REG - Merrill Lynch Phoenix Group Hldgs Swiss Reinsurance Co - Proposed Secondary Placing in Phoenix Group Hldgs

Phoenix groupAnnouncement

11/01/2022 17:10

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RNS Number : 1238Y  Merrill Lynch International  11 January 2022

NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE
OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH OFFERS OR SALES
WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE
OR FORM AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN,
THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION.

 

PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

 

11 January 2022

 

Proposed Secondary Placing of approximately 66 million ordinary shares in

Phoenix Group Holdings plc ("Phoenix" or the "Company")

 

Merrill Lynch International ("BofA Securities") (the "Sole Bookrunner") has
been appointed by Swiss Re Finance Midco (Jersey) Limited (an entity wholly
owned by Swiss Re Group) (the "Seller") as Sole Global Coordinator and Sole
Bookrunner in relation to a proposed secondary sale of approximately 66
million ordinary shares ("Placing Shares") in the capital of Phoenix to
institutional investors (the "Placing"). The Placing Shares represent
approximately 6.6 per cent of Phoenix's issued share capital.

 

Swiss Re Finance Midco (Jersey) Limited currently owns 66,199,917 ordinary
shares, corresponding to approximately 6.6 per cent of the Company's entire
issued share capital.

 

The price per Placing Share will be determined by way of an accelerated
bookbuilding process. The bookbuilding period will commence today, 11 January
2022, with immediate effect and may close at any time on short notice. The
results of the Placing will be announced as soon as practicable after the
closing of the bookbuilding process.

 

Phoenix is not a party to the Placing and will not receive any proceeds from
the Placing.

 

Enquiries

 

BofA Securities          +44 (0) 20 7628 1000

Jonathan Alpert

Ed Peel

James Palmer

Oliver Elias

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE

 

The information contained in this announcement is for background purposes only
and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed by any
person for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or
its accuracy, fairness or completeness.

 

This announcement is not for publication, release or distribution, directly or
indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States, Australia,
Canada, Japan, The Republic of South Africa or any other jurisdiction in which
offers or sales would be prohibited by applicable law. The publication,
release or distribution of this announcement and the offer and sale of the
Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and persons into
whose possession this document or other information referred to herein comes
should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure
to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities
laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

The Shares are not being offered to the public in any jurisdiction and may not
be offered to the public in any jurisdiction in circumstances which would
require the preparation or registration of any prospectus or offering document
relating to the shares in such jurisdiction. This announcement is not an offer
of, or solicitation of an offer to buy, securities for sale in the United
States, Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or in any
jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. No
action has been taken by the Seller, Merrill Lynch International or any of
their affiliates to permit a public offering of the shares or possession or
distribution of this announcement in any jurisdiction where action for that
purpose is required. Neither this announcement nor anything contained herein
shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or
purchase whatsoever in any jurisdiction.

 

The securities referred to herein have not been registered under the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be
offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an available exemption
from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the
Securities Act and the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of
the United States.

 

No prospectus or offering document has been or will be prepared in connection
with the Placing. The publicly available information of the Company is not the
responsibility of, and has not been independently verified by, the Seller,
Merrill Lynch International, or any of their respective affiliates.

 

In member states of the European Economic Area (the "EEA"), this announcement
and the Placing are directed exclusively at persons who are "qualified
investors" within the meaning of the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 ("Qualified
Investors"). In the United Kingdom this announcement and the Placing are
directed exclusively at persons who are "qualified investors" within the
meaning of the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of UK domestic law
by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (i) who have
professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within
Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial
Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order") or (ii) who fall within
Article 49(2)(A) to (D) of the Order, or (iii) to whom it may otherwise
lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to herein
as "Relevant Persons"). This announcement must not be acted on or relied on by
persons in member states of the EEA who are not Qualified Investors and
persons in the United Kingdom who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or
investment activity to which this document relates is available only to
persons in member states of the EEA who are Qualified Investors and persons in
the United Kingdom who are Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with
such persons.

 

Merrill Lynch International is authorised by the Prudential Regulation
Authority (the "PRA") and regulated in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the
Financial Conduct Authority. Merrill Lynch International is acting exclusively
for the Seller and no-one else in connection with the Placing. They will not
regard any other person as their respective clients in relation to the Placing
and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Seller for providing the
protections afforded to their respective clients, nor for providing advice in
relation to the Placing, the contents of this announcement or any transaction,
arrangement or other matter referred to herein.

 

In connection with the Placing, Merrill Lynch International and any of its
respective affiliates, may take up a portion of the Placing Shares as a
principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to
sell for their own accounts such Placing Shares and other securities of the
Company or related investments in connection with the Placing or otherwise.
In addition Merrill Lynch International and any of its respective affiliates
may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts
for differences) with investors in connection with which Merrill Lynch
International and any of its respective affiliates may from time to time
acquire, hold or dispose of Placing Shares and other securities of the
Company. Merrill Lynch International does not intend to disclose the extent of
any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any
legal or regulatory obligations to do so.

 

Neither Merrill Lynch International nor any of its directors, officers,
employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability for or
makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth,
accuracy, completeness or sufficiency of the information in this announcement
(or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any
other information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries or associated
companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and
howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from
any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in
connection therewith.

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