Hanover Acquisition Limited Offer Update (8960V)

TIDMBRY

RNS Number : 8960V

Hanover Acquisition Limited

06 December 2019

Recommended Mandatory Final Cash Offer

for

Brady plc ("Brady")

by

Hanover Acquisition Limited ("Hanover Bidco")

(an investment vehicle ultimately wholly owned

by Hanover Active Equity Fund II,

S.C.A. SICAV-RAIF)

Extension to Mandatory Final Offer and Commencement of Compulsory Acquisition

Introduction

On 14 October 2019, the Boards of Hanover Bidco and Brady announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a unanimously recommended final cash offer of 10 pence in cash for each Brady Share to be made by Hanover Bidco for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Brady (the "Offer"). Hanover Bidco is an investment vehicle ultimately wholly-owned by Hanover Active Equity Fund II, S.C.A. SICAV-RAIF. An offer document setting out the full terms and conditions and the procedures for acceptance of the Offer was sent to Brady shareholders on 17 October 2019 (the "Original Offer Document").

On 18 November 2019, Hanover Bidco announced a recommended revised final cash offer of 18 pence in cash for each Brady Share (the "Revised Offer"). Hanover Bidco also announced on that day that the Revised Offer had become a recommended mandatory final cash offer (the "Mandatory O er") for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Brady not already held by Hanover Bidco (or any persons acting in concert with it), at a price of 18 pence per Brady Share as a consequence of Hanover Bidco having acquired 46,865,018 Brady Shares at 18 pence per Brady Share, representing 56.21 per cent. of Brady's issued share capital.

On 5 December 2019, Hanover Bidco announced that it had acquired, or agreed to acquire, in excess of 75 per cent. of Brady's issued share capital pursuant to the Mandatory Offer. As a result, Brady announced on 5 December 2019 that, in line with the intentions set out in the Original Offer Document, it had informed the London Stock Exchange that it wished to cancel the admission to trading of Brady's Shares on AIM (the "Delisting"). Delisting is expected to take effect from 7.00 a.m. on 8 January 2020, being 20 business days from the date of yesterday's announcement. Following Delisting, Hanover Bidco will seek to re-register Brady as a private limited company.

The full terms and conditions and the procedures for acceptance of the Mandatory Offer are set out in full in the mandatory offer document and revised form of acceptance published by Hanover Bidco on 20 November 2019 (the "Mandatory Offer Document" and the "Revised Form of Acceptance"). Terms and expressions used in this announcement shall, unless defined herein or unless the context otherwise requires, have the same meanings as given to them in the Mandatory Offer Document, a copy of which is available on Hanover Bidco's website at www.hanoverinvestors.com and Brady's website at www.bradyplc.com.

Level of acceptances

Hanover Bidco announces that as at 3.00 p.m. (London time) on 5 December 2019, being the Closing Date of the Mandatory Offer, Hanover Bidco had received valid acceptances of the Mandatory Offer in respect of 31,087,510 Brady Shares (representing approximately 37.3 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Brady). Therefore, by virtue of its shareholdings and acceptances of the Mandatory Offer, Hanover Bidco has acquired or agreed to acquire Brady Shares representing 93.5 per cent. of Brady's issued share capital.

Compulsory acquisition

As referred to in the Original Offer Document, as Hanover Bidco has now acquired (including through valid acceptances of the Mandatory Offer) more than 90 per cent. in nominal value of the Brady Shares to which the Mandatory Offer relates, Hanover Bidco will now commence the procedures available to it under section 979 of the Companies Act to acquire compulsorily all of the outstanding Brady Shares which are not owned by Hanover Bidco. Notices will be sent out in due course to those Brady Shareholders who have not yet accepted the Mandatory Offer informing them of the compulsory acquisition of their shares by Hanover Bidco.

Mandatory Offer extension

Hanover Bidco is now announcing the extension of the Mandatory Offer until further notice. At least 14 days' notice will be given if Hanover Bidco decides to close the Offer.

Timetable and actions to be taken

Shareholders who have not yet accepted the Mandatory Offer are urged to do so without delay.

Further details of the Mandatory Offer and the action to be taken to accept the Mandatory Offer are set out in the Mandatory Offer Document and, for Brady Shareholders who hold their shares in certificated form, the Revised Form of Acceptance copies are available at www.hanoverinvestors.com/possible-offer and www.bradyplc.com.

If you have any questions about acceptance of the Mandatory Offer, please call Computershare between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (except public holidays in England and Wales) on 0370 702 0000 (if calling from within the UK) or [phone] (if calling from outside the UK). Please note that Computershare cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.

Further copies of the Mandatory Offer Document and the Revised Form of Acceptance may be obtained by contacting Carmen Carey at Centennium House, 100 Lower Thames Street, London, EC3R 6DL or by telephoning 020 3301 1200 or by emailing Brady [e-mail].

Settlement

Settlement for valid acceptances in respect of the Mandatory Offer will be effected within 14 days of receipt of that acceptance.

Enquiries:

Hanover Investors Management LLP

   Matthew Peacock                      Tel: [phone] 

Fred Lundqvist

Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (financial adviser to Hanover Bidco)

   Dominic Morley                          Tel: [phone] 

Nicholas Harland

Charles Leigh-Pemberton

Further information

This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer to sell or subscribe for or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Mandatory Offer or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of Brady in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or equivalent document.

Any acceptance or other response to the Mandatory Offer should only be made on the basis of the information contained in the Mandatory Offer Document and the Revised Form of Acceptance. Brady Shareholders who have not yet accepted the Mandatory Offer are advised to read the formal documentation in relation to the Mandatory Offer carefully.

Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Hanover Bidco and no-one else in connection with the Mandatory Offer and other matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Hanover Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of Panmure Gordon nor for providing advice in relation to the Mandatory Offer, this announcement or any other matter referred to herein. Neither Panmure Gordon nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Panmure Gordon in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Overseas jurisdictions

The availability of the Mandatory Offer or the release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into, jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable restrictions. Brady Shareholders who are in any doubt regarding such matters should consult an appropriate independent adviser in the relevant jurisdiction without delay. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law and the Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom. The statements contained in this announcement are not to be construed as legal, business, financial or tax advice.

Notice to US shareholders of Brady Shares

It may be difficult for US holders of Brady securities to enforce their rights under and any claim arising out of the US federal securities laws, since Hanover Bidco and Brady are located outside the United States, and some or all of their officers and directors may be resident outside the United States. US Brady Shareholders may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of the US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgement and a US court may lack jurisdiction over such persons.

The Mandatory Offer will be made for securities of an English company and is being made in the United States in compliance with, and in reliance on, Section 14(e) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), Regulation 14E thereunder and the exemption therefrom provided by Rule 14d-1(d) under the Exchange Act. The Mandatory Offer is being made in the United States by Hanover Bidco and no one else. The Mandatory Offer is subject to disclosure and procedural requirements of the United Kingdom which are different from those in the United States. In addition, US investors should be aware that this announcement has been prepared in accordance with English law and the Code and applicable disclosure requirements, format and style thereunder, all of which differ from those in the United States. Furthermore, the payment and settlement procedures with respect to the Mandatory Offer will comply with the relevant UK rules, which differ from US payment and settlement procedures. Neither the United States Securities Exchange Commission, nor any securities commission of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, has approved the Mandatory Offer or passed upon the adequacy or completeness of this announcement.

The receipt of cash pursuant to the Mandatory Offer may have tax consequences in the United States and under other applicable tax laws and such consequences, if any, are not described herein. US Brady Shareholders are urged to consult with their own legal, tax and financial advisors in connection with making a decision regarding the Mandatory Offer.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, in accordance with, and to the extent permitted by, the Code and normal UK market practice, Hanover Bidco or nominees or brokers of Hanover Bidco (acting as agents) or their respective affiliates may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, Brady Shares or other Brady securities outside the United States other than pursuant to the Mandatory Offer at any time prior to completion of the Mandatory Offer. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any such purchases, or arrangements to purchase, will comply with all applicable requirements of the Code, the Listing Rules and Regulation 14E under the US Exchange Act including Rule 14e-5, to the extent applicable. In addition, in accordance with the Code, normal United Kingdom market practice and Rule 14e-5(b) of the Exchange Act, Panmure Gordon and Cenkos Securities plc will continue to act as connected exempt market maker or connected exempt principal trader in Brady Shares or other Brady securities on the London Stock Exchange. To the extent required to be disclosed in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, information about any such purchases and activities, including without limitation, such purchases and activities by the connected exempt market maker or connected exempt principal trader, will be disclosed on a next day basis to the Panel and will be available from any Regulatory Information Service, including the Regulatory News Service on the London Stock Exchange website, www.londonstockexchange.com. To the extent that such information is required to be publicly disclosed in the United Kingdom in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, this information will as applicable also be publicly disclosed in the United States.

Publication of this announcement

A copy of this announcement will be available subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions on www.hanoverinvestors.com and wwww.bradyplc.com by no later than 12 noon on the business day following the date of this announcement. The contents of Hanover Investors' website and Brady's website are not incorporated into and do not form part of this announcement.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [e-mail] or visit www.rns.com.

END

OUPCKPDKFBDDNBK

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 06, 2019 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)