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RNS Number : 4399B ScS Group PLC 31 January 2024
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 or regulations of such jurisdiction.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
31 January 2024
Recommended Cash OFFER FOR
SCS GROUP PLC
BY
CEREZZOLA LIMITED
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Poltronesofà S.p.A)
Cancellation of admission to trading and listing of ScS Shares
On 24 October 2023, the boards of Cerezzola Limited ("BidCo"), a newly
incorporated wholly-owned subsidiary of Poltronesofà S.p.A ("Poltronesofà"),
and ScS Group Plc ("ScS") announced that they had reached agreement on the
terms of a recommended cash offer by BidCo to acquire the entire issued and to
be issued ordinary share capital of ScS (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition
is being implemented by means of a court sanctioned scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme").
The circular in relation to the Scheme, including the notices convening the
Court Meeting and the General Meeting in connection with the Acquisition, was
published on 29 November 2023 (the "Scheme Document"). Capitalised terms used
in this announcement shall, unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings
as set out in the Scheme Document.
Further to the announcement on 30 January 2024 that the Scheme has become
Effective in accordance with its terms, ScS announces that, the FCA has
cancelled the listing of ScS Shares on the premium segment of the Official
List and the London Stock Exchange has cancelled the admission to trading of
ScS Shares on the Main Market, in each case with effect from 8.00 a.m. today,
31 January 2024.
Enquiries
Poltronesofà +39 0543 757011
Renzo Ricci, Sole Director
Nicola Sautto, Chief Financial Officer
Goldman Sachs (Financial adviser to Poltronesofà) +44 (0)207 774 1000
Chris Emmerson
Giuseppe Pipitone
ScS Group plc +44 (0)20 7466 5000
Steve Carson, Chief Executive Officer
Mark Fleetwood, Chief Financial Officer
Shore Capital (Financial adviser and Broker to ScS) +44 (0)20 7408 4050
Patrick Castle
James Thomas
Iain Sexton
Ben Canning
Buchanan Communications Limited (Financial PR adviser to ScS) +44 (0)20 7466 5000
Richard Oldworth scs@buchanan.uk.com
Toto Berger
Verity Parker
Image Building S.r.l. (PR adviser to Poltronesofà) +39 0289011300
Giuliana Paoletti poltronesofa@imagebuilding.it
Rafaella Casula
Giusy Fusco
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP is acting as legal adviser
to Poltronesofà in connection with the Acquisition. Ward Hadaway LLP is
acting as legal adviser to ScS in connection with the Acquisition.
Disclaimers
Goldman Sachs, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the
Financial Conduct Authority is acting as financial adviser to Poltronesofà
and BidCo and no one else in connection with the Acquisition referred to in
this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than
Poltronesofà and BidCo for providing the protections afforded to clients of
Goldman Sachs or for providing advice in relation to the contents of this
announcement or any other matter referred to herein.
Shore Capital, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the
Financial Conduct Authority is acting as financial adviser and broker to ScS
and no one else in connection with the Acquisition referred to in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than ScS for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Shore Capital or for
providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement or any other
matter referred to herein.
Further information
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and
does not constitute, or form any part of, an offer, invitation or the
solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe, otherwise acquire,
subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities or the solicitation
of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or
otherwise.
The Acquisition is subject to English law and to the applicable requirements
of the Code, the Panel, the Listing Rules, the London Stock Exchange and the
FCA.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or a prospectus equivalent
document.
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 from an independent financial adviser duly authorised under the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended).
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 England.
Overseas shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions
other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore any
persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United
Kingdom (including Restricted Jurisdictions) should inform themselves about,
and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. Any failure to
comply with applicable legal or regulatory requirements of any jurisdiction
may constitute a violation of securities laws in that jurisdiction. To the
fullest extent permitted by law, the companies and persons involved in the
Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such
restrictions by any person. 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 England.
The Acquisition will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into or by use
of the mails or any other means or instrumentality (including, without
limitation, telephonic or electronic) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or
any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of, a
Restricted Jurisdiction, and the Acquisition will not be capable of acceptance
by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility or from within a
Restricted Jurisdiction. Copies of this announcement and any formal
documentation relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be,
directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in
or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction or any jurisdiction where to do so
would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction and persons
receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must
not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in or into or from any
Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported
vote in respect of acceptance of the Acquisition.
Further details in relation to ScS Shareholders in overseas jurisdictions are
contained in the Scheme Document.
Additional information for US investors in ScS
The Acquisition relates to the shares of an English company and is being made
by way of a scheme of arrangement provided for under Part 26 of the Companies
Act. The Acquisition, where implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement, is
not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under
the US Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Acquisition and the Scheme will be
subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable to a scheme of
arrangement involving a target company incorporated in the UK and listed on
the London Stock Exchange, which differ from the disclosure requirements of US
tender offer and proxy solicitation rules.
Hard copy documents
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Code, ScS Shareholders, persons with
information rights and participants in the ScS Share Schemes may request a
hard copy of this announcement by contacting ScS's Registrars, Equiniti
Limited, on +44 (0)371 384 2050 or by submitting a request in writing to
Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA,
United Kingdom. The Shareholder Helpline is open from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
(London time) Monday to Friday (except English and Welsh public holidays).
Calls are charged at the standard geographical rate and will vary by provider.
Calls from outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable
international rate. Please ensure the country code is used if calling from
outside the United Kingdom.
Please note the Shareholder Helpline cannot provide advice on the merits of
the Acquisition or the Scheme nor give any financial, investment, legal or tax
advice.
For persons who receive a copy of this announcement in electronic form or via
a website notification, a hard copy of this announcement will not be sent
unless so requested. Such persons may also request that all future documents,
announcements and information be sent to them in relation to the Acquisition
in hard copy form.
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