Kohlberg Kravis R. Smart Metering Sys - PUBLICATION AND POSTING OF OFFER DOCUMENT
25/01/2024 07:00
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RNS Number : 8307A Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co LP 25 January 2024
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE
OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE
A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. PLEASE
SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY FAILURE TO
COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
25 January 2024
RECOMMENDED FINAL CASH OFFER
for
Smart Metering Systems plc ("SMS")
by
Sienna Bidco Limited ("Bidco")
a newly formed company wholly-owned by funds advised by Kohlberg Kravis
Roberts & Co. L.P. and its affiliates
PUBLICATION AND POSTING OF OFFER DOCUMENT
On 7 December 2023, the boards of directors of SMS and Sienna Bidco Limited
("Bidco"), a newly formed company wholly-owned by funds advised by Kohlberg
Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. and its affiliates, announced that they had
reached agreement on the terms and conditions of a recommended cash
acquisition by Bidco of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share
capital of SMS (the "Acquisition"), to be effected by means of a
Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement (the "Scheme") under Part 26 of the
Companies Act 2006 (the "Companies Act").
On 18 January 2024, Bidco announced that Bidco had determined, with the
consent of SMS and the Takeover Panel, to implement the Acquisition by way of
a recommended takeover offer (as defined in section 974 of the Companies Act)
(a "Takeover Offer") rather than by way of the Scheme (the "Switch
Announcement Date"). Accordingly, the Court Meeting and the General Meeting in
relation to the Scheme were convened on 22 January 2024 and concluded on the
basis that the Scheme is discontinued as the Acquisition is being implemented
by way of the Takeover Offer.
Any votes submitted in relation to the Acquisition under the Scheme will no
longer be valid and SMS Shareholders will need to take action as set out in
this announcement and the Offer Document (as defined below) to accept the
Takeover Offer.
Publication of the Offer Document
Bidco announces that the offer document containing, amongst other things, the
full terms and conditions of the Takeover Offer and the procedures for
acceptance (the "Offer Document"), together with the related Form of
Acceptance, were published and posted on 24 January 2024 to SMS Shareholders
(and for information purposes, to holders of options under the SMS Share Plans
and persons with information rights). The Offer Document and the Form of
Acceptance are available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons
resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, at SMS's website at
https://www.sms-plc.com/ (https://www.sms-plc.com/) .
Capitalised terms used in this announcement shall, unless otherwise defined,
have the same meanings as set out in the Offer Document. Unless otherwise
stated, all times referred to in this announcement are to London times.
Expected Timetable of Principal Events
The Offer Document contains an expected timetable of principal events in
relation to the Takeover Offer at page 3, which is also set out in the
Appendix to this announcement.
Action to be taken by SMS Shareholders to accept the Takeover Offer
The Takeover Offer will remain open for acceptance until 1.00 p.m. on the
Unconditional Date, which is 24 March 2024. The Unconditional Date may be
brought forward or extended in accordance with the Takeover Code as further
described in section 12 of Part I or paragraph 1 of Part C of Part III of the
Offer Document.
The earliest date on which the Takeover Offer may be declared unconditional is
14 February 2024. If the Takeover Offer is declared unconditional on this
date, SMS Shareholders who have accepted the offer on or prior to 14 February
2024 will receive payment by 28 February 2024. SMS Shareholders are therefore
encouraged to submit their Forms of Acceptance as soon as possible.
To accept the Takeover Offer in respect of SMS Shares in certificated form
(that is, not in CREST), you must complete and return the Form of Acceptance
accompanying the Offer Document, along with your share certificate(s) and/or
other document(s) of title, to Computershare Investor Services PLC, Corporate
Actions Projects, Bristol, BS99 6AH as soon as possible and, in any event, so
as to be received no later than 1.00 p.m. on the Unconditional Date, which is
24 March 2024 (or such other date set other Bidco as described further in the
Offer Document). Further details relating to the procedure for acceptance of
the Offer in respect of such certificated SMS Shares is set out in section
12.1 of Part I of the Offer Document and in the Form of Acceptance.
Acceptances in respect of SMS Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in
CREST) should be made electronically through CREST so that the TTE instruction
settles no later than 1.00 p.m. on the Unconditional Date, which is 24 March
2024 (or such other date set by Bidco as described further in the Offer
Document). Further details relating to the procedure for acceptance of the
Offer in respect of such uncertificated SMS Shares are set out in section 12.2
of Part I of the Offer Document. If you are a CREST sponsored member, you
should refer to your CREST sponsor as only your CREST sponsor will be able to
send the necessary TTE instruction to Euroclear.
Recommendation
The SMS Directors, who have been so advised by RBC and Investec as to the
financial terms of the Acquisition, continue to consider the terms of the
Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing their advice to the SMS
Directors, RBC and Investec have taken into account the commercial assessments
of the SMS Directors. Investec is providing independent financial advice to
the SMS Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
The SMS Directors continue to consider that the terms of the Acquisition are
in the best interests of SMS Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the SMS
Directors unanimously recommend that the SMS Shareholders accept, or procure
the acceptance of, the Takeover Offer as the SMS Directors who hold interests
in SMS Shares have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their own legal
and/or beneficial holdings over which they have control, being in aggregate
141,341 SMS Shares (representing approximately 0.1 per cent. of the existing
issued ordinary share capital of SMS) as at 22 January 2024 (being the Latest
Practicable Date in the Offer Document).
SMS Shareholders should carefully read the Offer Document in its entirety
before making a decision with respect to the Takeover Offer.
Cancellation of admission to trading on AIM, compulsory acquisition and
re-registration
Assuming the Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional and that
Bidco has, by virtue of acceptances of the Takeover Offer or otherwise,
acquired, or agreed to acquire, SMS Shares carrying not less than 75 per cent.
of the voting rights then exercisable at a general meeting of SMS
Shareholders, it is intended that the admission to trading of the SMS Shares
on AIM will be cancelled.
If Bidco receives acceptances of the Takeover Offer in respect of, and/or
otherwise acquires or unconditionally contracts to acquire, 90 per cent. or
more of the SMS Shares by nominal value and voting rights attaching to such
shares to which the Takeover Offer relates and the Takeover Offer has become
or been declared unconditional, Bidco intends to exercise its rights pursuant
to the provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act to acquire
compulsorily the remaining SMS Shares in respect of which the Takeover Offer
has not been accepted on the same terms as the Takeover Offer.
It is also intended that, following the Takeover Offer becoming or being
declared unconditional and Bidco, by virtue of acceptances of the Takeover
Offer or otherwise, having acquired, or having agreed to acquire, SMS Shares
carrying not less than 75 per cent. of the voting rights then exercisable at a
general meeting of SMS Shareholders, SMS will be re-registered as a private
limited company.
Such cancellation of admission to trading on AIM of SMS Shares and
re-registration of SMS as a private limited company would significantly reduce
the liquidity and marketability of any SMS Shares in respect of which the
Takeover Offer has not been accepted at that time and their value may be
affected as a consequence.
Any remaining SMS Shareholders (unless their SMS Shares are acquired by Bidco
pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act) would
become minority shareholders in a majority controlled private limited company
and may therefore be unable to sell their SMS Shares. There can be no
certainty that SMS would pay any further dividends or other distributions or
that such minority SMS Shareholders would again be offered an opportunity to
sell their SMS Shares on terms which are equivalent to or no less advantageous
than those under the Takeover Offer.
Other consequences of the Takeover Offer
If Bidco receives acceptances of the Takeover Offer in respect of, and/or
otherwise acquires or unconditionally contracts to acquire, more than 50 per
cent. of the SMS Shares by nominal value and voting rights attaching to such
shares to which the Takeover Offer relates and the Takeover Offer has become
or been declared unconditional, then Bidco will have significant control over
SMS. Bidco will be in a position to determine, for example, the composition of
the SMS Board and management team, the overall strategy of the SMS Group, and
the declaration or cessation of any dividends. Bidco could also increase its
aggregate shareholding in SMS without restriction and may in due course
acquire 75 per cent. or more of the voting rights of SMS. In the meantime, SMS
Shares in respect of which the Takeover Offer has not been accepted at that
time are likely to be affected by reduced trading volume and reduced liquidity
as a consequence.
Questions
If SMS Shareholders have any questions about this announcement or the Offer
Document, or are in any doubt as to how to complete the Form of Acceptance,
please contact the Shareholder Helpline operated by Computershare, the
receiving agent in respect of the Takeover Offer, on +44 (0)370 707 4087.
Please use the country code if calling from outside the UK. Lines are open
between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday (except public holidays in
England and Wales). Calls from outside the UK will be charged at the
applicable international rate. Different charges may apply to calls from
mobile telephones. Please note that calls may be monitored or recorded and
Computershare cannot provide advice on the merits of the Takeover Offer or the
Acquisition or give any financial, legal or tax advice.
Enquiries
Morgan Stanley (Joint Financial Adviser to KKR) +44 (0) 20 7425 8000
Shirav Patel / Francesco Puletti / Andrew Foster / George Chalaris / Nagib
Ahmad
Macquarie Capital (Joint Financial Adviser to KKR) +44 (0) 20 3037 2000
Adam Hain / Ashish Mehta
FGS Global (PR Adviser to KKR) KKR-LON@fgsglobal.com (mailto:KKR-LON@fgsglobal.com)
Faeth Birch / Alastair Elwen / Sophia Johnston +44 (0) 20 725 13801
Smart Metering Systems plc +44 (0) 141 249 3850
Miriam Greenwood, Chairman / Tim Mortlock, Chief Executive Officer / Gail
Blain, Chief Financial Officer / Dilip Kejriwal, Head of Investor Relations
RBC Capital Markets (Joint Financial Adviser and Joint Broker to SMS) +44 (0) 20 7653 4000
Mark Preston / Evgeni Jordanov / Matthew Coakes / Sam Jackson
Investec Bank plc (Joint Financial Adviser and Joint Broker to SMS) +44 (0) 20 7597 5970
Chris Baird / Henry Reast / James Rudd / Shalin Bhamra
Cavendish Securities plc (Nomad and Joint Broker to SMS) +44 (0) 131 220 6939
Neil McDonald / Peter Lynch / Adam Rae
Instinctif Partners (Public Relations Adviser to SMS) sms@instinctif.com (mailto:sms@instinctif.com)
Tim Linacre / Guy Scarborough +44 (0) 7949 939 237
+44 (0) 7917 178 920
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is acting as legal adviser to KKR and
Bidco.
Hogan Lovells International LLP is acting as legal adviser to SMS.
APPENDIX
EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS
The following indicative timetable is based on SMS's and Bidco's current
expected dates for the implementation of the Offer and is subject to change.
If any of the dates and/or times in this expected timetable change, the
revised dates and/or times will be notified to SMS Shareholders by
announcement through the Regulatory Information Service of the London Stock
Exchange, with such announcement being made available on SMS's website at
https://www.sms-plc.com/. Unless otherwise stated, all times referred to in
the timetable set out below are London times.
Event Time and/or date((1))
Publication and posting of the Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance 24 January 2024
Earliest date on which the Offer may be declared unconditional 5:00 p.m. (London time) on 14 February 2024
Earliest date for the settlement of consideration to SMS Shareholders who 28 February 2024
accept the Offer on or prior to 14 February 2024, if the Offer is declared
unconditional on 14 February 2024
Latest time and date by which the Offer can be accepted 1:00 p.m. (London time) on 24 March 2024((2))
Latest time and date by which the Offer may be declared and become 5:00 p.m. (London time) on 24 March 2024((4))
unconditional((3))
Latest date for the settlement of consideration to SMS Shareholders who accept No later than 14 calendar days after the Offer becoming or being declared
the Offer prior to the Offer becoming or being declared unconditional unconditional((5))
____________
(1) Participants in the SMS Share Plans will be contacted
separately regarding the effect of the Offer on their rights under these
schemes and, where applicable, provided with further details concerning the
proposals being made to them in accordance with Rule 15 of the Takeover Code,
and dates and times relevant to them.
(2) Subject to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement, Bidco
reserves the right (but shall not be obliged, other than as may be required by
the Takeover Code) at any time or from time to time to bring forward the Offer
before, or extend the Offer after, such time.
(3) The Offer shall lapse unless all of the Conditions have been
fulfilled (or, where permitted, waived) by midnight on the earlier of the
Unconditional Date and the Long-Stop Date (subject to the rules of the
Takeover Code and, where applicable, the consent of the Panel).
(4) If the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional and Bidco
receives acceptances of the Offer in respect of, and/or otherwise acquires,
90% or more in nominal value of the SMS Shares to which the Offer relates,
Bidco intends to exercise its rights pursuant to the statutory squeeze-out
provisions of sections 974 to 991 of the Companies Act to acquire
compulsorily, on the same terms as the Offer, the remaining SMS Shares to
which the Offer relates in respect of which the Offer has not at such time
been accepted. If the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional, Bidco will
keep the Offer open for acceptances for at least 14 days following the date on
which the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional.
(5) Notwithstanding the reference to 14 calendar days to effect
settlement of consideration to SMS Shareholders, in the case of SMS Shares
resulting from the exercise or vesting of options or awards under the SMS
Share Plans or held through the SMS SIP trust, Bidco shall: (i) pay the amount
due in respect of such SMS Shares to, as applicable, SMS or any of its
subsidiaries or subsidiary undertakings, the trustee of the SMS SIP trust or
otherwise by such method as may be agreed with SMS, and (ii) procure that
payments are made to the relevant SMS Shareholders as soon as practicable
following the Effective Date, where applicable, through the relevant payroll
(subject to the deduction of any exercise price (if relevant), income tax and
employee's national insurance contributions or such equivalents in any
applicable jurisdiction).
Important Notices
RBC Europe Limited (trading as RBC Capital Markets), which is authorised by
the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct
Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom, is
acting for SMS and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in
this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than SMS for
providing the protections afforded to clients of RBC Capital Markets, or for
providing advice in connection with matters referred to in this announcement.
Investec, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (the
"PRA") and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and PRA in the United
Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to SMS and for no one else
in connection with the Takeover Offer and will not be responsible to any
person other than SMS for providing the protections afforded to clients of
Investec, nor for providing advice in relation to the Takeover Offer, the
content of this announcement or any matter referred to in this announcement.
Neither Investec nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or 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 Investec in connection with this announcement,
any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Cavendish Securities, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom
by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for SMS and no one
else in connection with the subject matter of this announcement and will not
be responsible to anyone other than SMS for providing the protections afforded
to clients of Cavendish Securities or for providing advice in relation to the
subject matter of this announcement, the contents of this announcement and any
other matters referred to in this announcement.
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc ("Morgan Stanley") which is
authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the
Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the UK
is acting as financial adviser exclusively for KKR and no one else in
connection with the matters set out in this announcement. In connection with
such matters, Morgan Stanley, its affiliates and their respective directors,
officers, employees and agents will not regard any other person as their
client, nor will they be responsible to any other person for providing the
protections afforded to their clients or for providing advice in connection
with the contents of this announcement or any other matter referred to herein.
Macquarie Capital (Europe) Limited ("Macquarie Capital") which is regulated by
the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK is acting as financial adviser
exclusively for KKR and no one else in connection with the matters set out in
this announcement. In connection with such matters, Macquarie Capital, its
affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents will
not regard any other person as their client, nor will they be responsible to
any other person for providing the protections afforded to their clients or
for providing advice in connection with the contents of this announcement or
any other matter referred to herein. Macquarie Capital (Europe) Limited is not
an authorised deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act
1959 (Commonwealth of Australia), and its obligations do not represent
deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542.
Any investments are subject to investment risk including possible delays in
repayment and loss of income and principal invested. Macquarie Bank Limited
does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the
obligations of Macquarie Capital (Europe) Limited.
Further Information
This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute or
form any part of an offer to sell or subscribe for or an invitation to
purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of an offer to
buy any securities, pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise. The Acquisition
shall be made solely by means of the Offer Document which, together with the
Form of Acceptance, shall contain the full terms and Conditions of the
Acquisition, including details of how to accept the Takeover Offer. SMS
Shareholders are strongly advised to read the formal documentation in relation
to the Takeover Offer once it has been dispatched. Each SMS Shareholder is
urged to consult its independent professional adviser immediately regarding
the tax consequences to it (or its beneficial owners) of the Acquisition.
The statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date of this
announcement, unless some other time is specified in relation to them, and
publication of this announcement shall not give rise to any implication that
there has been no change in the facts set forth in this announcement since
such date.
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English
and Scots law and the Takeover 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 of England and
Scotland.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent
document.
Overseas Shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into
certain jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law.
Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves
of, and observe, any applicable requirements.
The availability of the Takeover Offer to SMS Shareholders who are not
resident in and citizens of the UK may be affected by the laws of the relevant
jurisdictions in which they are located or of which they are citizens and
therefore persons who are not resident in the UK should inform themselves of,
and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their
jurisdictions. 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, the companies and persons involved in the
Offer disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such
restrictions by any person.
Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Takeover Code, and
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 Offer may not be capable of acceptance by
any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities. Copies of this
announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Takeover Offer 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
and persons receiving such documents (including, without limitation, agents,
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 acceptance of the Takeover Offer.
This announcement does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or
subscribe for any securities or a solicitation of an offer to buy any
securities pursuant to this announcement or otherwise in any jurisdiction in
which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.
The Acquisition shall be subject to the applicable requirements of the
Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange, the Financial Conduct
Authority and the AIM Rules. Further details in relation to Overseas
Shareholders will be contained in the Offer Document.
Additional Information for US Investors
The Takeover Offer relates to the shares of a Scottish company and is being
made by means of a contractual takeover offer under the Takeover Code and
under English and Scots law. The Offer is being made in the United States
pursuant to all applicable laws and regulations, including, to the extent
applicable, to holders of SMS Shares resident in the United States ("US SMS
Shareholders") pursuant to Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the US
Exchange Act as a "Tier II" tender offer, and otherwise in accordance with the
requirements of the Takeover Code. Accordingly, the Takeover Offer is subject
to the disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to
withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of
payments that are different from those applicable under US domestic tender
offer procedures and law. The Takeover Offer is being made in the United
States by Bidco and no one else. The Takeover Offer will be made to US SMS
Shareholders on the same terms and conditions as those made to all other SMS
Shareholders to whom an offer is made. Any information documents, including
the Offer Document, will be disseminated to US SMS Shareholders on a basis
comparable to the method that such documents are provided to the other SMS
Shareholders to whom an offer is made.
Certain financial information included in this announcement and the Offer
Document has been or will have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom and thus 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 US.
To the extent permitted by the Takeover Code and applicable law, in accordance
with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act,
Bidco, certain affiliated companies and their nominees or brokers (acting as
agents) may make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares in
SMS outside of the US, outside the Takeover Offer, during the Offer Period and
the period in which the Takeover Offer remains open for acceptance. Also, to
the extent permitted by the Takeover Code and applicable law, in accordance
with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act,
each of Morgan Stanley, Macquarie Capital, Cavendish, Investec and RBC will
continue to act as a connected exempt principal trader in SMS Shares on the
London Stock Exchange. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to
be made they would be made outside the U.S. and would comply with applicable
law. Any such purchases by Bidco or its affiliates will not be made at prices
higher than the price of the Takeover Offer provided in this announcement
unless the price of the Takeover Offer is increased accordingly. Any
information about such purchases will be disclosed as required in the UK, will
be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the
London Stock Exchange website, www.londonstockexchange.com/
(http://www.londonstockexchange.com/) .
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") nor any
securities supervisory authority of any state or other jurisdiction in the
United States has approved or disapproved the Takeover Offer or reviewed it
for its fairness, nor have the contents of the Offer Document or any other
documentation relating to the Takeover Offer been reviewed for accuracy,
completeness or fairness by the SEC or any securities supervisory authority in
the United States. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in
the United States.
It may be difficult for US SMS Shareholders to enforce their rights and claims
arising out of the US federal securities laws in connection with the Takeover
Offer, since Bidco and SMS are located in countries other than the US, and
some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of countries
other than the US.
US SMS Shareholders may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or
directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws. Further, it
may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject
themselves to a US court's jurisdiction and judgement.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Takeover Offer by a US SMS Shareholder as
consideration for the transfer of its SMS Shares pursuant to the Takeover
Offer will likely be a taxable transaction for United States federal income
tax purposes and under applicable United States state and local, as well as
foreign and other, tax laws. Each U.S. SMS Shareholder is strongly advised to
consult an appropriately qualified independent professional legal, tax and
financial adviser immediately in connection with making a decision regarding
this transaction, including with respect to the tax consequences of the
Takeover Offer applicable to them, including under applicable U.S. state and
local, as well as overseas and other, tax laws.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this
announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other
information published by KKR, Bidco or SMS may contain statements about Bidco
and SMS that are or may be deemed to be forward looking statements. All
statements other than statements of historical facts included in this
announcement may be forward looking statements. Without limitation, any
statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets",
"plans", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "shall",
"should", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects", "is subject to", "budget",
"scheduled", "forecast" or words or terms of similar substance or the negative
thereof, are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements include
statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures,
expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness,
financial condition, dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii)
business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of Bidco's or
SMS's operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and
(iii) the effects of government regulation on Bidco's or SMS's business.
Such forward looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on
historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the
management of Bidco and SMS about future events, and are therefore subject to
risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and
are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results
to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward looking
statements, including: increased competition, the loss of or damage to one or
more key customer relationships, changes to customer ordering patterns, delays
in obtaining customer approvals for engineering or price level changes, the
failure of one or more key suppliers, the outcome of business or industry
restructuring, the outcome of any litigation, changes in economic conditions,
currency fluctuations, changes in interest and tax rates, changes in raw
material or energy market prices, changes in laws, regulations or regulatory
policies, developments in legal or public policy doctrines, technological
developments, the failure to retain key management, or the timing and success
of future acquisition opportunities or major investment projects. Other
unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from those in the forward looking statements. Such forward looking
statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors. Neither
Bidco nor SMS, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers
or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the
occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward looking
statements in this announcement will actually occur. Due to such uncertainties
and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward
looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All subsequent
oral or written forward looking statements attributable to any member of the
Bidco Group or the SMS Group, or any of their respective associates,
directors, officers, employees or advisers, are expressly qualified in their
entirety by the cautionary statement above.
Bidco and SMS expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward looking
or other statements contained herein, except as required by applicable law or
by the rules of any competent regulatory authority, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Disclosure Requirements of the Takeover Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover 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 securities exchange 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 securities exchange 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 securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening
Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no
later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th Business Day following the
commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30
p.m. (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 Takeover 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 securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing
Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree
company or of any securities exchange 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 securities exchange offeror, save
to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8.
A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by
no later than 3.30 p.m. (London 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 securities exchange offeror, they will
be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
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).
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 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
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain information
provided by SMS Shareholders, persons with information rights and other
relevant persons for the receipt of communications from SMS may be provided to
Bidco during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the
Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover Code.
Publication on Website and Availability of Hard Copies
A copy of this announcement and the documents required to be published by Rule
26 of the Takeover Code shall be made available subject to certain
restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions on SMS's
website at www.sms-plc.com by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the
Business Day following the date of this announcement. For the avoidance of
doubt, neither the contents of this website nor the content of any other
website accessible from hyperlinks on such website is incorporated into, or
forms part of, this announcement.
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, SMS Shareholders, persons
with information rights and participants in the SMS Share Plans may request a
hard copy of this announcement by contacting Computershare Investor Services
PLC during business hours on 0370 707 4087 or by submitting a request in
writing to Registrar at Computershare Investor Service PLC, The Pavilions,
Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZZ. In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the
Takeover Code, a person so entitled may also request that all future
documents, announcements and information in relation to the Acquisition should
be sent to them in hard copy form. If you have received this announcement in
electronic form or via a website notification, hard copies of this
announcement and any document or information incorporated by reference into
this document will not be provided unless such a request is made.
General
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 independent financial adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are
resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately
authorised independent financial adviser.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact
rns@lseg.com (mailto:rns@lseg.com)
or visit
www.rns.com (http://www.rns.com/)
.
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