Informa PLC
6 October 2026
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPENDICES AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THEM, IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, JERSEY OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL
FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6 October 2026
INFORMA PLC
("Informa", the "Company", or the "Group")
Proposed equity issue to part-fund the acquisition of Clarion Events ("Clarion")
Informa plc (LSE:INF), today announces its intention to raise gross proceeds of approximately £940 million (the "Equity Issue") to part-fund the acquisition of Clarion (the "Acquisition"), a leading international B2B Live Events business with a portfolio across a range of attractive growth categories for an enterprise value of approximately £2,240 million.
Informa has issued a separate Company Update this morning, which confirms current trading remains on track for full year expectations, announces the intention to separate its Taylor & Francis business to focus on its core B2B business and details the earnings enhancing acquisition of Clarion, further strengthening its position in B2B Live Events.
This announcement should be read in conjunction with the Company Update announcement.
The Equity Issue is to comprise the issue of new ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each ("New Ordinary Shares") in the capital of the Company through:
•a non-pre-emptive placing of up to approximately £940 million to eligible institutional investors at the Placing Price (as defined below) of New Ordinary Shares (the "Placing Shares") (the "Placing");
•a retail offer via RetailBook to provide retail investors in the United Kingdom with an opportunity to acquire New Ordinary Shares at the Placing Price ("Retail Offer Shares") (the "Retail Offer"); and
•certain directors and the executive management team of the Company will subscribe for the New Ordinary Shares (the "Subscription Shares"), representing up to £1.6 million in aggregate of New Ordinary Shares, in each case at the Placing Price (the "Subscription").
The Placing will be conducted through an accelerated bookbuild (the "Bookbuild") which will be launched immediately following release of this Announcement. Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (“Morgan Stanley”) is acting as sole global coordinator and joint bookrunner in connection with the Placing (the "SoleGlobal Coordinator"). Merrill Lynch International (“BofA Securities”) and Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch (“Deutsche Bank”) are acting as joint bookrunners in connection with the Placing (BofA Securities and Deutsche Bank, together with Morgan Stanley, the “Banks”). The Banks are also the Company's corporate brokers. The Bookbuild may close at any time after launch, at the discretion of the Sole Global Coordinator and the Company.
The Company's largest institutional shareholder has stated its intention to participate in the Placing on a pro rata basis. A separate announcement will be made shortly regarding the Retail Offer and its associated terms.
Details of the Equity Issue
The Placing has been structured through the Bookbuild to minimise execution and market risk. Prior to the launch of the Placing, the Company consulted with a number of its institutional shareholders to gauge their feedback as to the proposed terms of the Placing. The Company intends to respect the principles of pre-emption when allocating Placing Shares to those shareholders that participate in the Placing, while also allowing the participation of new investors, with allocations being at the Company's discretion.
The Board has concluded that the Equity Issue is in the best interests of shareholders and wider stakeholders and will promote the long-term success of the Company and has, therefore, chosen to proceed with the Equity Issue.
Details of the Placing, Retail Offer and the Subscription
The Placing will be conducted through the Bookbuild which will be launched immediately following release of this Announcement. The Bookbuild may close at any time after launch, at the discretion of the Sole Global Coordinator and the Company.
Concurrently with the Placing, there will be a separate Retail Offer, to provide retail investors in the United Kingdom with an opportunity to participate alongside the Placing. The Retail Offer is not made subject to the terms and conditions set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement, and instead a separate announcement will be made shortly regarding the Retail Offer and its terms. Members of the public are not entitled to participate in the Placing. The Retail Offer is conditional on the Placing, but the Placing is not conditional on the Retail Offer.
Certain directors and the executive management team of the Company will subscribe for the Subscription Shares concurrently with the Placing, at the Placing Price. Any Subscription Shares will be subscribed for pursuant to separate subscription letters entered into between the relevant individuals and the Company, rather than pursuant to the Terms and Conditions of the Placing.
The Placing Shares, the Retail Offer Shares and any Subscription Shares, in aggregate, are not expected to exceed 10% of the current issued share capital of the Company. The Company will rely on the allotment authority and on the disapplication of pre-emption rights authorities granted by shareholders of the Company at its annual general meeting held on 18 June 2026 for the Placing, the Retail Offer and any Subscription. The Placing will be made on a non-pre-emptive basis. The Banks have today entered into an agreement with the Company (the "Placing Agreement") under which, subject to the conditions set out therein, the Banks as agents for and on behalf of the Company have agreed to use their respective reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for the Placing Shares ("Placees") and, to the extent any Placee defaults in paying the Placing Price (as defined below) in respect of any Placing Shares allotted to it, the Banks have agreed to subscribe for such Placing Shares at the Placing Price. The Placing is subject to the Terms and Conditions set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement. The Placing is conditional, among other things, upon Admission becoming effective and the Placing Agreement not being terminated in accordance with its terms. The Placing is not conditional upon the Retail Offer or any Subscription.
The Company has undertaken to the Banks that, between the date of the Placing Agreement and 90 calendar days after the date of Admission, it will not, directly or indirectly, issue or allot ordinary shares (save for the Retail Offer and any Subscription), subject to customary exceptions or waiver by the Sole Global Coordinator. By choosing to participate in the Placing and by making an oral or written offer to acquire Placing Shares, investors will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety (including the Appendices) and to be making a legally binding offer subject to the terms and conditions in it, as well as providing the customary representations, warranties and acknowledgements contained in Appendix 1 to this Announcement.
The price at which the Placing Shares are to be placed (the "Placing Price") and the number of Placing Shares to be issued will be determined at the close of the Bookbuild. The timing of the closing of the Bookbuild and allocations will be agreed between the Sole Global Coordinator and the Company. The results of the Bookbuild will then be announced as soon as practicable via a Regulatory Information Service.
The Placing Shares have been duly authorised and will, when issued, be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares in the capital of the Company, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid in respect of the ordinary shares after the date of issue.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
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Informa plc Stephen A. Carter, Group Chief Executive Gareth Wright, Group Finance Director Richard Menzies-Gow, Director of IR & Communications |
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Morgan Stanley (Sole Global Coordinator, Joint Bookrunner and Joint Corporate Broker) Anthony Zammit Andrew Foster Josh Williams Emma Whitehouse |
+44 (0) 20 7425 8000 |
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BofA Securities (Joint Bookrunner and Joint Corporate Broker) Ed Peel Sid Rishi
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+44 (0) 20 7628 1000 |
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Deutsche Bank (Joint Bookrunner and Joint Corporate Broker) Will Baunton |
+44 (0) 20 7545 8000 |
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Teneo Strategy Tim Burt Ed Cropley
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IMPORTANT NOTICES
No action has been taken by the Company, the Banks or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees that would permit an offer of the securities referred to herein or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to the securities referred to herein in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required.
No action has been taken by the Company, the Banks or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees that would permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required.
This Announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by any of the Banks or by any of their respective affiliates or agents as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing. This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein are for information purposes only and are directed at and may only be communicated to (a) in the European Economic Area ("EEA"), persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 ("Qualified Investors"); and (b) in the United Kingdom, persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of paragraph 15 of Schedule 1 to the Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2024 ("POATR") who are also persons who: (i) fall within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); (ii) fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (and only where the conditions contained in Articles 49(2)(a) to (d) have been, or will at the relevant time be, satisfied); or (iii) persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons").
Any investment or investment activity to which this Announcement relates is only available to, and will be engaged in only with, Relevant Persons in the United Kingdom and Qualified Investors in any member state of the EEA. Persons distributing this Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. This Announcement is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy, subscribe for or otherwise acquire securities in any jurisdiction in which any such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of the securities laws of such jurisdictions. Persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
The distribution of this Announcement and the offering, placing and/or issue of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company, the Banks or any of their respective affiliates that would permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company or the Banks to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (COLLECTIVELY, THE "UNITED STATES"), AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN,JERSEY OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, NOR IS IT INTENDED THAT IT WILL BE SO APPROVED.
This Announcement or any part of it does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for, any securities in the United States, Canada, Australia, the Republic of South Africa, Japan, Jersey or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No public offering of the securities referred to herein is being made in any such jurisdiction.
This communication is not a public offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in or into the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with the securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction of the United States.
Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements of Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the securities referred to herein have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such securities referred to herein are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each defined in Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all permitted distribution channels (the " UK Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the securities referred to herein may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the securities referred to herein offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the securities referred to herein is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The UK Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment, the Banks will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.
For the avoidance of doubt, the UK Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of Chapters 9A or 10A respectively of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the securities referred to herein. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the securities referred to herein and determining appropriate distribution channels.
By participating in the Placing, each person who is invited to and who chooses to participate in the Placing (each a "Placee") by making an oral and legally binding offer to acquire Placing Shares will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, to be participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on the terms and conditions contained in the Appendices to this Announcement and to be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in the Appendices to this Announcement.
Certain statements contained in this Announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" with respect to the financial condition, performance, strategic initiatives, objectives, results of operations and business of the Company. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Announcement are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words ''targets'', ''plans'', ''believes'', ''expects'', ''aims'', ''intends'', ''anticipates'', ''estimates'', ''projects'', ''will'', ''may'', "would", "could" or "should", 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; and (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of the Company's operations. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward-looking statements. The important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, economic and business cycles, the terms and conditions of the Company's financing arrangements, foreign currency rate fluctuations, competition in the Company's principal markets, acquisitions or disposals of businesses or assets and trends in the Company's principal industries. 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. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements in this Announcement may not occur. The forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement speak only as of the date of this Announcement. The Company, the Banks and any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees each expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any forward-looking statement or any other information contained in this Announcement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, unless required to do so by applicable law or regulation, the UK Listing Rules, UK MAR, EU MAR, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, the rules of the London Stock Exchange or the FCA.
Any indication in this Announcement of the price at which ordinary shares have been bought or sold in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. No statement in this Announcement is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the Company, as appropriate, for the current or future years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the Company.
Morgan Stanley and BofA Securities are each authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority. Deutsche Bank AG is a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany with its principal office in Frankfurt am Main. It is registered with the local district court (Amtsgericht) in Frankfurt am Main under No HRB 30000 and licensed to carry on banking business and to provide financial services. The London branch of Deutsche Bank AG is registered as a branch office in the register of companies for England and Wales at Companies House (branch registration number BR000005) with its registered branch office address and principal place of business at 21, Moorfields, London, EC2Y 9DB.Deutsche Bank AG is subject to supervision by the European Central Bank(ECB), Sonnemannstrasse 22, 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany,and the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority(Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht or BaFin), Graurheindorfer Strasse 108, 53117 Bonn and Marie-Curie-Strasse 24-28, 60439 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. With respect to activities undertaken in the United Kingdom, Deutsche Bank AG is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. It is subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of Deutsche Bank AG's authorisation and regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from Deutsche Bank AG on request. Each of the Banks is acting exclusively for the Company in connection with the Placing and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients or for providing advice to any other person in relation to the Placing and/or any other matter referred to in this Announcement.
In connection with the Placing, each of the Banks and any of their respective affiliates, acting as investors for their own account, may take up a portion of the shares in the Placing as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell for their own accounts such shares and other securities of the Company or related investments in connection with the Placing or otherwise. Accordingly, references to Placing Shares being offered, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or acquisition, placing or dealing by the Banks and any their respective affiliates acting in such capacity. In addition, the Banks and any of their respective affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps) with investors in connection with which the Banks and any of their respective affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of shares. None of the Banks intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.
Each of the Banks and their respective affiliates may have engaged in transactions with, and provided various commercial banking, investment banking, financial advisory transactions and services in the ordinary course of their business with the Company and/or its affiliates for which they would have received customary fees and commissions. Each of the Banks and their respective affiliates may provide such services to the Company and/or its affiliates in the future. Certain of the Banks and/or their respective affiliates are lenders and/or any of the Banks and/or their respective affiliates may in the future be, lenders, and in some cases agents or managers for the lenders, under certain of the Group's credit facilities and other credit arrangements. The Company may use any net proceeds it receives from the sale of the Placing Shares to repay financial indebtedness, which may include such credit facilities and other credit arrangements. In their capacity as lenders, such lenders may, in the future, seek a reduction of a loan commitment to the Company or its affiliates, or impose incremental pricing or collateral requirements with respect to such facilities or credit arrangements, in the ordinary course of business. In addition, any of the Banks or their respective affiliates that have a lending relationship with the Company or its affiliates may routinely hedge their credit exposure to the Company and/or its affiliates consistent with their customary risk management policies; a typical hedging strategy would include these Banks or their respective affiliates hedging such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in the Company's securities.
Neither the content of the Company's website (or any other website) nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into or forms part of this Announcement. The Placing Shares to be issued or sold pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the London Stock Exchange.
Appendix 1
Terms and Conditions of the Placing for invited placees only
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (THE "ANNOUNCEMENT") ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHOSE ORDINARY ACTIVITIES INVOLVE THEM IN ACQUIRING, HOLDING, MANAGING AND DISPOSING OF INVESTMENTS (AS PRINCIPAL OR AGENT) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THEIR BUSINESS AND WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND ARE: (A) IF IN A MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (THE "EEA"), PERSONS WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS, BEING PERSONS FALLING WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(E) OF REGULATION(EU) 2017/1129(THE "PROSPECTUS REGULATION") ("QUALIFIED INVESTORS"); OR (B) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, PERSONS WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF PARAGRAPH 15 OF SCHEDULE 1 TO THE PUBLIC OFFERS AND ADMISSIONS TO TRADING REGULATIONS 2024 (THE "POATR") ("UK QUALIFIED INVESTORS"), WHO ARE ALSO (I) PERSONS WHO FALL WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF "INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL" IN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER"), OR (II) PERSONS WHO FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) OF THE ORDER, OR (III) PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE BE LAWFULLY COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS REFERRED TO IN (I), (II) AND (III) ABOVE TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").
THIS APPENDIX AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EEA WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED INVESTORS OR PERSONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EEA, ONLY TO QUALIFIED INVESTORS, OR IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS, AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH SUCH PERSONS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OF, OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO ACQUIRE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR, ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY.
EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS, FINANCIAL AND RELATED ASPECTS OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE PLACING SHARES.
THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF, OR WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF, ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR TRANSFERRED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR WITHIN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE SHARES REFERRED TO IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER RESTRICTED TERRITORY OR ELSEWHERE.
Unless otherwise stated, capitalised terms in this Appendix have the meanings ascribed to them in Appendix 2.
This Announcement is for information only and does not itself constitute or form part of an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities referred to herein in any jurisdiction including, without limitation, the United States, any other Restricted Territory (as defined below) or in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation is unlawful. No public offering of securities will be made in connection with the Placing in the United Kingdom, the EEA, the United States, any other Restricted Territory or elsewhere.
This Announcement, and the information contained herein, is not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, to persons in the United States (including its territories and dependencies), Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, Japan or Jersey (each a "Restricted Territory") or in any jurisdiction in which such publication or distribution is unlawful. The distribution of this Announcement and the Placing and/or the offer or sale of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company or by Morgan Stanley & Co. International Plc (“Morgan Stanley” or the “Sole Global Coordinator”), Merrill Lynch International (“BofA Securities”) and Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch (“Deutsche Bank”) (BofA Securities, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley, together, the “Banks”) or any of their respective Affiliates or agents which would permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons distributing any part of this Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any such action. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and the Banks to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.
All offers of the Placing Shares will be made pursuant to an exemption under the POATR and the Prospectus Rules: Admission to Trading on a Regulated Market Sourcebook ("PRM") and the Prospectus Regulation (as applicable) from the requirement to produce a prospectus. This Announcement is being distributed and communicated to persons in the UK only in circumstances to which section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA") does not apply.
The Placing has not been approved and will not be approved or disapproved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, any State securities commission or any other regulatory authority in the United States, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of this Announcement. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful.
Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to in this Announcement may not be offered or sold in any Restricted Territory or to, or for the account or benefit of, a citizen or resident, or a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organised in or under the laws of a Restricted Territory.
This Announcement has been issued by, and is the sole responsibility of, the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by any of the Banks or any of their respective Affiliates or agents as to or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
Each of the Banks are acting exclusively for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Placing and are not, and will not be, responsible to anyone (including the Placees) other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the Placing and/or any other matter referred to in this Announcement.
None of the Company, the Banks or their respective Affiliates or agents makes any representation or warranty, express or implied to any Placees regarding any investment in the securities referred to in this Announcement under the laws applicable to such Placees. Each Placee should consult its own advisers as to the legal, tax, business, financial and related aspects of an investment in the Placing Shares.
By participating in the Placing, Placees (including individuals, funds or otherwise) by whom or on whose behalf a commitment to acquire Placing Shares has been given will (i) be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement, in its entirety; and (ii) be making such offer on the terms and conditions contained in this Appendix, including being deemed to be providing (and shall only be permitted to participate in the Placing on the basis that they have provided) the representations, warranties, acknowledgements and undertakings set out herein.
In particular, each such Placee represents, warrants and acknowledges that:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PLACEES ONLY REGARDING THE PLACING
Defined terms used in this Appendix are set out in Appendix 2.
Bookbuild
Following this Announcement, the Banks will commence an accelerated bookbuilding process in respect of the Placing (the "Bookbuild") to determine demand for participation in the Placing by Placees. No commissions will be paid to Placees or by Placees in respect of any Placing Shares. The book will open with immediate effect. The Banks and the Company shall be entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method to the Bookbuild as the Sole Global Coordinator and the Company may, in their absolute discretion, determine. Members of the public are not entitled to participate in the Placing. This Appendix gives details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Placing.
Details of the Placing Agreement and of the Placing Shares
Morgan Stanley is acting as sole global coordinator and BofA Securities and Deutsche Bank, together with Morgan Stanley, are acting as joint bookrunners in connection with the Placing. The Banks have entered an agreement with the Company (the "Placing Agreement") under which, subject to the conditions set out therein, the Banks will agree to use their respective reasonable endeavours to procure Placees for the Placing Shares at a price determined following completion of the Bookbuild and as set out in the Placing Agreement.
The price per Ordinary Share at which the Placing Shares are to be placed (the "Placing Price") and the final number of Placing Shares will be decided at the close of the Bookbuild following the execution of the placing terms by the Company and the Banks (the "Placing Terms"). The timing of the closing of the book, pricing and allocations are at the discretion of the Company and the Sole Global Coordinator. The allocation of the Placing Shares shall be agreed between the Company and the Sole Global Coordinator.
Details of the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares will be announced as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuild.
The Placing Shares have been or will be duly authorised and will, when issued, be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares (other than treasury shares which are non-voting and do not qualify for dividends), including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid in respect of the Ordinary Shares after the date of issue. The Placing Shares will be issued free of any encumbrances, liens or other security interests.
The Placing will be effected by way of a placing of new Ordinary Shares in the Company for non-cash consideration. Morgan Stanley will subscribe for ordinary shares and redeemable preference shares in Scramble Funding Limited ("JerseyCo"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, for an amount approximately equal to the net proceeds of the Placing. The Company will allot and issue the Placing Shares on a non-pre-emptive basis to Placees in consideration for the transfer of the ordinary shares and redeemable preference shares in JerseyCo that will be issued to Morgan Stanley. In the event that the Placing does not proceed, Morgan Stanley will have an option to "put", and the Company will have an option to "call", the ordinary shares in JerseyCo not currently owned by the Company, in each case for nominal consideration, pursuant to the Option Agreement between the Company, JerseyCo and Morgan Stanley.
Application for admission to trading
The Placing Shares will be admitted to the London Stock Exchange (the "London Stock Exchange") for admission of the Placing Shares to trading on its Main Market for listed securities ("Admission"). It is expected that Admission will become effective at 8:00 a.m. (London time) on 8 October 2026 (or such later time or date as may be agreed between the Company and the Sole Global Coordinator).
Participation in, and principal terms of, the Placing
Conditions of the Placing
The Placing is conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms. The Banks’ several obligations under the Placing Agreement are conditional on certain conditions, including (without limitation):
If: (i) any of the conditions contained in the Placing Agreement, including those described above, are not fulfilled or (where applicable) waived by the Sole Global Coordinator by the relevant time or date specified (or such later time or date as the Company and the Sole Global Coordinator may agree); or (ii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below, the Placing will lapse and the Placees' rights and obligations hereunder in relation to the Placing Shares shall cease and terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by it in respect thereof.
The Sole Global Coordinator may, in its discretion extend the time for the satisfaction of any conditions or waive compliance by the Company with the whole or any part of any of the Company's obligations in relation to the conditions in the Placing Agreement save that the above conditions relating,inter alia, to publication of the Acquisition Agreement and this Announcement, execution of the Terms of Subscription, the Acquisition Agreement remaining in full force and effect and not being amended other than certain permitted amendments, Admission taking place, the Company allotting the Placing Shares and the publication by the Company of the results of the Placing may not be waived. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Announcement.
None of the Banks shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision it may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or date for the satisfaction of any condition to the Placing nor for any decision it may make as to the satisfaction of any condition or in respect of the Placing generally and by participating in the Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of the Banks.
By participating in the Bookbuild, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations hereunder terminate only in the circumstances described above and under "Termination of the Placing Agreement" below, and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee.
Termination of the Placing Agreement
The Sole Global Coordinator is entitled, at any time on or before Admission, to terminate the Placing Agreement in accordance with its terms in certain circumstances, including,inter alia, if: (i) there has been a breach by the Company of any of the warranties; (ii) there has been a breach by the Company of any of the undertakings or covenants contained in the Placing Agreement, or any statement in the documents published in connection with the Placing is or has become untrue, inaccurate or misleading, or any matter has arisen, which would, if such document had been issued at that time, constitute an inaccuracy or omission from such document or any of them, in each case which the Sole Global Coordinator acting in good faith considers to be material in the context of the Placing or Admission; (iii) in the opinion of the Sole Global Coordinator, acting in good faith, there shall have been a Material Adverse Change, whether or not foreseeable at the date of the Placing Agreement; (iv) the application for Admission is withdrawn or refused by the London Stock Exchange; (v) there has occurred a material adverse change in international financial markets, a suspension or limitation to trading in any securities of the Company or to trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market or the London Stock Exchange, a material change in taxation, the imposition of exchange controls, or the declaration of a banking moratorium in the United States, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the opinion of the Sole Global Coordinator, acting in good faith, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the Placing or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placing Shares; or (vi) the Acquisition Agreement has lapsed, or been terminated, withdrawn or modified or is amended in any respect which in the opinion of the Sole Global Coordinator, acting in good faith, is material in the context of the Placing or the Admission, save for any Permitted Acquisition Agreement Amendments.
By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise or non-exercise by the Banks of any right of termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Company or the relevant Banks or for agreement between the Company and the Banks (as the case may be) and that neither the Company nor the Banks need make any reference to, or consultation with, Placees and that neither they nor any of their respective Affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees nor any person acting on its behalf shall have any liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise.
No prospectus
No offering document, prospectus or admission document has been or will be prepared or submitted to be approved by the FCA (or any other authority) or submitted to the London Stock Exchange in relation to the Placing and no such prospectus is required (in accordance with the POATR and PRM) to be published in the United Kingdom or any equivalent document in any jurisdiction.
Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of their own assessment of the Company and publicly available information taken together with the information contained in this Announcement, and any Exchange Information (as defined below) previously published by or on behalf of the Company simultaneously with or prior to the date of this Announcement and subject to the further terms set forth in the trade confirmation or contract note to be provided to individual prospective Placees.
Each Placee, by accepting a participation in the Placing, agrees that the content of this Announcement and the publicly available information released by or on behalf of the Company is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms to the Banks and the Company that it has neither received nor relied on any other information, representation, warranty, or statement made by or on behalf of the Company (other than publicly available information) or the Banks or their respective Affiliates or any person acting on its behalf and none of the Banks or the Company, nor any of their respective Affiliates, or any person acting on its behalf will be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement which the Placees may have obtained or received (regardless of whether or not such information, representation, warranty or statement was given or made by or on behalf of any such persons). By participating in the Placing, each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude or limit the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation by that person.
Lock-up
The Company has undertaken to the Banks that, between the date of the Placing Agreement and 90 calendar days after the Closing Date, it will not, without the prior written consent of the Sole Global Coordinator (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) directly or indirectly: (i) issue, allot, offer, lend, mortgage, assign, charge, pledge, sell, contract to sell or issue, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell or issue, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares or any interest in Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or substantially similar to, Shares or any interest in Shares; (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Shares, whether any such swap or transaction described in (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of the Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; or (iii) make any announcement or other publication of the intention to do any of the foregoing or make any filing with respect thereto. The foregoing undertaking shall not apply to: (a) any action required in accordance with this agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Option Agreement, or the Subscription and Transfer Agreement; and (b) the issue of any Shares or options or the grant of any right to acquire Shares pursuant to any employees' share schemes, long term incentive plans, employee share options or bonus plans of the Company, or schemes to provide remuneration in the form of equity instead of cash that exist at the date of this Agreement and which are disclosed in the Accounts.
By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by the Sole Global Coordinator of any power to grant consent to waive the undertaking by the Company of a transaction which would otherwise be subject to the lock-up under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Sole Global Coordinator and it need not make any reference to, or consultation with, Placees and that it shall have no liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise of the power to grant consent.
Registration and settlement
Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN: GB00BMJ6DW54) following Admission will take place within the relevant system administered by Euroclear ("CREST"), using the delivery versus payment mechanism, subject to certain exceptions. Subject to certain exceptions, the Banks and the Company reserve the right to require settlement for, and delivery of, the Placing Shares to Placees by such other means that they deem necessary if delivery or settlement is not practicable in CREST within the timetable set out in this Announcement or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in the Placee's jurisdiction.
Following the close of the Bookbuild for the Placing, each Placee allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a contract note or trade confirmation stating the number of Placing Shares allocated to it at the Placing Price, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee to the relevant Bank and settlement instructions. Placees should settle against CREST ID: 50703 / Member Account: MSLNGB2X. It is expected that such contract note or trade confirmation will be despatched on or around the date of this Announcement and that this will also be the trade date.
Each Placee agrees that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed in accordance with either the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions that it has in place with the relevant Bank.
The Company will deliver the Placing Shares to a CREST account operated by Morgan Stanley as agent for the Company and Morgan Stanley will enter its delivery (DEL) instruction into the CREST system. Morgan Stanley will hold any Placing Shares delivered to this account as nominee for the Placees. The input to CREST by a Placee of a matching or acceptance instruction will then allow delivery of the relevant Placing Shares to that Placee against payment.
It is expected that settlement will be on 8 October 2026 on a T+2 basis in accordance with the instructions given to the Banks. Interest is chargeable daily on payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance with the arrangements set out above at the rate of two percentage points above SONIA as determined by the Banks.
Each Placee agrees that, if it does not comply with these obligations, the Banks may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for the Company's account and benefit, an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. The relevant Placee will, however, remain liable for any shortfall below the aggregate amount owed by it and shall be required to bear any Transfer Taxes which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the trade confirmation or contract note is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that organisation. Insofar as Placing Shares are registered in a Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the name of any person for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or that of a nominee for such person, such Placing Shares should, subject to as provided below, be so registered free from any liability to UK stamp duty or UK stamp duty reserve tax. If there are any circumstances in which any Transfer Taxes are payable in respect of the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of the Placing Shares (or for the avoidance of doubt if any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax is payable in connection with any subsequent transfer of or agreement to transfer Placing Shares), neither the Banks nor the Company shall be responsible for the payment thereof.
Representations and warranties
By submitting a bid and/or participating in the Placing each prospective Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) irrevocably acknowledges, confirms, undertakes, represents, warrants and agrees (as the case may be and for itself and for any such prospective Placee) with the Banks (in their respective capacities as placing agents of the Company in respect of the Placing and to the extent to which they are underwriters of the Placing Shares) and the Company, in each case as a fundamental term of its application for Placing Shares, the following:
The foregoing acknowledgements, agreements, undertakings, representations, warranties, covenants and confirmations are given for the benefit of the Company as well each of the Banks (for their own benefit and, where relevant, the benefit of their respective Affiliates and any person acting on their behalf) and are irrevocable. Each Placee, and any person acting on behalf of a Placee, acknowledges that none of the Banks or the Company owe any fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the Placing Agreement or these terms and conditions.
Please also note that the agreement to allot and issue Placing Shares to Placees (or the persons for whom Placees are contracting as nominee or agent) free of UK stamp duty and UK stamp duty reserve tax relates only to their allotment and issue to Placees, or such persons as they nominate as their agents, direct from the Company for the Placing Shares in question. None of the Company, the Banks or any of their respective Affiliates nor any person acting on its behalf will be responsible for any UK stamp duty or UK stamp duty reserve tax (including any interest, fines and penalties relating thereto) arising in relation to the Placing Shares in any other circumstances.
The agreement referred to above is subject to the representations, warranties and further terms above and also assumes, and is based on a warranty from each Placee, that the Placing Shares are not being subscribed for in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to issue or transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance service. Neither the Banks, the Company nor any of their respective Affiliates nor any person acting on their behalf will be liable to bear any Transfer Taxes that arise (i) if there are any such arrangements (or if any such arrangements arise subsequent to the subscription by Placees for Placing Shares) or (ii) on a sale of Placing Shares, or (iii) otherwise than under the laws of the United Kingdom. Each Placee to whom (or on behalf of whom, or in respect of the person for whom it is participating in the Placing as an agent or nominee) the allocation, allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares has given rise to such Transfer Taxes undertakes to pay such Transfer Taxes forthwith, and agrees to indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold the Banks and/or the Company and their respective Affiliates (as the case may be) and their respective Affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf harmless from any such Transfer Taxes, and all interest, fines or penalties in relation to such Transfer Taxes. Each Placee should, therefore, take its own advice as to whether any such Transfer Tax liability arises.
Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of each Placee acknowledges and agrees that any of the Banks or any of their respective Affiliates may, at their absolute discretion, agree to become a Placee in respect of some or all of the Placing Shares. Each Placee acknowledges and is aware that the Banks are receiving a fee in connection with their role in respect of the Placing as detailed in the Placing Agreement.
When a Placee or person acting on behalf of the Placee is dealing with the Banks, any money held in an account with any of the Banks on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee will not be treated as client money within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the FCA made under the FSMA. The Placee acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections conferred by the client money rules; as a consequence, this money will not be segregated from the relevant Bank's money in accordance with the client money rules and will be used by the relevant Bank in the course of its own business; and the Placee will rank only as a general creditor of the relevant Bank.
All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to amendment by the Banks (in their absolute discretion). The Banks shall notify the Placees and any person acting on behalf of the Placees of any changes.
Past performance is no guide to future performance and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.
The rights and remedies of the Banks and the Company under these Terms and Conditions are in addition to any rights and remedies which would otherwise be available to each of them and the exercise or partial exercise of one will not prevent the exercise of others.
Time is of the essence as regards each Placee's obligations under this Appendix.
Any document that is to be sent to any Placee in connection with the Placing will be sent at its risk and may be sent to it at any address provided by it to the Banks.
Each Placee may be asked to disclose in writing or orally to the Banks:
(a)if he or she is an individual, his or her nationality; or
(b)if he or she is a discretionary fund manager, the jurisdiction in which the funds are managed or owned.
Appendix 2
Definitions
The following definitions apply throughout this Announcement unless the context otherwise requires:
|
Acquisition |
has the meaning given to it in the main body of this Announcement |
|
Acquisition Agreement |
means the acquisition agreement to be entered into between the Company (or any of its Affiliates) and Expo Holdings I Ltd in relation to the Acquisition |
|
Acquisition Announcement |
means the announcement, in the agreed form, giving details of the Acquisition |
|
Admission |
means admission of the new Ordinary Shares to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s main market for listed securities; |
|
Affiliate |
has the meaning given in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act or Rule 405 under the Securities Act, as applicable and, in the case of the Company, includes undertakings; |
|
Banks |
means Morgan Stanley, BofA Securities and Deutsche Bank |
|
Bookbuild |
means the bookbuilding process to be commenced by the Banks to use reasonable endeavours to procure placees for the Placing Shares, as described in this Announcement and subject to the terms and conditions set out in this Announcement and the Placing Agreement; |
|
Closing Date |
means the day on which the transactions effected in connection with the Placing will be settled; |
|
COBS |
means the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; |
|
Company |
Informa plc; |
|
CREST |
means the relevant system (as defined in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 3755)) in respect of which Euroclear is the Operator (as defined in such Regulations) in accordance with which securities may be held and transferred in uncertificated form; |
|
Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules |
means the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules made by the FCA pursuant to Part VI of FSMA; |
|
Euroclear |
means Euroclear UK & International Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales; |
|
FCA or Financial Conduct Authority |
means the UK Financial Conduct Authority; |
|
FSMA |
means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended); |
|
Group |
means the Company and its subsidiary undertakings; |
|
JerseyCo |
Scramble Funding Limited; |
|
London Stock Exchange |
means London Stock Exchange plc; |
|
Material Adverse Change |
means any material adverse effect or change in or affecting, or any development reasonably likely to give rise to or involve a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial, operational, legal or otherwise) or the or earnings, management, business affairs, solvency, credit rating or prospects of the Company or the Group taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business and whether or not foreseeable at the date of this Announcement; |
|
Option Agreement |
means the option agreement entered into between the Company, Morgan Stanley and JerseyCo, on or about the date hereof; |
|
Ordinary Share |
means an ordinary share of 0.1 pence each in the capital of the Company; |
|
Permitted Acquisition Agreement Amendment(s) |
means any amendments to the Acquisition Agreement made with the consent of the Sole Global Coordinator; |
|
Placee |
means any person (including individuals, funds or otherwise) by whom or on whose behalf a commitment to acquire Placing Shares has been given; |
|
Placing |
has the meaning given to it in paragraph 2 of this Announcement; |
|
Placing Agreement |
has the meaning given to it in Appendix 1 to this Announcement; |
|
Placing Price |
means the price per Ordinary Share at which the Placing Shares are placed; |
|
Placing Shares |
means the new Ordinary Shares to be subscribed for by the Placees under the Placing; |
|
POATR |
means the Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2024; |
|
PRA or Prudential Regulation Authority |
means the UK Prudential Regulation Authority; |
|
PRM |
means the Prospectus Rules: Admission to Trading on a Regulated Market Sourcebook of the FCA being the regulated market admission rules referred to in Regulation 14(2) of the POATR; |
|
Pricing Announcement |
means the regulatory information service announcement to be made by the Company following the completion of the Bookbuild, announcing the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares; |
|
Prospectus Regulation |
means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129; |
|
QIB |
means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act; |
|
Regulation S |
means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act; |
|
Rule 144A |
means Rule 144A under the Securities Act; |
|
Securities Act |
means the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended; |
|
Subscription |
means the proposed subscription for new Ordinary Shares by certain directors and senior management of the Company at the Placing Price; |
|
Subscription and Transfer Agreement |
means the subscription and transfer agreement entered into between the Company, Morgan Stanley and JerseyCo on or about the date hereof; |
|
subsidiary |
has the meaning given to that term in the Companies Act 2006; |
|
subsidiary undertaking |
has the meaning given to that term in the Companies Act 2006; |
|
Terms and Conditions |
means the terms and conditions of the Placing set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement; |
|
Terms of Subscription |
means the terms of subscription to be entered into between the Company and the Banks at the conclusion of the Bookbuild, setting out the Placing Price and the final number of Placing Shares, as contemplated by the Placing Agreement; |
|
Transfer Taxes |
means any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or any other similar duties or taxes (including, without limitation, other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, capital, execution, or documentary or other similar imposts, duties or taxes), together with any interest, fines and penalties relating thereto; |
|
UK Listing Rules |
means the listing rules made by the FCA pursuant to Part VI of FSMA; |
|
UK MAR |
means Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No.596/2014 as it forms part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended; |
|
UK Qualified Investor |
means a qualified investor within the meaning of paragraph 15 of Schedule 1 to the POATR; |
|
uncertificated or in uncertificated form |
means in respect of a share or other security, where that share or other security is recorded on the relevant register of the share or security concerned as being held in uncertificated form in CREST and title to which may be transferred by means of CREST; |
|
United Kingdom or UK |
means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and |
|
United States or US |
means the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America, the District of Columbia and all other areas subject to its jurisdiction and any political sub-division thereof. |
Unless otherwise indicated in this Announcement, all references to "£", "GBP", "pounds", "pound sterling", "sterling', "p", "penny" or ''pence" are to the lawful currency of the UK.