS Act and should not be construed as express or implied advice (as that term is used in the FAIS Act and/or the South African Financial Markets Act, No 19 of 2012, as amended) that any particular transaction in respect of the Acquisition is appropriate to the particular investment objectives, financial situations or needs of a shareholder, and nothing in this announcement should be construed as constituting the canvassing for, or marketing or advertising of, financial services in South Africa. Bidco is not a financial services provider licensed as such under the FAIS Act.

Nothing in this announcement should be viewed, or construed, as "advice", as that term is used in the South African Financial Markets Act, No 19 of 2012, as amended.

Additional information for US Investors

The Takeover Offer relates to the shares of an English company and is being made by means of a contractual takeover offer under the Takeover Code and under English law. The Takeover Offer is being made in the United States pursuant to all applicable laws and regulations, including, to the extent applicable, to holders of Assura Shares resident in the United States ("US Assura Shareholders") pursuant to Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the US Exchange Act, and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the Takeover Code. Accordingly, the Takeover Offer is subject to the disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments that are different from those applicable under US domestic tender offer procedures and law. The Takeover Offer is being made in the United States by Bidco and no one else. The Takeover Offer will be made to US Assura Shareholders on the same terms and conditions as those made to all other Assura Shareholders to whom an offer is made. Any information documents, including the Offer Document, will be disseminated to US Assura Shareholders on a basis comparable to the method that such documents are provided to the other Assura Shareholders to whom an offer is made.

The financial information included in this announcement and the Offer Document has been or will have been prepared in accordance with IFRS and thus 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 US.

The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US Assura Shareholder as consideration for the transfer of its Assura Shares pursuant to the Takeover Offer will likely be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes and under applicable United States state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Assura Shareholders are urged to consult their independent professional advisers immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them.

It may be difficult for US Assura Shareholders to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the US federal securities laws, since Bidco and Assura are located in countries other than the US, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the US. US Assura Shareholders may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's jurisdiction and judgement.

In accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, Bidco, certain affiliated companies and their nominees or brokers (acting as agents) may make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares in Assura outside of the US, other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date on which the Acquisition becomes Effective, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. Also, in accordance with Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, each of Jefferies, Barclays and Stifel will continue to act as a connected exempt principal trader in Assura 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 Exchange Act. Any such purchases by Bidco or its affiliates will not be made at prices higher than the price of the Acquisition provided in this announcement unless the price of the Acquisition is increased accordingly. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase will be disclosed as required in the United Kingdom, will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com. To the extent that such information is required to be publicly disclosed in the United Kingdom in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, this information will, as applicable, also be publicly disclosed in the United States.

Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission, nor any US state securities commission or any securities commission of other jurisdictions, has approved or disapproved the Acquisition, passed judgement upon the fairness or the merits of the Acquisition or passed judgement upon the adequacy or accuracy of this announcement. Any representation to the contrary may be a criminal offence in the United States.

Forward looking statements

This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by KKR, Stonepeak, or Bidco contain statements about Bidco, Assura, any member of the Wider Bidco Group or any member of the Wider Assura Group that are or may be deemed to be forward looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement may be forward looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets", "plans", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "shall", "should", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "forecast" or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements may include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of Bidco's, KKR's, Stonepeak's, Assura's, any member of the Wider Bidco Group's or any member of the Wider Assura Group's operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of global economic conditions and government regulation on Bidco's, KKR's, Stonepeak's, Assura's, any member of the Wider Bidco Group's or any member of the Wider Assura Group's business.

Such forward looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of Bidco about future events and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward looking statements, including: increased competition, the loss of or damage to one or more key customer relationships, changes to customer ordering patterns, delays in obtaining customer approvals for engineering or price level changes, the failure of one or more key suppliers, the outcome of business or industry restructuring, the outcome of any litigation, changes in economic conditions, currency fluctuations, changes in interest and tax rates, changes in raw material or energy market prices, changes in laws, regulations or regulatory policies, developments in legal or public policy doctrines, technological developments, the failure to retain key management, or the timing and success of future acquisition opportunities or major investment projects. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors. None of Bidco, KKR, Stonepeak, the Wider Bidco Group, 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 this announcement will actually occur. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place any reliance on such forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All subsequent oral or written forward looking statements attributable to any member of the Wider Bidco Group, or any of their associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above.

Bidco, KKR, Stonepeak, the Wider Bidco Group expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward looking or other statements contained herein, except as required by applicable law or by the rules of any competent regulatory authority, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 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. If you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure, you should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

Information relating to Assura Shareholders

Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain information provided by Assura Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Assura may be provided to Bidco, KKR and Stonepeak during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover Code.

Publication on a website

A copy of this announcement and the documents required to be published by Rule 26 of the Takeover Code shall be made available, free of charge, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions on Assura's website at www.assuraplc.com/investor-relations/shareholder-information/offer-from-kkr-and-stonepeak  and on Bidco's website at https://www.documentdisplay.com/offer-for-assura/ by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the date of this announcement. For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of the websites referred to in this announcement are not incorporated into and do not form part of this announcement.

Rounding

Certain figures included in this announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.

General

If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are resident in the United Kingdom or financial services provider duly authorised under the FAIS Act if you are resident in South Africa or, if not, from another appropriate authorised independent financial adviser.

 

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.rns.com.RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
 
END
 
 
OUPUWUURVVUNAUR

Related Shares:

Assura
FTSE 100 Latest
Value8,774.65
Change-17.15