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Posting of Scheme Document

20th Nov 2015 18:00

RNS Number : 5323G
Opsec Security Group PLC
20 November 2015
 



Not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction or any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations of such jurisdiction.

 

20 November 2015

Recommended Cash acquisition

of

OpSec Security Group plc

by

Orca Bidco Limited

(an investment vehicle ultimately owned by funds managed and advised by

Investcorp Technology Partners III)

 

Posting of Scheme Document

On 28 October 2015, it was announced that the board of Orca Bidco Limited ("Orca") and the Independent Directors of OpSec Security Group plc ("OpSec") had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer for the entire issued share capital of OpSec not already owned or contracted to be acquired by Orca (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is to be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme").

Under the terms of the Scheme, Scheme Shareholders will receive 55 pence in cash (the "Cash Consideration") for each Scheme Share, valuing the entire issued share capital of OpSec at approximately £66.7 million.

OpSec announces that tomorrow it will post to OpSec Shareholders a scheme document in relation to the Acquisition, setting out amongst other things the full terms and conditions of the Scheme, an explanatory statement, an expected timetable of principal events and details of the actions to be taken by OpSec Shareholders (the "Scheme Document").

Timetable

As further detailed in the Scheme Document, to become effective, the Scheme will require the approval of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting, the passing of the Special Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting and the passing of the Ordinary Resolutions to be proposed at the Independent Shareholders Meeting. Notices convening the Court Meeting, General Meeting and Independent Shareholders Meeting, respectively for 11.00 a.m. on 14 December 2015, 11.15 a.m. on 14 December 2015 (or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting is concluded or adjourned) and 11:30 a.m. on 14 December 2015 (or as soon thereafter as the General Meeting is concluded or adjourned) to be held at the offices of Bond Dickinson LLP, 4 More London Riverside, London, SE1 2AU, are set out in the Scheme Document, together with the relevant Forms of Proxy for such meetings. The expected timetable of principal events is attached as an appendix to this announcement. If any of the key dates set out in the expected timetable change, an announcement will be made through a Regulatory Information Service.

Delisting

Upon the Scheme becoming Effective an application will be made for cancellation of the admission to trading of the OpSec Shares on AIM. It is expected that trading in OpSec Shares on AIM will be suspended at 7:30 a.m. on 18 December 2015 and that cancellation of the admission of OpSec Shares on AIM will become effective at 7:00 a.m. on 22 December 2015. Following the AIM cancellation, OpSec Shares will not be quoted on any publicly quoted market in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

 

A copy of this announcement, the Scheme Document and the documents listed in paragraph 13 of part 8 of the Scheme Document will be available on the Company's website at http://www.opsecsecurity.com/company/investor-relations by no later than 12 noon (UK time) on 23 November 2015.

 

All references to time in this announcement are to UK time. Capitalised terms in this announcement (unless otherwise defined) have the same meanings as set out in the Scheme Document.

 

Enquiries:

Orca Bidco Limited

Hazem Ben-Gacem Tel: +44 (0)20 7629 6600

Canaccord Genuity Limited

Colin Christie and Miles Cox Tel: +44 (0)20 7523 8000

OpSec Security Group plc

Michael Angus Tel: +44 (0)191 417 5434 

Shore Capital and Corporate Limited

Stephane Auton / Edward Mansfield / Patrick Castle Tel: +44 (0)207 408 4090

 

Important Notices

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute or form any part of an offer to sell or an invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition, the Management Arrangements or otherwise. The Acquisition and the Management Arrangements are being made solely pursuant to the terms of the Scheme Document, which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition and the Management Arrangements, including details of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition and the Management Arrangements. Any response in relation to the Acquisition and/or the Management Arrangements should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document. OpSec will post tomorrow the Scheme Document to OpSec Shareholders. OpSec and Orca urge OpSec Shareholders to read the Scheme Document as it will contain important information relating to the Acquisition and the Management Arrangements.

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or a prospectus equivalent document.

Canaccord Genuity Limited ("Canaccord Genuity") which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Orca and Orca Holdings and no one else in connection with the Scheme and other matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Orca and Orca Holdings for providing the protections afforded to clients of Canaccord Genuity or for providing advice in relation to the Scheme and other matters described in this announcement.

Shore Capital and Corporate Limited ("Shore Capital") which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority is acting as financial adviser to OpSec and no one else in connection with the Scheme and other matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than OpSec for providing the protections afforded to clients of Shore Capital or for providing advice in relation to the Scheme and other matters described in this announcement.

Overseas Shareholders

The release, publication and distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by the laws of those jurisdictions and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Failure to comply with any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law and the Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom.

Unless otherwise determined by Orca or required by the Code, and permitted by applicable laws and regulations, copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Acquisition and the Management Arrangements are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, 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 them in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. 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 of facilities.

Unless otherwise determined by Orca or required by the Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the cash offer 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 and no person may vote in favour of the offer by any such use, means, instrumentality or form within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. The availability of the Acquisition and the Management Arrangements to OpSec Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which they are resident. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom to vote their Scheme Shares with respect to the Scheme at the Court Meeting or to execute and deliver forms of proxy appointing another to vote at the Court Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which they are located or of which they are citizens. 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, all persons involved in the Acquisition and the Management Arrangements disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such requirements by any person. Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be contained in the Scheme Document.

Notice to US Shareholders

The Acquisition relates to the shares of an English company that is not registered under the Exchange Act and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for and governed under English company law and, in particular, Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006. 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 Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure requirements, rules and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement, which differ from the disclosure requirements of United States proxy solicitation or tender offer rules under the Exchange Act. If, in the future, Orca exercises the right 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 securities laws and regulations, including the applicable Exchange Act tender offer rules.

Financial information included in this announcement and the Scheme Document has been or will be prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the UK 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.

It may be difficult for US holders of OpSec Shares to effect service of process within the United States on Orca, OpSec and/or any of their respective officers and directors or to enforce their rights and any claims arising out of US federal securities laws, since Orca and OpSec are located in a non-US jurisdiction, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of a non-US jurisdiction. US holders of OpSec 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 courts' judgement.

 

 

Each United States holder of OpSec Shares is urged to consult with his independent professional adviser regarding any acceptance of the Acquisition and/or the Management Arrangements including, without limitation, to consider the tax consequences associated with such shareholder's election to participate in the Acquisition and/or the Management Arrangements.

Responsibility Statements

The Orca Director and the investment committee of Investcorp Technology Fund III (comprising each of Hazem Ben-Gacem, Savio Tung, Gilbert Kamieniecky and Anand Radhakrishnan) accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement other than the information relating to OpSec, the OpSec Group, the OpSec Directors, their close relatives and related trusts and companies. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Orca Director and the investment committee of Investcorp Technology Fund III (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this announcement for which they are responsible is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of that information.

The Independent Directors accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement relating to OpSec, the OpSec Group, the OpSec Directors, their close relatives and related trusts and companies and including, for the avoidance of doubt, the recommendation in respect of the Acquisition (but not the Management Arrangements) referred to in this announcement and set out in paragraph 17 of Part 1 of the Scheme Document. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Independent Directors, who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case, the information contained in this announcement for which they are responsible is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of that information.

The OpSec Directors (other than the Independent Directors) accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement relating to OpSec, the OpSec Group, the OpSec Directors, their close relatives and related trusts and companies but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the recommendations of the Independent Directors referred to in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the OpSec Directors (other than the Independent Directors), who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case, the information contained in this announcement for which they are responsible is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of that information.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of OpSec and certain plans and objectives of Orca with respect thereto. These forward‑looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as "anticipate", "expect", "estimate", "target", "intend", "plan", "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 OpSec and/or Orca 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 risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and the factors described in the context of such forward-looking statements in this announcement could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although it is believed 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 undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as at the date of this announcement. Neither OpSec nor Orca 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 several factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are changes in global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax rates and future business combinations and dispositions.

No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share for OpSec for current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share for OpSec.

Dealing and Opening Position Disclosure Requirements

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the 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 paper 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 paper 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 paper offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) of the Code applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (UK time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (UK time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any paper offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a paper offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any paper offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any paper 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 paper offeror, save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8 of the Code. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) of the Code applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (UK 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 paper offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3 of the Code.

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 of the Code). 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 Takeover Panel's website at http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. 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.

Electronic Communications

Addresses, electronic addresses and certain information provided by OpSec Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from OpSec may be provided to Orca during the Offer Period in connection with the Acquisition and/or the Management Arrangements as requested under section 4 of Appendix 4 to the Code to comply with Rule 2.12 of the Code.

Availability of Hard Copies

In accordance with Rule 30.2 of the Code, a person so entitled may request a hard copy of this announcement, free of charge, by contacting the Director of Orca on +44 (0)20 7629 6600 or the Company Secretary of OpSec on +44 (0)191 417 5434. You may also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent to you in relation to the Acquisition and/or the Management Arrangements should be in hard copy form.

Rule 2.10 Disclosure

In accordance with Rule 2.10 of the Code, OpSec confirms that it has 101,212,121 issued ordinary shares of 5 pence each admitted to trading with International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) of GB0000462191. In addition, OpSec has 20,000,000 7.5 per cent redeemable preferred ordinary shares of 5 pence each which are unlisted.

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.

 

 

APPENDIX

 

EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS

 

The following indicative timetable sets out expected dates for the implementation of the Scheme.

Event

Time and/or date

Latest time for lodging Forms of Proxy for the:

Court Meeting (blue form)

11.00 a.m. on 10 December 2015

General Meeting (white form)

11.15 a.m. on 10 December 2015

Independent Shareholders Meeting (pink form)

11.30 a.m. on 10 December 2015

Voting Record Time for the Court Meeting, the General Meeting and the Independent Shareholders Meeting

6.00 p.m. on 10 December 2015

Court Meeting

11.00 a.m. on 14 December 2015

General Meeting

11.15 a.m. on 14 December 2015

Independent Shareholders Meeting

11.30 a.m. on 14 December 2015

The following dates are indicative only and are subject to change

Last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers of, and disablement in CREST of, OpSec Shares

17 December 2015

Scheme Record Time

6.00 p.m. on 17 December 2015

Dealings in OpSec Shares suspended

7:30 a.m. on 18 December 2015

Court Hearing to sanction the Scheme

18 December 2015

Expected Effective Date of the Scheme

21 December 2015

Cancellation of admission to trading of OpSec Shares on AIM

7.00 a.m. on 22 December 2015

Latest date for despatch of cheques or settlement through CREST in respect of the Cash Consideration.

Within 14 days of the Effective Date

Long Stop Date

31 March 2016 or such later date (if any) as Orca and OpSec may agree and (if required) the Panel and the Court may allow

Note:

 These dates and times are indicative only and will depend, among other things, upon the date upon which the Court sanctions the Scheme and the date on which the Conditions set out in Part 4 of this document are satisfied or (if applicable) waived. It will also depend on when the Court Order sanctioning the Scheme is delivered to the Registrar of Companies. OpSec will give notice of the change(s) by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service and posting notice of the change(s) to OpSec Shareholders. All Scheme Shareholders have the right to attend the Court Hearing.

 

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
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