AdEPT Technology Group PLC Acquisition and extension of Banking Facility (6948G)

TIDMADT

RNS Number : 6948G

AdEPT Technology Group PLC

08 November 2018

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 ("MAR"). ON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ("RIS"), THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

AdEPT Technology Group Plc

("AdEPT" or the "Company")

Acquisition and extension of Banking Facility

ACQUISITION OF ETS COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS LIMITED

AdEPT Technology Group plc, one of the UK's leading independent providers of managed services for IT, connectivity, unified communications solutions and cloud services, announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of ETS Communications Holdings Limited ("ETS Holdings") and its trading subsidiary ETS Communications Limited ("ETS Comms"), (together referred to as "ETS") both well-established UK based specialist providers of unified communications services.

Acquisition highlights

   --     Initial consideration of GBP2.5m less the net debt of ETS at 31 October 2018 
   --     Expected to be earnings enhancing from completion 
   --     AdEPT group revenue run rate anticipated to increase by approximately 5% 

-- Highly complementary unified communications product set, including Avaya IP Office and Ericsson-LG

   --     ETS enhances AdEPT healthcare strategy with more than 200 GP surgeries as customers 
   --     Highly experienced vendor to remain with ETS 

Strategic rationale

ETS offers its clients the delivery of unified communications solutions, with particular expertise in the Avaya IP Office product set. The highly skilled team together with the well-matched customer base and product set at ETS will complement AdEPT's existing unified communication services offering provided by the Northampton office of AdEPT.

AdEPT and ETS have both adopted capital asset light strategies which are highly cash generative and are dedicated to offering a full suite of unified communication and data connectivity services.

Information on ETS

ETS, founded in 1981, is an independent unified communications services provider based in Wakefield with nearly 40 years' experience. ETS is focused on providing unified communications and connectivity to business customers and has a strong public sector presence, including managing and supporting cloud-based telephony solutions to more than 200 GP surgeries.

One of the vendors of ETS is to be retained in his current capacity within the business for a period of at least 12 months post-acquisition.

The statutory accounts of ETS for the year ended 31 March 2018 reported turnover, operating profit and profit before tax of GBP3.16 million, GBP0.32 million and GBP0.31m respectively. Capital expenditure in the year ended 31 March 2018 was insignificant. Net and gross assets (pro-forma consolidated basis) at that date were GBP0.10 million and GBP0.53 million respectively.

Consideration

Initial consideration of GBP2.5 million less the net debt of ETS at 31 October 2018 ("Net Debt") is payable in cash. Pursuant to the terms of the share purchase agreement, the effective date of the acquisition is 1 November 2018. Further consideration of up to GBP1.75 million may be payable in cash dependent upon the trading performance of ETS in the 12 month period ended 31 October 2019. The total consideration will be funded out of AdEPT's enlarged bank facility, with headroom in the facility to support further acquisitive growth.

Ian Fishwick, Chief Executive of AdEPT, commented:

"We are delighted to have acquired such a high-quality business with a highly experienced vendor remaining with ETS post-acquisition. With AdEPT having an existing specialist Avaya IP Office operation in Northampton, the acquisition of ETS builds on this capability and extends the geographical reach to Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. ETS has a well-developed customer base with long term relationships, which builds upon AdEPT's existing public sector healthcare presence. The acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing from completion."

NEW BANK FACILITY

   --     Debt facility enlarged to GBP35 million 
   --     Increased capacity to support acquisition growth strategy 

The Board of AdEPT also announces that it has signed a GBP5 million extension to its existing GBP30 million 5-year revolving credit facility agreement, enlarging the total debt facility to GBP35 million.

The enlarged facility is to be provided by Barclays Bank Plc ("Barclays") and The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc ("RBS) on an equal basis. The facility will be used by AdEPT to fund acquisition of businesses that extend the AdEPT product set and by being part of the AdEPT group, will benefit from economies of scale. The terms of the enlarged facility remain the same as the existing facility.

Roger Wilson, Chairman of AdEPT, commented:

"We are delighted to have obtained the continued support of the teams at RBS and Barclays to provide a larger syndicated debt facility. This enlarged bank facility provides the Company with additional funding to undertake the acquisition of ETS as AdEPT continues with its strategy of acquiring earnings enhancing businesses."

For more information please contact:

 
 
  AdEPT Technology Group Plc 
   Roger Wilson, Chairman            07786 111 535 
   Ian Fishwick, Chief Executive      01892 550 225 
   John Swaite, Finance Director      01892 550 243 
 Cantor Fitzgerald Europe 
  Nominated Adviser & Broker 
  Marc Milmo/Catherine Leftley        020 7894 7000 
 

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November 08, 2018 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)