Direct Line Insurance Group PLC Publication of the Scheme Document

RNS Number : 4269W

Direct Line Insurance Group PLC

10 February 2025

 

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10 February 2025

RECOMMENDED CASH AND SHARE OFFER

For Direct Line insurance group plc ("Direct line")

BY AVIVA PLC ("AVIVA")

to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006

PUBLICATION OF THE SCHEME DOCUMENT

On 23 December 2024, the boards of directors of Aviva and Direct Line announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash and share offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Direct Line (the "Acquisition"), to be implemented by way of a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the "Scheme").

Publication of the Scheme Document

Direct Line and Aviva are pleased to announce that a circular in relation to the Scheme (the "Scheme Document") has been published today by Direct Line, setting out, among other things, a letter from the Chair of Direct Line, an explanatory statement pursuant to section 897 of the Companies Act, the full terms and conditions of the Scheme, an expected timetable of principal events, notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting and details of the actions to be taken by Direct Line Shareholders.

The Scheme Document will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Direct Line's website at https://www.directlinegroup.co.uk/en/investors and on Aviva's website at https://www.aviva.com/investors/offer-for-direct-line-insurance-group-plc/ by no later than 12 noon on 11 February 2025.

Hard copies of the Scheme Document (or, depending on Direct Line Shareholders' communication preferences, a letter or email giving details of the website where the Scheme Document may be accessed) and Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting are being sent to Direct Line Shareholders today, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions.

Capitalised terms used in this announcement shall, unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings as set out in the Scheme Document. All references to times in this announcement are to London, United Kingdom times unless stated otherwise.

The Acquisition constitutes a "significant transaction" for Aviva for the purposes of the Listing Rules and the 2.7 Announcement constituted a notification pursuant to Chapter 7 of the Listing Rules. Certain further information required to be notified by Aviva pursuant to Chapter 7 of the Listing Rules is set out in paragraphs 9, 10 and 14.2 of Part VII (Additional Information on Direct Line and Aviva) of the Scheme Document. The Acquisition does not require separate approval by Aviva Shareholders.

As required by Rule 28 of the Takeover Code, the Aviva 2025 Profit Forecast and Aviva 2026 Profit Forecast are set out in the Scheme Document (see paragraph 10 of Part I (Letter from the Chair of Direct Line) on page 27 of the Scheme Document and Appendix II (Aviva Profit Forecasts) on pages 121 to 127 of the Scheme Document).

Action required

As further detailed in the Scheme Document, in order to become Effective, the Scheme will require, among other things, that the requisite majority of: (i) Scheme Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting; and (ii) Direct Line Shareholders vote in favour of the Special Resolution at the General Meeting.

The approval required at the Court Meeting for approval of the Scheme is a majority in number of the Scheme Shareholders who are present and vote, whether in person or by proxy, at the Court Meeting and who represent 75 percent or more in value of the Scheme Shares voted by those Scheme Shareholders. The approval required at the General Meeting for the Special Resolution to be passed is at least 75 percent of the votes cast (in person or by proxy).

Notices convening the Court Meeting and the General Meeting to be held at Riverbank House, 2 Swan Lane, London, EC4R 3AD at 11.00 a.m. and 11.15 a.m. (or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting concludes or is adjourned) on 10 March 2025, respectively, are set out in the Scheme Document.

Any changes to the arrangements for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting will be communicated to Direct Line Shareholders before the relevant Meeting, through Direct Line's website https://www.directlinegroup.co.uk/en/investors and by announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.

It is important that, for the Court Meeting in particular, as many votes as possible are cast so that the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair representation of opinion of Scheme Shareholders.

Scheme Shareholders and Direct Line Shareholders are therefore strongly urged to submit proxy appointments and instructions for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting as soon as possible and, in any event, so that the proxy appointment and instructions are received by Computershare Investor Services PLC ("Computershare") no later than 48 hours before the relevant Meeting (or, in the case of any adjournment, not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the adjourned Meeting, in each case excluding any part of such 48 hour period falling on a day that is not a working day). Further detail on the deadlines for appointing proxies are set out in the Appendix to this announcement and in the Scheme Document.

Timetable

The Scheme Document contains an expected timetable of principal events in relation to the Scheme, which is also set out in the Appendix to this announcement. The Scheme remains conditional on the approval of the requisite majority of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting and the requisite majority of Direct Line Shareholders at the General Meeting. The Scheme is also subject to the satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the other Conditions (including the sanction of the Court) and further terms, as described more fully in the Scheme Document.

The Scheme is expected to become Effective in mid-2025 and, in any event, prior to the Long Stop Date. Direct Line will make further announcements through a Regulatory Information Service, with such announcements also being made available on Direct Line's website at https://www.directlinegroup.co.uk/en/investors and on Aviva's website at https://www.aviva.com/investors/offer-for-direct-line-insurance-group-plc/. An update to the expected timetable is expected to be announced following receipt of the relevant regulatory approvals upon which the Acquisition is conditional.

Recommendation

The Direct Line Directors, who have been so advised by Morgan Stanley & Co., Robey Warshaw and RBC Capital Markets as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing their advice to the Direct Line Directors, Morgan Stanley & Co., Robey Warshaw and RBC Capital Markets have taken into account the commercial assessments of the Direct Line Directors. Morgan Stanley & Co. and Robey Warshaw are providing independent financial advice to the Direct Line Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.

The Direct Line Directors consider that the terms of the Acquisition are in the best interests of Direct Line Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Direct Line Directors unanimously recommend that Scheme Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and that Direct Line Shareholders vote in favour of the Special Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting, as those Direct Line Directors who (or whose immediate family) beneficially hold Direct Line Shares have irrevocably undertaken to do (or procure to be done) in respect of their entire beneficial holdings.

Direct Line Shareholders should carefully read the Scheme Document in its entirety before making a decision with respect to the Scheme.

Additional Information for Direct Line Shareholders

If you have any questions about this announcement, the Scheme Document, the Court Meeting or the General Meeting, or are in any doubt as to how to complete and return the Forms of Proxy or to submit your proxies electronically or online, please contact Direct Line's Registrars, Computershare, by calling the Shareholder Helpline on [phone]. Lines are open between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday (except public holidays in England and Wales). Please use the country code when calling from outside the UK. Calls from outside the UK will be charged at the applicable international rate. Different charges may apply to calls from mobile telephones. Please note that calls may be monitored or recorded and Direct Line's Registrars, Computershare, cannot provide advice on the merits of the Acquisition or the Scheme or give any financial, legal or tax advice.  

A copy of the Scheme Document will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.

If the Scheme is sanctioned as outlined above, it is expected that the last day of dealings in Direct Line Shares on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange will be on the date of the Court Sanction Hearing, such that no transfers of Direct Line Shares will be registered after 6.00 p.m. on that date (other than the registration of the transfer of the Direct Line Shares to Aviva pursuant to the Scheme). Following this, all of the Direct Line Shares will be suspended from the Official List and from trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities, and Direct Line Shares will be disabled in CREST.

Aviva
Media
Andrew Reid	[phone]
Sarah Swailes	[phone]
Investors and analysts
Greg Neilson	[phone]
Joel von Sternberg	[phone]
Michael O'Hara	[phone]
Citi (Joint Financial Adviser and Joint Corporate Broker to Aviva)
Peter Brown / Sian Evans / Peter Catterall / Michael Lamb	[phone]
Goldman Sachs International (Joint Financial Adviser and Joint Corporate Broker to Aviva)
Anthony Gutman / Nimesh Khiroya / Bertie Whitehead	[phone]
Direct Line
Media
Roger Lowry (Director of Corporate Affairs)	[phone]
Investors and analysts
Dhruv Gahlaut, CFA (Chief Strategy & Investor Relations Officer)	[phone]
Morgan Stanley & Co. (Joint Lead Financial Adviser and Joint Corporate Broker to Direct Line)
Ben Grindley / Laurence Hopkins / Melissa Godoy / Jonathan Gold	[phone]
Robey Warshaw (Joint Lead Financial Adviser to Direct Line)
Simon Robey / Chetan Singh / Kunal Ranpara	[phone]
RBC Capital Markets (Joint Financial Adviser and Joint Corporate Broker to Direct Line)
Oliver Hearsey / Daniel Ohana / Elliot Thomas	[phone]
Brunswick Group (PR Adviser to Direct Line)
Tom Burns / Diana Vaughton / Freya Semken	[phone]

Enquiries:

 

Slaughter and May is acting as legal adviser to Direct Line and Clifford Chance LLP is acting as legal adviser to Aviva.

 

APPENDIX

EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS

The following indicative timetable is based on Direct Line's and Aviva's current expected dates for the implementation of the Scheme and is subject to change. If any of the dates and/or times in this expected timetable change, the revised dates and/or times will be notified to Direct Line Shareholders by announcement through the Regulatory Information Service of the London Stock Exchange. 

Event	Time and/or date (1)
Publication of the Scheme Document	10 February 2025
Latest time for lodging Forms of Proxy for the:
Court Meeting (BLUE form)	11.00 a.m. on 6 March 2025 (2)
General Meeting (WHITE form)	11.15 a.m. on 6 March 2025 (3)
Voting Record Time	6.00 p.m. on 6 March 2025 (4)
Court Meeting	11.00 a.m. on 10 March 2025
General Meeting	11.15 a.m. on 10 March 2025 (5)
The following dates and times associated with the Scheme are indicative only and subject to change and will depend on, among other things, the date on which the Conditions to the Scheme are satisfied or, if capable of waiver, waived, and the date on which the Court sanctions the Scheme. Direct Line will give adequate notice of any changes to these dates and times, when known, by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service, with such announcement being made available on Direct Line's website at https://www.directlinegroup.co.uk/en/investors. See also note (1).
Court Sanction Hearing	a date expected to be in mid-2025, subject to the satisfaction (or, if applicable, waiver) of the relevant Conditions and, in any event, prior to the Long Stop Date ("D")
Last day for dealings in, and for the registration of transfer of, and disablement in CREST of, Direct Line Shares	D*
Scheme Record Time	6.00 p.m. on D* (6)
Suspension of trading, and dealings in, Direct Line Shares	7.30 a.m. on D+1*
Effective Date	D+1* (7)
Cancellation of listing of Direct Line Shares on the Official List and of trading of Direct Line Shares on the London Stock Exchange	by 8.00 a.m. on D+2*
New Aviva Shares to be issued to Direct Line Shareholders	by 8.00 a.m. on D+2*
Admission of New Aviva Shares and commencement of dealings in New Aviva Shares on the London Stock Exchange	by 8.00 a.m. on D+2*
CREST accounts of Direct Line Shareholders credited with New Aviva Shares	on or as soon as possible after 8:00 a.m. on D+2* but not later than 14 days after the Effective Date
CREST accounts of Direct Line Shareholders credited with: (i) the cash element of the Offer Consideration; and (ii) any cash due in relation to the sale of fractional entitlements	within 14 days after the Effective Date
Despatch of share certificates for New Aviva Shares and of cheques for, or initiation of electronic payments in respect of: (i) the cash element of the Offer Consideration; and (ii) any cash due in relation to the sale of fractional entitlements for those Direct Line Shareholders who do not hold their Direct Line Shares in CREST, or, where applicable, the despatch of cheques for the cash due to Restricted Shareholders under the Scheme	within 14 days after the Effective Date
Long Stop Date	31 December 2025 (8)

Notes:

(1)   The dates and times are indicative only and are based on current expectations and may be subject to change and will depend on, among other things, the date on which the Conditions to the Scheme are satisfied or, if capable of waiver, waived, and the date on which the Court sanctions the Scheme. References to times are to London, United Kingdom time unless otherwise stated. If any of the times and/or dates above change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified to Direct Line Shareholders by announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.

Participants in the Direct Line Share Plans will be contacted separately and details of the effect of the Scheme on their rights under the Direct Line Share Plans, including details of any dates and times relevant to them, will be provided on the EquatePlus portal used in connection with the Direct Line Share Plans.

(2)   It is requested that BLUE Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting be lodged not later than 48 hours prior to the time appointed for the Court Meeting or, if the Court Meeting is adjourned, 48 hours prior to the time fixed for any adjourned Court Meeting (excluding any part of such 48 hour period falling on a day that is not a working day). If the BLUE Form of Proxy for the Court Meeting is not lodged by 11.00 a.m. on 6 March 2025, it may be presented in person to the Computershare representative who will be present at the Court Meeting or to the Chair of the Court Meeting, at any time prior to the commencement of the Court Meeting (or any adjournment thereof).

(3)   In order to be valid, the WHITE Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting must be lodged not later than 11.15 a.m. on 6 March 2025 or, if the General Meeting is adjourned, 48 hours prior to the time fixed for the adjourned General Meeting (excluding any part of such 48 hour period falling on a day that is not a working day).

(4)   If either the Court Meeting or the General Meeting is adjourned, the Voting Record Time for the relevant adjourned Meeting will be 6.00 p.m. on the day which is two Business Days prior to the date of the adjourned Meeting.

(5)   To commence at the time fixed or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting concludes or is adjourned.

(6)   Scheme Shareholders who are on the Register at this time are entitled to receive the Offer Consideration under the Acquisition.

(7)   The Scheme shall become Effective as soon as a copy of the Court Order has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. This is expected to occur following the Scheme Record Time and after the suspension of trading in Direct Line Shares. The events which are stated as occurring on subsequent dates are conditional on the Effective Date and operate by reference to that date.

(8)   This is the latest date by which the Scheme may become Effective unless there is a Phase 2 CMA Reference and the Condition set out in paragraph 3(c)(i) of Part III (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Acquisition) of the Scheme Document has not been waived or invoked by Aviva, in which case the Long Stop Date will be extended to 27 October 2026. In either case, the Long Stop Date may be extended to such later date as may be agreed in writing by Aviva and Direct Line (with the Panel's consent and Court approval (if such approval(s) are required)).

* All dates by reference to "D+1" and "D+2" will be to the date falling the number of indicated Business Days immediately after the actual date, which is "D", as indicated above.

 

Further information

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer to sell or an invitation to purchase any securities; a solicitation of an offer to buy, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise; or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise; nor shall there be any purchase, sale, issuance or exchange of securities or such solicitation in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, sale issuance or exchange is unlawful.

 

The Acquisition will be made solely by means of the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document) which, together with any related Forms of Proxy, will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the Scheme. Any decision in respect of, or other response to, the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document).

 

The statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date of this announcement, unless some other time is specified in relation to them, and publication of this announcement shall not give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the facts set forth in this announcement since such date.

 

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent document.

 

Important notices about financial advisers

Citi, which is authorised by the PRA and regulated in the United Kingdom by the PRA and FCA is acting as financial adviser exclusively for Aviva and for no one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement, and will not be responsible to anyone other than Aviva for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Citi nor any of its affiliates, directors or employees owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, consequential, whether in contract, tort, in delict, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Citi in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Goldman Sachs International, which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the PRA and the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Aviva and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Aviva for providing the protections afforded to clients of Goldman Sachs International, or for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement.

 

Morgan Stanley & Co., which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the PRA and the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Direct Line and for no one else in connection with the Acquisition and neither Morgan Stanley & Co. nor any of its affiliates, nor their respective directors, officers, employees or agents will be responsible to anyone other than Direct Line for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or the contents of this announcement.

Robey Warshaw which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting as financial adviser exclusively for Direct Line and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Direct Line for providing the protections afforded to clients of Robey Warshaw, nor for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement.

RBC Capital Markets which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the PRA and the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Direct Line and for no one else in connection with the Acquisition and neither RBC Capital Markets nor any of its affiliates, nor their respective directors, officers, employees or agents will be responsible to anyone other than Direct Line for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition, the contents of this announcement or any other matters referred to in this announcement.

Overseas shareholders

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in, into or from jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom, and the availability of the Acquisition to Direct Line Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom, may be restricted by the laws of those jurisdictions and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom to vote their Direct Line Shares with respect to the Scheme at the Court Meeting and/or General Meeting, or to execute and deliver forms of proxy appointing another to vote at the Court Meeting and/or General Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. Any failure to comply with any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.

 

Unless otherwise determined by Aviva or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction, and persons receiving this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such Restricted Jurisdiction. If the Acquisition is implemented by way of Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law or regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of mails or any other means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities or from within any Restricted Jurisdiction.

 

This announcement has been prepared in connection with proposals in relation to a scheme of arrangement pursuant to and for the purpose of complying with English law and the Takeover Code and 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. Nothing in this announcement should be relied on for any other purpose. Overseas Shareholders should consult their own professional advisers with respect to the legal and tax consequences of the Scheme.

 

Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders are contained in paragraph 18 of Part II (Explanatory Statement) of the Scheme Document.

 

The Acquisition shall be subject to the applicable requirements of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the FCA.

 

Additional information for US investors

The Acquisition relates to the shares of an English company and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under English company law. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer or proxy solicitation rules under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "US Exchange Act"). Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure requirements of the US tender offer and proxy solicitation rules.

If, in the future, Aviva exercises its right to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer, which is to be made into the US, such Takeover Offer will be made in compliance with the applicable US laws and regulations, including Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the US Exchange Act. Such a Takeover Offer would be made in the US by Aviva and no one else.

It may be difficult for US holders of Direct Line Shares to enforce their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal securities laws in connection with the Acquisition, since Aviva and Direct Line are located and organised in a non-US jurisdiction, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of a non-US jurisdiction. US holders of Direct Line Shares 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.

The New Aviva Shares to be issued pursuant to the Acquisition have not been registered under the US Securities Act or under any laws or with any securities regulatory authority of any state, district or other jurisdiction, of the US, and may only be offered or sold in the US in reliance on an exemption from registration requirements of the US Securities Act including in the case of the proposed scheme of arrangement, Section 3(a)(10) thereunder. This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the New Aviva Shares in any state of the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification under the securities laws of any such state. Aviva will rely upon the Court's sanctioning of the Scheme for the purposes of qualifying for the exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act provided by section 3(a)(10) thereof with respect to the New Aviva Shares to be issued pursuant to the Scheme.

For the purposes of qualifying for the exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act afforded by Section 3(a)(10), Direct Line will advise the Court through counsel that Aviva will rely on the Section 3(a)(10) exemption based on the Court's sanctioning of the Scheme, which will be relied upon by Aviva as an approval of the Scheme following a hearing on the fairness of the terms and conditions of the Scheme to Scheme Shareholders, at which hearing all shareholders are entitled to attend in person or through counsel to support or oppose the sanctioning of the Scheme and with respect to which notification has been given to all shareholders.

Under US securities laws, persons who are or will be deemed to be affiliates (as defined under the US Securities Act) of Direct Line or Aviva prior to, or of Aviva on or after, the Effective Date may be subject to timing, manner of sale and volume restrictions on the resale in the United States of New Aviva Shares received in connection with the Scheme. Whether a person is an "affiliate" of a company for such purposes depends upon the circumstances, but affiliates of a company include individuals who, or entities that, control directly or indirectly, or are controlled by or are under common control with, that company, and may include certain officers and directors and significant shareholders of Direct Line and Aviva (typically holders of more than 10 percent of the outstanding issued capital). Scheme Shareholders who believe they may be affiliates for the purposes of the US Securities Act should consult their own legal advisers prior to any resale of New Aviva Shares received under the Scheme.

The New Aviva Shares have not been, and will not be, listed on a US securities exchange or quoted on any inter-dealer quotation system in the United States.

Neither the Acquisition nor this announcement nor the New Aviva Shares to be issued pursuant to the Acquisition have been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other US regulatory authority, nor have such authorities approved or disapproved or passed judgement upon the fairness or the merits of the Acquisition, or determined if the information contained in this announcement is adequate, accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

The receipt of New Aviva Shares and/or cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US holder as consideration for the transfer of its Direct Line Shares pursuant to the Acquisition may be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Each US holder of Direct Line Shares is urged to consult their independent legal, tax and financial advisers regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them, including under applicable US state and local, as well as overseas and other, tax laws.

Further details in relation to US investors are contained on pages 43 to 45 of the Scheme Document.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement, oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by Direct Line or Aviva may contain statements about Direct Line or Aviva that are or may be deemed to be forward looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement may be forward looking statements.

Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets", "plans", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "shall", "should", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "forecast" or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements include statements relating to the following: (i) the ability to complete the Acquisition in a timely manner, (ii) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (iii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of Direct Line's or Aviva's operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iv) the effects of government regulation and/or global and/or local economic conditions on the wider Direct Line Group's or the wider Aviva Group's business.

Such forward looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of Direct Line and Aviva about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward looking statements, including, but not limited to: the impact of ongoing uncertain conditions in the global financial markets and the national and international political and economic situation generally (for example, in respect of the war in Ukraine following the Russian invasion, and/or the conflict in the Middle East), market developments and government actions, changes in or inaccuracy of assumptions in pricing and reserving for insurance business, particularly with regards to lapse rates and policy renewal rates, a cyclical downturn of the insurance industry, the impact of natural and man-made catastrophic events (including pandemics) on Aviva's and/or Direct Line's business activities and results of operation, the transitional, litigation and physical risks associated with climate change, failure to understand and respond effectively to the risks associated with sustainability, regulatory approval of changes to the Direct Line Group's and/or Aviva Group's internal model for calculation of regulatory capital under the UK's version of Solvency II rules, the impact of recognising an impairment of Direct Line's and/or Aviva's goodwill or intangibles with indefinite lives, changes in valuation methodologies, estimates and assumptions used in the valuation of investment securities, the effect of legal proceedings and regulatory investigations, the impact of operational risks, including inadequate or failed internal and external processes, systems and human error or from external events and malicious acts (including cyber attack and theft, loss or misuse of customer data), increased competition, the loss of or damage to one or more key customer relationships, changes to habits, the outcome of business or industry restructuring, the outcome of any litigation, changes in global, political, social, business and economic conditions, changes in the level of capital investment, currency fluctuations, changes in interest and tax rates, changes in market prices, changes in (and to interpretations of) laws, regulations or regulatory policies, developments in legal or public policy doctrines, technological developments, the failure to retain key employees, or the timing and success of future offer opportunities or major investment projects and the impact of any acquisitions or similar transactions. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements.

Such forward looking statements should therefore be construed in light of such factors. Neither Direct Line nor Aviva, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward looking statements in this announcement will actually occur. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All subsequent oral or written forward looking statements attributable to any member of the Direct Line Group or the Aviva Group, or any of their respective associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above.

Direct Line and Aviva expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward looking or other statements contained herein, except as required by applicable law or by the rules of any competent regulatory authority, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No profit forecasts, estimates or quantified financial benefits statements

No statement in this announcement is intended as, or is to be construed as, a profit forecast or profit estimate for any period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per Direct Line Share or Aviva Share for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share for Direct Line Shares or Aviva Shares. No statement in this announcement (including any statement of estimated costs savings or synergies) is intended as a quantified financial benefits statement for the purposes of the Takeover Code.

Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is interested in 1 percent or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th Business Day following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th Business Day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

 

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 percent or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the Business Day following the date of the relevant dealing.

 

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

 

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

 

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the Offer Period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on [phone] if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

 

Publication on a website

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this announcement and any document incorporated by reference will be made available, free of charge, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Direct Line's website at https://www.directlinegroup.co.uk/en/investors and Aviva's website at https://www.aviva.com/investors/offer-for-direct-line-insurance-group-plc/ by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the date of this announcement.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of these websites are not incorporated into, and do not form part of, this announcement.

 

Right to receive documents in hard copy form

In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, Direct Line Shareholders, participants in the Direct Line Share Plans and persons with information rights may request a hard copy of this announcement, free of charge, by contacting Direct Line's Registrars, Computershare, during business hours on [phone], or by submitting a request in writing to The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY. If calling from outside of the UK, please ensure the country code is used.

 

For persons who receive a copy of this announcement in electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this announcement will not be sent unless so requested. Such persons may also request that all future documents, announcements and information in relation to the Acquisition are sent to them in hard copy form.

 

Please note that Direct Line's Registrars, Computershare, cannot provide advice on the merits of the Acquisition or the Scheme or give any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.

 

Electronic communications

Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain other information provided by Direct Line Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Direct Line may be provided to Aviva, members of the Aviva Group and/or their respective advisers during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Takeover Code.

 

General

If you are in any doubt as to the contents of this announcement or the action you should take, you should consult your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial adviser who, if you are taking advice in the United Kingdom, is authorised pursuant to FSMA or, if you are taking advice outside the United Kingdom, is an appropriately authorised independent professional adviser.

 

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.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.

 

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