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RNS Number : 3517M Nexxen International Ltd 15 November 2024
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS DEFINED FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 WHICH FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW IN THE UNITED KINGDOM PURSUANT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 ("UK MAR"). UPON PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT THIS INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY IN, OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SAME WOULD BE
A VIOLATION OF THE LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, NOR
ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN, SHALL FORM THE BASIS OF, OR BE RELIED UPON IN
CONNECTION WITH, ANY OFFER OR COMMITMENT WHATSOEVER IN ANY JURISDICTION.
Nexxen Announces Proposed Cancellation of Admission of Ordinary Shares to
Trading on AIM Transition of its Primary Trading Venue to the Nasdaq Global
Market
Proposed Reverse Share Split
Proposed Amendments to Articles of Association Proposed Re-election of
Directors
Proposed Reappointment of Independent External Auditor
Proposed Increase to Share Reserves of the Company's Equity Compensation Plans
Proposed Compensation Package for the Company's Chief Executive Officer and
Executive Director
Proposed Amendment to the Remuneration Policy for Directors and Executives and
Notice of General Meeting to be held on December 20, 2024
November 15, 2024
LONDON, Nexxen International Ltd., AIM:NEXN and Nasdaq:NEXN ("Nexxen" or the
"Company"), a global leader in data-driven video and Connected TV ("CTV")
advertising technology, offering a unified platform that enables advertisers
to optimize campaigns and media companies to maximize inventory yield, today
announces:
- the Company's intention to consolidate all trading of the
Company's securities on one stock exchange - the NASDAQ Global Market in the
United States ("Nasdaq"). Subject to shareholder approval, the process for
implementing this transition (the "Transaction") from a dual listing of the
Company's American Depositary Shares (the "ADSs") on Nasdaq and ordinary
shares of nominal value NIS 0.01 each in the capital of the Company (the
"Shares") on AIM to a sole listing of Shares on Nasdaq broadly involves: (1) a
reverse share split with respect to all outstanding Shares by means of a
2-for-1 reverse share split (the "Reverse Share Split"), after which each two
existing Shares will be represented by one new ordinary share of nominal value
NIS 0.02 each in the capital of the Company (the "New Shares"), and each ADS
will represent one New Share, (2) a mandatory exchange under the Company's ADS
facility as a result of which ADS holders, upon the Company's termination of
the existing ADS facility, will have their ADSs automatically cancelled and
will be credited with the right to receive the underlying New Shares
represented by their ADSs at a rate of one New Share for each ADS cancelled
(the "Mandatory ADS Exchange"), (3) a listing of the New Shares on Nasdaq
instead of the ADSs (as the ADSs will be delisted for trading from Nasdaq),
(4) the appointment of Computershare Trust Company, N.A. to act as the
Company's U.S. transfer agent ("Computershare"),
(5) subject to certain formalities, a repositioning of the New Shares from the
trading system used for trading the Shares on AIM into the trading system used
for trading the New Shares on Nasdaq (the "Market Repositioning"), (6) the
delisting of the Shares from listing and trading on AIM (the "Delisting"), and
(7) the replacement of the current depositary interests (the "DIs") issued by
Link Market Services Trustees Limited with CREST depositary interests (the
"CDIs"). Following the Transaction, the New Shares would be listed on Nasdaq
under ticker symbol "NEXN" and all public trading of securities in the Company
will take place on Nasdaq; and
- the posting of a circular ("Circular") to the Company's
shareholders ("Shareholders") which contains further information on (i) the
Transaction, and (ii) notice of a general meeting to be held at 82 Yigal Alon
Street, Tel Aviv, 6789124, Israel at 12.30 p.m. (Israel time) on December 20,
2024 ("General Meeting") at which shareholder approval will be sought, inter
alia, for the Delisting and Reverse Share Split and the other items presented
to the Shareholders for approval. If the resolutions to approve the Delisting
("Delisting Resolution") and Reverse Share Split (the "Reverse Share Split
Resolution") are approved at the General Meeting, the Transaction is expected
to take effect on February 14, 2025 and the last day of trading of Shares on
AIM will be February 14, 2025. The Board reserves the right to adjust the
timeline as it deems necessary and may decide in its sole discretion not to
undertake the Transaction at all.
The Proposed AIM Delisting and the General Meeting
1. Highlights
• The board of directors of the Company (the "Board" and the
"Directors") believes that the Transaction should enhance the liquidity of
trading in the Company's securities as all such trading will be concentrated
in a single venue.
• The Company will reduce its cost base by eliminating the need to
comply with rules and regulations in multiple jurisdictions, and eliminating
the costs related to the administration of the ADS program and DI program.
The Company will post today the Circular to Shareholders which will set out
further information regarding the Transaction, as well as containing the
notice of General Meeting. Copies will also be available on Nexxen's website
at https://investors.nexxen.com/.
2. Background to the Transaction
The Company was incorporated in Israel on 20 March 2007 and its Shares have
been admitted to trading on AIM since 28 May 2014, and its ADSs, each
representing two DIs, have been admitted to trading on the Nasdaq Global
Market since 18 June 2021.
As at November 13, 2024, being the last practicable date prior to the date of
the Circular, approximately 7.34 per cent of the Shares were represented by
ADSs tradeable on Nasdaq. Of the balance, approximately 62.83 per cent of the
Company's Shares were held in the computerised settlement system to facilitate
transfer of title to or interest in securities in uncertificated form operated
by Euroclear UK & International Limited ("CREST") in the form of DIs. The
remaining Shares were held by Shareholders in certificated form.
3. Shareholder Approval
The AIM Rules for Companies published by London Stock Exchange PLC (the "AIM
Rules for Companies") require that, unless the London Stock Exchange otherwise
agrees, the cancellation of a company's shares from trading on AIM requires
the consent of not less than 75 per cent of votes cast by its Shareholders
voting in a general meeting. The approval of the Reverse Share Split
Resolution requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
voting power represented and voting on the resolution in person or by proxy.
For the reasons set out below, the Board has determined to seek shareholder
approval for the proposed AIM Delisting.
4. Reasons for the Transaction
Sole Listing: The Board has decided to implement the sole listing for the
following reasons:
• The cost of complying with the AIM Rules for Companies is
duplicative of that for complying with the Nasdaq market rules and the rules
and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the
Company sees advantages in reducing its cost base as it progresses its
commercial strategy.
• Internal financial and legal staff time spent on compliance with
the AIM Rules for Companies is duplicative of that required for compliance
with the Nasdaq market rules and the rules and regulations of the SEC.
• The Board believes the sole listing can better align the
Company's shares with other U.S.-listed AdTech companies; increase the
potential for the Company to attract new
U.S. investors; widen the base of U.S. investors that can hold Nexxen's shares
which have been precluded from ownership due to the Company's ADR structure;
reduce trading volatility which can arise from being dual-listed; reduce the
Company's trading structure complexity which can potentially lead to added
U.S. investor and sell side coverage interest; significantly increase Nexxen's
potential to be included in some of the world's largest indices, potentially
driving capital appreciation; and save significant costs associated with
listing, compliance, regulatory, legal, consulting and other fees across two
markets, the combination of which can potentially increase the Company's
capital appreciation potential.
• A Nasdaq-only listing structure will simplify investor
communications.
• As a result of the Delisting, the Shares will no longer be
traded on AIM. Holders of Shares currently traded on AIM will have, however,
the ability prior to the Delisting and after the Delisting, to reposition the
New Shares resulting from the Reverse Share Split so that they can be traded
on Nasdaq.
Reverse Share Split: The Board has decided to implement the Reverse Share
Split for the following reasons:
• The Company's ADSs, which are trading on Nasdaq, currently
represent outstanding DIs on a 1-for-2 basis, whereby each ADS represents the
right to receive two Shares. As a result of the Reverse Share Split, the ADSs
will represent New Shares of the Company on a 1-for-1 basis. This will
simplify an exchange of the ADSs for New Shares upon termination of the ADS
facility and a Market Repositioning of the New Shares to Nasdaq.
• Following the Reverse Share Split, the Company's Shareholders
will still own the same proportion of the capital of the Company as
immediately prior to the Reverse Share Split, subject to any fractions of New
Shares. As set out in the Frequently Asked Questions section accompanying the
Circular, a process will be put in place so that any fractional interest
resulting from such Reverse Share Split would entitle the holder of such
fractional interest to a cash payment in lieu thereof.
Mandatory ADS Exchange: The Board has decided to implement the Mandatory ADS
Exchange for the following reasons:
• As described above, the main purpose of the Transaction is to
transition to a sole listing of New Shares on Nasdaq. As such, the Mandatory
ADS Exchange is necessary to complete this process.
• Both the Company and the ADS holders incur annual,
transaction-specific and other fees under the ADS facility. By implementing
the Mandatory ADS Exchange, which will result in ADS holders receiving New
Shares in exchange for their ADSs, these fees will no longer apply as the ADS
facility will be terminated.
5. Effect of the Transaction on Shareholders
Effects of the Reverse Share Split
• As a result of the Reverse Share Split, all outstanding Shares
will be consolidated at the ratio of one New Share for two existing Shares,
and a process will be put in place so that any fractional interests resulting
from such share consolidation entitle the holder of such fractional interest
to a cash payment in lieu thereof.
• The Reverse Share Split will not affect the proportionate
ownership of Shareholders, subject to the treatment of any fractions of New
Shares not being issued but is necessary to ensure that each ADS represents
one New Share, which will simplify an exchange of the ADSs for Shares upon
termination of the ADS program and a Market Repositioning of the New Shares to
Nasdaq.
• No U.K., U.S. or Israeli income or capital gains tax
consequences are expected to arise as a result of the Reverse Share Split,
save in the circumstances described in the Circular. No stamp duty or SDRT
should be payable as a result of the Reverse Share Split. However, it is
strongly recommended that Shareholders obtain appropriate professional advice
with respect of these and other taxes.
Effects of the Delisting
• Until the close of business in the U.K. on February 14, 2025,
Shareholders can continue to trade Shares on AIM.
• Holders of DIs:
o In order to ensure ease of cross-border movements of shares between
the U.K. and
U.S. markets for Shareholders, the Company has arranged for the current DIs
issued by Link Market Services Trustees Limited (the "DI
Depositary") to be replaced with CDIs representing New Shares held
through the system of The Depository Trust Company, a US-based
corporation that is a central securities depository providing electronic
record-keeping of securities balances. The Company has arranged with the DI
Depositary for the current DI facility to be terminated with effect from the
close of business in the U.K. on February 14, 2025. In anticipation of this
change, share deposits and withdrawals will not be possible in CREST from the
close of business on February 12, 2025. All depositary interests in the DI
facility at the close of business in the U.K. on February 14, 2025 will
automatically be cancelled and replaced in CREST with CDIs representing the
number of New Shares resulting from the Reverse Stock Split. Thereafter,
Shareholders who desire to sell their New Shares on Nasdaq would reposition
their New Shares by sending, or instructing their financial intermediary to
send, a CDI withdrawal instruction to CREST, instructing that the underlying
securities be delivered into their accounts for trading. The CDIs will be
issued in accordance with the Euroclear UK & International Limited deed
poll and holders of DIs should note that Euroclear UK & International
Limited will be the contact for the purposes of any queries in relation to
CDIs.
o The CDIs are expected to be enabled for settlement in CREST during the
trading day on February 18, 2025. There are likely to be delays in settlement
of trades in the Company's New Shares on February 18, 2025.
• Holders of certificated shares:
o As of the Mandatory ADS Exchange, the Company's share registry will be moved
from the current DI Depositary to the Company's U.S. transfer agent,
Computershare. Immediately following the Reverse Stock Split, Shareholders'
holdings of existing New Shares held in certificated form will be recorded
directly on the Company's share register, which will be held in the Direct
Registration System (DRS) and maintained by Computershare. Computershare will
send DRS statements to these holders with their new account information.
• The Company will no longer be subject to the AIM Rules for
Companies or be required to retain the services of an independent nominated
adviser. The Company will also no longer be subject to the QCA Corporate
Governance Code or be required to comply with the continuing obligations set
out in the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the FCA or, provided
the Company's securities remain outside the scope of the regulation, UK MAR.
• The Company will be required to continue to comply with all
regulatory requirements applicable to a foreign private issuer and Nasdaq
listed company, including all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and
the Israeli Companies Law, as a company incorporated under the laws of the
State of Israel.
• As the Company is incorporated under the laws of Israel,
Shareholders are not currently afforded the protections provided by the City
Code on Takeovers and Mergers, and will not be afforded such protections
following the Delisting.
• Shareholders will continue to be notified in writing of the
availability of key documents on the Company's website, including publication
of annual reports and annual general meeting documentation in compliance with
SEC and Nasdaq rules and regulations and the Israeli Companies Law.
• No U.K., U.S. or Israeli income or capital gains tax
consequences are expected to arise as a result of the Delisting. Shareholders
should note that business relief for inheritance tax purposes will not apply
to the New Shares when they are listed on Nasdaq. It is strongly recommended
that Shareholders obtain appropriate professional advice with respect of these
and other taxes.
• Holders of DIs currently trading on AIM should contact their
financial intermediary about possible handling fees associated with
repositioning their New Shares as well as costs associated with holding and
trading New Shares listed on Nasdaq.
• Notwithstanding the Company's decision to proceed with the AIM
Delisting, the Company is highly cognisant that a proportion of its
shareholder base comprises U.K. based investors and therefore the Company has
decided to retain Cavendish as an adviser for the purposes of providing equity
research in order to ensure that U.K. based investors retain access to
research on the Company.
6. Effects of the Transaction on ADS Holders
Effects of the Reverse Share Split and Delisting
• Other than causing each ADS to represent one New Share, the
Reverse Share Split is not expected to have any impact on ADS holders.
• The Delisting is not expected to have any direct impact on ADS
holders, as the ADS facility will be terminated immediately before the
Delisting.
• Following the Reverse Share Split, the Company will proceed with
the Mandatory ADS Exchange pursuant to which holders of ADSs will receive the
underlying New Shares in the context of the Reverse Share Split, which will
have a Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures Number and
will be listed on Nasdaq.
Effects of the Mandatory ADS Exchange
• To facilitate the Mandatory ADS Exchange, Citibank, N.A. (the
"ADS Depositary") shall close the books to the issuance and cancellation of
ADSs at 5.00 p.m. (Eastern time) on February 5, 2025 (the "ADS Books Closure
Date"). Therefore, ADS holders who wish to cancel their ADSs in exchange for
the underlying DIs must do so before the ADS Books Closure Date.
• As a result of the Mandatory ADS Exchange, each of the Company's
outstanding ADSs will be canceled and exchanged for one New Share it
represents as follows:
o ADSs held in brokerage accounts as well as ADSs in book-entry form
on the books of the ADS Depositarywill automatically be exchanged for New
Shares without holders having to take any action.
o If there are any holders of certificated ADSs, Computershare, as
transfer agent for purposes of the Mandatory ADS Exchange, will send such
holders a letter of transmittal calling for surrender of their ADS
certificate(s) in exchange for New Shares.
• The New Shares received in exchange for ADSs will be listed on
Nasdaq and the Nasdaq ADS listing will be terminated.
• The Transaction is not expected to have any tax consequences for
ADS holders residing in the U.S. However, it is strongly recommended that
Shareholders obtain appropriate professional advice with respect of these and
other taxes.
• ADS holders residing in the U.K. may be treated as having made a
disposal of their holding as a result of the Mandatory ADS Exchange having
implemented and all ADS holders outside the U.S. should seek their own tax
advice on any potential tax consequences.
• The Company will cover, on behalf of the ADS holders, the USD
0.05 per ADS cancellation fee due to the ADS Depositary under the terms of the
New York law governed deposit agreement dated 22 June 2021 by and among the
Company, the ADS Depositary and all holders and beneficial owners of ADSs
issued thereunder.
7. Further information in relation to the AIM Delisting
The Board believes that the proposed Transaction is an appropriate next step
for the Company and is in the best interests of Shareholders as a whole. A set
of Frequently Asked Questions is set out in Appendix A to the Circular.
8. Details of the General Meeting and action to be taken in respect of the General Meeting
A notice convening the General Meeting, which is to be held at 82 Yigal Alon
Street, Tel Aviv, 6789124, Israel at 12:30 p.m. (Israel time) on December 20,
2024 is set out in the Circular.
9. Expected timetable for the AIM Delisting
Dispatch of the Circular and the enclosed documents November 15, 2024
Record Date November 20, 2024
Latest date and time for holders of Depositary Interests to submit proxy December 17, 2024 at 10.30 a.m.
instructions through CREST in respect of the General Meeting
Latest date and time for the certificated Shareholders to submit proxy December 18, 2024 at 10.30 a.m.
instructions in respect of the General Meeting
General Meeting December 20, 2024 at 12.30 p.m. (Israel Time)
DI Termination mailing January 13, 2025
30 days' notice of the migration to CDIs January 15, 2025
ADS Books Closure Date to the issuance and cancellation of ADSs February 5, 2025 at 5.00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Last day of dealings in the Shares on AIM February 14, 2025
Cancellation of admission to trading on AIM of the Shares February 17, 2025 at 7.00 a.m.
Record Date for the Reverse Share Split and existing DI ISIN IL0011320343 February 14, 2025 at 6.00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
disabled in CREST
Effective date for the Reverse Share Split February 14, 2025 at 6.01 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Effective date for Termination of the ADS facility and Mandatory ADS Exchange February 14, 2025 at 6.02 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Expected date on which CDIs (on new ISIN) will be enabled in CREST (new ISIN February 18, 2025
to follow)
New Shares begin trading on Nasdaq February 18, 2025
Expected date for dispatch of DRS statements February 21, 2025
Notes
(1) References to time in this announcement are to London time unless
otherwise stated.
(2) Each of the times and dates in the above timetable are subject to
change. If any of the above times and/or dates change, the revised times
and/or dates will be notified to Shareholders by announcement through a
Regulatory Information Service.
(3) All steps after the General Meeting are dependent on the resolutions
being passed at the General Meeting.
(4) Capitalised terms used in this announcement that are not otherwise
defined shall have the meaning given to them in the Circular published by the
Company on November 15, 2024.
Related Party Transaction
The amendments to the compensation package of Mr. Ofer Druker, a director of
the Company, is deemed to be a related party transaction pursuant to Rule 13
of the AIM Rules for Companies. However, the independent Directors of the
Company, who are independent of the transaction, being all the Directors save
for Mr. Druker consider, having consulted with its nominated adviser,
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited ("Cavendish"), that the terms of the
compensation package to Mr. Druker are fair and reasonable insofar as the
Shareholders are concerned.
Cavendish noted that the compensation package to Mr. Druker was being put to
Shareholders' vote in considering the proposal.
Disclaimer
This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy Shares or ADSs, nor shall there be any sale of the Shares or
ADSs in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of
any such jurisdiction.
This announcement does not form part of an offer of transferable securities to
the public in the United Kingdom and no prospectus has been, or is required to
be, submitted to the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") for approval.
Cavendish is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA.
Cavendish is acting as nominated adviser exclusively for the Company and no
one else in connection with the Delisting and will not regard any other person
as its client in relation to the Delisting and will not be responsible to
anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to
clients of Cavendish, nor for providing advice in relation to any matter
referred to herein.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and
Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
including in respect of the implications of the AIM Delisting on the trading
of the Company's equity securities. All statements other than statements of
historical fact contained in this announcement are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements usually relate to future events. Forward-looking
statements are often identified by the words "believe," "expect,"
"anticipate," "plan," "intend," "foresee," "should," "would," "could," "may,"
and similar expressions, including the negative thereof. The absence of these
words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking.
These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current
expectations, beliefs and assumptions concerning future developments and their
potential effect on the Company. While management believes that these
forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no
assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those that it
anticipates.
All of the Company's forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties some of which are significant or beyond its control
and involve assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially
from the Company's historical experience and its present expectations. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including,
among other things, the risk that anticipated trading volume in the Company's
equity securities on Nasdaq may not materialise, as well as those risks and
uncertainties described in the Company's latest Annual Report on Form 20-F for
the year ended 31 December 2023, subsequent reports on Form 6-K and other
documents filed from time to time by the Company with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company wishes to caution investors
not to place undue reliance on any forward- looking statements, which speak
only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.
For further information please contact: Nexxen International Ltd.
Billy Eckert, Vice President of Investor Relations ir@nexxen.com
(mailto:ir@nexxen.com)
Caroline Smith, Vice President of Communications csmith@nexxen.com
(mailto:csmith@nexxen.com)
Vigo Consulting (U.K. Financial PR & Investor Relations)
Jeremy Garcia/Peter Jacob
Tel: +44 20 7390 0230 or nexxen@vigoconsulting.com
(mailto:nexxen@vigoconsulting.com)
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited
Jonny Franklin-Adams/Seamus Fricker/Rory Sale (Corporate Finance) Tim
Redfern/Jamie Anderson (ECM)
Tel: +44 20 7220 0500
About Nexxen International
Nexxen International, the parent company of the Nexxen portfolio of
advertising technology products and platforms, empowers advertisers, agencies,
publishers, and broadcasters around the world to utilize video and Connected
TV in the ways that are most meaningful to them. Comprised of a demand-side
platform (DSP), supply-side platform (SSP), ad server and data management
platform (DMP), Nexxen International, through its Nexxen-branded products and
platforms, delivers a flexible and unified technology stack with advanced and
exclusive data at its core. The Company's robust capabilities span discovery,
planning, activation, measurement, and optimization - available individually
or in combination - all designed to enable partners to reach their goals, no
matter how far-reaching or hyper niche they may be.
Nexxen International is headquartered in Israel and maintains offices in the
United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, and is traded on the London
Stock Exchange (AIM:NEXN) and NASDAQ (NEXN).
For more information, visit https://investors.nexxen.com/.
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