Combination with Troy Income & Growth Trust plc
28/11/2023 07:00
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RNS Number : 8318U STS Global Income & Growth Trust 28 November 2023
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT ARE NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO, THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY JURISDICTION FOR WHICH THE SAME COULD BE UNLAWFUL.
This announcement contains information that is inside information for the
purposes of Article 7 of the UK version of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 which
is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as
amended (the Market Abuse Regulation).
28 November 2023
STS Global Income & Growth Trust plc
LEI: 549300UZ1Y7PPQYJGE19
Combination with Troy Income & Growth Trust plc
Introduction
The Board of STS Global Income & Growth Trust plc ("STS") is pleased to
announce that heads of terms have been agreed for a proposed combination of
STS with the assets of Troy Income & Growth Trust plc ("TIGT").
The combination, if approved by each company's shareholders, will be
implemented through a scheme of reconstruction pursuant to section 110 of the
Insolvency Act 1986 (the "Scheme"), resulting in the voluntary liquidation of
TIGT and the rollover of its assets into STS in exchange for the issue of new
shares of STS (the "New STS Shares") to holders of TIGT shares (the "TIGT
Shares") with TIGT shareholders ("TIGT Shareholders") offered the option of up
to 100% cash exit (the "Cash Option") (the "Proposals").
Following implementation of the Proposals, the enlarged STS will continue to
be managed, on the same basis as currently, by Troy Asset Management Limited
("Troy") with James Harries continuing as the lead portfolio manager,
supported by Tomasz Boniek and the wider Troy investment team.
The Proposals are subject to the approval of TIGT and STS Shareholders, and
also to regulatory and tax approvals.
Benefits of the Proposals
· An increase in scale, allowing the enlarged STS to spread its fixed
costs over a larger cost base, while also improving expected liquidity.
· A reduction in management fees to 0.55% of shareholders' funds up to
£250m and 0.50% above £250m (currently 0.65% of shareholders' funds).
· A significant cost contribution by Troy, the investment manager of
STS, equivalent to an eighteen month fee waiver on the assets transferred from
TIGT to STS (the "Cost Contribution").
· A material portion of the rollover assets being transferred in specie
given there are a number of common holdings between the two companies.
· An increase in shareholder diversification.
Further details of the Scheme
TIGT Shareholders will receive New STS Shares as the default option if no
election is made under the Scheme.
For each company a Formula Asset Value ("FAV") will be calculated using the
companies' respective net asset values (cum income and debt at fair value)
("NAV"). New STS Shares will be issued based on the ratio of the STS FAV per
share to the TIGT FAV per share. In calculating the FAVs, each party will bear
its own costs incurred in relation to the Proposals, with the Cost
Contribution applied first to offsetting STS's costs (to the point that STS
Shareholders will not suffer NAV per share dilutions) and second with any
surplus applied to offset TIGT's costs.
TIGT Shareholders may elect to receive cash in respect of all or part of their
holding, with no limit on the number of TIGT Shares which can be elected for
the Cash Option. TIGT Shareholders electing for the Cash Option will receive
an amount in cash equal to the NAV per TIGT Share less 2%, multiplied by the
number of TIGT Shares elected for the Cash Option.
Under the terms of the Proposals, any costs of realignment and/or realisation
of the TIGT portfolio prior to the Scheme becoming effective will be borne by
TIGT. The anticipated costs of stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or other
transaction tax for the acquisition of the TIGT portfolio by STS will be borne
by TIGT, together with the anticipated London Stock Exchange admission fees.
In accordance with customary practice for such transactions, the City Code on
Takeovers and Mergers is not expected to apply to the Proposals.
Cost Contribution and Troy fee reduction
Troy has agreed to contribute towards the costs of the Proposals an amount
equal to the management fees payable to it in respect of the assets
transferred to STS under the Scheme for a period of 18 months, subject to a
cap of £1.1 million.
In addition, for the enlarged STS, Troy will reduce its annual management fee
to 0.55% of shareholders' funds up to £250m and 0.50% above £250m (currently
0.65% of shareholders' funds).
Troy will also waive the termination fee payable to it in respect of the
termination of the TIGT investment management delegation agreement.
STS Board of Directors
Following completion of the Proposals, it is expected that the STS Board will
comprise the current STS Directors and two directors from the current Board of
TIGT. It is expected that two current STS directors will retire from the Board
at, or immediately prior to, the next STS AGM, which is expected to be held in
July 2024, and they will not stand for re-election. The Chairman of the Board
of STS will continue in that role.
Expected timetable
It is intended that the documentation in connection with the Proposals will be
posted to shareholders in February 2024, with a view to convening general
meetings and completing the Scheme by the end of March 2024.
The Chairman of STS, John Evans, commented:
"The Board of STS is very pleased to have reached agreement with the TIGT
Board over the proposed combination of the two Investment Companies.
The combined entity will create a larger investment trust with significantly
reduced overall costs and expected improved liquidity which will continue to
follow Troy's long term, quality focussed, conservative investment management
style with a global opportunity set. We believe it is an attractive strategy
for those with irreplaceable capital and looking for both income and capital
growth.
We hope this represents an important step in us being able to offer this
investment approach at scale in a closed ended vehicle."
Enquiries
STS Global Income & Growth Trust plc
John Evans
(Chairman)
Contact via J.P Morgan Cazenove
J.P. Morgan Cazenove
William Simmonds
Rupert Budge
0203 493 8000
Important Information
This announcement is released by the Company and the information contained
within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside
information for the purposes of Article 7 of the UK version of the EU Market
Abuse Regulation (Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014) which forms part of UK law
by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended. Upon the
publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, such
information is now considered to be in the public domain.
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