NOT
FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO
DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR
REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT A PROSPECTUS, A
PROSPECTUS EQUIVALENT DOCUMENT OR A PROSPECTUS EXEMPT DOCUMENT AND
LTG SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY DECISION IN RELATION TO THE
ROLLOVER SECURITIES EXCEPT ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION IN THE
SCHEME DOCUMENT
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 December
2024
RECOMMENDED
ACQUISITION
of
Learning Technologies Group
plc
by
Leopard UK Bidco
Limited
(a newly formed company owned
by funds managed by GASC APF, L.P. and certain of its managed funds
(including Atlantic Park), accounts and/or
affiliates)
to be implemented by means of a scheme of
arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
Publication of Scheme Document
On 4 December 2024, the board of
Leopard UK Bidco Limited ("Bidco") and the Independent Directors
of Learning Technologies Group plc ("LTG") announced that they had reached
agreement on the terms and conditions of a recommended acquisition
by Bidco for the entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share
capital of LTG (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is being
implemented by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "2006 Act") (the "Scheme").
LTG is pleased to announce that a
circular in relation to the Scheme (the "Scheme Document") containing, amongst
other things, a letter from the Senior Independent Director of LTG,
the full terms and conditions of the Scheme including the
Alternative Offers, an explanatory statement pursuant to section
897 of the 2006 Act, an expected timetable of principal events,
notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting and details of
the actions to be taken by LTG Shareholders, has been published
today (subject to any restrictions relating to persons resident in
Restricted Jurisdictions) on LTG's website at
https://ltgplc.com/offer-microsite/
and Bidco's website at https://announcements-ga.com/.
Hard copies of the Scheme Document,
the Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting
and a Form of Election in respect of the Alternative Offers (for
LTG Shareholders who hold their LTG Shares in certificated form)
are being sent to LTG Shareholders. For information purposes only,
LTG is also making these documents available to persons with
information rights and participants in the LTG Share Plans and
details of the proposals being made to such participants will be
sent to them separately as detailed below.
Capitalised terms used in this
announcement (the "Announcement") shall, unless otherwise
defined, have the same meanings as set out in the Scheme Document.
All references to times in this Announcement are to London, United
Kingdom times unless otherwise stated.
Action required and notices of the Court Meeting and General
Meeting
As further detailed in the Scheme
Document, in order to become Effective, the Scheme will require,
among other things: (i) approval by a majority in number of LTG
Scheme Shareholders present and voting either in person or by proxy
at the Court Meeting (or any adjournment thereof), which has been
convened by an order of the Court, such majority representing not
less than 75 per cent. in value of the LTG Scheme Shares voted by
such LTG Scheme Shareholders; and (ii) the passing of the Special
Resolution by LTG Shareholders present and voting representing at
least 75 per cent. of the votes cast at the General Meeting (either
in person or by proxy). The Scheme is also subject to the
satisfaction or (where applicable) waiver of the Conditions and
further terms that are set out in the Scheme Document.
Notices convening the Court Meeting
and General Meeting to be held at the offices of Deutsche Numis at
45 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7BF at 10.00 a.m. and 10.15 a.m.
(or, if later, as soon as the Court Meeting has been concluded or
adjourned), respectively, on 16 January 2025 are set out in the
Scheme Document.
Any changes to the arrangements for
the Court Meeting and the General Meeting will be communicated to
the LTG Scheme Shareholders and LTG Shareholders before the
relevant Meetings, through LTG's website at
https://ltgplc.com/offer-microsite/
and by announcement through a Regulatory
Information Service.
It is important that, for the Court
Meeting in particular, as many votes as possible are cast so that
the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair and reasonable
representation of the opinion of LTG Scheme Shareholders. LTG
Scheme Shareholders and LTG Shareholders are therefore strongly
encouraged to submit proxy appointments for the Court Meeting and
the General Meeting using any of the methods set out in the Scheme
Document (by post or electronically through CREST) as soon as
possible and in any event so that the proxy appointments are
received no later than 10.00 a.m. on 14 January 2025 in the case of
the Court Meeting and 10.15 a.m. on 14 January 2025 in the case of
the General Meeting or, in the case of any adjournment, not later
than 48 hours before the time set for the adjourned Meeting(s)
(excluding any non-working days).
Recommendation
Cash Offer
The Independent LTG Directors, who
have been so advised by Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Numis as to the
financial terms of the Cash Offer, consider the terms of the Cash
Offer to be fair and reasonable. In providing their advice to the
Independent LTG Directors, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Numis have
taken into account the commercial assessments of the Independent
LTG Directors. Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Numis are providing
independent financial advice to the Independent LTG Directors for
the purposes of Rule 3 of the Code.
Accordingly, the Independent LTG
Directors unanimously recommend that LTG Shareholders vote in
favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Special
Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting (or, in the event
that the Acquisition is implemented by way of an Offer, to accept
such Offer), as those Independent LTG Directors who hold or are
beneficially entitled to LTG Shares have each irrevocably
undertaken to do in respect of all of their (and their connected
persons') LTG Shares being, in aggregate, a total of 13,897,147 LTG
Shares (representing approximately 1.75 per cent. of the existing
issued ordinary share capital of LTG on 18 December 2024, being the
latest practicable date prior to the date of the Scheme
Document).
On the basis that the proposal from
General Atlantic reflected Andrew Brode and Jonathan Satchell each
providing an irrevocable undertaking to support the Acquisition and
to elect for an Alternative Offer in respect of all or
substantially all of their shareholdings, the LTG Board formed an
independent committee comprising all LTG Directors excluding Andrew
Brode and Jonathan Satchell to consider the proposal. The
Independent LTG Directors benefitted from the experience of both
executive and non-executive members of the LTG Board and the
independent committee includes all independent members of the LTG
Board. The Independent LTG Directors considered the proposal from
General Atlantic and Bidco and the financial advice received from
Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Numis to assess their recommendation.
Neither Andrew Brode nor Jonathan Satchell has participated in the
decision to make the recommendation referred to above.
Alternative
Offers
Bidco is separately making available
the Alternative Offers and eligible LTG Scheme Shareholders may
elect for either (but not both) of the Alternative Offers in
respect of some or all of their LTG Scheme Shares as an alternative
to the cash consideration payable in connection with the Cash
Offer.
Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Numis are
unable to advise the Independent LTG Directors as to whether or not
the financial terms of either Alternative Offer are fair and
reasonable. This is because of the significant and variable impact
the disadvantages and advantages of the Alternative Offers may have
for individual LTG Scheme Shareholders, as further described in the
Scheme Document. In addition, neither Goldman Sachs nor Deutsche
Numis has had any involvement in the development and/or validation
of any financial projections for Topco, the Topco Group or the
Group. As a result, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Numis have been
unable to assess any plans that Topco may have for the development
of Topco, the Topco Group or the Group to the degree necessary to
form an assessment of the value of either Alternative
Offer.
Accordingly, the Independent LTG
Directors are unable to form an opinion as to whether or not the
terms of either Alternative Offer are fair and reasonable. The
Independent LTG Directors are not making any recommendation to LTG
Scheme Shareholders as to whether or not they should elect for an
Alternative Offer and they are not making any recommendation to LTG
Shareholders between Alternative Offer 1 and Alternative Offer 2.
When deciding whether or not to elect for an Alternative Offer in
respect of all or part of their holding of LTG Scheme Shares, LTG
Scheme Shareholders should consider carefully the risk factors set
out in the Scheme Document as well as the disadvantages and
advantages of electing for either of the Alternative Offers as
set out in the Scheme document. LTG Scheme Shareholders should also
ascertain whether acquiring or holding of Loan Notes and Rollover
Securities is permitted under and/or otherwise affected by the laws
of the relevant jurisdiction in which they reside. LTG Scheme
Shareholders are, therefore, strongly recommended to seek their own
independent financial, tax and legal advice in light of their own
personal circumstances and investment objectives before deciding
whether to elect for an Alternative Offer in respect of all or part
of their holding of LTG Scheme Shares. Any decision to elect for an
Alternative Offer should be based on any such independent
financial, tax and legal advice, and full consideration of the
information in the Scheme Document together with the Topco
Shareholders' Agreement and the Topco Articles.
LTG Shareholders
should carefully read the Scheme Document in its entirety before
making a decision with respect to the Scheme.
Trading Update
On 17 September 2024, LTG announced
its half year results for the six months ended 30 June 2024 and
provided an update on current trading, including LTG's outlook for
the full financial year to 31 December 2024. LTG stated that it
expected revenue to be in the range of £473 million to £493 million
with Adjusted EBIT of £86 million to £91 million for the financial
year ended 31 December 2024 (based on an average GBP:USD rate of
1.31 for the second half of the 2024 financial year, and including
a contribution from VectorVMS during the first half of the 2024
financial year prior to the completion of the sale of this business
on 1 July 2024).[1] At that time, the LTG Board commented that it expected
LTG to be towards the bottom of the range given current trading, in
particular at GP Strategies.
As such, the LTG Board expects
Adjusted EBIT performance to be in the lower end of the range
stated on 17 September 2024.
Ongoing macroeconomic and political
uncertainty continue to affect the decision-making of the Group's
customers and reduce the budgets allocated for LTG's technologies
and services. Whilst the LTG Board remains confident in the
long-term outlook for the business, it anticipates that such
headwinds will continue to impact the performance of LTG for at
least the remainder of the current financial year and into 2025.
The LTG Board therefore expects revenue performance to be flat in
the 2025 financial year as compared to the anticipated outturn for
2024 (after excluding a contribution from VectorVMS' performance
during the first half of the 2024 financial year and assuming an
average GBP:USD rate of 1.29).
As at the date of this Announcement,
the LTG Directors confirm that the LTG Statement remains valid and
confirm that the LTG Statement has been properly compiled on the
basis of the assumptions stated in the Scheme Document and that the
basis of accounting used is consistent with LTG's accounting
policies.
As required by Rule 28.1(c) of the
Takeover Code, the LTG Statement and the LTG Directors'
confirmations in respect of it are set out in Part 14
(LTG Directors
Confirmations) of the Scheme Document.
Expected timetable of principal events
The Scheme Document contains an
expected timetable of principal events relating to the Scheme,
which is also set out in the Appendix to this Announcement. The
Scheme remains conditional on the approval of the LTG Scheme
Shareholders at the Court Meeting and LTG Shareholders at the
General Meeting and on the satisfaction or waiver (where
applicable) of the other Conditions set out in the Scheme Document,
including the sanction of the Court. The
dates and times given are indicative only and are based on LTG's
and Bidco's current expectations and may be subject to change. If
any of the dates and/or times set out in the expected timetable
change, an announcement will be made through a Regulatory
Information Service with such announcements
also being made available on LTG's website at
https://ltgplc.com/offer-microsite/
and, if required by the Panel, by posting notice
of the change(s) to LTG Shareholders.
The Scheme is expected to become
Effective during the first quarter of 2025. LTG will make further
announcements relating to the expected timetable following receipt
of relevant antitrust and foreign investment approvals through a
Regulatory Information Service, with such announcements also being
made available on LTG's website at https://ltgplc.com/offer-microsite/.
LTG
Share Plans
In accordance with Rule 15 of the
Takeover Code, participants in the LTG Share Plans will be
contacted separately on or around the date of this Announcement
regarding the effect of the Scheme on participants' rights under
the LTG Share Plans and the arrangements applicable to those
participants, including details of appropriate proposals being made
in relation to such rights and relevant dates and times.
Information for LTG Shareholders
If the Scheme is sanctioned as
outlined above, the last day of dealings in, and registration of
transfers of, LTG Shares on AIM is expected to be the Business Day
immediately after the Sanction Hearing, following which LTG will
make an application to the London Stock Exchange for suspension of
dealings in LTG Shares on AIM with effect from 6.00 p.m. on the
Business Day immediately after the Sanction Hearing and, in any
event, by no later than 7.30 a.m. on the Effective Date. It is
intended that, prior to the Effective Date, LTG will make an
application to the London Stock Exchange for the cancellation of
the admission to trading of the LTG Shares on AIM with effect from
8.00 a.m. on the next Business Day after the Effective
Date.
Shareholder helpline
If you have any questions relating
to this Announcement, the Scheme Document, the Court Meeting, the General Meeting or the completion and
return of the Forms of Proxy or Form of
Election or are in any doubt as to how to
appoint a proxy through the CREST electronic proxy appointment
service, please telephone Computershare on 0370 707 4082 from
within the United Kingdom or on +44 370 707 4082 if calling from
outside the United Kingdom. Calls from outside of the United
Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines
will be open between 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday,
excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Different charges
may apply to calls from mobile telephones and calls may be recorded
and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. Please
note that Computershare cannot provide advice on the merits of the
Acquisition or the Scheme (including the Alternative Offers) or
give any financial, legal, investment or tax advice.
Other
Copies of this Announcement and the
Scheme Document will be made available (subject to any restrictions
relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions) on LTG's
website at https://ltgplc.com/offer-microsite/
by no later than 12.00 p.m. on the Business Day
following this Announcement, up to and including the Effective
Date. Neither the contents of LTG's website nor any other website
referred to or accessible from any hyperlinks set out in this
Announcement are incorporated into, or form part of, this
Announcement.
Enquiries
General Atlantic (Media)
|
+(1) 212 715
4000
|
Emily Japlon
|
|
Sara Widmann
|
|
|
|
PJT
Partners (UK) Limited (Lead Financial Adviser to
Bidco)
Kush Nanjee
|
+44 (0)20 3650
1100
|
Hugo Baring
|
|
Henry Lebus
|
|
Michael Gilbert
|
+(1) 212 364
7800
|
Jitesh Jeswani
|
|
|
|
HSBC Bank plc (Joint Financial Adviser to
Bidco)
|
+44 (0)20 7991
8888
|
Anthony Parsons
|
|
Christopher Fincken
|
|
Gregory Scott
|
|
Bhavin Dixit
|
|
Alex Thomas
|
|
|
|
Edelman Smithfield
(Communications Adviser to Bidco)
|
+44 7970 174
353
|
Alex Simmons
|
|
|
|
LTG
Jonathan Satchell, Chief
Executive
|
+44 (0)20 7832
3440
|
Kath Kearney-Croft, Chief Financial
Officer
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs International (Lead Financial Adviser and
Corporate Broker to LTG)
Nick Harper
|
+44 (0)20 7774
1000
|
Khamran Ali
|
|
Bertie Whitehead
|
|
Adam Lakin
|
|
Lorenzo Carlino
|
|
|
|
Deutsche Numis (NOMAD, Joint Financial Adviser and Corporate
Broker to LTG)
|
+44 (0)20 7260
1000
|
Nick Westlake
|
|
Ben Stoop
|
|
Alec Pratt
|
|
Tejas Padalkar
|
|
Alexander Kladov
|
|
|
|
FTI
Consulting (Communications Adviser to LTG)
|
+44 (0)20 3727
1000
LTG@fticonsulting.com
|
Jamie Ricketts
|
|
Emma Hall
|
|
Lucy Highland
|
|
|
|
The person responsible for arranging
the release of this Announcement on behalf of LTG is Claire Walsh,
Company Secretary of LTG.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton &
Garrison LLP is retained as legal adviser to Bidco and General
Atlantic.
DLA Piper UK LLP is retained as
legal adviser to LTG.
Appendix
Expected Timetable of
Principal Events
The following indicative timetable
sets out LTG's and Bidco's current expected dates for the
implementation of the Scheme and is subject to change. If any of
the dates and/or times in this expected timetable change, the
revised dates and/or times will be notified to LTG Shareholders by
announcement through a Regulatory Information Service of the London
Stock Exchange with such announcement also
being made available on LTG's website at https://ltgplc.com/offer-microsite/.
Event
|
Time and/or
date(1)
|
Publication
of the Scheme Document
|
20 December
2024
|
Latest time
for lodging Forms of Proxy for the:
|
|
Court Meeting (BLUE Form of
Proxy)
|
10.00 a.m. on 14 January 2025(2)
|
General Meeting (YELLOW Form
of Proxy)
|
10.15 a.m. on 14 January 2025(3)
|
Voting
Record Time
|
6.00 p.m. on 14 January 2025(4)
|
Court
Meeting
|
10.00 a.m. on 16 January 2025
|
General
Meeting
|
10.15 a.m. on 16 January 2025(5)
|
The following times and dates associated with the Scheme are
indicative only and will depend, among other things, on the date on
which: (i) the Conditions are either satisfied or (if capable
of waiver) waived in respect of the Scheme; (ii) the Court
sanctions the Scheme; and (iii) the Court Order(s) sanctioning
the Scheme are delivered to the Registrar of Companies. LTG will
give adequate notice of any change(s) by issuing an announcement
through a Regulatory Information Service (with such announcement
being made available on LTG's website at
https://ltgplc.com/offer-microsite/)
and, if required by the Panel, send notice of the change(s) to LTG
Shareholders and, for information only, other persons with
information rights and participants in the LTG Share Plans. Further
updates and changes to these times will be notified in the same
way. Please see also note (1) below.
Election Return Time, being
the latest time for lodging the GREEN Form of Election (for
certificated holders) or settlement of TTE Instructions (for CREST
holders)
|
1.00 p.m.
on D - 5 Business Days(6)
|
Sanction
Hearing to seek sanction of the Scheme
|
a date
expected to be during the first quarter of 2025 subject to the
satisfaction (or, if applicable, waiver) of the Conditions (other
than Condition 2(c) of Part 3 (Conditions and Further Terms of the
Acquisition and the Scheme) of the Scheme Document), (and,
in any event, prior to the Long-Stop Date (D)) (7)
|
Last day
for dealings in, and for the registration of transfers of, and
disablement in CREST of, LTG Shares
|
D+1
Business Day
|
Scheme
Record Time
|
6.00 p.m. on D+1 Business Day
|
Disablement
in CREST in respect of LTG Shares
|
6.00 p.m. on D+1 Business Day
|
Suspension
of dealings in LTG Shares
|
by
7.30 a.m. on D+2 Business Days
|
Effective Date of
Scheme(8)
|
D+2
Business Days
|
Cancellation of admission to trading of LTG Shares
|
8.00 a.m. on D+3 Business Days
|
Latest date
for despatch of cheques and crediting of CREST accounts and
processing electronic transfers for cash consideration due under
the Scheme and share certificates in respect of Rollover
Securities
|
Within
14 days of the Effective Date
|
Long-Stop
Date
|
11.59 p.m.
on 30 June 2025(9)
|
(1) The dates and times given are indicative only,
are based on current expectations, are subject to change (including
as a result of changes to the regulatory timetable) and will
depend, among other things, on the date on which: (i) the
Conditions are either satisfied, or (if capable of waiver) waived;
(ii) the Court sanctions the Scheme; and (iii) the Court Order
sanctioning the Scheme is delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
References to times are to London, United Kingdom time unless
otherwise stated. If any of the times and/or dates above change,
the revised times and/or dates will be notified to LTG Shareholders
by announcement through a Regulatory Information Service and, if
required by the Panel, notice of the change(s) will be sent to LTG
Shareholders and other persons with information rights.
Participants in the LTG Share Plans will be contacted separately on
or around the date of the Scheme Document to inform them of the
effect of the Scheme on their rights under the LTG Share Plans,
including details of any appropriate proposals being made and dates
and times relevant to them.
(2) The BLUE Form of Proxy for the Court
Meeting should be received by Computershare before 10.00 a.m. on 14
January 2025, or, if the Court Meeting is adjourned, not later than
48 hours before the time fixed for the holding of the
adjourned meeting, excluding any part of such 48-hour period
falling on a day that is not a working day. BLUE Forms of Proxy not
so received may be handed to the Chair of the Court Meeting or the
Computershare representative who will be present at the Court
Meeting before the commencement of the Court Meeting (or any
adjournment thereof).
(3) The YELLOW Form of Proxy for the General
Meeting must be lodged with Computershare before 10.15 a.m. on 14
January 2025 in order for it to be valid, or, if the General
Meeting is adjourned, not later than 48 hours before the time
fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting, excluding any part
of such 48-hour period falling on a day that is not a working day.
The YELLOW Form of Proxy cannot be handed to the Chair of the
General Meeting or the Computershare representative at the General
Meeting and will be invalid if submitted after this
deadline.
(4) If a Meeting is adjourned, the Voting
Record Time for the relevant adjourned Meeting will be
6.00 p.m. on the day which is two Business Days before
the adjourned Meeting.
(5) To commence at the time fixed or, if later,
immediately after the conclusion or adjournment of the Court
Meeting.
(6) The Election Return Time will be 1.00 p.m.
(London time) on the fifth Business Day prior to the date of the
Sanction Hearing (which remains to be set but is currently expected
to take place in the first quarter of 2025). Once the date of the
Sanction Hearing is set, LTG will announce the Election Return Time
via a Regulated Information Service (with such announcement being
made available on LTG's website at www.ltgplc.com/investor-information)
and an appropriate event will be set up by
Euroclear in CREST. . Eligible LTG Shareholders who hold their LTG
Scheme Shares in uncertificated form should follow the instructions
in Part 7 (How to Make an
Election for an Alternative Offer) of the Scheme Document if
they wish to make an election under the Alternative Offers.
Eligible LTG Scheme Shareholders who hold their LTG Scheme Shares
in certificated form (other than certain Overseas Shareholders)
will also find accompanying the Scheme Document a GREEN Form of
Election to be used if they wish to make an election under the
Alternative Offers.
(7) Bidco and LTG may agree a later date, with
the consent of the Panel and, if required, which the Court may
allow.
(8) LTG expects that, subject to the
satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the Conditions in
Part 3 (Conditions and
Further Terms of the Acquisition and the Scheme) of the
Scheme Document, the Scheme will become Effective during the first
quarter of 2025.
(9) This is the last date on which the Scheme
may become Effective unless Bidco and LTG, with the consent of the
Panel and, if required, the approval of the Court, agree a later
date.
IMPORTANT
NOTICES
HSBC Bank plc ("HSBC"), which is authorised by the
Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA") and regulated in the UK by the
Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") and the PRA, is acting
exclusively as financial adviser to Bidco and no one else in
connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Bidco for providing the protections afforded to
clients of HSBC nor for providing advice in connection with the
Acquisition or any matter referred to herein. Neither HSBC nor any
of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates, nor any of its or
their respective partners, directors, employees, officers, agents
or representatives owes or accepts any duty, liability or
responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in
contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is
not a client of HSBC in connection with this Announcement, the
Acquisition, any statement contained herein or
otherwise.
PJT Partners (UK) Limited
("PJT Partners"), which is
authorised and regulated in the UK by the FCA, is acting
exclusively as financial adviser to Bidco and no one else in
connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Bidco for providing the protections afforded to
clients of PJT Partners nor for providing advice in connection with
the Acquisition or any matter referred to herein. Neither PJT
Partners nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates, nor
any of its or their respective partners, directors, employees,
officers, agents or representatives owes or accepts any duty,
liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect,
whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any
person who is not a client of PJT Partners in connection with this
Announcement, the Acquisition, any statement contained herein or
otherwise.
Goldman Sachs International
("Goldman Sachs"), which is
authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA in the
United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for LTG as financial adviser
and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and other
matters set out in this Announcement and will not be responsible to
anyone other than LTG for providing the protections afforded to
clients of Goldman Sachs, nor for providing advice in connection
with the Acquisition, the content of this Announcement or any
matter referred to herein. Neither Goldman Sachs nor any of Goldman
Sachs' subsidiaries, affiliates or branches owes or accepts any
duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct,
indirect, consequential, whether in contract, in tort, under
statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Goldman
Sachs in connection with this Announcement, any statement contained
herein or otherwise.
Numis Securities Limited (trading as
"Deutsche Numis"), which is
authorised and regulated in the UK by the FCA, is acting
exclusively as financial adviser to LTG and no one else in
connection with the Acquisition and will not regard any other
person as its client in relation to the matters in this
Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than LTG
for providing the protections afforded to clients of Deutsche Numis
nor for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition or any
matter referred to herein. Neither Deutsche Numis nor any of its
affiliates (nor any of their respective directors, officers,
employees or agents), owes or accepts any duty, liability or
responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in
contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is
not a client of Deutsche Numis in connection with the Acquisition
or any statement contained herein or otherwise. No representation
or warranty, express or implied, is made by Deutsche Numis as to
the contents of this Announcement.
This Announcement is for information
purposes only. It does not constitute, and is not intended to
constitute, or form part of, any offer, invitation or solicitation
of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or
otherwise dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any
vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the Acquisition
or otherwise, nor will there be any sale, issuance or transfer of
securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.
The Acquisition is being made solely pursuant to the terms of the
Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of an
Offer, the Offer Document), which contains the full terms and
conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in
respect of the Acquisition. Any vote or decision in respect of, or
other response to, the Acquisition should be made only on the basis
of the information in the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition
is implemented by way of an Offer, the Offer Document).
This Announcement does not
constitute a prospectus or prospectus exemption
document.
This Announcement has been prepared
for the purpose of complying with the laws of England and Wales,
the AIM Rules and the Code and the information disclosed may not be
the same as that which would have been disclosed if this
Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of
jurisdictions outside England and Wales.
Overseas Shareholders
The release, publication or
distribution of this Announcement in or into certain jurisdictions
other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law. Persons who
are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to other
jurisdictions should inform themselves of, and observe, any
applicable requirements.
Unless otherwise determined by Bidco
or required by the Code, and permitted by applicable law and
regulation, the Acquisition will not be made available, directly or
indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do
so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may
vote in favour of the Acquisition by any such use, means,
instrumentality or from within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any
other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the
laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this Announcement
and all documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and
must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded,
distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction
where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction, and
persons receiving this Announcement and all documents relating to
the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must
not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such
jurisdictions where to do so would violate the laws in that
jurisdiction.
The availability of the Acquisition
to LTG Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom may
be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they
are resident. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom
should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal and
regulatory requirements.
The Rollover Securities are not
being offered, sold, resold, taken up, transferred or delivered,
directly or indirectly, in, into or from any Restricted
Jurisdiction or to, or for the account or benefit of, any Overseas
Shareholders who are resident in, or are nationals or citizens of,
any Restricted Jurisdiction (or who are nominees, custodians,
trustees or guardians for, citizens, residents or nationals of such
Restricted Jurisdictions), except pursuant to an applicable
exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, applicable
securities laws of those jurisdictions and/or where all regulatory
approvals (where applicable) have been validly obtained. Any
individual acceptances of an Alternative Offer will only be valid
if all regulatory approvals by an LTG Shareholder to acquire the
relevant Rollover Securities have been obtained.
LTG Shareholders should be aware
that the transaction contemplated herein may have tax consequences
and that such consequences, if any, are not described herein. LTG
Shareholders are urged to consult with appropriate legal, tax and
financial advisers in connection with the consequences of the
Acquisition (including any election for an Alternative Offer) on
them. It is intended that the Bidco Rollover Securities, Midco 3
Rollover Securities, Midco 2 Rollover Securities and Midco 1
Rollover Securities constitute non-qualifying corporate bonds for
holders of such securities who are UK tax resident
individuals.
The Acquisition will be subject to
the laws of England and Wales, the jurisdiction of the Court, and
the applicable requirements of the Code, the Panel, the AIM Rules,
the London Stock Exchange and the FCA.
Additional information for U.S. investors
The Acquisition relates to shares of
a UK company and is proposed to be implemented by means of a scheme
of arrangement under the laws of England and Wales. A transaction
implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to
the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the
U.S. Exchange Act.
Accordingly, the Acquisition is
subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements applicable in
the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement which differ from the
disclosure requirements of United States tender offer and proxy
solicitation rules.
The receipt of consideration by a
U.S. holder for the transfer of its LTG Shares pursuant to the
Scheme may have tax consequences in the United States. Each LTG
Shareholder is urged to consult their independent professional
adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the
Acquisition applicable to them, including under applicable United
States state, federal and local, as well as overseas and other tax
laws.
Financial information relating to
LTG included in this Announcement and the Scheme Document has been
or shall have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards
applicable in the United Kingdom and may not be comparable to
financial information of U.S. companies or companies whose
financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States.
Bidco and LTG are organised under
the laws of England and Wales. Some or all of the officers and
directors of Bidco and LTG, respectively, are residents of
countries other than the United States. ln addition, most of the
assets of LTG are located outside the United States. As a result,
it may be difficult for U.S. shareholders of LTG to effect service
of process within the United States upon Bidco or LTG or their
respective officers or directors or to enforce against them a
judgment of a U.S. court predicated upon the federal or state
securities laws of the United States.
The Rollover Securities have not
been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or
applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the Rollover
Securities may not be offered, sold, resold, taken up, transferred
or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States absent
registration or an available exemption or a transaction not subject
to the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
Accordingly, the Rollover Securities will not be issued to LTG
Shareholders unless Bidco determines that they may be issued
pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction that is not
subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities
Act as provided by Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act or
another available exemption.
The Rollover Securities are expected
to be issued in reliance on the exemption from the registration
requirements of the U.S. Securities Act set forth in Section
3(a)(10) thereof on the basis of the approval of the Court, and
similar exemptions from registration under applicable state
securities laws. Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act
exempts the issuance of any securities issued in exchange for one
or more bona fide outstanding securities from the general
requirement of registration under the U.S. Securities Act, where
the terms and conditions of the issuance and exchange of such
securities have been approved by a court of competent jurisdiction
that is expressly authorised by law to grant such approval, after a
hearing upon the substantive and procedural fairness of the terms
and conditions of such issuance and exchange at which all persons
to whom it is proposed to issue the securities have the right to
appear and receive timely and adequate notice thereof. The Court is
authorised to conduct a hearing at which the substantive and
procedural fairness of the terms and conditions of the Scheme will
be considered. For the purposes of qualifying for the exemption
provided by Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act, LTG will
advise the Court before the hearing that the Court's approval of
the Scheme will constitute the basis for an exemption from the
registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act, pursuant to
Section 3(a)(10).
THE
SCHEME AND THE ROLLOVER SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY
OTHER SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED
STATES, NOR HAS THE SEC OR ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF
ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES PASSED UPON THE FAIRNESS OR THE
MERITS OF THIS TRANSACTION OR UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE.
Forward-looking statements
This Announcement (including
information incorporated by reference in this Announcement), oral
statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information
published by LTG, Bidco, any member of the Wider Learning
Technologies Group, any member of the Wider Bidco Group or General
Atlantic, contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be,
"forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements are
prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but
rather on current expectations and on numerous assumptions
regarding the business strategies and the environment in which
Bidco and LTG shall operate in the future and are subject to risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by those
statements.
The forward-looking statements
contained in this Announcement relate to Bidco and LTG's future
prospects, developments and business strategies, the expected
timing and scope of the Acquisition and other statements other than
historical facts. In some cases, these forward-looking statements
can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology,
including the terms "believes", "estimates", "will look to", "would
look to", "plans", "prepares", "anticipates", "expects", "is
expected to", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts",
"synergy", "strategy", "goal", "cost-saving", "projects",
"intends", "may", "will", "shall" or "should" or their negatives or
other variations or comparable terminology. Forward-looking
statements may include statements relating to the following: (i)
future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings,
synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition,
dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and
management strategies and the expansion and growth of Bidco's,
LTG's, any member of the Bidco Group's or any member of the Group's
operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition;
and (iii) the effects of global economic conditions and
governmental regulation on Bidco's, LTG's, any member of the Bidco
Group's or any member of the Group's business.
Although Bidco and LTG believe that
the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, neither Bidco nor LTG (nor any of their respective
associates, directors, officers or advisers) can give any assurance
that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature,
forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because
they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur
in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause
actual results and developments to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
These factors include, but are not
limited to: (i) the ability to complete the Acquisition; (ii) the
ability to obtain requisite regulatory and shareholder approvals
and the satisfaction of other Conditions on the proposed terms and
schedule; (iii) changes in the global, political, economic,
business and competitive environments and in market and regulatory
forces; (iv) changes in future exchange and interest rates; (v)
changes in tax rates; (vi) future business combinations or
disposals; (vii) changes in general economic and business
conditions; (viii) changes in the behaviour of other market
participants; (ix) changes in the anticipated benefits from the
proposed transaction not being realised as a result of changes in
general economic and market conditions in the countries in which
Bidco and LTG operate; (x) weak, volatile or illiquid capital
and/or credit markets; (xi) changes in the degree of competition in
the geographic and business areas in which Bidco and LTG operate;
(xii) changes in laws or in supervisory expectations or
requirements; and (xiii) any epidemic or pandemic or disease
outbreak or global health crisis. Other unknown or unpredictable
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expected, estimated or projected in the forward-looking statements.
If any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialises or
if any one or more of the assumptions proves incorrect, actual
results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or
projected. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be
construed in the light of such factors.
Neither LTG nor Bidco, nor any of
their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers,
provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the
occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any
forward-looking statements in this Announcement will actually
occur. Given these risks and uncertainties, potential investors
should not place any reliance on forward-looking
statements.
Specifically, statements of
estimated cost savings and synergies relate to future actions and
circumstances which, by their nature involve risks, uncertainties
and contingencies. As a result, the cost savings and synergies
referred to may not be achieved, may be achieved later or sooner
than estimated, or those achieved could be materially different
from those estimated. Due to the scale of the Group, there may be
additional changes to the Group's operations. As a result, and
given the fact that the changes relate to the future, the resulting
cost synergies may be materially greater or less than those
estimated.
The forward-looking statements speak
only at the date of this Announcement. All subsequent oral or
written forward-looking statements attributable to Bidco, LTG, any
member of the Bidco Group or the Group, or any of their respective
associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement
above.
LTG and Bidco (and their respective
associates, directors, officers or advisers) expressly disclaim any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, other than as required by law or by the rules of any
competent regulatory authority, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any
person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of
relevant securities of a target company or of any securities
exchange bidder (being any bidder other than a bidder in respect of
which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be,
solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following
the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the
announcement in which any securities exchange bidder is first
identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of
the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to
subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of: (i) the target
company; and (ii) any securities exchange bidder(s). An Opening
Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be
made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business
day following the commencement of the offer period and, if
appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th
business day following the announcement in which any securities
exchange bidder is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in
the relevant securities of the target company or of a securities
exchange bidder prior to the deadline for making an Opening
Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing
Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any
person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any
class of relevant securities of the target company or of any
securities exchange bidder must make a Dealing Disclosure if the
person deals in any relevant securities of the target company or of
any securities exchange bidder. A Dealing Disclosure must contain
details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and
short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant
securities of each of: (i) the target company; and (ii) any
securities exchange bidder(s), save to the extent that these
details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing
Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by
no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the business day following
the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together
pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or
informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities
of a target company or a securities exchange bidder, they shall be
deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule
8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must
also be made by the target company and by any bidder and Dealing
Disclosures must also be made by the target company, by any bidder
and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules
8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the target and bidder
companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position
Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in
the Disclosure Table on the Panel's website at
http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk/,
including details of the number of relevant securities in issue,
when the offer period commenced and when any bidder was first
identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit
on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you
are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing
Disclosure.
No
profit forecasts, estimates or quantified benefits
statement
Save for the LTG Statement set out
in paragraph 9 and
Appendix V, no statement in this Announcement is intended as a
profit forecast, profit estimate or quantified benefits statement
for any period and no statement in this Announcement should be
interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share for Bidco
or LTG, as appropriate, for the current or future financial years
would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings
or earnings per share for Bidco or LTG, as appropriate.
Publication on website and availability of hard
copies
A copy of this Announcement will be
made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons
resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Bidco's and LTG's websites
at https://announcements-ga.com/
and https://ltgplc.com/offer-microsite/,
respectively, by no later than 12 noon (London time) on 23 December
2024. For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of these websites or
any other website accessible from hyperlinks are not incorporated
into and do not form part of this Announcement.
You may request a hard copy of this
Announcement by contacting Computershare Investor Services PLC at
The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZZ or by telephone
on +44 (0)370 702 0000. You may also request that all future
documents, announcements and information to be sent to you in
relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy form.
Electronic communications
Please be aware that addresses,
electronic addresses and certain other information provided by LTG
Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant
persons for the receipt of communications from LTG may be provided
to Bidco during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of
Appendix 4 of the Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the
Code.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this
Announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments.
Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in
different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in
certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures
that precede them.
General
Bidco reserves the right to elect
(subject to the consent of the Panel, where necessary, and the
terms of the Co-operation Agreement) to implement the Acquisition
by way of an Offer as an alternative to the Scheme. In such event,
the Offer will be implemented on substantially the same terms and
conditions, so far as is applicable, as those which would apply to
the Scheme (subject to appropriate amendments to reflect the change
in method of implementation and the terms of the Co-operation
Agreement).
If the Acquisition is implemented by
way of an Offer, and such an Offer becomes or is declared
unconditional and sufficient acceptances are received, Bidco
intends to: (i) make a request to the London Stock Exchange to
cancel the admission to trading of LTG Shares on AIM; and (ii)
exercise its rights to apply the provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 28
of the Companies Act so as to acquire compulsorily the remaining
LTG Shares in respect of which the Offer has not been
accepted.
Investors should be aware that Bidco
may purchase LTG Shares otherwise than under any Offer or the
Scheme, including pursuant to privately negotiated
purchases.
If you are in any doubt about the
contents of this Announcement or the action you should take, you
are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice
immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor or
independent financial adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are
resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriate
authorised independent financial adviser.
Inside information
The information in this Announcement
is deemed by LTG to constitute inside information as stipulated
under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (as it forms
part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal)
Act 2018). On the publication of this Announcement via a Regulatory
Information Service, this inside information is now considered to
be in the public domain.