THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) (THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") AND THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE,
PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA,
THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN
WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICES AT THE END OF THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT.
THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE OR CONTAIN ANY INVITATION, SOLICITATION, RECOMMENDATION,
OFFER OR ADVICE TO ANY PERSON TO PURCHASE AND/OR SUBSCRIBE FOR,
OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR DISPOSE OF ANY SECURITIES IN SYNAIRGEN PLC OR
ANY OTHER ENTITY IN ANY JURISDICTION.
THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION.
MARKET SOUNDINGS (AS DEFINED
IN THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU REGULATION NO. 596/2014 AS IT
FORMS PART OF UNITED KINGDOM DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN
UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 "UK MAR")) WERE TAKEN IN RESPECT OF
CERTAIN OF THE MATTERS CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, WITH THE
RESULT THAT CERTAIN PERSONS BECAME AWARE OF SUCH INSIDE
INFORMATION, AS PERMITTED BY UK MAR. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND SUCH PERSONS SHALL THEREFORE CEASE TO BE IN
POSSESSION OF INSIDE INFORMATION.
For immediate release
20 December 2024
Synairgen plc
Proposed Fundraising to raise a minimum
of £18 million and a maximum of £19 million
and
Proposed Waiver of Rule 9 of the City
Code on Takeovers and Mergers
Synairgen (LSE: SNG) ("Synairgen", the
"Company" and,
together with its subsidiary undertakings, the "Group"), the
respiratory company developing SNG001, an investigational
formulation for inhalation containing the broad-spectrum antiviral
protein interferon beta, announces that it has conditionally raised
£18.0 million (before expenses) through the conditional
subscription of 900,000,000 new Ordinary Shares (the
"Subscription
Shares") by TFG Asset Management UK LLP
("TFG Asset
Management UK") (on behalf of the Relevant
Funds) at an issue price of 2 pence per new Ordinary Share (the
"Issue
Price").
In addition, the Company is seeking to raise up
to £6.0 million (before expenses) through the conditional
subscriptions by certain of the Directors for, in aggregate,
1,250,000 new Ordinary Shares, and a proposed Placing and Open
Offer of up to an aggregate of 298,750,002 new Ordinary Shares, in
each case at the Issue Price (together, the "Non-Underwritten
Fundraising").
The minimum amount which must be raised by the
Non-Underwritten Fundraising in order for it to proceed is £2.9
million (before expenses) (the "Minimum Fundraising
Condition"). In the event that the Minimum
Fundraising Condition is satisfied, the maximum amount to be
conditionally raised by the Company in the Fundraising will be
capped at £19 million, and the quantum of the Subscription by TFG
Asset Management UK will be reduced by an amount equal to the
quantum of the Non-Underwritten Fundraising up to a maximum of £6.0
million.
The net proceeds from the Fundraising will be
used to fund external and internal costs of a Phase 2
trial of SNG001 in mechanically ventilated patients with confirmed
respiratory viral infections, drug manufacturing and stability
testing.
Richard Marsden, CEO
of Synairgen, said: "We
are delighted to have secured a path forward for SNG001 with the
conditional raise of £18.0 million to advance a large Phase 2 trial
in patients requiring mechanical ventilation due to respiratory
viral infections. These patients are severely ill and face
mortality rates of between 25% to 45%. SNG001 is a broad-spectrum
antiviral offering potential against a range of respiratory
viruses, including common cold, flu and coronaviruses, which can
lead to critical illness. By delivering SNG001 directly into the
lungs as an aerosol we aim to boost and/or restore the lungs'
antiviral responses to clear the virus and improve patients'
outcomes. If we can demonstrate a significant reduction in
mortality it will make SNG001 a valuable asset, attractive to
pharma company partners. We are grateful for the support from TFG
Asset Management UK and the ongoing support of our shareholders as
we now look forward to initiating this important trial in
2025."
Mark Parry-Billings,
Chairman of the Board of Synairgen, said: "The securing of this conditional raise of
£18.0 million is testament to the potential clinical benefit and
commercial opportunity that SNG001 holds for patients with severe
viral lung infections. We are thankful to TFG Asset Management UK
for being such a supportive
investor and we are also delighted to launch an Open Offer today,
providing our existing and loyal shareholders with a chance to
participate in the future fundraise. We believe this
fundraising to be in the best interests of the Company and our
shareholders as a whole and we look forward to providing a further
update in early 2025."
Fundraising
highlights:
· Conditional subscription for a minimum of 649,999,998
Subscription Shares and a maximum of 900,000,000 Subscription
Shares by TFG Asset Management UK (on behalf of the Relevant
Funds), to raise a minimum of £18 million and a maximum of £19
million (before expenses).
· Proposed Placing, to be conducted through a bookbuilding
process (the "Bookbuilding Process"), and
proposed Open Offer to raise up to, in aggregate, £5.975 million
(before expenses) through the issue of up to 298,750,002 new
Ordinary Shares.
· The
Bookbuilding Process will commence with immediate effect following
the release of this Announcement in accordance with the terms and
conditions set out in the appendix to this Announcement.
Cavendish is acting as sole bookrunner in connection with the
Placing.
· Conditional subscriptions by certain of the Directors for, in
aggregate, 1,250,000 Director Subscription Shares, raising £25,000
(before expenses).
· The
Issue Price of 2 pence per New Ordinary Share represents a discount of approximately 46.6 per cent. to the
closing middle market price of 3.745 pence per existing Ordinary
Share on 19 December 2024 (being the latest practicable date prior
to the publication of this Announcement).
· In
order for the Non-Underwritten Fundraising to proceed a minimum of
£2.9 million must be raised through it.
· In the
event that the Minimum Fundraising Condition is satisfied, the
maximum amount to be conditionally raised by the Company in the
Fundraising will be capped at £19 million and the quantum of the
Subscription by TFG Asset Management UK will be reduced accordingly
by up to a maximum of £6.0 million.
· Following the completion of the Subscription, TFG Asset
Management UK (on behalf of the Relevant Funds) would, in
aggregate, be interested in Ordinary Shares that carry more than 30
per cent. of the Company's voting share capital which would
ordinarily result in TFG Asset Management UK having to make a
mandatory offer under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code. However, the
Panel has agreed to waive the obligation on TFG Asset Management UK
to make a mandatory offer that would otherwise, subject to the
approval of the Independent Shareholders on a poll at the General
Meeting.
IN THE EVENT
THAT THE NON-UNDERWRITTEN FUNDRAISING DOES NOT RAISE, IN AGGREGATE,
A MINIMUM OF £2.9 MILLION FOR THE COMPANY, NO ELEMENT OF THE
NON-UNDERWRITTEN FUNDRAISING WILL PROCEED. ALL MONIES SHALL BE
RETURNED TO QUALIFYING SHAREHOLDERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE OPEN
OFFER AND NO PLACING SHARES, OPEN OFFER SHARES OR DIRECTOR
SUBSCRIPTION SHARES WILL BE ISSUED BY THE
COMPANY.
SUBJECT TO THE
APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTIONS AT THE GENERAL MEETING, IF THE MINIMUM
FUNDRAISING CONDITION IS NOT SATISFIED, WHILE THE SUBSCRIPTION
WOULD STILL PROCEED, THE COMPANY INTENDS TO APPLY FOR THE
CANCELLATION OF ITS ORDINARY SHARES FROM TRADING ON AIM IN EARLY
2025. ACCORDINGLY, A SEPARATE CIRCULAR WOULD BE SENT TO
SHAREHOLDERS FOLLOWING ADMISSION REQUESTING THAT THEY APPROVE SUCH
CANCELLATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 41 OF THE AIM RULES. A
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE SUCH CANCELLATION REQUIRES THE APPROVAL OF 75
PER CENT OF THOSE SHAREHOLDERS WHO ACTUALLY VOTE IN A GENERAL
MEETING. IF THE MINIMUM FUNDRAISING CONDITION IS NOT MET, TFG
ASSET MANAGEMENT UK'S RESULTANT HOLDING IN THE COMPANY WOULD BE
86.9 PER CENT. OF THE ENLARGED ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL AND ACCORDINGLY
IT WOULD BE ABLE TO PASS SUCH RESOLUTION ON ITS OWN,
NOTWITHSTANDING HOW MANY SHAREHOLDERS MAY VOTE AGAINST. TFG ASSET
MANAGEMENT UK HAS NOTIFIED THE COMPANY THAT SHOULD THIS BE THE
CASE, IT WOULD VOTE "FOR" SUCH RESOLUTION AND APPROVE THE
CANCELLATION.
Posting of
Circular
The Company also confirms that a circular
(the "Circular"), which
contains, inter alia, a
notice convening the General Meeting to be held on 16 January 2025
at 10.30 a.m. at the offices of Fieldfisher LLP, Riverbank House, 2
Swan Lane, London EC4R 3TT, will today be published and posted to
Shareholders, along with the Application Form for the Open Offer
(where applicable).
The Circular will also
be made available on the Company's website: https://www.synairgen.com/investors.
Definitions
Defined terms and expressions used in this
Announcement are set out at the end of this
Announcement.
Enquiries:
Synairgen
plc
|
+ 44 (0)23 8051 2800
|
Media@synairgen.com
|
|
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited -
Nominated Adviser, joint broker and sole
bookrunner
|
+ 44 (0)20 7220 0500
|
Geoff Nash/Camilla Hume/George Lawson/Elysia
Bough
|
|
ICR Healthcare
(Financial Media and Investor Relations)
|
+44 (0)20 3709 5700
|
Mary-Jane
Elliott/Namrata Taak/Lucy Featherstone
synairgen@icrhealthcare.com
|
|
Expected Timetable of the Fundraising
Record Date for the
Open Offer
|
6.00 p.m. on 18
December 2024
|
Announcement of the
Fundraising
|
20 December
2024
|
Publication and
despatch of the Circular and, to Qualifying Non-Crest Shareholders,
the Application Form
|
20 December
2024
|
Existing Ordinary
Shares marked "ex" by the London Stock Exchange
|
8.00 a.m. on 20
December 2024
|
Basic Open Offer
Entitlements and Excess Open Offer Entitlements credited to CREST
stock accounts of Qualifying CREST Shareholders
|
23 December
2024
|
Latest recommended
time and date for requesting withdrawal of Basic Open Offer
Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements from
CREST
|
4.30 p.m. on 9
January 2025
|
Latest time and date
for depositing Basic Open Offer Entitlements and Excess CREST Open
Offer Entitlements in CREST
|
3.00 p.m. on 10
January 2025
|
Latest time and date
for splitting of Application Forms under the Open Offer (to satisfy
bona fide market
claims)
|
3.00 p.m. on 13
January 2025
|
Latest time and date
for receipt of electronic voting instructions
via
www.signalshares.com
or via CREST instructions or Forms of Proxy
|
10.30 a.m. on 14
January 2025
|
Latest time and date
for:
· potential Placees to make a bid in the
Placing via the Bookbuilding Process
· receipt of Application Forms and payment
in full under the Open Offer and settlement of relevant CREST
instructions (as appropriate)
|
11.00 a.m. on 15 January
2025
|
Announcement of the
results of the Placing and the Open Offer
|
15 January
2025
|
General Meeting
|
10.30 a.m. on 16 January
2025
|
Announcement of the
results of the General Meeting
|
16 January
2025
|
Admission of the New
Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM and commencement of
dealings
|
8.00 a.m. on 17
January 2025
|
Where applicable,
expected date for CREST accounts to be credited in respect of the
New Ordinary Shares in uncertificated form
|
17 January
2025
|
Where applicable,
expected date for despatch of definitive share certificates for the
New Ordinary Shares in certificated form
|
24 January
2025
|
Each of the times and dates above are indicative only and are
subject to change. If any of the above times and/or dates change,
the revised times and/or dates will be notified by the Company to
the Shareholders by announcement through a regulatory information
service. All events listed in the above timetable following the
General Meeting are conditional on inter alia, the passing of the
Resolutions at the General Meeting. All of the above times refer to
London time unless otherwise stated.
The following text is extracted without
amendment from the Circular:
BACKGROUND TO AND REASONS FOR THE
FUNDRAISING AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Background
Synairgen is developing SNG001 (inhaled Interferon beta-1a)
as a drug to treat severe viral lung infections. Respiratory
viral infections
(including influenza, rhinovirus,
respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, and coronavirus including SARS-CoV-2) are the
most common cause of infectious disease and when they affect the
lungs they can cause significant morbidity and mortality. These
viruses cause more than 2 million hospitalisations each year in the
US alone and approximately 15 per cent. of these
patients are admitted to intensive care units for higher levels of
medical intervention, with half of these patients (c. 150,000) requiring mechanical ventilation.
In the US, the average cost of hospitalisation caused by SARS-CoV-2 requiring invasive mechanical
ventilation (among surviving patients) was ~$60k.
Interferon-beta is a naturally occurring
protein, produced
in response
to viral
infections, that
drives the
body's antiviral
responses. People
who make
less interferon
beta, for
example due
to their
genetics, age
or disease, are
at greater
risk of
developing severe
viral lung
infections. Viruses
themselves also
supress interferon
beta production to
evade host
antiviral responses. Together
these factors
provide the
rationale to
deliver SNG001
directly into the lungs as an aerosol to boost/restore the lungs' antiviral responses to clear the virus. As such, SNG001 is a broadly-acting
antiviral therapeutic.
Synairgen has completed a comprehensive review of data from previous trials of SNG001, epidemiological data, commercial
factors and unmet clinical need, concluding that mechanically
ventilated patients in intensive
care are
the most
appropriate group
to target
in the next Clinical Trial. With only one antiviral drug approved for adults in the US (remdesivir for COVID-19) for use in mechanically ventilated
patients, these
difficult and expensive to treat patients are underserved with
currently available antiviral treatments and mortality remains high in the range of 25-45 per cent. Subject to regulatory approvals,
Synairgen plans
to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial
(SG021) in mechanically ventilated patients with confirmed
respiratory viral infections during the coming 2024/2025 virus
season.
Clinical Trial Design
The international Clinical Trial, to
be conducted across approximately 50-60 sites, follows a
randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled design and will recruit
450 patients, with the primary endpoint being a reduction in 28-day
mortality in the SNG001 versus the placebo group. This endpoint is
clinically relevant and material for future dialogue with regulatory agencies and potential pharmaceutical
company partners.
In addition to safety and tolerability, secondary endpoints
include clinically
important efficacy
assessments such
as duration
of ventilation,
duration of
stay in
the intensive
care unit
and in the hospital, which can also
relate to health economics. Inclusion of pharmacodynamic measures
such as
viral load
and biomarkers
aim to support the novel mode of drug action. The study population will be enriched to select patients at higher risk of dying (>50 years of age, immunocompromised
and those
with higher
viral load
in the lungs), who we believe are believed to be more likely to respond to
and benefit from SNG001.
SNG001 has shown a favourable safety
profile in a large population of spontaneously breathing patients.
To assess
its safety
in the most severely ill patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation,
the study
will employ a
two-part design,
where SNG001
at a dose lower than the target will initially be administered to a cohort of 5 - 10 patients undergoing invasive
mechanical ventilation, to assess safety and
tolerability.
Importantly, the study includes an
interim analysis (IA) planned after 224 randomised patients, which
is designed to
test for
futility, with
a threshold
set at 25 per cent. reduction in mortality in the SNG001 treated group compared to placebo. This means that at this key checkpoint, the Clinical Trial would stop if SNG001 does not reduce mortality by at least 25 per cent. The overall statistical
power of
the study
is >80
per cent. assuming
a mortality
rate in
the placebo
group of
≥35 per
cent. and
a reduction
in mortality
in the SNG001 group of ≥40 per cent. The Clinical Trial is designed such that, if these assumptions are correct, the chance of passing the IA is high at >85 per cent. and if the interim analysis is passed the chance of a positive final trial readout is increased to >95 per cent. A
schematic of the study design is shown below:
|
|
|
Given the high unmet medical need
and the potential health economic challenge posed to health care
providers due
to severe
respiratory virus
infections in
intensive care
facilities, the
Company believes
that a significant
reduction in
mortality from
this Clinical
Trial would
make SNG001
a valuable
asset that
might be attractive
to pharma company partners.
The funding required for the Clinical Trial and the other areas set out below is £18 million and the Company are grateful
for the
support from
TFG Asset
Management UK
which has
agreed to
subscribe for
a maximum
of 900,000,000 shares at the Issue Price,
equivalent to £18 million.
Use
of proceeds
The
net proceeds
of the Fundraising are intended to be used as follows:
External Phase II Clinical Trial costs
c. £14 million
Synairgen
Clinical Trial costs (including UK site management / working
capital)
c. £3 million Drug manufacturing / stability testing
c. £1 million
In the event that the Minimum
Fundraising Condition is satisfied and the Non-Underwritten
Fundraising raises, in aggregate, at least £2.9 million, the Subscription Shares subscribed for by TFG Asset Management UK will be clawed back as detailed in
paragraph 3 of this Part I of the document.
The maximum amount of the Fundraising will be £19 million with such further amounts beyond those set out above being used for general
working capital purposes.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE FUNDRAISING
Overview
The Fundraising consists of:
●
the Subscription,
pursuant to
which TFG
Asset Management
UK has irrevocably agreed to conditionally subscribe for up to 900,000,000 Subscription Shares at the
Issue Price, raising £18 million for the Company. The Subscription Shares are subject
to clawback as described below;
●
the Non-Underwritten Fundraising,
comprising:
●
Director Subscriptions pursuant
to which
the Participating
Directors have
conditionally agreed to subscribe for 1,250,000 Director Subscription Shares, raising
£25,000 for the Company;
●
the Placing, pursuant to which Placees are being
given the opportunity to subscribe for the Placing
Shares;
●
the Open Offer, pursuant to which Qualifying
Shareholders are being given the opportunity to subscribe for the
Open Offer Shares.
The Non-Underwritten Fundraising
is subject
to the following floor and cap:
●
the minimum amount which must be raised by the
Non-Underwritten Fundraising in order for it to proceed is £2.9 million (before expenses). This means that the minimum amount to be raised pursuant to the Placing and Open Offer is, in aggregate, £2,875,000
(when taking
into account
the £25,000
of Director Subscriptions already
committed).
●
the maximum amount to be conditionally raised
pursuant to the Non-Underwritten Fundraising is £6.0 million
(before expenses). This means that the maximum amount to be raised
pursuant to the Placing and Open Offer is, in aggregate, £5,975,000
(when taking into account the £25,000 of Director Subscriptions
already committed).
It
is important to note that the Non-Underwritten Fundraising is
conditional on the Minimum Fundraising Condition being
satisfied.
In the event that the Minimum Fundraising
Condition is
satisfied, the
maximum amount
to be conditionally raised by the Company in
the Fundraising will be capped at £19 million, in which case, the
New Ordinary Shares will represent a maximum of 82.4 per cent. of
the Enlarged Share Capital.
In the event that the Minimum Fundraising
Condition is
not satisfied,
no element
of the Non-Underwritten Fundraising will
proceed and the minimum amount conditionally raised by the Company
pursuant to the Fundraising will be £18 million pursuant to the
Subscription, in which case, the New Ordinary Shares will represent
a maximum of 81.6 per cent. of the Enlarged Share
Capital.
Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing and only Placees who are Relevant Persons may make a bid in the
bookbuild which was launched pursuant to the Placing
Announcement.
Each element of the Fundraising is being effected at the Issue Price. The Issue Price represents a discount of approximately
46.6 per
cent. to
the closing
mid-market price
of 3.745
pence per
Ordinary Share
on the Latest Practicable Date.
No element of the Non-Underwritten
Fundraising is being underwritten. All elements of the Fundraising
are conditional, inter alia, upon:
●
the passing, without amendment, of the
Resolutions, including the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution at the General
Meeting;
●
Admission becoming effective by no later than 8.00
a.m. on 17 January 2025 (or such other time and/or date, being no later than 8.00 a.m. on 31 January 2025, as Cavendish and the Company may agree).
Accordingly, if any of such
conditions are not satisfied or, if applicable, waived, the
Fundraising will not proceed.
The New Ordinary Shares will be credited as fully paid and will rank pari
passu in all respects with the Existing Ordinary Shares then in issue, including the right to receive all future distributions,
declared, paid
or made
in respect of the Ordinary Shares from the date of
Admission.
The
Minimum Fundraising Condition for the Non-Underwritten Fundraising
The Non-Underwritten Fundraising is
subject to the Minimum Fundraising Condition being satisfied in
order for it to proceed.
The Minimum Fundraising Condition is
that the Non-Underwritten Fundraising must raise, in aggregate, a
minimum of £2.9 million for the Company (before
expenses).
The Placing and the Open Offer will
both close on 15 January 2025 and the results of each will be
announced shortly thereafter. Whilst the Directors have already conditionally subscribed
for the
Director Subscription Shares, the results of
the Placing and the Open Offer are inherently uncertain and the
Company and the Directors cannot give any guarantee that either £2.9 million will be raised or indeed any funds at all beyond the
Subscription.
In the event that the Minimum
Fundraising Condition is satisfied, the maximum amount which may be
raised pursuant to
the Non-Underwritten Fundraising is £6.0
million and the Fundraising
as a whole is £19
million.
Please refer to paragraph 5 of Part
I of this document for some important implications all Shareholders
should be aware of if the Minimum Fundraising Condition is not
satisfied.
Clawback
In the event that the Minimum
Fundraising Condition is satisfied, the Non-Underwritten
Fundraising will proceed, subject to a maximum cap of £6
million.
In these circumstances, TFG Asset
Management UK has agreed that amounts raised pursuant to the
Non-Underwritten Fundraising will reduce the number of Subscription
Shares which it shall subscribe for pursuant to the Subscription on
a 1 for 1 basis, subject to TFG Asset Management UK subscribing for
a minimum of 649,999,998 Subscription Shares.
Accordingly, the minimum and maximum
positions of TFG Asset Management UK would be as follows:
In the event that the Minimum Fundraising
Condition is
satisfied and
on the assumption that the maximum number of Open Offer Shares and Placing Shares are
issued:
Name
|
Number of Subscription
Shares held
|
Number of Ordinary Shares
held, in aggregate, pursuant to the Non-Underwritten
Fundraising
|
Total Number of Ordinary
Shares held at Admission
|
Percentage interest n the
Enlarged Share Capital at Admission
|
TFG Asset
Management UK
|
649,999,998
|
Nil
|
707,999,998
|
61.4%
|
In
the event
that the
Minimum Fundraising
Condition is
not satisfied:
Name
|
Number of Subscription
Shares held
|
Number of Ordinary Shares
held, in aggregate, pursuant to the Non-Underwritten
Fundraising
|
Total Number of Ordinary
Shares held at Admission
|
Percentage interest n the
Enlarged Share Capital at Admission
|
TFG Asset
Management UK
|
900,000,000
|
Nil
|
958,000,000
|
86.9%
|
The
Open Offer
The Company has previously stated that Qualifying Shareholders will be given the opportunity to participate in the Fundraising and accordingly the Company is making the Open Offer to Qualifying Shareholders. The Company
is proposing
to raise
up to approximately £5.98
million (before
expenses) (assuming
full take
up of the Open Offer)
through the issue of up to 298,750,002 Open Offer
Shares.
The
Open Offer is subject to the Minimum Funding Condition. If the
Minimum Funding Condition is not satisfied, no element of the
Non-Underwritten Fundraising will proceed.
The Open Offer Shares are available
to Qualifying Shareholders pursuant to the Open Offer at the Issue
Price of
2 pence
per Open
Offer Share,
payable in
full on
acceptance. Any
Open Offer
Shares not
subscribed for by Qualifying Shareholders
will be available to Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess
Application Facility.
Qualifying Shareholders may apply
for Open Offer Shares under the Open Offer at the Issue Price on
the following basis:
1
Open Offer Share for every 0.67836216 Existing Ordinary Share held
on the Record Date
Entitlements of Qualifying Shareholders will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Open Offer Shares. Fractional entitlements
which would otherwise arise will not be issued to Qualifying
Shareholders but will aggregated and be made available under the
Excess Application Facility. The Excess Application Facility
enables Qualifying Shareholders to apply for Excess Shares in
excess of their Basic Open Offer Entitlement. Not all Shareholders will be Qualifying Shareholders.
Shareholders who
are located
in, or are citizens of, or have a registered office in certain overseas jurisdictions,
including the
Restricted Jurisdictions, will not qualify to participate in the
Open Offer. The attention of Overseas Shareholders is drawn to
paragraph 6 of Part V of this document.
Valid applications by Qualifying Shareholders
will be
satisfied in
full up
to their
Basic Open
Offer Entitlements
as shown
on the Application Form. Applicants can apply for less or more than their entitlements under the Open
Offer but the Company cannot guarantee that any application for
Excess Shares under the Excess Application Facility will be
satisfied as this will depend in part on the extent to which other
Qualifying Shareholders apply for less than or more than their own Basic Open Offer Entitlements. The Company may satisfy valid
applications for Excess Shares of applicants in whole or in part
but reserves the right not to satisfy
any excess
above any
Basic Open
Offer Entitlement.
Applications made
under the
Excess Application
Facility will be scaled back at the Company's discretion if
applications are received from Qualifying Shareholders for more than the available number of Excess Shares or in order to accommodate Placees
in the Placing, if to do so would mean that
the Minimum Fundraising Condition would be satisfied.
Application has been made for the Basic Open Offer Entitlements and the Excess Open Offer Entitlements to be admitted to CREST.
It is expected that such Basic Open Offer Entitlements and the
Excess Open Offer Entitlements will be credited to CREST on 23 December 2024. The Basic Open Offer Entitlements will be enabled
for settlement in CREST until 3.00 p.m. on 10 January 2025.
Applications through the CREST system may only be made by the
Qualifying CREST Shareholder originally entitled or by a person
entitled by virtue of bona fide market claims. The Open Offer Shares must be paid in full on application. The latest time and date for receipt of
completed Application Forms or CREST applications and payment in
respect of the
Open Offer
is 11.00
a.m. on
15 January
2025. The
Open Offer
is not being made to certain Overseas Shareholders, as set out in paragraph 6 of
Part V of this document.
Qualifying Shareholders should
note that
the Open
Offer is
not a rights issue and therefore the Open Offer
Shares which are not applied for by Qualifying Shareholders will not be sold in the market for the benefit of the
Qualifying Shareholders who do not apply under the Open Offer. The
Application Form is not a document of title
and cannot be traded or otherwise transferred.
The holdings of Shareholders who do
not participate in the Open Offer will be diluted by 82.4 per cent.
as a result of the Subscription, the Director Subscriptions and the
Placing, assuming the Non-Underwritten Fundraising is subscribed
for in full and the Minimum Funding Condition is
satisfied.
Further details of the Open Offer
and the terms and conditions on which it is being made, including
the procedure for
application and
payment, are
contained in
Part V of this document and on the accompanying Application Form.
In addition to the Minimum Funding
Condition, the Open Offer is also conditional on the Subscription
and the Director
Subscriptions becoming or being declared unconditional in all respects and not being terminated before
Admission. Accordingly, if the conditions to the Subscription and the Director Subscriptions (including
the passing of the Resolutions) are not satisfied
or waived (where capable of waiver), the Open Offer will not
proceed and the Open Offer Shares will not be issued and all monies
received by the Receiving Agent will be returned to the applicants
(at the applicant's risk and without interest) as soon as possible
thereafter. Any Basic Open Offer Entitlements admitted to CREST
will thereafter be disabled.
The Open Offer Shares will be issued
free of all liens, charges and encumbrances and will, when issued
and fully
paid, rank
pari
passu in
all respects
with the
Existing Ordinary
Shares, including
the right
to receive all
dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the
date of their issue.
CERTAIN OTHER ARRANGEMENTS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE FUNDRAISING
The
Subscription Agreement
In connection with the Subscription, TFG Asset Management UK (on behalf of the Relevant Funds) and the Company have entered into the Subscription Agreement, pursuant
to which TFG Asset Management UK (on
behalf of
the Relevant
Funds) has
conditionally subscribed for the Subscription Shares at the Issue Price (raising a minimum of £18 million for the Company
(before expenses)).
The Subscription is subject to the
clawback arrangements set out above. The Subscription is
conditional inter alia,
upon:
(a)
the passing, without amendment, of the
Resolutions, including the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution at the General
Meeting;
(b)
Admission becoming
effective by
no later
than 8.00
a.m. on
17 January
2025 (or
such later
date that
the Company and TFG Asset Management UK may
agree).
Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement,
TFG Asset
Management UK
has the
right to
nominate two
directors to the Board
(each a "Nominated
Director") for so long as it (on behalf of the Relevant
Funds) holds at least 30 per cent. of the voting rights in the Company. One of the Nominated Directors to be appointed will be Martin Murphy, who, subject to the passing of
the Resolutions will join as a Non-Executive Director.
Each of the Nominated Directors
shall act
in the interest of shareholders as whole, shall not represent TFG Asset Management UK at Board
meetings and shall be capable at all times of exercising
independent judgement. The Nominated Directors themselves shall be
under no obligation to pass any information (confidential
information/inside information or otherwise) to TFG Asset
Management UK.
At such time as Mark Parry-Billings is no longer the chair of the Board, TFG Asset Management UK has the
right to nominate the person to be appointed as the new chair as one of the two Nominated Directors. For
the avoidance
of doubt
Mark Parry-Billings
is not a Nominated Director and is considered upon appointment to be an Independent Director for QCA Code
purposes.
As at
the date
of this
document, the
Board considers,
Mark Parry-Billings, Amanda
Radford and
Dr. Felicity
Gabbay to be Independent Directors for QCA Code
purposes. It has been agreed that all of the Non-Executive Directors of the Board will step down on
Admission. In addition to Martin Murphy (see below),
it is the intention of the Company to appoint two new independent Non-Executive Directors
to the Board in due course.
In addition to any executive directors and any Non-Executive Directors who are considered non-independent pursuant to the QCA
Code, the intention is that at least two members of the Board will
be Independent Directors. To the extent that at any time the Board
does not maintain two Independent Directors, the Company will
comply with any relevant disclosure requirements set forth in the
QCA Code with respect thereto.
TFG Asset Management UK shall also
have the right to appoint an observer (the "Investor Observer") to the Board of the
Company for so long as it holds at least 30 per cent. of the voting
rights in the Company, provided that this right shall only be
exercised if there is only one or no Nominated Director
appointed.
In the event that a Nominated
Director or an Investor Observer leaves/retires/is removed, TFG
Asset Management UK has a right to replace them with another person
in their place.
A Nominated Director may be removed
pursuant to a shareholder vote in the event that TFG Asset
Management UK (on behalf of the Relevant Funds) no longer holds the
requisite percentage of the voting rights in the
Company.
An Investor Observer will be capable
of being removed by the Board in the event that TFG Asset
Management UK (on behalf of the Relevant Funds) no longer holds the
requisite percentage of the voting rights in the
Company.
The Company has also granted TFG
Asset Management UK information rights, subject to TFG Asset
Management UK
being bound
by confidentiality
obligations. The
Company may
not share
inside information
with TFG Asset Management UK unless TFG Asset Management UK
consents to be an insider and accordingly be bound by the
prohibitions in the Market Abuse Regulation and the Criminal
Justice Act relating to insider dealing and market
abuse.
TFG Asset Management UK's rights under the Subscription Agreement
shall lapse
in the event that it ceases to
hold at least 30 per cent. of the voting rights in the
Company.
The
Relationship Agreement
Given that, subject to the passing of the Resolutions, TFG Asset Management UK (on behalf of the Relevant Funds) will hold over 50 per
cent. of the share capital of the Company on Admission, the Company
and TFG Asset Management UK have entered into the Relationship
Agreement in order to regulate the relationship between them.
It is
important to
note that
the terms
of the Relationship Agreement
will only
take effect
in the event that the Minimum Fundraising Condition
is satisfied,
which would
entail that
TFG Asset
Management UK
holds less
than 75
per cent.
of the Enlarged Share Capital of the Company on Admission. In the event that the Minimum Fundraising Condition is not satisfied, then the terms of the
Relationship Agreement shall not come into effect and the
Relationship Agreement shall lapse.
Subject to the Minimum Fundraising
Condition having been satisfied, TFG Asset Management UK has
undertaken to the Company that:
●
transactions and arrangements between the Company
and TFG Asset Management UK must be conducted at arm's length and
on a normal commercial basis and approved by a majority of the
Independent Directors.
●
TFG Asset Management UK shall not take any action
that would have the effect of preventing the Company from complying
with its obligations under the AIM Rules.
●
TFG Asset Management UK shall not propose or
procure (so far as it is properly able to do so) the proposal of a
shareholder resolution which is intended to circumvent the proper
application of the AIM Rules.
●
TFG Asset
Management UK
shall not
propose the
removal of
any Independent
Director such
that the
Company would no longer be able to comply with the
relevant recommendations of the QCA Code and explain its
non-compliance with such relevant recommendations of the QCA Code
as required under the AIM Rules.
●
TFG Asset Management UK may not propose or procure
the proposal of a shareholder resolution which is intended to cancel the issuer's admission to trading on AIM without the approval of a majority of the Independent
Directors.
TFG Asset Management UK's
obligations under the Relationship Agreement shall lapse (or shall
cease to become effective, as the case may be) in the event that (i) the Minimum Fundraising
Condition is
not satisfied; or (ii) it
ceases to hold at least 30 per cent. of the voting rights in the
Company or (iii) the shares held by TFG Asset Management UK
(on behalf of the Relevant Funds) cease to be admitted to trading
on AIM.
Amendments to the Articles of Association
As part of the Subscription, TFG
Asset Management UK and the Company have agreed to make, subject to
the passing of the Resolutions, certain amendments to the Articles
of Association dealing with conflicts of interest.
The proposed amendments are set out
in Resolution 8 such that directors, who have complied with the
notification requirements of section 177 of the Act, may vote and
count in the quorum on transactions or arrangements with the
Company on which they have declared their interests in accordance
with the Act.
It is understood that the Nominated
Directors will not be conflicted on any matter relating to TFG
Asset Management UK
simply on
account of
being a
Nominated Director,
provided that
some other reason
for a conflict has not arisen (for example, by subsequently being
employed by TFG Asset Management UK).
Board changes
Subject to the Resolutions being
passed, all of the Company's current Non-Executive Directors (being
Amanda Radford, Dr. Felicity Gabbay, Dr. Bruce Campbell and Prof.
Stephen Holgate CBE) will step down from the Board at the
conclusion of the General Meeting.
It is
the intention
of the Company to appoint two new independent Non-Executive Directors
to the Board in due
course.
Martin Murphy
Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement,
subject to
the passing
of the Resolutions, Martin
Murphy shall
be appointed as a
Non-Executive Director of the Company.
Martin Murphy is a seasoned
healthcare veteran with over 23 years of leadership experience in
life sciences investment. Martin previously served as Chair of
Investment Committee and CEO of Syncona Limited, a FTSE 250
healthcare investment company, where he helped raise $3 billion in
funds and built Syncona to become the pre-eminent UK life sciences
company founder and builder. Additionally, he serves as Chair of
the Commercial Advisory Board at the British Heart Foundation
CureHeart Programme and is founding investor of NASDAQ-listed
Autolus Therapeutics. Between 2002-2012, he served as Managing
Director of MVM Life Science Partners LLP's London office and
European business. Martin holds a PhD from the University of
Cambridge and an MA in Biochemistry from the University of
Oxford.
New
LTIPS
The legacy LTIP is approaching the end of its 10 year life and the Company, in conjunction, with TFG Asset Management UK, its largest
shareholder, has concluded that it should be replaced with a new,
simpler, structure of market value options ensuring that payouts are perfectly aligned with the shareholder experience.
Resolution 2 seeks authority from
shareholders to adopt and operate the LTIPs for a period of 10
years from the date of the meeting.
Under the Act, grants of awards pursuant to an "employee share scheme" do not require any specific share authorities to do so. The
Non-Employee LTIP, on account of non-executive directors being
eligible to participate in it, does not meet the requirements of an
"employee share scheme" for the purposes of the Act. Accordingly, the Board will require the specific authority from Shareholders to make awards under the Non-Employee LTIP and
as such the Board is proposing that Shareholders approve
Resolutions 5 and 7.
In the event that the Resolutions are passed, the Company intends to make the following grants of options under the LTIPs. The vesting date for each Option granted will be the third anniversary of the date of grant.
The options may be exercised during the period of 7 years commencing on the third anniversary of the date of grant (i.e. expiring the day
before the 10th anniversary of grant).
In the event that the Minimum Fundraising
Condition is
satisfied, the
options below
will be
granted to
ensure the holders receive
the percentage of Enlarged Share Capital as set out below (the
below is on the basis the full £19 million is raised pursuant to
the Fundraising):
Name
|
Option Scheme
|
Issue Date
|
Share Options
to be granted
over Ordinary
Shares
|
Exercise
price
|
Expiry date
|
Percentage
of
Enlarged
Share Capital
|
Mark Parry-Billings
LTIP
|
16.01.2025
|
11,526,606
|
£0.02
|
15.01.2035
|
1.0%
|
Martin Murphy
|
LTIP
|
16.01.2025
|
23,053,213
|
£0.02
|
15.01.2035
|
2.0%
|
Richard Marsden
|
LTIP
|
16.01.2025
|
11,526,606
|
£0.02
|
15.01.2035
|
1.0%
|
Joseph Colliver
|
LTIP
|
16.01.2025
|
10,373,946
|
£0.02
|
15.01.2035
|
0.9%
|
Total
|
|
|
56,480,371
|
|
|
4.9%
|
In the
event that the Minimum Fundraising Condition
is not satisfied, the following options will
be granted:
Name
|
Option Scheme
|
Issue Date
|
Share Options
to be granted
over Ordinary
Shares
|
Exercise
price
|
Expiry date
|
Percentage
of
Enlarged
Share Capital
|
Mark Parry-Billings
LTIP
|
16.01.2025
|
11,026,606
|
£0.02
|
15.01.2035
|
1.0%
|
Martin Murphy
|
LTIP
|
16.01.2025
|
22,053,213
|
£0.02
|
15.01.2035
|
2.0%
|
Richard Marsden
|
LTIP
|
16.01.2025
|
11,026,606
|
£0.02
|
15.01.2035
|
1.0%
|
Joseph Colliver
|
LTIP
|
16.01.2025
|
9,923,946
|
£0.02
|
15.01.2035
|
0.9%
|
Total
|
|
|
54,030,371
|
|
|
4.9%
|
A summary of the principal terms of the LTIPs is set out in the Appendix to the Notice of General Meeting.
IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS OF THE MINIMUM FUNDRAISING CONDITION
NOT BEING SATISFIED - CANCELLATION
The
Non Underwritten Fundraising is subject to and conditional upon,
the Minimum Fundraising Condition.
In the event that the Non-Underwritten Fundraising
does not
raise, in
aggregate, a
minimum of
£2.9 million for
the Company,
no element
of the Non-Underwritten Fundraising
will proceed.
All monies
shall be
returned to Qualifying
Shareholders who participated in the Open Offer and no Placing
Shares, Open Offer Shares or Director Subscription Shares will be
issued by the Company.
The results of the Non-Underwritten
Fundraising are inherently uncertain and the Company and the
Directors cannot give any guarantee that
the Minimum Fundraising Condition will be satisfied or indeed any
funds raised at all beyond the Subscription.
In the event that the Minimum
Fundraising Condition is not satisfied, TFG Asset Management UK
would hold 86.9 per cent. of the Enlarged Share Capital.
Following the approval of the Resolutions at the General Meeting, if the Minimum Fundraising Condition
is not satisfied,
the Company
intends to
apply for
the cancellation
of its Ordinary Shares from trading on AIM in
early 2025 and a separate circular will be sent to the Company's
shareholders following Admission requesting
that Shareholders
approve such
Cancellation in
accordance with
rule 41
of the AIM Rules. In the event that the Minimum Fundraising
Condition is
not satisfied,
given Tetragon
Asset Management
UK's level
of shareholding and the inability of the public
markets to adequately fund the Company, the Directors
believe that the Cancellation is in the best interests of
the Company and its shareholders as a whole.
A resolution to approve the
Cancellation requires the approval of 75 per cent. of those
Shareholders who actually vote in such general meeting. TFG Asset
Management UK, which at such time would hold
86.9 per cent. of the Enlarged Share
Capital, would therefore be able to pass such resolution on its
own, notwithstanding how many other Shareholders may vote
against.
TFG Asset Management UK has notified the Company that should this be the case, it would vote "for" such resolution and approve the Cancellation.
Following such Cancellation, Shareholders would then hold their Ordinary Shares in an unquoted company for which there may be much
less liquidity than were they traded on AIM. Shareholders should
read and understand the Risk Factors in Part III.
In the event that the Minimum
Fundraising Condition is not satisfied and the Company applies for
Cancellation, the principal effects of the Cancellation would be
that:
●
there will
not be a formal
market mechanism enabling
the Shareholders to trade Ordinary Shares;
●
while the Ordinary Shares will remain freely
transferrable, the liquidity and marketability of the
Ordinary Shares will, in the future, be
more constrained than at present and the value of such shares may
be adversely affected as a consequence;
●
in the absence of a formal market and quote, it
may be more difficult for Shareholders to determine the market
value of their investment in the Company at any given
time;
●
the regulatory and financial reporting regime
applicable to companies whose shares are admitted to trading on AIM will no longer apply and the Company will no longer be subject to the UK Market Abuse Regulation or the
Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and so will therefore no
longer be required to disclose significant shareholdings in the
Company;
●
shareholders will no longer be afforded the
protections given by the AIM Rules and the requirement that the Company seek Shareholder approval
for certain
corporate actions,
where applicable,
including substantial transactions, reverse
takeovers, related
party transactions
and fundamental
changes in
the Company's business;
●
the levels
of transparency
and corporate
governance within
the Company
may not
be as stringent as for a company quoted on AIM;
●
Cavendish will cease to be the Company's nominated
adviser and the Company will cease to have a broker;
●
the Relationship
Agreement will have no effect;
●
stamp duty will be payable on transfers of
Ordinary Shares as the Ordinary Shares will no longer be traded on
AIM;
●
the Cancellation may have personal taxation
consequences for Shareholders. Shareholders who are in any doubt
about their tax position should consult their own professional
independent tax adviser.
Shareholders should also note that the Takeover Code may continue to apply to the Company following the Cancellation for a period of two years, provided (and depending on when the Cancellation might take effect) the Company continues to have its place of central management and control in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man. Further details on the applicability of the Takeover Code post any Cancellation will be set out in a circular and regulatory
announcement in due course should the Minimum Fundraising Condition
not be met.
The Company will also continue to be
bound by the Act (which requires shareholder approval for certain
matters) following the Cancellation.
The above considerations
are not
exhaustive and
Shareholders should
seek their
own independent
advice when assessing the
likely impact of the Cancellation on them.
Process for Cancellation
Under the AIM Rules, any
Cancellation can only be effected by the Company after securing a
special resolution of Shareholders in a general meeting and the
expiry of a period of 20 clear Business Days from the date on which
notice of the Cancellation is given to the London Stock Exchange.
In addition, a period of at least five clear Business Days following Shareholders'
approval of
the Cancellation
is required
before the Cancellation may become
effective.
In the event that the Minimum
Fundraising Condition is not satisfied, the Company will send a
circular to Shareholders convening a meeting to approve the
necessary resolution in accordance with rule 41 of the AIM
Rules.
Intentions of TFG Asset Management UK if the Minimum
Fundraising Condition is satisfied
In the event that the Minimum Fundraising
Condition is
satisfied, TFG
Asset Management
UK will
hold less than
75 per cent. of the Enlarged Share Capital and the Relationship Agreement,
governing the
behaviour between TFG
Asset Management UK and the Company, will also take effect. Please
see paragraph 4 of Part II for information regarding the intentions
of TFG Asset Management UK.
CURRENT TRADING AND FUTURE
PROSPECTS
The Company has spent much of 2024 preparing for its Clinical Trial to investigate SNG001 in mechanically ventilated
patients infected
with a range of respiratory viruses.
This has
included collaboration with leading respiratory and intensive care
experts to characterise the clinical need, confirming commercial
viability, designing the Clinical Trial, assessing feasibility of Clinical Trial delivery, and working with external parties on technologies that will be used in the Clinical
Trial.
The proceeds of the Subscription,
subject to Shareholder approval at the General Meeting, provides
the Company with the necessary funds to commence the Clinical
Trial.
ADMISSION OF THE NEW ORDINARY
SHARES
Application will be made to the
London Stock Exchange for the New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to
trading on AIM. It is expected that Admission will become effective
at 8.00 a.m. on 17 January 2025.
CREST accounts of the investors in the Fundraising who hold their Ordinary Shares in CREST will be credited with their New Ordinary
Shares on 17 January 2025. In the case of investors in the New
Ordinary Shares holding their Ordinary Shares in certificated form,
it is expected that certificates will be dispatched within 10
business days of Admission. Pending dispatch of the share
certificates or the crediting of CREST accounts, the Registrar will
certify any instruments of transfer against the
register.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The
Subscription
TFG Asset Management UK (on behalf of the Relevant Funds) is a substantial shareholder in the Company holding 10 per cent. or more of the Existing Ordinary Shares
and has agreed to subscribe for up to 900,000,000 Subscription
Shares (subject to clawback) at the Issue Price, representing 86.9
per cent. of the Enlarged Share Capital (in the event that the
Minimum Fundraising Condition is not satisfied).
The participation in the Fundraising
by TFG Asset Management UK constitutes a related party transaction
for the
purposes of
Rule 13
of the AIM Rules. The Directors who are independent of TFG Asset Management UK (which as at the date of this document is
all of them) consider, having consulted with the Company's
nominated adviser, Cavendish, that the terms upon which TFG Asset
Management UK is participating in the Subscription are fair and
reasonable insofar as the Company's Shareholders are
concerned.
The
Director Subscriptions
The conditional subscriptions for
the Director Subscription Shares by Participating Directors
pursuant to the Director Subscriptions
constitute related
party transactions
pursuant to
Rule 13
of the AIM Rules. The Non-Participating Directors, being deemed
independent for the purpose of assessing the Director Participation, having
consulted with
the Company's
nominated adviser,
Cavendish, consider
that the
terms of
the participation
in the Director Subscriptions
by the Participating Directors
are fair
and reasonable
insofar as the Company's Shareholders are
concerned.
TAKEOVER CODE
The Takeover Code applies to the Company. Under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, any person who acquires an interest in shares which, taken together with shares in which that person or any person acting in concert with that person is interested, carry 30 per cent. or more of the voting rights of a company which is subject to the Takeover Code is
normally required to make an offer to all the remaining
shareholders to acquire their shares.
Similarly, when any person, together with persons acting in concert with that person, is interested in shares which in the aggregate carry not less than 30 per cent. of the voting rights of such a company but does not hold
shares carrying more than 50 per cent. of the voting rights of the
company, an offer will normally be required
if such
person or
any person
acting in
concert with
that person
acquires a
further interest
in shares which
increases the percentage of shares carrying voting rights in which
that person is interested.
A Rule 9 Offer must be made in cash at the highest price paid by the person required to make the offer, or any
person acting in concert with such person, for any interest in
shares of the company during the 12 months prior to the
announcement of the offer.
Following Admission, TFG Asset
Management UK (in its capacity as discretionary investment manager
for and on
behalf of
the Relevant
Funds) will
be interested
in a maximum of 958,000,000 shares,
representing a maximum 86.9 per cent. of
the voting rights of the Company (on the assumption that the
Minimum Fundraising Condition is not satisfied).
Therefore, on Admission, and assuming that no other person
converts any convertible securities
or exercises
any options
or any other right to subscribe for shares in the Company, TFG Asset Management UK would be interested in
a maximum of 958,000,000 shares, representing approximately 86.9
per cent. of the enlarged voting rights of the Company.
Rule 9 of the Takeover Code further
provides, among other things, that where any person who, together
with persons
acting in
concert with
that person
holding shares
carrying more
than 50
per cent.
of the voting rights of a company, acquires any further shares carrying voting rights, then such person will not generally be required to make a general offer to the other shareholders to acquire the balance of their shares. Following Admission, TFG Asset Management UK (on behalf
of the Relevant Funds) will hold shares carrying more than 50 per cent. of the voting rights of the Company and may
accordingly increase their aggregate interests in the
Ordinary Shares without incurring any obligation to make a Rule 9
Offer.
In the event that the Proposals are
approved at the General Meeting, TFG Asset Management UK will not
be restricted from making an offer for the Company.
TFG Asset Management UK is presumed to be acting in concert (as defined in the Takeover Code) with its members, any discretionary investment funds discretionarily managed
by it or TFG Asset Management L.P. (including the Relevant Funds)
and Tetragon Financial Management LP. As such TFG Asset Management
UK is presumed to be interested in the Ordinary Shares in the Company held by the Relevant Funds for the purposes of the
Takeover Code.
WAIVER OF RULE 9 OF THE TAKEOVER
CODE
Pursuant to the Takeover Code, the
Panel may waive the requirement for a general offer to be made in
accordance with
Rule 9 of the Takeover Code if, amongst other things, the shareholders of a company who are independent of the person who would otherwise be required to make an offer, and any person acting in concert with it, pass
an ordinary resolution on a poll approving such a
waiver.
TFG Asset Management UK (on behalf
of the Relevant Funds) is interested in shares which carry 28.6 per cent. of the Company's voting rights. Assuming that the Fundraising is completed and irrespective of whether the Minimum Fundraising
Condition is satisfied or not, and assuming that no person
exercises any options or other rights to subscribe for Ordinary
Shares, as at Admission TFG Asset Management UK would be interested in Ordinary Shares carrying over 50 per cent. or more of the Company's voting rights. Ordinarily, the
acquisition by any person, together with persons acting in concert
with that person, of an interest in shares which increases the
percentage of shares carrying voting rights to 30 per cent. or more
would result in the person having to make a mandatory Rule 9
Offer.
The Panel has been consulted and has agreed, subject to the
passing of the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution by the Independent
Shareholders on a poll at the General Meeting, to waive the
obligation of TFG Asset Management UK to make a mandatory offer for
the ordinary shares in the capital of the Company not already owned
by them which would otherwise arise following completion of the Proposals. Accordingly, the Company is
proposing the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution to seek the approval
of Independent Shareholders to the Rule 9 Waiver
Resolution.
In
addition, TFG Asset Management UK will not be restricted from
making a subsequent offer in the future for the Company in the
event that the Rule 9 Waiver is approved by Independent
Shareholders and the Proposals take place.
Your attention is drawn to Part II (Additional Information) of
this document which sets out certain further information and
financial information that is required to be disclosed in this
document pursuant to the rules contained in the Takeover
Code.
Under Rule 25.2 of the Takeover Code, only the Directors who
are independent of TFG Asset Management UK are able to make a
recommendation to the Independent Shareholders with respect to the
proposed Rule 9 Waiver Resolution. As at the date of this document,
all Directors are independent of TFG Asset Management
UK.
The Directors believe it is in the best interests of the
Company that the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution be passed and hereby
recommend that Independent Shareholders vote in favour of the Rule
9 Waiver Resolution. Cavendish, as the Company's independent
financial adviser, has provided formal
advice to
the Directors
that it
considers the
terms of
the Proposals
to be fair and reasonable and in the best interests of Shareholders
and the Company as a whole. In providing this advice, Cavendish has
taken into account the Directors' commercial assessments. In
accordance with the requirements of the Takeover Code, TFG Asset
Management UK is not permitted to vote on the Rule 9 Waiver
Resolution in respect of its aggregate holding of 58 million
Ordinary Shares.
GENERAL MEETING
The General Meeting will be held at
the offices of Fieldfisher LLP, Riverbank House, 2 Swan Lane,
London EC4R 3TT at 10.30 a.m. on 16 January 2025. The Resolutions
proposed for consideration at the General Meeting are set out in
full in the Notice of General Meeting at the end of this document.
Voting on the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting shall be held on a poll rather than on a show of hands. The General Meeting is being held for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the Resolutions set out in full
in the Notice of General Meeting, as summarised below:
●
Resolution 1 is the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution
which, as required by the Takeover Code, will be taken on a poll vote of Independent Shareholders, who will be entitled to one vote for each Ordinary Share in the capital of the Company held by them at 6.00 p.m. on 15 January 2025. TFG Asset Management UK will not vote on the resolution. Resolution
1 is an ordinary resolution to approve the Rule 9 Waiver;
●
Resolution 2
is an ordinary resolution
to approve
the adoption
of the LTIPs;
●
Resolution 3 is an ordinary resolution appointing
Martin Murphy as a non-executive director of the Company;
●
Resolution 4 is an ordinary resolution granting
the Directors the authority to allot the New Ordinary Shares
pursuant to the Fundraising;
●
Resolution 5 is an ordinary resolution to grant
the Directors authority to grant awards under the Non-Employee LTIP which does not meet the definition of an "employee share scheme" under the Act and therefore a
specific authority to allot is required in order to make grants
pursuant to it;
●
Resolution 6 is a special resolution to grant the
Directors authority to issue the New Ordinary Shares pursuant to
the Fundraising for cash free of pre-emption rights;
●
Resolution 7 is a special resolution to grant the
Directors authority to grant awards under the Non-Employee LTIP which does not meet the definition of an "employee share scheme" under the Act for
cash and therefore a specific disapplication of pre-emption rights
is required in order to make grants pursuant to it;
and
●
Resolution 8 is a special resolution which amends
the Articles of Association in the manner further described in
paragraph 4 of Part I of this document.
The Fundraising is conditional upon all of the Resolutions being passed.
Explanatory notes in respect of
each of the Resolutions, and details of the action you should take
in order to appoint a proxy to attend and vote on your behalf at
the General Meeting, are set out at the end of the Notice of
General Meeting.
The Chairman and the Board have
decided that the fairest way for the General Meeting to proceed
would be by
way of poll. This means that every Shareholder present in person or by proxy has one vote for every Ordinary Share held.
Conducting a meeting by way of a poll ensures that all Shareholders are given the opportunity to participate in the decision-making of
the Company and have their votes recorded even if they do not
attend the meeting in person.
IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AND ACTION TO
BE TAKEN IN RELATION TO THE GENERAL MEETING
You will find accompanying this document a Form of Proxy for
use at the General Meeting. Whether or not you intend to be present
at the General Meeting, you are requested to complete the Form of
Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed on it and to
return it as soon as possible and in any case so as to be received
by the Company's registrars, Link Group at Link Group, Central
Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL no later than 10.30
a.m. on 14 January 2025.
If
you hold your Existing Ordinary Shares in uncertificated form in
CREST, you may vote using the CREST Proxy Voting service in
accordance with the procedures set out in the CREST Manual. Further
details are also set out in the notes accompanying the Notice of
General Meeting at the end of this document. Proxies submitted via
CREST must be received by Link Group (CREST ID RA10) by no later
than 10.30 a.m. on 14 January 2025 (or, if the General Meeting is
adjourned, 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a
working day) before the time fixed for the adjourned
meeting).
Shareholders can also vote electronically by using Link Group' Signal Shares share portal service at www.signalshares.com.
The return of the Form of Proxy or transmission of a CREST
Proxy Instruction or other electronic vote will not prevent you
from attending the meeting and voting in person if you
wish.
Your attention is drawn to paragraph 14 in Part I of this
document.
INDEPENDENT ADVICE
Cavendish has provided advice to the Directors, in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 4(a) of Appendix 1 to the Takeover Code, in
relation to the granting of the Rule 9 Waiver.
This advice was provided by Cavendish to the Directors of the Company only and, in providing such advice, Cavendish has taken into account the Directors' commercial assessments
as well
as TFG Asset Management UK's future intentions in relation to the Company (as set out in paragraph 4 of Part II of this document).
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Directors consider that all of the Resolutions are in the
best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole.
Accordingly, the Directors unanimously recommend that Shareholders
vote in favour of all the Resolutions as they intend to do in
respect of their entire beneficial holdings, amounting in aggregate
to 2,215,532 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 1.09 per
cent. of the entire issued share capital.
If
any of the Resolutions are not approved by Shareholders at the
General Meeting, the Fundraising will not proceed. As such, the
anticipated proceeds of the Fundraising would not become available
to the Company. There is no certainty that other funding would be
available on suitable terms or indeed at all and the Clinical Trial
would not be able to proceed. It is uncertain whether the Company
could carry on its business as it is presently carried
on.
The Directors are not making any recommendation to Qualifying
Shareholders as to whether or not they should participate in the
Open Offer. Qualifying Shareholders should consider whether the
Ordinary Shares remain a suitable investment in light of their own
personal circumstances and investment objectives.
Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the
Placing.
If
you are in any doubt as to what action you should take in respect
of this document, you should immediately seek your own personal
financial advice from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor,
accountant or other independent professional adviser duly
authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as
amended) if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from
another appropriately authorised independent financial
adviser.
Yours faithfully,
Mark
Parry-Billings
Chairman
IMPORTANT NOTICES
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 (TOGETHER, THIS
"ANNOUNCEMENT") 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:
(1) IF IN A MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA
("EEA"), QUALIFIED
INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129
(THE "EU PROSPECTUS
REGULATION"); (2) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED
INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129
AS IT FORMS PART OF UNITED KINGDOM DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (THE "UK PROSPECTUS REGULATION") WHO (A)
FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT
2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER") (INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS) OR
(B) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES,
UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.) OF THE ORDER; AND (3) OTHERWISE,
PERSONS TO WHOM IT IS OTHERWISE LAWFUL TO COMMUNICATE IT TO (ALL
SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION IN IT MUST
NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS 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 ONLY TO
RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR
SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN SYNAIRGEN PLC.
THE NEW ORDINARY SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL
NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES
ACT") OR WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY
STATE OR JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED,
SOLD OR TRANSFERRED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES
(INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED
STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) (THE "UNITED STATES" OR THE "US") EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN 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 THE UNITED STATES. THE NEW ORDINARY
SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD ONLY OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES
IN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS"
WITHIN THE MEANING OF, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, REGULATION S UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT AND OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE
LAWS. NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE NEW ORDINARY SHARES IS BEING MADE
IN THE UNITED STATES OR ELSEWHERE.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THE APPENDIX) AND
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR
RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA,
CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION
WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR
DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED
STATES. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE OR
SUBSCRIPTION INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO
HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES,
EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. NO
PUBLIC OFFERING IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES.
The distribution of this Announcement and/or the
Placing and/or the Open Offer and/or issue of the New Ordinary
Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action
has been taken by the Company, Cavendish or any of their respective
affiliates, agents, directors, officers, consultants, partners or
employees ("Representatives") that would permit an
offer of the New Ordinary Shares or possession or distribution of
this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material
relating to such New Ordinary Shares in any jurisdiction where
action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession
this Announcement comes are required by the Company and Cavendish
to inform themselves about and to observe any such
restrictions.
This Announcement or any part of it is for
information purposes only and 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, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or
any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No
public offering of the New Ordinary Shares is being made in any
such jurisdiction.
All offers of the New Ordinary Shares in the
United Kingdom or the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption
from the requirement to produce a prospectus under the UK
Prospectus Regulation or the EU Prospectus Regulation, as
appropriate. In the United Kingdom, this Announcement is being
directed solely at persons in circumstances in which section 21(1)
of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) does
not require the approval of the relevant communication by an
authorised person.
The New Ordinary Shares have not been approved
or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any
state securities commission or 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 a criminal offence in the United States. The relevant clearances
have not been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities
commission of any province or territory of Canada, no prospectus
has been lodged with, or registered by, the Australian Securities
and Investments Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the
relevant clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained from
the South African Reserve Bank or any other applicable body in the
Republic of South Africa in relation to the New Ordinary Shares;
and the New Ordinary Shares have not been, nor will they be,
registered under or offered in compliance with the securities laws
of any state, province or territory of the United States,
Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan.
Accordingly, the New Ordinary Shares may not (unless an exemption
under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold,
resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United
States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or
any other jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom or the
EEA.
Persons (including, without limitation, nominees
and trustees) who have a contractual right or other legal
obligations to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek
appropriate advice before taking any such action.
By participating in the Bookbuilding Process and
the Placing, each person who is invited to and who chooses to
participate in the Placing (a "Placee") by making an oral, electronic
or written 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 herein and to
be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities,
acknowledgements and undertakings contained in the Appendix.
Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing
and no public offering of Placing Shares is being or will be
made.
This Announcement may contain, or may be deemed
to contain, "forward-looking statements" with respect to certain of
the Company's plans and its current goals and expectations relating
to its future financial condition, performance, strategic
initiatives, objectives and results. Forward-looking statements
sometimes use words such as "aim", "anticipate", "target",
"expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", "seek",
"may", "could", "outlook" or other words of similar meaning. By
their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risk and
uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances
which are beyond the control of the Company, including amongst
other things, United Kingdom domestic and global economic business
conditions, market-related risks such as fluctuations in interest
rates and exchange rates, the policies and actions of governmental
and regulatory authorities, the effect of competition, inflation,
deflation, the timing effect and other uncertainties of future
acquisitions or combinations within relevant industries, the effect
of tax and other legislation and other regulations in the
jurisdictions in which the Company and its affiliates operate, the
effect of volatility in the equity, capital and credit markets on
the Company's profitability and ability to access capital and
credit, a decline in the Company's credit ratings; the effect of
operational risks; and the loss of key personnel. As a result, the
actual future financial condition, performance and results of the
Company may differ materially from the plans, goals and
expectations set forth in any forward-looking statements. Any
forward-looking statements made in this Announcement by or on
behalf of the Company speak only as of the date they are made.
Except as required by applicable law or regulation, the Company
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publish any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in
this Announcement to reflect any changes in the Company's
expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is
based.
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited is authorised
and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") in the United Kingdom and is
acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection
with the Bookbuilding Process and the Fundraising, and Cavendish
will not be responsible to anyone (including any Placees) other
than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its
clients or for providing advice in relation to the Bookbuilding
Process or the Fundraising or any other matters referred to in this
Announcement.
Cavendish's responsibilities as the Company's
nominated adviser under the AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers are
owed solely to the Exchange and are not owed to the Company or to
any director of the Company or to any other person.
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 Cavendish or
by any of its Representatives 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 therefor is
expressly disclaimed.
No statement in this Announcement is intended to
be a profit forecast or estimate, and no statement in this
Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share
of the Company for the current or future financial years would
necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per
share of the Company.
The price of shares and any income expected from
them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the
full amount invested upon disposal of the shares. Past performance
is no guide to future performance, and persons needing advice
should consult an independent financial adviser.
The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the
Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other
than the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Neither the content of the Company's website nor
any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is
incorporated in, or forms part of, this Announcement.
Information to
Distributors
UK
product governance
Solely for the
purposes of the product governance requirements contained within
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 Placing Shares have been subject to a product
approval process, which has determined that such securities are:
(i) compatible with an end target market of investors who meet the
criteria of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of
professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined
in paragraph 3 of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook;
and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution
channels (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the
Target Market Assessment, distributors (for the purposes of UK
Product Governance Requirements) should note that: (a) the price of
the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part
of their investment; (b) the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed
income and no capital protection; and (c) an investment in the
Placing Shares 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 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 Target Market
Assessment, Cavendish will only procure investors who meet the
criteria of professional clients and eligible
counterparties.
For the
avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not
constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for
the purposes of Chapter 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 Placing
Shares.
Each
distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market
assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining
appropriate distribution channels.
EEA product governance
Solely for the
purposes of the product governance requirements contained within:
(a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as
amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated
Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local
implementing measures in the European Economic Area (together, the
"MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all
and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise,
which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product
Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto,
the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process,
which has determined that the Placing Shares are: (i) compatible
with an end target market of (a) retail investors, (b) investors
who meet the criteria of professional clients and (c) eligible
counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for
distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by
MiFID II (the "EU Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the
EU Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the
price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose
all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no
guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in
the Placing Shares 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 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 EU Target Market
Assessment, Cavendish will only procure investors who meet the
criteria of professional clients and eligible
counterparties.
For the
avoidance of doubt, the EU Target Market Assessment does not
constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for
the purposes of MiFID II; 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 Placing
Shares.
Each
distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market
assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining
appropriate distribution channels.
APPENDIX - TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE
PLACING
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY
REGARDING THE PLACING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE
PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX)
AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (TOGETHER, THIS
"ANNOUNCEMENT") 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
(1) IF IN A MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA
("EEA"), QUALIFIED
INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129
(THE "EU PROSPECTUS
REGULATION"); (2) IF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED
INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 2(E) OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129
AS IT FORMS PART OF UNITED KINGDOM DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (THE "UK PROSPECTUS REGULATION") WHO (A)
FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT
2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER") (INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS) OR
(B) FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES,
UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.) OF THE ORDER; AND (3) OTHERWISE,
PERSONS TO WHOM IT IS OTHERWISE LAWFUL TO COMMUNICATE IT TO (ALL
SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION IN IT MUST
NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS 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 ONLY TO
RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OR
SUBSCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITIES IN SYNAIRGEN PLC.
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 WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY
STATE OR JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED,
SOLD OR TRANSFERRED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES
(INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED
STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) (THE "UNITED STATES" OR THE "US") EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN
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. THE PLACING SHARES ARE BEING
OFFERED AND SOLD ONLY OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES IN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS" WITHIN THE
MEANING OF, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, REGULATION S UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT AND OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. NO
PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED
STATES OR ELSEWHERE.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (INCLUDING THIS APPENDIX) AND
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR
RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA,
CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION
WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR
DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE OR
SUBSCRIPTION INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO
HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES,
EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. NO
PUBLIC OFFERING IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES.
The distribution of this Announcement and/or the
Placing and/or issue of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions
may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company,
Cavendish or any of its Representatives 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 and Cavendish to
inform themselves about and to observe any such
restrictions.
This Announcement or any part of it is for
information purposes only and 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, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or
any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No
public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in any such
jurisdiction.
All offers of the Placing Shares in the United
Kingdom or the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption from the
requirement to produce a prospectus under the UK Prospectus
Regulation or the EU Prospectus Regulation, as appropriate. In the
United Kingdom, this Announcement is being directed solely at
persons in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the "FSMA") does not require the approval
of the relevant communication by an authorised person.
The Placing Shares have not been approved or
disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state
securities commission or 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 a criminal
offence in the United States. The relevant clearances have not
been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of
any province or territory of Canada, no prospectus has been lodged
with, or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant
clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained from the South
African Reserve Bank or any other applicable body in the Republic
of South Africa in relation to the Placing Shares and the Placing
Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under or offered
in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or
territory of the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of
South Africa or Japan. Accordingly, the Placing Shares may not
(unless an exemption under the relevant securities laws is
applicable) be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or
indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, the
Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction outside
the United Kingdom or the EEA.
Persons (including, without limitation, nominees
and trustees) who have a contractual right or other legal
obligations to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek
appropriate advice before taking any such action.
This Announcement should be read in its
entirety. In particular, you should read and understand the
information provided in the "Important Notices" section of this
Announcement.
By participating in the Bookbuilding Process and
the Placing, each Placee 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 herein and to be providing the representations,
warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings
contained in this Appendix.
EACH PLACEE
SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL, REGULATORY, TAX,
BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF A SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE PLACING
SHARES.
In particular, each such Placee represents,
warrants, undertakes, agrees and acknowledges (amongst other
things) to Cavendish and the Company that:
1. it is a
Relevant Person and undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage
or dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the
purposes of its business;
2. in the
case of a Relevant Person in the United Kingdom who acquires any
Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing:
(a)
it is a Qualified Investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of
the UK Prospectus Regulation; and
(b)
in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial
intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the UK
Prospectus Regulation:
(i) the
Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing have not been acquired
on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their
offer or resale to, persons in the United Kingdom other than
Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent
of Cavendish has been given to the offer or resale; or
(ii) where
Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in the
United Kingdom other than Qualified Investors, the offer of those
Placing Shares to it is not treated under the UK Prospectus
Regulation as having been made to such persons;
3. in the
case of a Relevant Person in a member state of the EEA (each
a "Relevant
State") who acquires any Placing
Shares pursuant to the Placing:
(a)
it is a Qualified Investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of
the EU Prospectus Regulation; and
(b)
in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial
intermediary, as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the EU
Prospectus Regulation:
(i) the
Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing have not been acquired
on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their
offer or resale to, persons in a Relevant State other than
Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent
of Cavendish has been given to the offer or resale; or
(ii) where
Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in a
Relevant State other than Qualified Investors, the offer of those
Placing Shares to it is not treated under the EU Prospectus
Regulation as having been made to such persons;
4. it is
acquiring the Placing Shares for its own account or is acquiring
the Placing Shares for an account with respect to which it
exercises sole investment discretion and has the authority to make
and does make the representations, warranties, indemnities,
acknowledgements, undertakings and agreements contained in this
Announcement;
5. it
understands (or if acting for the account of another person, such
person has confirmed that such person understands) the resale and
transfer restrictions set out in this Appendix;
6. except as
otherwise permitted by the Company and subject to any
available exemptions from applicable securities laws, it (and any
account referred to in paragraph 4 above)
is outside of the United States acquiring the Placing Shares in
offshore transactions as defined in and in accordance with
Regulation S under the Securities Act; and
7.
the Company and Cavendish will rely upon the truth and
accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties,
acknowledgements and agreements.
No
prospectus
The Placing Shares are being offered to a
limited number of specifically invited persons only and will not be
offered in such a way as to require any prospectus or other
offering document to be published. No prospectus or other offering
document has been or will be submitted to be approved by the FCA in
relation to the Placing or the Placing Shares and Placees'
commitments will be made solely on the basis of (i) the
information contained in this Announcement, (ii) any information
publicly announced through a Regulatory Information Service (as
defined in the AIM Rules for Companies (the "AIM Rules")) by or on behalf of the
Company on or prior to the date of this Announcement and (iii) the
business and financial information that the Company is required to
publish in accordance with the AIM Rules and the Market Abuse
Regulation (EU Regulation No. 596/2014 as it forms part of United
Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal)
Act 2018 (the "UK MAR")
(together, the "Publicly Available
Information") and subject to any further terms set out in
the contract note, electronic trade confirmation or other (oral or
written) confirmation to be sent to individual Placees.
Each Placee, by participating in the Placing,
agrees that the content of this Announcement is exclusively the
responsibility of the Company and confirms that it has neither
received nor relied on any information (other than the Publicly
Available Information), representation, warranty or statement made
by or on behalf of Cavendish or the Company or any other person and
none of Cavendish, the Company nor any other person acting on such
person's behalf nor any of their respective Representatives has or
shall have any liability for any Placee's decision to participate
in the Placing based on any other information, representation,
warranty or statement. 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. No Placee should consider any information in this
Announcement to be legal, tax or business advice. Nothing in this
paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent
misrepresentation.
Details of the
Placing Agreement and the Placing Shares
Cavendish has today entered into a placing
agreement (the "Placing
Agreement") with the Company under which, on the terms and
subject to the conditions set out in the Placing Agreement,
Cavendish, as agent for and on behalf of the Company, has agreed to
procure the publication of this Announcement. The Placing is not
being underwritten.
The Placing Shares will, when issued, be subject
to the articles of association of the Company, 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 such Existing Ordinary Shares after the date of issue of the
Placing Shares.
The Placing is subject to and conditional upon
the Minimum Fundraising Condition being satisfied.
Lock-up
As part of the Placing, the Company has agreed
that it will not for a period of 28 days after (but including)
Admission, directly or indirectly, issue, offer, sell, lend,
pledge, contract to sell or issue, grant any option, right or
warrant to purchase or otherwise dispose of any Ordinary Shares (or
any interest therein or in respect thereof) or other securities of
the Company exchangeable for, convertible into or representing the
right to receive Ordinary Shares or any substantially similar
securities or otherwise enter into any transaction (including
derivative transaction) directly or indirectly, permanently or
temporarily, to dispose of any Ordinary Shares or undertake any
other transaction with the same economic effect as any of the
foregoing or announce an offering of Ordinary Shares or any
interest therein or to announce publicly any intention to enter
into any transaction described above. This agreement is subject to
certain customary exceptions and does not prevent the grant or
exercise of options under any of the Company's existing share
incentives and share option schemes, or following Admission the
issue by the Company of any Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of
any right or option or the conversion of a security already in
existence.
Application for
admission to trading
Application will be made to the London Stock
Exchange for admission of the Placing Shares to trading on
AIM.
It is expected that Admission will take place on
or before 8.00 a.m. on 17 January 2025 and that dealings in the
Placing Shares on AIM will commence at the same time.
The
Bookbuilding Process
Cavendish will commence the Bookbuilding Process
to determine demand for participation in the Placing by Placees
immediately following the publication of this Announcement. This
Appendix gives details of the terms and conditions of, and the
mechanics of participation in, the Placing. No commissions will be
paid to Placees or by Placees in respect of any Placing
Shares.
Cavendish and the Company shall be entitled to
effect the Placing by such alternative method to the Bookbuilding
Process as they may, in their sole discretion,
determine.
Principal terms
of the Bookbuilding Process and the Placing
1. Cavendish
is acting as bookrunner to the Placing, as agent for and on behalf
of the Company.
2.
Participation in the Placing will only be available to persons who
may lawfully be, and are, invited by Cavendish to participate.
Cavendish and any of its affiliates are entitled to enter bids in
the Bookbuilding Process.
3. The price
per Placing Share (the "Issue Price") is
fixed at 2 pence and is payable to Cavendish (as agent for
the Company) by all Placees whose bids are successful. The
number of Placing Shares will be agreed between Cavendish and the
Company following completion of the Bookbuilding Process. The
number of Placing Shares will be announced by the Company (such
announcement being the "Placing
Results Announcement") following the completion of the
Bookbuilding Process and the entry into the Placing Agreement by
the Company and Cavendish.
4. To bid in
the Bookbuilding Process, Placees should communicate their bid by
telephone or email to their usual sales contact at Cavendish. Each
bid should state the number of Ordinary Shares which a Placee
wishes to acquire at the Issue Price. Bids may be scaled down by
Cavendish on the basis referred to in paragraph 9 below. Cavendish
is arranging the Placing as agent of the
Company.
5. The
Bookbuilding Process is expected to close no later than 11.00 a.m.
on 15 January 2025 but may be closed earlier or later subject to
the agreement of Cavendish and the Company. Cavendish
may, in agreement with the Company, accept bids that are received
after the Bookbuilding Process has closed. The Company reserves the
right (upon agreement of Cavendish) to reduce or seek to increase
the amount to be raised pursuant to the Placing, in its
discretion.
6. Each
Placee's allocation will be determined by Cavendish in its
discretion following consultation with the Company and
will be confirmed to Placees either orally or by email by
Cavendish. Cavendish may choose to accept bids, either in whole or
in part, on the basis of allocations determined at its absolute
discretion, in consultation with the Company, and may scale down
any bids for this purpose on the basis referred to in paragraph 9
below.
7.
The Company will release the Placing Results Announcement
following the close of the Bookbuilding Process detailing the
aggregate number of the Placing Shares to be issued.
8. Each
Placee's allocation and commitment will be evidenced by a contract
note, electronic trade confirmation or other (oral or written)
confirmation issued to such Placee by Cavendish. The terms of this
Appendix will be deemed incorporated in that contract note,
electronic trade confirmation or other (oral or written)
confirmation.
9. Subject to
paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 above, Cavendish may choose to accept bids,
either in whole or in part, on the basis of allocations determined
at its discretion and may scale down any bids for this purpose on
such basis as it may determine or be directed. Cavendish may also,
notwithstanding paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 above, subject to the prior
consent of the Company:
(a)
allocate Placing Shares after the time of any initial allocation to
any person submitting a bid after that time; and
(b)
allocate Placing Shares after the Bookbuilding Process has closed
to any person submitting a bid after that time.
10.
A bid in the Bookbuilding Process will be made on the terms and
subject to the conditions in this Appendix and will be legally
binding on the Placee on behalf of which it is made and except with
Cavendish's consent will not be capable of variation or revocation
after the time at which it is submitted. Following Cavendish's oral
or written confirmation of each Placee's allocation and commitment
to acquire Placing Shares, each Placee will have an immediate,
separate, irrevocable and binding obligation, owed to Cavendish (as
agent for the Company), to pay to it (or as it may
direct) in cleared funds an amount equal to the product of Issue
Price and the number of Placing Shares such Placee has agreed to
acquire and the Company has agreed to allot and issue to that
Placee.
11.
Except as required by law or regulation, no press release or other
announcement will be made by Cavendish or the Company
using the name of any Placee (or its agent), in its capacity as
Placee (or agent), other than with such Placee's prior written
consent.
12.
Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's allocation(s) pursuant
to the Placing is/are confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares
to be acquired pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made
at the same time, on the basis explained below under "Registration and
Settlement".
13.
All obligations under the Bookbuilding Process and Placing will be
subject to fulfilment of the conditions referred to below under
"Conditions of the
Placing" and to the Placing not being terminated on the
basis referred to below under "Termination of the
Placing".
14.
By participating in the Bookbuilding Process, each Placee will
agree that its rights and obligations in respect of the Placing
will terminate only in the circumstances described below and will
not be capable of rescission or termination by the
Placee.
15.
To the fullest extent permissible by law and applicable FCA rules
and regulations, neither:
(a)
Cavendish;
(b)
any of its Representatives; nor
(c)
to the extent not contained within (a) or (b), any person connected
with Cavendish as defined in the FSMA ((b) and (c) being together
"affiliates" and
individually an "affiliate"
of Cavendish);
shall have any liability (including to the
extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) to Placees or to
any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise.
In particular, neither Cavendish nor any of its affiliates shall
have any liability (including, to the extent permissible by law,
any fiduciary duties) in respect of Cavendish's conduct of the
Bookbuilding Process or of such alternative method of effecting the
Placing as Cavendish and the Company may agree. Each Placee
acknowledges and agrees that the Company is responsible for the
allotment of the Placing Shares to the Placees and Cavendish shall
have no liability to the Placees for any failure by the Company to
fulfil those obligations.
Registration
and Settlement
If Placees are allocated any Placing Shares in
the Placing they will be sent a contract note, electronic trade
confirmation or other (oral or written) confirmation which will
confirm the number of Placing Shares allocated to them, the Issue
Price and the aggregate amount owed by them to
Cavendish.
Each Placee will be deemed to agree that it will
do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is
completed as directed by Cavendish in accordance with either the
standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions which they
have in place with Cavendish.
Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares
(ISIN: GB00B0381Z20) following Admission will take place within the
CREST system, subject to certain exceptions. Settlement through
CREST is expected to occur on 17 January 2025 (the "Settlement Date") in accordance with
the contract note, electronic trade confirmation or other (oral or
written) confirmation. Settlement will be on a delivery versus
payment basis. However, in the event of any difficulties or delays
in the admission of the Placing Shares to CREST or the use of CREST
in relation to the Placing, the Company and Cavendish may agree
that the Placing Shares should be issued in certificated form.
Cavendish reserves the right to require settlement for the Placing
Shares, and to deliver the Placing Shares to Placees, by such other
means as it deems necessary if delivery or settlement to Placees is
not practicable within the CREST system or would not be consistent
with regulatory requirements in the jurisdiction in which a Placee
is located.
Interest is chargeable daily on payments not
received from Placees on the due date in accordance with the
arrangements set out above, in respect of either CREST or
certificated deliveries, at the rate of three percentage points
above the prevailing base rate of Barclays Bank plc as determined
by Cavendish.
Subject to the conditions set out above, payment
in respect of the Placees' allocations is due as set out below.
Each Placee should provide its settlement details in order to
enable instructions to be successfully matched in CREST.
The relevant settlement details for the Placing
Shares are as follows:
CREST Participant ID of Cavendish:
|
601
|
Expected trade time & date:
|
08.00 a.m. on 14
January 2025
|
Settlement date:
|
17 January
2025
|
ISIN code for the Placing Shares:
|
GB00B0381Z20
|
Deadline for Placee to input instructions into
CREST:
|
12.00 p.m. on
16 January 2025
|
Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does
not comply with these obligations, Cavendish may sell any or all of
the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on their behalf and
retain from the proceeds, for Cavendish's own 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 Issue Price and for any stamp duty or stamp
duty reserve tax (together with any interest or penalties) imposed
in any jurisdiction which may arise upon the sale of such Placing
Shares on its behalf. By communicating a bid for Placing Shares,
such Placee confers on Cavendish all such authorities and powers
necessary to carry out such sale and agrees to ratify and confirm
all actions which Cavendish lawfully takes in pursuance of such
sale.
If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a
custodian or settlement agent, Placees must ensure that, upon
receipt, the conditional contract note, electronic trade
confirmation or other (oral or written) confirmation 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 as provided below,
be so registered free from any liability to United Kingdom stamp
duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If there are any circumstances in
which any United Kingdom stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or
other similar taxes or duties (including any interest and penalties
relating thereto) is payable in respect of the allocation,
allotment, issue, sale, transfer 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
or agreement to transfer Placing Shares), the Company shall not be
responsible for payment thereof. Placees will not be entitled to
receive any fee or commission in connection with 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 obligations of Cavendish under the Placing
Agreement are, and the Placing is, conditional upon, inter alia:
(a)
the Resolutions having been duly passed at the General Meeting (or
at any adjournment thereof);
(b)
none of the warranties on the part of the Company contained in the
Placing Agreement being untrue, inaccurate or misleading at
Admission, by reference to the facts and circumstances then
subsisting;
(c)
the Minimum Fundraising Condition being satisfied;
(d)
the Company complying with its obligations under the Placing
Agreement to the extent that they fall to be performed on or before
Admission;
(e)
the Company and Cavendish agreeing the final number of Placing
Shares and executing a results agreement no later than 5.00 p.m. on
the business day immediately preceding the General Meeting (or such
later time and/or date as Cavendish may agree with the
Company);
(f) the
Company having allotted, subject only to Admission, the Placing
Shares in accordance with the Placing Agreement; and
(g)
Admission having become effective at or before 8.00 a.m. on 17
January 2025 or such later time as Cavendish may agree with the
Company (not being later than 8.00 a.m. on 31 January
2025),
(all conditions to the obligations of Cavendish
included in the Placing Agreement being together, the "Conditions").
If any of the Conditions are not fulfilled or,
where permitted, waived by Cavendish in accordance with the Placing
Agreement within the stated time periods (or such later time and/or
date as the Company and Cavendish may agree), or the Placing
Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Placing
will lapse and the Placees' rights and obligations shall cease and
terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be
made by or on behalf of the Placee (or any person on whose behalf
the Placee is acting) in respect thereof.
By participating in the Bookbuilding Process,
each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations cease and
terminate only in the circumstances described above and under
"Termination of the
Placing" below and will not be capable of rescission or
termination by it.
Cavendish may, in its absolute discretion and
upon such terms as it thinks fit, waive fulfilment of all or any of
the Conditions in whole or in part, or extend the time provided for
fulfilment of one or more Conditions, save that certain Conditions
including the condition relating to Admission referred to above may
not be waived. Any such extension or waiver will not affect
Placees' commitments as set out in this Appendix.
Cavendish may terminate the Placing Agreement in
certain circumstances, details of which are set out
below.
Neither Cavendish nor any of its affiliates nor
the Company 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 any of them 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 any of them 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
Cavendish.
Termination
of the Placing
Cavendish may, in its absolute discretion, by
notice to the Company, terminate the Placing Agreement at any time
up to Admission if, inter
alia:
(a)
there has, in the opinion of Cavendish, been a breach of the
warranties given to it;
(b)
there has, in the opinion of Cavendish, been a material adverse
change;
(c)
any statement contained in this Announcement, the Placing Results
Announcement or any other document or announcement issued or
published by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the
Placing is or has become or has been discovered to be untrue or
inaccurate or misleading; or
(d)
in the opinion of Cavendish, there has been a force majeure
event.
If the Placing Agreement is terminated in
accordance with its terms, the rights and obligations of each
Placee in respect of the Placing as described in this Announcement
shall cease and terminate at such time and no claim can be made by
any Placee in respect thereof.
By participating in the Bookbuilding Process,
each Placee agrees with the Company and Cavendish that the exercise
by the Company or Cavendish of any right of termination or any
other right or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall
be within the absolute discretion of the Company or Cavendish or
for agreement between the Company and Cavendish (as the case may
be) and that neither the Company nor Cavendish need make any
reference to such Placee and that none of the Company, Cavendish
nor any of their respective Representatives shall have any
liability to such Placee (or to any other person whether acting on
behalf of a Placee or otherwise) whatsoever in connection with any
such exercise. Each Placee further agrees that they will have no
rights against Cavendish, the Company or any of their respective
directors or employees under the Placing Agreement pursuant to the
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (as
amended).
By participating in the Placing, each Placee
agrees that its rights and obligations terminate only in the
circumstances described above and under the "Conditions of the Placing" section
above and will not be capable of rescission or termination by it
after the issue by Cavendish of a contract note, electronic trade
confirmation or other (oral or written) confirmation confirming
each Placee's allocation and commitment in the Placing.
Representations, warranties and further
terms
By submitting a bid in the Bookbuilding Process,
each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf)
irrevocably confirms, represents, warrants, acknowledges and agrees
(for itself and for any such prospective Placee) with the Company
and Cavendish (in its capacity as bookrunner and Placing agent of
the Company in respect of the Placing) that (save where Cavendish
expressly agrees in writing to the contrary):
1. it has read
and understood this Announcement in its entirety and that its
acquisition of the Placing Shares is subject to and based upon all
the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, indemnities,
acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings and other information
contained herein and that it has not relied on, and will not rely
on, any information given or any representations, warranties or
statements made at any time by any person in connection with
Admission, the Placing, the Company, the Placing Shares or
otherwise, other than the information contained in this
Announcement and the Publicly Available Information;
2. it has not
received and will not receive a prospectus or other offering
document in connection with the Placing and acknowledges that no
prospectus or other offering document:
(a)
is required under the UK Prospectus Regulation or other applicable
law; and
(b)
has been or will be prepared in connection with the
Placing;
3. the
Ordinary Shares are admitted to trading on AIM, and that
the Company is therefore required to publish certain business
and financial information in accordance with the AIM Rules for the
Companies (the "AIM Rules")
and the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation No. 596/2014 as it
applies in the United Kingdom as it forms part of United Kingdom
domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
(the "UK MAR")), which
includes a description of the nature of the Company's business and
the Company's most recent balance sheet and profit and loss account
and that it is able to obtain or access such information without
undue difficulty, and is able to obtain access to such information
or comparable information concerning any other publicly traded
company, without undue difficulty;
4. it has
made its own assessment of the Placing Shares and has relied on its
own investigation of the business, financial or other position
of the Company in accepting a participation in the
Placing and neither Cavendish nor the Company nor any of their
respective Representatives nor any person acting on behalf of any
of them has provided, and will not provide, it with any material
regarding the Placing Shares or the Company or any other person
other than the information in this Announcement or the Publicly
Available Information; nor has it requested Cavendish, the Company,
any of their respective Representatives or any person acting on
behalf of any of them to provide it with any such
information;
5. neither
Cavendish nor any person acting on behalf of it nor any of its
Representatives has or shall have any liability for any Publicly
Available Information, or any representation relating to
the Company, provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes
the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made
by that person;
6.
(a)
the only information on which it is entitled to rely on and on
which it has relied in committing to acquire the Placing Shares is
contained in this Announcement and the Publicly Available
Information, such information being all that it deems necessary to
make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares and it
has made its own assessment of the Company, the Placing Shares and
the terms of the Placing based on the information in this
Announcement and the Publicly Available Information;
(b)
neither Cavendish, nor the Company (nor any of their respective
Representatives) have made any representation or warranty to it,
express or implied, with respect to the Company, the Placing or the
Placing Shares or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the
Publicly Available Information, nor will it provide any material or
information regarding the Company, the Placing or the Placing
Shares;
(c)
it has conducted its own investigation of the Company, the Placing
(including its terms and conditions) and the Placing Shares,
satisfied itself that the information is still current and relied
on that investigation for the purposes of its decision to
participate in the Placing; and
(d)
it has not relied on any investigation that Cavendish or any person
acting on its behalf may have conducted with respect to the
Company, the Placing or the Placing Shares;
7. the
content of this Announcement and the Publicly Available Information
has been prepared by and is exclusively the responsibility
of the Company and that neither Cavendish nor any
persons acting on its behalf nor any of their respective
Representatives is responsible for or has or shall have any
liability for any information, representation, warranty or
statement relating to the Company contained in this Announcement or
the Publicly Available Information nor will they be liable for any
Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any
information, representation, warranty or statement contained in
this Announcement, the Publicly Available Information or otherwise.
Nothing in this Appendix shall exclude any liability of any person
for fraudulent misrepresentation;
8. neither it
nor the beneficial owner of the Placing Shares is, nor will, at the
time the Placing Shares are acquired, be a resident of the United
States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or
Japan;
9. the
Placing Shares have not been registered or otherwise qualified, and
will not be registered or otherwise qualified, for offer and sale
nor will a prospectus be cleared or approved in respect of any of
the Placing Shares under the securities laws of the United States,
or any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, Australia,
Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan and, subject to
certain exceptions, may not be offered, sold, taken up, renounced
or delivered or transferred, directly or indirectly, within the
United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or
Japan or in any country or jurisdiction where any such action for
that purpose is required;
10.
it may be asked to disclose in writing or orally to Cavendish: (i)
if he or she is an individual, his or her nationality; or (ii) if
he or she is a discretionary fund manager, the jurisdiction in
which the funds are managed or owned;
11.
it has the funds available to pay for the Placing Shares for which
it has agreed to acquire and acknowledges and agrees that it will
pay the total amount in accordance with the terms of this
Announcement on the due time and date set out herein, failing which
the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with other Placees or
sold at such price as Cavendish determines;
12.
it and/or each person on whose behalf it is
participating:
(a)
is entitled to acquire Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing under
the laws and regulations of all relevant jurisdictions;
(b)
has fully observed such laws and regulations;
(c)
has the capacity and authority and is entitled to enter into and
perform its obligations as an acquirer of Placing Shares and will
honour such obligations; and
(d)
has obtained all necessary consents and authorities (including,
without limitation, in the case of a person acting on behalf of a
Placee, all necessary consents and authorities to agree to the
terms set out or referred to in this Appendix) under those laws or
otherwise and complied with all necessary formalities to enable it
to enter into the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform
its obligations in relation thereto and, in particular, if it is a
pension fund or investment company it is aware of and acknowledges
it is required to comply with all applicable laws and regulations
with respect to its acquisition of Placing Shares;
13.
it is not, and any person who it is acting on behalf of is not, and
at the time the Placing Shares are acquired will not be, a resident
of, or with an address in, or subject to the laws of, the United
States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan,
and it acknowledges and agrees that the Placing Shares have not
been and will not be registered or otherwise qualified under the
securities legislation of the United States, Australia, Canada, the
Republic of South Africa or Japan and may not be offered, sold, or
acquired, directly or indirectly, within those
jurisdictions;
14.
it and the beneficial owner of the Placing Shares is, and at the
time the Placing Shares are acquired will be, outside the United
States and acquiring the Placing Shares in an "offshore
transaction" as defined in, and in accordance with, Regulation S
under the Securities Act;
15.
it understands that the Placing Shares have not been, and will not
be, registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered,
sold or resold in or into or from the United States except pursuant
to an effective registration under the Securities Act, or pursuant
to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the
registration requirements of the Securities Act and in accordance
with applicable state securities laws; and no representation is
being made as to the availability of any exemption under the
Securities Act for the reoffer, resale, pledge or transfer of the
Placing Shares;
16.
it (and any account for which it is purchasing) is not acquiring
the Placing Shares with a view to any offer, sale or distribution
thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act;
17.
it understands that:
(a)
the Placing Shares are "restricted securities" within the meaning
of Rule 144(a)(3) of the Securities Act and will be subject to
restrictions on resale and transfer subject to certain exceptions
under US law;
(b)
no representation is made as to the availability of the exemption
provided by Rule 144 of the Securities Act for resales or transfers
of Placing Shares; and
(c)
it will not deposit the Placing Shares in an unrestricted
depositary receipt programme in the United States or for US persons
(as defined in the Securities Act);
18.
it will not offer, sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of
any Placing Shares except:
(a)
in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rules 903 or 904 of
Regulation S under the Securities Act; or
(b)
pursuant to another exemption from registration under the
Securities Act, if available,
and in each case in accordance with all
applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and
other jurisdictions;
19.
no representation has been made as to the availability of the
exemption provided by Rule 144, Rule 144A or any other exemption
under the Securities Act for the reoffer, resale, pledge or
transfer of the Placing Shares;
20.
it understands that the Placing Shares are expected to be issued to
it through CREST but may be issued to it in certificated,
definitive form and acknowledges and agrees that the Placing Shares
may, to the extent they are delivered in certificated form, bear a
legend to the following effect unless agreed otherwise with
the Company:
"THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT
BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES
ACT"), OR UNDER THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OR WITH ANY
SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION
OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION
STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT, (B) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR
RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) PURSUANT
TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF
THE UNITED STATES. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY IN THE
FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE DEPOSITED INTO ANY
UNRESTRICTED DEPOSITARY RECEIPT FACILITY IN RESPECT OF THE
COMPANY'S SECURITIES ESTABLISHED OR MAINTAINED BY A DEPOSITARY
BANK. EACH HOLDER, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THESE SHARES, REPRESENTS
THAT IT UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.";
21.
it is not taking up the Placing Shares as a result of any "general
solicitation" or "general advertising" efforts (as those terms are
defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) or any "directed
selling efforts" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the
Securities Act);
22.
it understands that there may be certain consequences under United
States and other tax laws resulting from an investment in the
Placing and it has made such investigation and has consulted its
own independent advisers or otherwise has satisfied itself
concerning, without limitation, the effects of United States
federal, state and local income tax laws and foreign tax laws
generally;
23.
it will not distribute, forward, transfer or otherwise transmit
this Announcement or any part of it, or any other presentational or
other materials concerning the Placing in or into or from the
United States (including electronic copies thereof) to any person,
and it has not distributed, forwarded, transferred or otherwise
transmitted any such materials to any person;
24.
none of Cavendish, the Company nor any of their
respective Representatives nor any person acting on behalf of any
of them is making any recommendations to it or advising it
regarding the suitability of any transactions it may enter into in
connection with the Placing and that participation in the Placing
is on the basis that it is not and will not be a client of
Cavendish and that Cavendish has no duties or responsibilities to
it for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for
providing advice in relation to the Placing nor in respect of any
representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities contained
in the Placing Agreement nor for the exercise or performance of any
of its rights and obligations thereunder including any rights to
waive or vary any Conditions or exercise any termination
right;
25.
it will make payment to Cavendish for the Placing Shares allocated
to it in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Announcement on the due times and dates set out in this
Announcement, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be
placed with others on such terms as Cavendish determines in its
absolute discretion without liability to the Placee and it will
remain liable for any shortfall below the net proceeds of such sale
and the Placing proceeds of such Placing Shares and may be required
to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (together with any
interest or penalties due pursuant to the terms set out or referred
to in this Announcement) which may arise upon the sale of such
Placee's Placing Shares on its behalf;
26.
its allocation (if any) of Placing Shares will represent a maximum
number of Placing Shares which it will be entitled, and required,
to subscribe for, and that the Company may call upon
it to subscribe for a lower number of Placing Shares (if any), but
in no event in aggregate more than the aforementioned
maximum;
27.
no action has been or will be taken by any of the
Company, Cavendish or any person acting on behalf of the Company or
Cavendish that would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of
the Placing Shares in the United States or in any country or
jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is
required;
28.
the person who it specifies for registration as holder of the
Placing Shares will be:
(a)
the Placee; or
(b)
a nominee of the Placee, as the case may be,
and that Cavendish and the Company will not be
responsible for any liability to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve
tax resulting from a failure to observe this requirement. Each
Placee and any person acting on behalf of such Placee agrees to
acquire Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing and agrees to
indemnify the Company and Cavendish in respect of the same on the
basis that the Placing Shares will be allotted to a CREST stock
account of Cavendish or transferred to a CREST stock account of
Cavendish who will hold them as nominee on behalf of the Placee
until settlement in accordance with its standing settlement
instructions with it;
29.
the allocation, allotment, issue and delivery to it, or the person
specified by it for registration as holder, of Placing Shares will
not give rise to a stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax liability
under (or at a rate determined under) any of sections 67, 70, 93 or
96 of the Finance Act 1986 (depository receipts and clearance
services) and that it is not participating in the Placing as
nominee or agent for any person or persons to whom the allocation,
allotment, issue or delivery of Placing Shares would give rise to
such a liability;
30.
if it is within the United Kingdom, it and any person acting on its
behalf (if within the United Kingdom) falls within Article 19(5)
and/or 49(2) of the Order and undertakes that it will acquire,
hold, manage and (if applicable) dispose of any Placing Shares that
are allocated to it for the purposes of its business
only;
31.
it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing
Shares to persons in the United Kingdom or a Relevant State prior
to the expiry of a period of six months from Admission except to
persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring,
holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or
agent) for the purposes of their business or otherwise in
circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result in
an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of
section 85(1) of the FSMA or within the meaning of the UK
Prospectus Regulation, or an offer to the public in any member
state of the EEA within the meaning of the EU Prospectus
Regulation;
32.
if it is within the United Kingdom, it is a Qualified Investor as
defined in Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation and if it
is within a Relevant State, it is a Qualified Investor as defined
in Article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation;
33.
it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and it will
only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or
inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of
section 21 of the FSMA) relating to Placing Shares in circumstances
in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not require approval of the
communication by an authorised person and it acknowledges and
agrees that this Announcement has not been approved by Cavendish in
its capacity as an authorised person under section 21 of the FSMA
and it may not therefore be subject to the controls which would
apply if it was made or approved as financial promotion by an
authorised person;
34.
it has complied and it will comply with all applicable laws with
respect to anything done by it or on its behalf in relation to the
Placing Shares (including all relevant provisions of the FSMA and
the UK MAR in respect of anything done in, from or otherwise
involving the United Kingdom);
35.
if it is a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article
5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, the Placing Shares acquired
by it in the Placing will not be acquired on a non-discretionary
basis on behalf of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their
offer or resale to, persons in the United Kingdom other than
Qualified Investors, or in circumstances in which the express prior
written consent of Cavendish has been given to each proposed offer
or resale;
36.
if in the United Kingdom, unless otherwise agreed by Cavendish, it
is a "professional client" or an "eligible counterparty" within the
meaning of Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business
Sourcebook ("COBS") and it is
acquiring Placing Shares for investment only and not with a view to
resale or distribution;
37.
if it has received any inside information (for the purposes of the
UK MAR and section 56 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 or other
applicable law) about the Company in advance of the
Placing, it warrants that it has received such information within
the market soundings regime provided for in Article 11 of UK MAR
and has not:
(a)
dealt (or attempted to deal) in the securities of the Company or
cancelled or amended a dealing in the securities of the
Company;
(b)
encouraged, recommended or induced another person to deal in the
securities of the Company or to cancel or amend an order concerning
the Company's securities; or
(c)
unlawfully disclosed such information to any person, prior to the
information being made publicly available;
38.
Cavendish and its affiliates, acting as an investor for its or
their own account(s), may bid or subscribe for and/or purchase
Placing Shares and, in that capacity, may retain, purchase, offer
to sell or otherwise deal for its or their own account(s) in the
Placing Shares, any other securities of the Company or
other related investments in connection with the Placing or
otherwise. Accordingly, references in this Announcement to the
Placing Shares being offered, subscribed, acquired or otherwise
dealt with should be read as including any offer to, or
subscription, acquisition or dealing by, Cavendish and/or any of
its affiliates acting as an investor for its or their own
account(s). Neither Cavendish nor the Company intend to disclose
the extent of any such investment or transaction otherwise than in
accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do
so;
39.
it:
(a)
has complied with its obligations in connection with money
laundering and terrorist financing under the Proceeds of Crime Act
2002 (as amended), the Terrorism Act 2000 (as amended), the
Terrorism Act 2006, the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and
Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (as
amended) and all related or similar rules, regulations or
guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any government
agency having jurisdiction in respect thereof and the Money
Laundering Sourcebook of the FCA (together, the "Money Laundering
Regulations");
(b)
is not a person:
(i) with whom
transactions are prohibited under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act of 1977 or any economic sanction programmes administered by, or
regulations promulgated by, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of
the U.S. Department of the Treasury;
(ii) named on
the Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets maintained by
HM Treasury of the United Kingdom; or
(iii) subject to
financial sanctions imposed pursuant to a regulation of the
European Union or a regulation adopted by the United Nations or
other applicable law,
(together with the Money Laundering
Regulations, the "Regulations") and if making payment on
behalf of a third party, that satisfactory evidence has been
obtained and recorded by it to verify the identity of the third
party as required by the Regulations and has obtained all
governmental and other consents (if any) which may be required for
the purpose of, or as a consequence of, such purchase, and it will
provide promptly to Cavendish such evidence, if any, as to the
identity or location or legal status of any person which it may
request from it in connection with the Placing (for the purpose of
complying with the Regulations or ascertaining the nationality of
any person or the jurisdiction(s) to which any person is subject or
otherwise) in the form and manner requested by Cavendish on the
basis that any failure by it to do so may result in the number of
Placing Shares that are to be acquired by it or at its direction
pursuant to the Placing being reduced to such number, or to nil, as
Cavendish may decide at its sole discretion;
40.
in order to ensure compliance with the Regulations, Cavendish (for
itself and as agent on behalf of the Company) or the
Company's registrars may, in their absolute discretion, require
verification of its identity. Pending the provision to Cavendish or
the Company's registrars, as applicable, of evidence of identity,
definitive certificates in respect of the Placing Shares may be
retained at Cavendish's absolute discretion or, where appropriate,
delivery of the Placing Shares to it in uncertificated form may be
delayed at Cavendish's or the Company's registrars', as the case
may be, absolute discretion. If within a reasonable time after a
request for verification of identity Cavendish (for itself and as
agent on behalf of the Company) or the Company's registrars have
not received evidence satisfactory to them, either Cavendish and/or
the Company may, at its absolute discretion, terminate its
commitment in respect of the Placing, in which event the monies
payable on acceptance of allotment will, if already paid, be
returned without interest to the account of the drawee's bank from
which they were originally debited;
41.
its participation in the Placing would not give rise to an offer
being required to be made by it, or any person with whom it is
acting in concert, pursuant to Rule 9 of the Takeover
Code;
42.
any money held in an account with Cavendish 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 relevant 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 Cavendish's money in accordance with
the client money rules and will be used by Cavendish's in the
course of its business; and the Placee will rank only as a general
creditor of Cavendish;
43.
Cavendish may choose to invoke the CASS Delivery Versus Payment
exemption (under CASS 7.11.14R within the FCA Handbook Client
Assets Sourcebook) with regard to settlement of funds, in
connection with the Placing, should it see fit;
44.
neither it nor, as the case may be, its clients expect Cavendish to
have any duties or responsibilities to such persons similar or
comparable to the duties of "best execution" and "suitability"
imposed by the COBS, and that Cavendish is not acting for it or its
clients, and that Cavendish will not be responsible for providing
the protections afforded to clients of Cavendish or for providing
advice in respect of the transactions described in this
Announcement;
45.
it acknowledges that its commitment to acquire Placing Shares on
the terms set out in this Announcement and in the contract note,
the electronic trade confirmation or other (oral or written)
confirmation will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may
in future be made to the terms and conditions of the Placing and
that Placees will have no right to be consulted or require that
their consent be obtained with respect to the
Company's or Cavendish's conduct of the Placing;
46.
it has knowledge and experience in financial, business and
international investment matters as is required to evaluate the
merits and risks of acquiring the Placing Shares. It further
acknowledges that it is experienced in investing in securities of
this nature and is aware that it may be required to bear, and is
able to bear, the economic risk of, and is able to sustain, a
complete loss in connection with the Placing. It has relied upon
its own examination and due diligence of the Company
and its affiliates taken as a whole, and the terms of the Placing,
including the merits and risks involved;
47.
it irrevocably appoints any duly authorised officer of Cavendish as
its agent for the purpose of executing and delivering to
the Company and/or its registrars any documents on its behalf
necessary to enable it to be registered as the holder of any of the
Placing Shares for which it agrees to acquire upon the terms of
this Announcement;
48.
the Company, Cavendish and others (including each of their
respective Representatives) will rely upon the truth and accuracy
of the foregoing representations, warranties, acknowledgements and
agreements, which are given to Cavendish on its own behalf and on
behalf of the Company and are irrevocable;
49.
it is acting as principal only in respect of the Placing or, if it
is acquiring the Placing Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or
more investor accounts, it:
(a)
is duly authorised to do so and it has full power and authority to
make, and does make, the foregoing representations, warranties,
acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings on behalf of each
such accounts; and
(b)
will remain liable to the Company and Cavendish for
the performance of all its obligations as a Placee in respect of
the Placing (regardless of the fact that it is acting for another
person);
50.
subject to acquiring any Placing Shares, it will be bound by the
terms of the articles of association of the
Company;
51.
time is of the essence as regards its obligations under this
Appendix;
52.
any document that is to be sent to it in connection with the
Placing will be sent at its risk and may be sent to it at any
address provided by it to Cavendish;
53.
the Placing Shares will be issued subject to the terms and
conditions of this Appendix; and
54.
the terms and conditions contained in this Appendix and all
documents into which this Appendix is incorporated by reference or
otherwise validly forms a part and/or any agreements entered into
pursuant to these terms and conditions and all agreements to
acquire Placing Shares pursuant to the Bookbuilding Process and/or
the Placing and all non-contractual or other obligations arising
out of or in connection with them, will be governed by and
construed in accordance with English law and it submits to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts in relation to any
claim, dispute or matter arising out of such contract (including
any dispute regarding the existence, validity or termination or
such contract or relating to any non-contractual or other
obligation arising out of or in connection with such contract),
except that enforcement proceedings in respect of the obligation to
make payment for the Placing Shares (together with interest
chargeable thereon) may be taken by the Company or Cavendish in any
jurisdiction in which the relevant Placee is incorporated or in
which any of its securities have a quotation on a recognised stock
exchange.
By participating in the Placing, each Placee
(and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) agrees to indemnify
and hold the Company, Cavendish and each of their respective
Representatives harmless from any and all costs, claims,
liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses)
arising out of or in connection with any breach of the
representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and
undertakings given by the Placee (and any person acting on such
Placee's behalf) in this Appendix or incurred by Cavendish, the
Company or each of their respective Representatives arising from
the performance of the Placee's obligations as set out in this
Announcement, and further agrees that the provisions of this
Appendix shall survive after the completion of the
Placing.
The rights and remedies of Cavendish 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 or partial exercise of
one will not prevent the exercise of others.
The agreement to allot and issue Placing Shares
to Placees (or the persons for whom Placees are contracting as
agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax in the United
Kingdom relates only to their allotment and issue to Placees, or
such persons as they nominate as their agents, direct by the
Company. Such agreement assumes that the Placing Shares are not
being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary
receipts or to transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance
service. If there are any such arrangements, or the settlement
related to any other dealings in the Placing Shares, stamp duty or
stamp duty reserve tax may be payable. In that event, the Placee
agrees that it shall be responsible for such stamp duty or stamp
duty reserve tax and neither the Company nor Cavendish shall be
responsible for such stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If this
is the case, each Placee should seek its own advice and they should
notify Cavendish accordingly. In addition, Placees should note that
they will be liable for any capital duty, stamp duty and all other
stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or
other duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or penalties
relating thereto) payable outside the United Kingdom by them or any
other person on the acquisition by them of any Placing Shares or
the agreement by them to acquire any Placing Shares and each
Placee, or the Placee's nominee, in respect 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 non-United Kingdom stamp,
registration, documentary, transfer or similar taxes or duties
undertakes to pay such taxes and duties, including any interest and
penalties (if applicable), forthwith and to indemnify on an
after-tax basis and to hold harmless the Company and Cavendish in
the event that either the Company and/or Cavendish have incurred
any such liability to such taxes or duties.
The representations, warranties,
acknowledgements and undertakings contained in this Appendix are
given to Cavendish for itself and on behalf of the Company and are
irrevocable.
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited is authorised
and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom and is acting
exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the
Bookbuilding Process and the Fundraising, and Cavendish will not be
responsible to anyone (including any Placees) other than the
Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or
for providing advice in relation to the Bookbuilding Process or the
Fundraising or any other matters referred to in this
Announcement.
Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of
the Placee acknowledges that Cavendish does not owe any fiduciary
or other duties to any Placee in respect of any representations,
warranties, undertakings, acknowledgements, agreements or
indemnities in the Placing Agreement.
Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of
the Placee acknowledges and agrees that Cavendish may (at its
absolute discretion) satisfy its obligations to procure Placees by
itself agreeing to become a Placee in respect of some or all of the
Placing Shares or by nominating any connected or associated person
to do so.
When a Placee or any person acting on behalf of
the Placee is dealing with Cavendish, any money held in an account
with Cavendish 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 relevant rules and regulations of the FCA made under
the FSMA. Each 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 Cavendish's
money in accordance with the client money rules and will be held by
it under a banking relationship and not as trustee.
References to time in this Announcement are to
London time, unless otherwise stated.
All times and dates in this Announcement may be
subject to amendment. Placees will be notified of any
changes.
No statement in this Announcement is intended to
be a profit forecast or estimate, and no statement in this
Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share
of the Company for the current or future financial years would
necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per
share of the Company.
The price of shares and any income expected from
them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the
full amount invested upon disposal of the shares. Past performance
is no guide to future performance, and persons needing advice
should consult an independent financial adviser.
The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the
Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other
than the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Neither the content of the Company's website nor
any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is
incorporated in, or forms part of, this Announcement.
Definitions
The
following definitions apply throughout this Placing Announcement unless the
context requires otherwise:
Act
|
the
Companies Act 2006;
|
Admission
|
admission of the New Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM becoming effective in accordance with
the AIM Rules;
|
AIM
|
AIM, a market of that name operated by the LSE;
|
AIM Rules
|
the AIM
Rules for Companies published by the LSE, as amended from time to
time;
|
Application
Form
|
the
application form to be used by Qualifying
Non-CREST Shareholders in connection with the Open Offer;
|
Articles of
Association
|
the
articles of
association of
the Company
as they
are in force as at the date of the
Circular;
|
Basic Open Offer Entitlement
|
1 Open
Offer Share for every 0.67836216 Existing Ordinary Shares
held at the Record Date;
|
Board
or Directors
|
the
directors of the Company;
|
Business
Day
|
any
day on which banks are usually open in England and Wales for the transaction of sterling business, other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday;
|
Cancellation
|
cancellation of admission of the Ordinary Shares from trading on AIM in accordance with Rule 41 of the
AIM Rules
|
Cavendish
|
Cavendish
Capital Markets Limited, a company incorporated in England and
Wales with company number 06198898 whose registered office is
situated at 1 Bartholomew Close, London, England, EC1A 7BL, the Company's Nominated
Adviser and
broker;
|
certificated
or in certificated
form
|
a
share or
other security
not held
in uncertificated
form (that
is, not
in CREST);
|
Clinical
Trial
|
the Phase
II trial of SNG001, details of which are set out in the paragraph
headed "Background to and reasons for the Fundraising and use of
proceeds"
|
Company
or Synairgen
plc
|
Synairgen
plc, a company incorporated in England and Wales with registration
number 05233429 whose registered office is situated at Mailpoint
810 Level F, South Block Southampton, General Hospital Tremona
Road, Southampton Hampshire, SO16 6YD;
|
CREST
|
the
computerised settlement system (as defined in the CREST
Regulations) operated by Euroclear which facilitates the holding and transfer of title
to shares in uncertificated form;
|
Director Subscriptions
|
the
conditional subscriptions made by the Participating Directors for
the Director Subscription Shares at the Issue Price pursuant to the
Director Subscription Agreements subject to, inter alia, the
Minimum Fundraising Condition being satisfied;
|
Director Subscription
Agreements
|
the
agreements dated 20 December 2024 made between the Company and each
of the Participating Directors relating to the Director
Subscriptions;
|
Director Subscription
Shares
|
the
1,250,000 new Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to the Director
Subscriptions;
|
Employee
LTIP
|
the
proposed Synairgen
Long Term
Incentive Plan
2024, the
terms of which are
summarised in the Appendix to the Notice of General Meeting;
|
Enlarged Share
Capital
|
the
issued share
capital of
the Company
as enlarged
by the issue of the
New Ordinary Shares;
|
EU Qualified Investors
|
persons in
member states of the European Economic Area who are qualified
investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU)
2017/1129;
|
Euroclear
|
Euroclear
UK & International Limited, the operator of CREST;
|
Excess Application Facility
|
the
arrangement pursuant to which Qualifying Shareholders may apply for
additional Open Offer Shares in excess of their Basic Open Offer
Entitlement in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Open
Offer
|
Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements
|
in respect
of each Qualifying CREST Shareholder, the entitlement (in addition
to their Basic Open Offer Entitlement) to apply for Open Offer
Shares pursuant to the Excess Application Facility, which is
conditional on them taking up their Basic Open Offer Entitlement in
full and which may be subject to scaling back;
|
Excess Open Offer Entitlements
|
an
entitlement for each Qualifying Shareholder to apply to subscribe
for Open Offer Shares in addition to their Basic Open Offer
Entitlement pursuant to the Excess Application Facility which is
conditional on them taking up their Basic Open Offer Entitlement in
full and which may be subject to scaling back;
|
Excess
Shares
|
Open Offer
Shares which are not taken up by Qualifying Shareholders pursuant
their Basic Open Offer Entitlement and which are offered to
Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application
facility;
|
Ex-entitlement Date
|
the date
on which the Existing Ordinary Shares are marked "ex" for
entitlement under the Open Offer, being 8.00 a.m. on 20 December
2024;
|
Existing Ordinary Shares
|
the
202,660,697 Ordinary Shares in issue at the date of this
document;
|
Financial Conduct Authority or FCA
|
the
Financial Conduct Authority in its capacity as the competent
authority for the purposes of Part IV of FSMA;
|
Form of
Proxy
|
the form
of proxy for use by Shareholders in connection with the General
Meeting;
|
FSMA
|
the
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended);
|
Fundraising
|
together,
the Subscription, the Director Subscriptions, the Placing and the
Open Offer;
|
General Meeting
|
the
General Meeting of the Company to be held at 10.30 a.m. on 16
January 2025 (or any reconvened meeting following any adjournment
of the general meeting) at the offices of Fieldfisher LLP,
Riverbank House, 2 Swan Lane, London EC4R 3TT;
|
Group
|
the
Company and its subsidiaries;
|
Independent Directors
|
means
those directors who are considered by the Board to be independent
for the purposes of the QCA Code and who are as at the date of this
Announcement, Mark Parry-Billings, Amanda Radford and Dr. Felicity
Gabbay
|
Independent Shareholders
|
shareholders who are independent of a person who would
otherwise be required to make a Rule 9 Offer and any person acting
in concert with him or her (as defined by the Takeover
Code);
|
Issue Price
|
2 pence
per New Ordinary Share;
|
Latest Practicable
Date
|
19
December 2024;
|
LSE
or London Stock
Exchange
|
London
Stock Exchange plc
|
LTIPs
|
both the
Employee LTIP and the Non-Employee LTIP;
|
Minimum Fundraising
Condition
|
means the
condition to each element of the Non-Underwritten Fundraising
proceeding, which is that the Non-Underwritten Fundraising raises,
in aggregate, at least £2.9 million for the Company (before
expenses);
|
New Ordinary Shares
|
together,
the Subscription Shares and, subject to the Minimum Fundraising
Condition being satisfied, the Director Subscription Shares, the
Placing Shares and the Open Offer Shares;
|
Non-Employee LTIP
|
the
proposed Synairgen Non-Employee Long Term Incentive Plan, the terms
of which are summarised in the Appendix to the Notice of General
Meeting;
|
Non-Participating
Directors
|
those
directors not participating in the Director Subscriptions, being
Mark Parry-Billings, Amanda Radford, Dr. Felicity Gabbay, Dr. Bruce
Campbell and Prof. Stephen Holgate CBE;
|
Non-Underwritten Fundraising
|
means the
Placing, the Open Offer and the Director Subscriptions;
|
Notice or Notice of General Meeting
|
the notice
of the General Meeting;
|
Open Offer
|
the
conditional invitation by the Company to Qualifying
Shareholders to apply to subscribe for the
Open Offer Shares at the Issue Price on
the terms
and subject
to the conditions (including
the satisfaction
of the Minimum Fundraising
Condition);
|
Open Offer Shares
|
up to, in aggregate, 298,750,002
new Ordinary Shares to be offered by the Company to Qualifying
Shareholders pursuant to the Open Offer;
|
Order
|
Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as
amended
|
Ordinary
Shares
|
ordinary
shares of 1 penny each in the capital of the Company;
|
Panel
|
The Panel
on Takeovers and Mergers;
|
Participating Directors
|
those directors participating in
the Director Subscriptions, being Richard Marsden and Joseph
Colliver;
|
Placees
|
potential
subscribers for Placing Shares in the Placing, subject to them
being Relevant Persons;
|
Placing
|
the
placing of the Placing Shares to Placees pursuant to the Placing
Agreement and conditional and subject to the terms of this Placing
Announcement, including the Minimum Fundraising Condition being
satisfied;
|
Placing Agreement
|
the agreement dated 20 December
2024, pursuant to which the Company appointed Cavendish, acting as
its agent, to carry out the Placing;
|
Placing Announcement or
Announcement
|
this
announcement published by the Company on 20 December 2024 setting
out the terms and conditions of the Placing which is being
conducted by way of a bookbuild;
|
Placing
Shares
|
up to, in
aggregate, 298,750,002 new Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to
the Placing;
|
Proposals
|
together,
the Fundraising and the Rule 9 Waiver;
|
Prospectus
Regulation
|
Regulation
(EU) 2017/1129
|
Prospectus Regulation
Rules
|
the latest edition of the
"Prospectus Regulation Rules" made for the purposes of Part VI of
FSMA;
|
QCA Code
|
the QCA
Corporate Governance Code published by the Quoted Companies
Alliance from time to time;
|
Qualified Investors
|
means
both: (i) EU Qualified Investors; and (ii) UK Qualified
Investors;
|
Qualifying
CREST Shareholders
|
Qualifying
Shareholders holding Existing Ordinary Shares in uncertificated
form
|
Qualifying Non-CREST
Shareholders
|
Qualifying
Shareholders holding Existing Ordinary Shares in certificated
form;
|
Qualifying
Shareholders
|
holders of
Existing Ordinary Shares on the register of members of the Company
at the Record Date but excluding any Overseas Shareholder who has a
registered address in any Restricted Jurisdiction;
|
Receiving Agent
|
Link
Group, Corporate Actions, Central Square,29 Wellington Street Leeds
LS1 4DL;
|
Record Date
|
18
December 2024;
|
Registrar
|
Link
Group, Central Square,29 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1
4DL;
|
Relationship Agreement
|
the
conditional agreement between the Company and TFG Asset Management
UK,;
|
Relevant
Funds
|
Tetragon,
Westbourne River Event Master Fund and accounts managed by TFG
Asset Management UK;
|
Relevant Persons
|
means (a)
EU Qualified Investors; and (b) UK Qualified Investors who if they
are resident in the United Kingdon are also persons who (i) fall
within article 19(5) of the Order; or (ii) fall within article
49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated
associations, etc") of such Order, or (iii) are persons to whom the
Placing may otherwise be lawfully communicated;
|
Resolutions
|
the
resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting as set out in the
Notice of General Meeting;
|
Restricted Jurisdiction
|
means the
United States of America, Australia, Canada, the Republic of South
Africa, New Zealand, Japan or any other jurisdiction where the Open
Offer Shares or the Placing Shares may not be offered, sold, taken
up, delivered or transferred into or from;
|
Rule 9 Offer
|
a general
offer under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code;
|
Rule 9
Waiver
|
the waiver
granted by the Panel (conditional on the approval of the Rule 9
Waiver Resolution by the Independent Shareholders) of the
obligation that would otherwise arise for TFG Asset Management UK
to make a Rule 9 Offer under the Takeover Code as a consequence of
the allotment and issue to it of the Subscription
Shares;
|
Rule 9 Waiver Resolution
|
Resolution
1, as set out in the Notice of General Meeting, which is to be
taken on a poll of Independent Shareholders in accordance with the
requirements of the Takeover Code;
|
Shareholders
|
the
holders of
Ordinary Shares;
|
Subscription
|
the
conditional subscription made by TFG Asset Management UK for the
Subscription Shares at the Issue Price pursuant to the Subscription
Agreement;
|
Subscription
Agreement
|
the
agreement dated 20 December 2024 made between the Company and TFG
Asset Management UK relating to the Subscription;
|
Subscription
Shares
|
up to
900,000,000 new Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to the
Subscription and which are subject to clawback;
|
Takeover
Code
|
the City
Code on Takeovers and Mergers published by the Panel from time to
time;
|
Tetragon
|
Tetragon
Financial Group Limited;
|
TFG Asset Management
UK
|
TFG Asset
Management UK LLP, a limited liability partnership incorporated in
England and Wales with company number OC343805 whose registered
office is situated at 4 Sloane Terrace, London, SW1X 9DQ, in its
capacity as discretionary investment manager, acting on behalf of
the Relevant Funds;
|
UK or United Kingdom
|
the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
|
UK Qualified Investors
|
persons in
the United Kingdom who are qualified investors within the meaning
of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 which forms part of
domestic law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act
2018;
|
uncertificated or in uncertificated form
|
recorded
on the register of members of Synairgen plc as being held in
uncertificated form in CREST and title to which, by virtue of the
CREST Regulations, may be transferred by means of CREST
|
£, pounds
sterling or penny
|
UK pounds
sterling or pence, the lawful currency of the United
Kingdom.
|