REG - CAB Payments Hldgs Helios Invest.Prtnrs - RESPONSE TO POSSIBLE OFFER ANNOUNCEMENT

Cab Payments HoldingsAnnouncement

13/02/2026 10:15

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RNS Number : 9530S  CAB Payments Holdings PLC  13 February 2026

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 OF THAT JURISDICTION

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FALLING UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS
AND MERGERS (THE 'CODE') AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM
INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CODE. THERE CAN BE NO
CERTAINTY THAT ANY OFFER WILL BE MADE, AND, SAVE AS SET OUT IN THE HELIOS
CONSORTIUM ANNOUNCEMENT DATED 12 FEBRUARY 2026, NO CERTAINTY AS TO THE TERMS
ON WHICH ANY OFFER MIGHT BE MADE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

13 February 2026

 

CAB PAYMENTS HOLDINGS PLC

('CAB PAYMENTS' OR THE 'COMPANY' OR THE 'GROUP')

RESPONSE TO POSSIBLE OFFER ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HELIOS CONSORTIUM

 

The Board of CAB Payments excluding Henry Obi and Nitin Kaul (the 'Independent
Board'), notes the announcement by the Helios Consortium (as defined below) on
12 February regarding the possible offer to acquire the 54.89% of the Company
not already owned by Helios Fund III, which it first announced on 2 February
(the 'Possible Offer'). The Possible Offer is at a price of USD 1.15 (GBP
0.84) 1  (#_ftn1) per CAB Payments share in cash (the 'Cash Offer') and an
unlisted share alternative.

The Cash Offer, which has not been improved since the Helios Consortium's
initial announcement on 2 February, continues to represent a premium of less
than 17% based on the closing share price of GBP 0.72 on 30 January, the last
business day before the Possible Offer was announced.

As announced by the Independent Board on 2 February, the Independent Board
carefully evaluated the Possible Offer with its advisers and concluded
unanimously that it was highly opportunistic and fundamentally undervalued CAB
Payments and its future prospects, and is not in the best interests of the
Company's shareholders. Since 2 February, the Independent Board has engaged
extensively with the Company's other shareholders. Following this engagement
the Independent Board continues to believe that the Possible Offer
fundamentally undervalues CAB Payments and its future prospects, and is not in
the best interests of the Company's shareholders.

Shareholders are reminded that no firm offer has been made, and that there can
be no certainty that any firm offer will be made, and, save as set out in the
Helios Consortium announcement dated 12 February 2026, no certainty as to the
terms on which any offer might be made. Accordingly, shareholders are advised
to take no action at this time.

The Independent Board notes that the Possible Offer still fails to reflect the
Group's trading update on 15 January 2026 which announced an expected Total
Income of £119 million for 2025; 12% growth year on year and 30% growth half
on half.

Under the new leadership team, beginning with the appointment of Neeraj Kapur
as CEO in mid-2024 and strengthened by the appointment of James Hopkinson as
CFO in early 2025, the Group has:

·      Opened licensed offices in New York in December 2025, shortly
followed by Abu Dhabi in January 2026;

·      Increased the Group's client numbers, introduced new deposit and
derivative products and enhanced liquidity in USD and EUR through new clearing
partnerships; and

·      Strengthened the Group's infrastructure through access to ACH
rails, giving coverage across billions of end points around the world
including mobile wallets.

The Independent Board believes the great strength of the Group remains the
deep relationships with regulators and central banks in hard-to-reach markets,
which positions the Company well to play a key part in the future of digital
currencies including stable coins.

The Company's share price is only just beginning to reflect these strategic
and financial achievements, with a 53% improvement over the past 6 months to
30 January 2026, the last business day before the Possible Offer was
announced.

Following the announcement of the Company's full-year results for 2025 on 5
March 2026, shareholders will be able to assess the Company's performance and
strategic progress based on the information disclosed therein. The Independent
Board remains confident in the Company's strategy and its ability to deliver
long-term value and will continue to engage with its shareholders.

In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, the Helios Consortium must, by not
later than 5.00 pm (London time) on 2 March 2026, either announce a firm
intention to make an offer for CAB Payments under Rule 2.7 of the Code or
announce that they do not intend to make an offer for CAB Payments, in which
case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the
Code applies. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the
Takeover Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.

The 'Helios Consortium' comprises Helios Investors V, L.P., Helios Investors V
(Mauritius) L.P. and Helios Fairfax Partners Corporation, with the support of
Helios Investors III, L.P. and Helios Investors III (A), L.P. ('Helios Fund
III').

This announcement has been made without the consent of the Helios Consortium.

Enquiries:

 CAB Payments Holdings PLC                                        ir@cabpayments.com

 James Hopkinson, Group CFO

 Gaurav Patel, Head of Investor Relations
 Barclays Bank PLC, acting through its Investment Bank            +44 (0) 20 7623 2323

 (Financial Adviser and Joint Corporate Broker)

 James Woolf

 Aamir Khan

 Anusuya Nayar

 Michael Hart
 Investec Bank plc                                                +44 (0) 20 7597 5970

 (Joint Corporate Broker)

 Chris Baird

 Kamalini Hull

 Luke Spells
 Shore Capital                                                    +44 (0) 20 7408 4090

 (Joint Corporate Broker)

 Toby Gibbs

 Harry Davies-Ball

 Malachy McEntyre

 Oliver Jackson
 FTI Consulting LLP (PR Adviser)                                  +44 (0) 203 727 1000

 Edward Bridges / Katherine Bell

Important notices

This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of
any offer, invitation or solicitation of any 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, whether pursuant to
this announcement or otherwise.

The release, distribution or publication of this announcement in jurisdictions
outside the United Kingdom may be restricted by laws of the relevant
jurisdictions and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement
comes should inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. Any
failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the
securities law of any such jurisdiction.

Disclaimer

Barclays Bank PLC, acting through its Investment Bank ("Barclays"), which is
authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated in the United
Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation
Authority, is acting exclusively for CAB Payments and no one else in
connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be
responsible to anyone other than CAB Payments for providing the protections
afforded to clients of Barclays nor for providing advice in relation to any
matter referred to in this announcement.

Investec Bank plc ("Investec"), which is authorised in the United Kingdom by
the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated in the United Kingdom by the
Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting
exclusively for CAB Payments and no one else in connection with the matters
set out, and referred to, in this announcement and none of Investec Bank plc
nor any of its affiliates, branches or subsidiaries will be responsible to
anyone other than CAB Payments for providing the protections afforded to
clients of Investec, nor for providing advice in relation to any matter
referred to in this announcement. Neither Investec nor any of its
subsidiaries, branches or affiliates or any of its and their respective
directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents owes or accepts any
duty, liability or shall be held responsible in any way whatsoever for any
direct, indirect or consequential losses (whether in contract, in tort, under
statute or otherwise) arising from the use of this announcement or the
contents of this announcement or reliance on the information contained
herein, except to the extent this would be prohibited by law or regulation.

Shore Capital and Corporate Limited and Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited
(together or separately as the case may be, "Shore Capital"), which is
authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting for CAB
Payments and no one else in connection with  the matters set out in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than CAB Payments for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Shore Capital nor for
providing advice in relation to any matter referred to in this announcement.
Neither Shore Capital 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 Shore Capital in connection with the matters referred to in this
announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

In accordance with the Code, normal United Kingdom market practice and Rule
14e-5(b) of the Exchange Act, Barclays and its affiliates will continue to act
as exempt principal trader in CAB Payments securities on the London Stock
Exchange. These purchases and activities by exempt principal traders which are
required to be made public in the United Kingdom pursuant to the Code will be
reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the
London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com. This information
will also be publicly disclosed in the United States to the extent that such
information is made public in the United Kingdom.

 

Publication on a website

 

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be
available at www.CAB Payments.com, by no later than 12 noon (London time) on
the business day following the date of this announcement. The content of the
website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not
form part of this announcement.

 

Disclosure requirements of the Code

 

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who at the relevant time is
interested (directly or indirectly) in 1% or more of any class of relevant
securities of the offeree company or any securities exchange offeror must make
a public Opening Position Disclosure (i) after the commencement of an offer
period; and (ii) if later, after the announcement that first identifies any
securities exchange offeror. 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) of the Code applies must be made by no later than
3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of
the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time)
on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities
exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the
relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror
prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead
make a Dealing Disclosure.

 

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is (or as a result of any
dealing becomes) interested (directly or indirectly) in 1% or more of any
class of relevant securities of the offeree company or any securities exchange
offeror must make a public Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any
relevant securities of the offeree company or any securities exchange offeror
during an offer period. 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(s), 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 pm (London time) on the business day following the
date of the relevant dealing.

 

Where two or more persons act pursuant to an agreement or understanding,
whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant
securities, they will normally be deemed to be a single person for the purpose
of this 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
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.

 

 

 

 1  (#_ftnref1) Based on USD / GBP exchange rate of 0.7289 as of 30 January
2026.

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