NOT
FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY
PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ITS
TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS (INCLUDING PUERTO RICO, THE U.S. VIRGIN
ISLANDS, GUAM, AMERICAN SAMOA, WAKE ISLAND AND THE NORTHERN MARIANA
ISLANDS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITES STATES OF AMERICA AND THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA) OR TO ANY U.S. PERSON OR IN OR INTO ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE, PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE
THIS DOCUMENT
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES
OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU)
596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW OF THE UNITED KINGDOM BY
VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED
("EUWA")
("UK
MAR").
ANNINGTON FUNDING
PLC
(incorporated with limited
liability in England and Wales)
17 DECEMBER
2024
SALE OF mQE UNITS TO mOd -
further details on use of proceeds
In conjunction with the announcement
of the sale of its interest in the Married Quarters Estate to the
Ministry of Defence (the "Transaction"), Annington Funding Plc (the
"Issuer" or the "Offeror" or "Annington") intends to rationalise
the debt capital structure to reflect the new shape of the
Annington group of companies (the "Group"), which includes a
portfolio of pre-existing non-MQE assets and a
long-term business plan of continuing to invest in UK housing
assets.
Annington's current debt profile
Seven series of unsecured fixed rate
notes in a total aggregate amount of £3.354 billion (the "Notes")
are currently outstanding under the Issuer's £5 billion Euro Medium
Term Note Programme (the "EMTN Programme"). The Notes are
guaranteed by Annington Limited ("AL"), Annington
Property Limited ("APL") and Annington Homes Limited ("AHL" and,
together with AL and APL, the "Guarantors" and each a
"Guarantor"), as follows: -
Description of the Notes
|
ISIN
|
Maturity Date
|
Principal outstanding
|
£625,000,000 2.646% Notes due 2025
(the "2025 Notes")
|
XS1645518496
|
12 July 2025
|
£169 million
|
£600,000,000 3.184% Notes due 2029
(the "2029 Notes")
|
XS1645518652
|
12 July 2029
|
£600 million
|
£400,000,000 2.308% Notes due 2032
(the "2032 Notes")
|
XS2393618389
|
6 October 2032
|
£400 million
|
£400,000,000 4.750%. Notes due 2033
(the "2033 Notes")
|
XS2513869862
|
9 August 2033
|
£400 million
|
£625,000,000 3.685% Notes due 2034
(the "2034 Notes")
|
XS1645518736
|
12 July 2034
|
£625 million
|
£760,000,000 3.935% Notes due 2047
(the "2047 Notes")
|
XS1645518819
|
12 July 2047
|
£760 million
|
£400,000,000 2.924% Notes due 2051
(the "2051 Notes")
|
XS2393618462
|
6 October 2051
|
£400 million
|
The Notes have a weighted average
maturity of 12.9 years and a weighted average cost of debt of
3.47%.
Additionally, the Issuer is party to
a £400 million floating rate term loan facility which is guaranteed
by the Guarantors and is due to mature in 2028 (the "Term Loan")
and a £100m revolving credit facility which is
undrawn ("Revolving Credit Facility").
Annington's current capital
structure provides highly attractive pricing against the prevailing
market back-drop and the continuing higher interest rate
environment that is forecast to endure in the medium and longer
term. Combined with the ability to acquire high quality real estate
assets, the current capital structure provides considerable
opportunity and potential value for the Group going forward.
Capital can be employed by the Group to achieve attractive levered
returns from the acquisition of real estate assets in the UK
residential sector, which would be significantly higher relative to
the returns available to investors acquiring the same assets with
higher costs of funding on current market terms.
Use
of Transaction proceeds
Given the significant changes to the
asset structure of Annington, following the Transaction, the Group
provides noteholders with an opportunity to reassess their exposure
to Annington and opt for an early realisation of their holdings.
The proceeds from the Transaction will be used to reshape the
Group's balance sheet and rationalise the current debt structure as
described below. This will be achieved by repaying a portion of the
outstanding debt of the Group through a combination of tender
offers in respect of certain series of Notes, and the redemption of
certain other series of Notes in accordance with their respective
terms and the repayment of the Term Loan, all as further described
below.
Proceeds from the Transaction that
are not applied to rationalising the debt structure will then be
utilised to provide capital to support the business
plan of the Group going forward, allowing it to invest in new property investments through the
acquisition of residential real estate assets, to produce an attractive levered yield to the
Group. Surplus capital from the Transaction will be utilised to make
a dividend payment to the Group's shareholders.
Tender Offers, Repurchases, and Debt
Redemption
The Issuer announces the launch of
tender offers (the "Offers") to the holders of the 2029 Notes, the
2032 Notes, the 2034 Notes, the 2047 Notes and the 2051 Notes
(together, the "Tender Offer Notes") to tender any and all of their
Tender Offer Notes for purchase by the Issuer for cash as further
detailed below.
Description of the Tender
Offer Notes
|
Benchmark
|
Purchase
Spread
|
Early Tender
Payment
(1)
|
Indicative Early Tender
Purchase Spread (2)
|
Amount Subject to the
Offers
|
2029 Notes
|
4.125 per cent. UK Treasury Gilt due
July 2029 (ISIN: GB00BQC82B83
|
+45 bps
|
1.00 per
cent
|
+19
bps
|
Any and
all
|
2032 Notes
|
4.25 per cent. UK Treasury Gilt due
June 2032 (ISIN: GB0004893086)
|
+45 bps
|
1.00 per
cent
|
+28
bps
|
Any and
all
|
2034 Notes
|
4.25 per cent. UK Treasury Gilt due
July 2034 (ISIN: GB00BQC82C90)
|
+45 bps
|
1.00 per
cent
|
+31
bps
|
Any and
all
|
2047 Notes
|
1.50 per cent. UK Treasury Gilt due
July 2047 (ISIN: GB00BDCHBW80)
|
+45 bps
|
1.00 per
cent
|
+36
bps
|
Any and
all
|
2051 Notes
|
1.25 per cent. UK Treasury Gilt due
July 2051 (ISIN: GB00BLH38158)
|
+45 bps
|
1.00 per
cent
|
+36
bps
|
Any and
all
|
Notes:
(1)
Calculated based on the
principal amount of the Tender Offer Notes that are the subject of
the relevant Tender Instruction, which will be payable to
Noteholders in the circumstances described in "Terms and Conditions of the Offers-Early
Tender Payment".
(2)
Indicative only,
based on relevant Benchmark Rates as of close of business on 16
December 2024.
The Offers are subject to the
conditions set out in the tender offer memorandum dated 17 December
2024 (the "Tender Offer Memorandum") (including the closing of the
Transaction (the "Financing Condition")) prepared in connection
with the Offers and are subject to the offer and distribution
restrictions set out below.
This section (Tender Offers, repurchases and debt
redemption) and Annex 1 of the announcement must be read in
conjunction with the Tender Offer Memorandum which has been
prepared by the Issuer in relation to the Offers. Capitalised terms
used in this section (Tender
Offers, repurchases and debt redemption) and Annex 1 of this
announcement and not otherwise defined have the meanings given to
them in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
Background and Invitation
On the terms and subject to the
conditions contained in the Tender Offer Memorandum, the Offeror
separately invites Noteholders (subject to the offer and
distribution restrictions set out below) to tender their Tender
Offer Notes for purchase by the Offeror for cash at the relevant
Purchase Price plus the Accrued Interest Payment.
Pursuant to the Offers and subject
to the right of the Offeror to extend, terminate, withdraw or amend
the terms and conditions of the Offers as described herein, the
Offeror proposes to accept for purchase any and all of the Tender
Offer Notes.
The Offeror reserves the right, in
its sole and absolute discretion, not to accept any Tender
Instructions, not to purchase any Tender Offer Notes or to extend,
re-open, withdraw or terminate the Offers and to amend or waive any
of the terms and conditions of the Offers in any manner, subject to
applicable laws and regulations.
In addition, Noteholders who validly
tender their Tender Offer Notes before the Early Tender Deadline on
23rd December 2024 will receive a further £10 per £1,000
of the applicable Tender Offer Notes accepted for purchase in
consideration.
This pricing has been selected to
provide to holders of the Tender Offer Notes an option to cash out
their positions at a significant premium to their respective
trading prices prior to the announcement of the
Transaction.
The Issuer has also announced today,
subject to the Financing Condition, the redemption of the following
series of Notes in accordance with their respective terms and
conditions, including with regards to the applicable redemption
price:
Maturity
|
Redemption Provision
|
2025 Notes
|
Higher of UKT 5.00% Mar-25 + 25bps
or par
|
2033 Notes
|
Higher of UKT 0.875% Jul-33 + 45bps
or par
|
Finally, Annington will repay the
Term Loan and cancel the Revolving Credit Facility.
The repayment of the Term Loan,
redemption of the two tranches and the Offers are expected to all
settle on 14th January 2025. The Revolving Credit
Facility is also expected to be cancelled on 14th
January 2025.
The Offeror does not intend to
exercise its rights voluntarily to redeem any Tender Offer Notes
that are not tendered in the Offers. Any Notes that are not
repurchased or redeemed by Annington in accordance with the
proposals described above will remain outstanding and will instead
remain on the balance sheet to support Annington's long term
business plan, through investment in real estate assets.
Tender Offer Notes purchased by the
Issuer pursuant to the Offers will be cancelled and will not be
re-issued or re-sold. Tender Offer Notes which have not been
validly offered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers
will remain outstanding.
Please see Annex 1 of this
announcement for further details of the Offers.
Long term business plan
Following completion of the
Transaction and the reshaping of the Group's capital structure and
rationalisation of the Group's current debt structure as described
above, Annington will continue to be a property investment company
with a business plan to invest in UK
residential real estate assets. With over
two decades of experience in the UK private rental and housing
markets, Annington is a well-established real estate investor,
equipped with a deep technical skillset and a proven track record.
With the support of its shareholders, Annington's objective remains
to acquire stable, high-quality assets with attractive
yields. Since 1996, Annington has
successfully refurbished nearly 20,000 properties, returning them
to the national housing stock. Additionally, Annington continues to
manage its non-MQE asset base, which remains a core part of its
portfolio.
Following completion of the
Transaction and the completion of the Offers and redemption
processes, Annington intends to ensure the
principal of its outstanding remaining Notes is around 55% of the
value of its cash, property, and other assets. The exact size of the balance sheet will depend
upon the uptake of the tender offer.
Sufficient capital will be
maintained within the Group to support further investments, and to
ensure continued compliance with the financial covenants and the other terms and conditions of the
remaining outstanding Notes. The Issuer expects to continue to make
all payments of principal and interest on the remaining outstanding
Notes as and when due.
Annington does not anticipate
conducting refinancings in the market in the near term, and will
instead pay interest, and repay maturities, on the remaining
outstanding Notes as and when they fall due from cash balances, net
rental income and / or realisations from its
portfolio.
Notice of investor update conference
call
The Issuer also gives notice to the
Noteholders of an investor update conference (the "Call") which
will be held at 10:00 a.m. (London time) on Tuesday 17th
December 2024 and will be presented by the Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer.
The Issuer will not be able to take
any questions on the Call.
To pre-register, please
click here and register at any
time before the Call. A link will also be made available on the
Annington website (www.annington.co.uk)
prior to the Call. (Alternatively, type the following web address
into your browser to register for the Call https:/event.loopup.com/SelfRegistration/registration.aspx?booking=WQhNxl0qmjMsGUDL6kNnvBaUQIG5gf0bDHoT6w0imAY=&b=2389e96d-457b-46a8-bebb-fec356d5b031__;!!KhposeJF9Q!RGOR7x2sJqn_U4sgEDhAnekYJrhMiOP-fGAGlGHjdRpsM_PEvX-Rz33w8YHH6SlG7TEuvx-h61m_q1vdJtrihZbiKw$)
A transcript of the Call will be
made available on our website in due course.
We will publish a list of Q&A's
on our website shortly after the release of this RNS.
Stephen Leung
Chief Financial Officer
Media Enquiries:
Annington@brunswickgroup.com
Annington Funding plc
Hays Lane House
1 Hays Lane
London
SE1 2HB
Questions and requests for
assistance in connection with the Offers may be directed
to:
THE DEALER
MANAGERS
|
Barclays Bank
PLC
1
Churchill Place
London E14 5HP
United Kingdom
|
Goldman Sachs
International
Plumtree
Court
25 Shoe Lane
London EC4A 4AU
United Kingdom
|
Telephone: +44 20 3134 8515
Email: eu.lm@barclays.com
Attention: Liability Management Group
|
Telephone: +44 20 7552 2320
Email:
liabilitymanagement.eu@gs.com
Attention: Liability Management Group
|
J.P. Morgan Securities
plc 25 Bank Street
Canary Wharf
London E14 5JP
|
NatWest Markets
Plc 250 Bishopsgate
London EC2M 4AA
|
Telephone: +44 20 7134 2468
Email:
liability_management_EMEA@jpmorgan.com
Attention: EMEA Liability Management Group
|
Telephone: +44 20 7678 5222
Email:
NWMLiabilityManagement@natwestmarkets.com
Attention: Liability Management Group
|
Questions and request for assistance
in connection with the delivery of Tender Instructions including
requests for a copy of the Tender Offer Memorandum may be directed
to:
THE TENDER
AGENT
Kroll Issuer Services
Limited
The
Shard
32 London
Bridge Street
London
SE1 9SG
Tel: +44
207 704 0880
Attention: Owen Morris
Email:
annington@is.kroll.com
Tender
Offer Website: https://deals.is.kroll.com/annington
Each Noteholder is solely
responsible for making its own independent appraisal of all matters
as such Noteholder deems appropriate (including those relating to
the Offers, the Tender Offer Notes, the Offeror and the Guarantors)
and each Noteholder must make its own decision, based upon its own
judgement and having obtained advice from such financial,
accounting, legal and tax advisers as it may deem necessary, as to
whether to tender any or all of its Tender Offer Notes for purchase
pursuant to the Offers.
None of the Dealer Managers, the
Tender Agent or any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or affiliates assumes any responsibility for the
accuracy or completeness of the information concerning the Offers
contained in this announcement or in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
None of the Dealer Managers, the Tender Agent, the Offeror, the
Guarantors or any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or affiliates is acting for any Noteholder, or
will be responsible to any Noteholder for providing any protections
which would be afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the Offers, and accordingly none of the Dealer
Managers, the Tender Agent, the Guarantors or any of their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates
assumes any responsibility for any failure by the Offeror to
disclose information with regard to the Offeror or the Tender Offer
Notes which is material in the context of the Offers and which is
not otherwise publicly available.
None of the Dealer Managers, the
Tender Agent, the Offeror, the Guarantors or any of their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates
makes any representation or recommendation whatsoever regarding the
Offers, or any recommendation as to whether Noteholders should
tender Tender Offer Notes in the Offers.
Disclaimer
This announcement must be read in
conjunction with the Tender Offer Memorandum. This announcement and
the Tender Offer Memorandum contain important information which
should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect
to the Offers. If any Noteholder is in any doubt as to the contents
of this announcement or the Tender Offer Memorandum or the action
it should take, it is recommended to seek its own financial and
legal advice, including in respect of any tax consequences,
immediately from its stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor,
accountant or other independent financial, tax or legal
adviser.
Offer and Distribution Restrictions
Neither this announcement nor the
Tender Offer Memorandum constitutes an invitation to participate in
the Offers in any jurisdiction in which, or to any person to or
from whom, it is unlawful to make such invitation or for there to
be such participation under applicable securities laws and
regulations. The distribution of this announcement and the Tender
Offer Memorandum in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by laws
and regulations. Persons into whose possession either this
announcement or the Tender Offer Memorandum comes are required by
each of the Offeror, the Guarantors, the Dealer Managers and the
Tender Agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such
restrictions.
United States
The Offers are not being made and
will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of
the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality of interstate or
foreign commerce of, or of any facilities of a national securities
exchange of, the United States or to any U.S. Person (as defined in
Regulation S of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (each a "U.S. Person")). This includes, but is not limited
to, facsimile transmission, electronic mail, telex, telephone, the
internet and other forms of electronic communication. Accordingly,
copies of this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum and any
other documents or materials relating to the Offers are not being,
and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise
transmitted, distributed or forwarded (including, without
limitation, by custodians, nominees or trustees) in or into the
United States or to a U.S. Person and the Tender Offer Notes cannot
be tendered in the Offers by any such use, means, instrumentality
or facility or from or within or by persons located or resident in
the United States or by any U.S. Person. Any purported tender of
Tender Offer Notes in the Offers resulting directly or indirectly
from a violation of these restrictions will be invalid and any
purported tender of Tender Offer Notes made by a person located in
the United States, a U.S. Person, by any person acting for the
account or benefit of a U.S. Person, or by any agent, fiduciary or
other intermediary acting on a non-discretionary basis for a
principal giving instructions from within the United States will be
invalid and will not be accepted.
Each holder of Tender Offer Notes
participating in the Offers will represent that it is not a U.S.
Person located in the United States and is not participating in the
Offers from the United States, or it is acting on a
non-discretionary basis for a principal located outside the United
States that is not giving an order to participate in the Offers
from the United States and who is not a U.S. Person. For the
purposes of this and the above paragraph, "United States" means the
United States of America, its territories and possessions
(including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands), any state of
the United States of America and the District of
Columbia.
United Kingdom
The communication of this
announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum and any other documents
or materials relating to the Offers are not being made, and such
documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorised
person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and
Markets Act 2000. Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are
not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general
public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents
and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being made to
those persons in the United Kingdom falling within the definition
of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order
2005, as amended (the "Financial Promotion Order")) or persons who
are within Article 43(2) or 49 of the Financial Promotion Order or
any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made under
the Financial Promotion Order.
France
This announcement, the Tender Offer
Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the
Offers have only been or shall only be distributed in the Republic
of France ("France") to qualified investors within the meaning of
Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended (the
"Prospectus Regulation"). The Tender Offer Memorandum and any
other document or material relating to the Offers have not been and
will not be submitted for clearance to nor approved by the
Autorité des marchés
financiers.
Belgium
Neither this announcement, the
Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other documents or materials
relating to the Offers have been submitted to or will be submitted
for approval or recognition to the Belgian Financial Services and
Markets Authority and, accordingly, the Offers may not be made in
Belgium by way of a public offering, as defined in Articles 3 and 6
of the Belgian Law of 1 April 2007 on public takeover bids, as
amended or replaced from time to time. Accordingly, the Offers may
not be advertised and the Offers will not be extended, and neither
this announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other
documents or materials relating to the Offers (including any
memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar
documents) have been or shall be distributed or made available,
directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium other than
"qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the
Prospectus Regulation. The Offers may not be advertised and the
Offers will not be extended, and neither this announcement, the
Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other documents or materials
relating to the Offers (including any memorandum, information
circular, brochure or any similar documents) has been or shall be
distributed or made available, directly or indirectly, to any
individual in Belgium qualifying as a consumer within the meaning
of Article I.1 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law, as amended from
time to time.
Italy
None of the Offers, this
announcement, the Tender Offer Memorandum or any other documents or
materials relating to the Offers have been or will be submitted to
the clearance procedure of the Commissione Nazionale per le Società
e la Borsa ("CONSOB") pursuant to Italian laws and
regulations.
The Offers are being carried out in
the Republic of Italy ("Italy") as an exempted offer pursuant to
article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58
of 24 February 1998, as amended (the "Financial Services Act") and
article 35-bis, paragraph 4, of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14
May 1999, as amended.
Noteholders or beneficial owners of
the Tender Offer Notes that are resident and/or located in Italy
can tender some or all of their Tender Offer Notes pursuant to the
Offers through authorised persons (such as investment firms, banks
or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in
Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB
Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended from time to
time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993, as
amended) and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or
with requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian
authority.
Each intermediary must comply with
the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties
vis-à-vis its clients in connection with the Notes or the
Offers.
General
Neither this announcement, the
Tender Offer Memorandum nor the electronic transmission thereof
constitutes an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell
Tender Offer Notes (and tenders of Tender Offer Notes for purchase
pursuant to the Offers will not be accepted from Noteholders) in
any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.
In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws
require the Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer and
any of the Dealer Managers or any of their respective affiliates is
such a licensed broker or dealer in any such jurisdiction, the
Offers shall be deemed to be made by such Dealer Manager or such
affiliate, as the case may be, on behalf of the Offeror in such
jurisdiction.
In addition to the representations
referred to above in respect of the United States, each Noteholder
participating in the Offers will be deemed to give certain
representations in respect of the other jurisdictions referred to
above and generally as set out in "Procedures for Participating in
the Offers". Any tender of Tender Offer Notes for purchase pursuant
to the Offers from a Noteholder that is unable to make these
representations will not be accepted.
Each of the Offeror, the Guarantors,
the Dealer Managers and the Tender Agent reserves the right, in its
sole and absolute discretion, to investigate, in relation to any
tender of Tender Offer Notes for purchase pursuant to the Offers
whether any such representation given by a Noteholder is correct
and, if such investigation is undertaken and as a result the
Offeror determines (for any reason) that such representation is not
correct, such tender or submission may be rejected.
MAR
This announcement is released by
Annington Funding plc and contains information that qualified or
may have qualified as inside information for the purposes of
Article 7 of UK MAR. For the purposes of UK MAR and Article 2 of
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1055 as it forms part
of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA, this
announcement is made by Stephen Leung, Chief Financial Officer of
Annington Limited.
Annex 1
DETAILS OF THE
OFFERS
This Annex 1 must be read in
conjunction with the Tender Offer Memorandum which has been
prepared by the Offeror in relation to the Offers. Capitalised
terms used in this Annex 1 and not otherwise defined have the
meanings given to them in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
Purchase
Price
2029 Notes
The Offeror will pay, for each of
the 2029 Notes accepted by it, a price (the "2029 Notes Purchase
Price") to be determined at or about 11 a.m. (London time)
(the "Pricing
Time") on 8 January 2025 (the
"Pricing Date") in the manner described in the Tender Offer
Memorandum by reference to a yield (such yield, the "2029 Notes
Purchase Yield") calculated as the sum of the 2029 Notes Purchase
Spread and the 2029 Notes Benchmark Rate.
The 2029 Notes Purchase Price will
be determined by the Offeror (in consultation with the Dealer
Managers) in accordance with market convention and expressed as a
percentage of the nominal amount of the 2029 Notes.
The 2029 Notes Purchase Price will
equal (a) the present value of all remaining payments of principal
and interest on each 2029 Note up to and including the 2029 Notes
Maturity Date, discounted to the Settlement Date at a discount rate
equal to the 2029 Notes Purchase Yield, minus (b) the Accrued
Interest.
2032 Notes
The Offeror will pay, for each of
the 2032 Notes accepted by it, a price (the "2032 Notes Purchase
Price") to be determined at the Pricing Time on the Pricing Date in
the manner described in the Tender Offer Memorandum by reference to
a yield (such yield, the "2032 Notes Purchase Yield") calculated as
the sum of the 2032 Notes Purchase Spread and the 2032 Notes
Benchmark Rate.
The 2032 Notes Purchase Price will
be determined by the Offeror (in consultation with the Dealer
Managers) in accordance with market convention and expressed as a
percentage of the nominal amount of the 2032 Notes.
The 2032 Notes Purchase Price will
equal (a) the present value of all remaining payments of principal
and interest on each 2032 Note up to and including the 2032 Notes
Maturity Date, discounted to the Settlement Date at a discount rate
equal to the 2032 Notes Purchase Yield, minus (b) the Accrued
Interest.
2034 Notes
The Offeror will pay, for each of
the 2034 Notes accepted by it, a price (the "2034 Notes Purchase
Price") to be determined at or about the Pricing Time on the
Pricing Date in the manner described in the Tender Offer Memorandum
by reference to a yield (such yield, the "2034 Notes Purchase
Yield") calculated as the sum of the 2034 Notes Purchase Spread and
the 2034 Notes Benchmark Rate.
The 2034 Notes Purchase Price will
be determined by the Offeror (in consultation with the Dealer
Managers) in accordance with market convention and expressed as a
percentage of the nominal amount of the 2034 Notes.
The 2034 Notes Purchase Price will
equal (a) the present value of all remaining payments of principal
and interest on each 2034 Note up to and including the 2034 Notes
Maturity Date, discounted to the Settlement Date at a discount rate
equal to the 2034 Notes Purchase Yield, minus (b) the Accrued
Interest.
2047 Notes
The Offeror will pay, for each of
the 2047 Notes accepted by it, a price (the "2047 Notes Purchase
Price") to be determined at or about the Pricing Time on the
Pricing Date in the manner described in the Tender Offer Memorandum
by reference to a yield (such yield, the "2047 Notes Purchase
Yield") calculated as the sum of the 2047 Notes Purchase Spread and
the 2047 Notes Benchmark Rate.
The 2047 Notes Purchase Price will
be determined by the Offeror (in consultation with the Dealer
Managers) in accordance with market convention and expressed as a
percentage of the nominal amount of the 2047 Notes.
The 2047 Notes Purchase Price will
equal (a) the present value of all remaining payments of principal
and interest on each 2047 Note up to and including the 2047 Notes
Maturity Date, discounted to the Settlement Date at a discount rate
equal to the 2047 Notes Purchase Yield, minus (b) the Accrued
Interest.
2051 Notes
The Offeror will pay, for each of
the 2051 Notes accepted by it, a price (the "2051 Notes Purchase
Price") to be determined at or about the Pricing Time on the
Pricing Date in the manner described in the Tender Offer Memorandum
by reference to a yield (such yield, the "2051 Notes Purchase
Yield") calculated as the sum of the 2051 Notes Purchase Spread and
the 2051 Notes Benchmark Rate.
The 2051 Notes Purchase Price will
be determined by the Offeror (in consultation with the Dealer
Managers) in accordance with market convention and expressed as a
percentage of the nominal amount of the 2051 Notes.
The 2051 Notes Purchase Price will
equal (a) the present value of all remaining payments of principal
and interest on each 2051 Note up to and including the 2051 Notes
Maturity Date, discounted to the Settlement Date at a discount rate
equal to the 2051 Notes Purchase Yield, minus (b) the Accrued
Interest.
Accrued Interest
Payment
In addition to the relevant Purchase
Price, in respect of all Tender Offer Notes validly tendered and
delivered and accepted for purchase by the Offeror pursuant to the
Offers, the Offeror will pay Accrued Interest.
Early Tender
Payment
The holders of all Tender Offer
Notes validly tendered and delivered and accepted for purchase by
the Offeror pursuant to the Offers prior to 4:00 p.m. (London Time)
on 23 December 2024 (the "Early Tender Deadline"), will be eligible
to receive £10 per £1000 of the applicable
Tender Offer Notes (the "Early Tender
Payment") in addition to the applicable Purchase Price and Accrued
Interest. The Offeror is entitled to extend or waive the
Early Tender Deadline at is sole discretion.
Tender Instructions
In order to participate in, and be
eligible to receive the relevant Purchase Price pursuant to the
Offers, Noteholders must validly tender their Tender Offer Notes by
delivering, or arranging to have delivered on their behalf, a valid
Tender Instruction that is received by the Tender Agent by
the Expiration Deadline. Tender Instructions will be irrevocable
except in the limited circumstances described in the Tender Offer
Memorandum.
Tender Instructions must be
submitted in respect of a minimum nominal amount of the Tender
Offer Notes of no less than £100,000 plus integral multiples of
£1,000.
Financing
Condition
The acceptance for purchase by the
Offeror of Tender Offer Notes validly tendered pursuant to the
Offers is at the sole discretion of the Offeror and is subject,
without limitation, to the Financing Condition.
The Offeror is entitled to amend or
waive the Financing Condition at its sole discretion.
Rights of the
Offeror
Subject to applicable laws and
regulations and as provided in the Tender Offer Memorandum, the
Offeror may, in its sole and absolute discretion, extend, re-open,
withdraw or terminate the Offers and amend or waive any of the
terms and conditions of the Offers at any time before the
announcement of the acceptance of the Tender Offer Notes validly
tendered and may, in its sole and absolute discretion, waive any of
the conditions to the Offers either before or after such
announcement.
Expected Transaction Timeline
Date
|
Action
|
17 December 2024
|
Commencement of the
Offers
Offers announced by way of
announcements on the relevant Notifying News Service and through
the Clearing Systems.
Tender Offer Memorandum available
from the Tender Agent.
|
17 December 2024
|
Notice of the Issuer Call
Optional Redemption
Issuer Call Optional Redemption
announced by way of announcements on the relevant Notifying News
Service and through the Clearing Systems.
|
4:00 p.m (London time) on 23
December 2024
|
Early Tender
Deadline
Deadline for receipt by the Tender
Agent of Tender Instructions from Noteholders in order to be
eligible for the Early Tender Payment.
|
|
|
4:00 p.m. (London time) on 7 January
2025
|
Expiration
Deadline
Deadline for receipt by the Tender
Agent of all Tender Instructions in order for Noteholders to be
able to participate in the Offers.
|
At or around 11:00 a.m. (London
time) on 8 January 2025
|
Pricing Time
Determination of the relevant
Benchmark Rate and the relevant Purchase Price for the Tender Offer
Notes.
|
As soon as reasonably practicable
after the Pricing Time
|
Announcement of Final Results
of Offers
Announcement of whether the Offeror
will accept valid tenders of Tender Offer Notes pursuant to the
Offers and, if so accepted, (i) the relevant Purchase Price, (ii)
the Accrued Interest in respect of the Tender Offer Notes,
(iii) the Final Acceptance Amount and (iv)
the aggregate nominal amount of the Tender Offer Notes that will
remain outstanding following completion of the Offers.
|
8 January 2025
|
Issuer Call Optional
Redemption Reference Date
The date to be used for the purposes
of the calculation of the Optional Redemption Amount.
|
8 January 2025
|
Announcement of Optional
Redemption Amount
Announcement of the Optional
Redemption Amount calculated by reference to the Issuer Call
Optional Redemption Reference Date.
|
9 January 2025
|
Transaction Closing
Date
Expected completion date for the
Transaction.
|
14 January 2025
|
Expected Settlement Date and
Optional Redemption Date
Expected Settlement Date for the
Offers. Payment of the relevant Purchase Price and Accrued Interest
Payment in respect of Tender Offer Notes accepted for purchase
pursuant to the Offers.
Optional Redemption Date for the
Issuer Call Optional Redemption. Payment of the relevant Optional
Redemption Amount in respect of the Redemption Notes in connection
with the Issuer Call Optional Redemption.
|
The above times and dates are
subject to the right of the Offeror to extend, re-open, amend,
withdraw and/or terminate the Offers (subject to applicable law
and as provided in the Tender Offer Memorandum). Noteholders are
advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other
intermediary through which they hold Notes when such intermediary
would need to receive instructions from a Noteholder in order for
that Noteholder to be able to participate in, or (in the limited
circumstances in which revocation is permitted) revoke their
instruction to participate in, the Offers, before the deadlines
specified in the Tender Offer Memorandum. The deadlines set by any such intermediary and
each Clearing System for the submission of Tender Instructions will
be earlier than the relevant deadlines specified
above.
Further Information
A complete description of the terms
and conditions of the Offers is set out in the Tender Offer
Memorandum. Barclays Bank PLC, Goldman Sachs International, J.P.
Morgan Securities plc and NatWest Markets Plc are acting as the
dealer managers (the "Dealer
Managers") for the Offers. Kroll Issuer Services Limited is
acting as Tender Agent.