Alchemy Copyrights, LLC Recommended increased cash offer for Hipgnosis

RNS Number : 9316L

Alchemy Copyrights, LLC

24 April 2024

 

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 OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

24 April 2024

RECOMMENDED INCREASED CASH OFFER FOR

HIPGNOSIS SONGS FUND LIMITED ("HIPGNOSIS")

BY

CONCORD CHORUS LIMITED ("CONCORD BIDCO")

an entity indirectly controlled by Alchemy Copyrights, LLC, trading as Concord ("Concord")

 

Increased Cash Consideration of US$1.25 per Hipgnosis Share

Hipgnosis Directors re-confirm unanimous recommendation

 

 

1          Introduction

On 18 April 2024, the boards of Concord Bidco and Hipgnosis announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer (the "Original Concord Offer") pursuant to which Concord Bidco, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alchemy Copyrights, LLC, trading as Concord ("Concord"), would acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Hipgnosis (the "Acquisition") to be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement between Hipgnosis and relevant Hipgnosis Shareholders under Part VIII of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) (the "Scheme") (the "Rule 2.7 Announcement").

The Original Concord Offer was announced after extensive negotiations between the Hipgnosis Board and Concord Bidco. However, Concord Bidco notes the announcement on 20 April 2024 made by Blackstone Europe LLP (acting as sub-advisor to certain Blackstone Funds) of its possible counter-offer for Hipgnosis. Concord Bidco remains committed to becoming the new owner of Hipgnosis. Accordingly, Concord Bidco has engaged with the Hipgnosis Board and its advisers in relation to the value of the Original Concord Offer.

Today, the boards of Concord Bidco and Hipgnosis are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of an increased cash offer at an increased price of US$1.25 for each Scheme Share (the "Increased Concord Offer") for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Hipgnosis, which has been unanimously recommended by the Hipgnosis Board. The Cash Consideration of US$1.16 plus Contingent Consideration which was payable in accordance with the terms of the Original Concord Offer will therefore increase to US$1.25 with no Contingent Consideration payable under the Increased Concord Offer.

The Hipgnosis Directors believe that the Increased Concord Offer is in the best interests of Hipgnosis Shareholders as a whole, and accordingly unanimously recommend that Hipgnosis Shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions required to implement the Increased Concord Offer to be proposed at the Court Meeting and the General Meeting which are due to be held on or around 10 June 2024.

Capitalised terms used and not defined in this Announcement have the meanings given to them in the Rule 2.7 Announcement.

2          increased concord offer

Under the terms of the Increased Concord Offer, Hipgnosis Shareholders will be entitled to receive:

US$1.25 in cash for each Scheme Share

The Increased Concord Offer values the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Hipgnosis at approximately US$1,511.5 million. The Increased Concord Offer represents an increase of approximately 7.8 per cent to the offer value under the Original Concord Offer.

The Increased Concord Offer is equivalent to £1.01 per Share based on the Increased Offer Announcement Exchange Rate.

The Increased Concord Offer represents a premium of:

·      42.6 per cent. to the Closing Price of £0.71 on 17 April 2024 (being the last Business Day prior to the commencement of the Offer Period);

·      47.3 per cent. to the six-month volume weighted average price per Hipgnosis Share of £0.68 to 17 April 2024 (being the last Business Day prior to the commencement of the Offer Period); and

·      12.4 per cent. to Hipgnosis' Adjusted 30 September 2023 Operative NAV per Hipgnosis Share of US$1.11.

 

The terms of the Acquisition are based on the assumption that no dividends or other distributions will be authorised, declared or paid on or before the Effective Date. Concord Bidco reserves the right to reduce the price payable for each Scheme Share pursuant to the Acquisition by up to the amount per Scheme Share of any dividends or distributions authorised, declared or paid on or before the Effective Date.

 

3          recommendation

The Hipgnosis Directors, who have been so advised by Singer Capital Markets as to the financial terms of the Increased Concord Offer, unanimously consider the terms of the Increased Concord Offer to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the Hipgnosis Directors, Singer Capital Markets has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Hipgnosis Directors.

The Hipgnosis Directors intend to recommend unanimously that Scheme Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and that Hipgnosis Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolution at the General Meeting (or, in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, that Hipgnosis Shareholders accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer), and have irrevocably undertaken to do so in respect of their own beneficial holdings totalling in aggregate 327,796 Hipgnosis Shares, representing approximately 0.03 per cent. of the issued share capital of Hipgnosis as at the close of business on 24 April 2024.

Further details of these irrevocable undertakings are set out in Appendix 2 to this Announcement.

4          irrevocable undertakings

As described in the Rule 2.7 Announcement, in addition to the irrevocable undertakings given by the Hipgnosis Directors as set out above, Concord Bidco has also received irrevocable undertakings (which remain binding in relation to the Increased Concord Offer) from certain Hipgnosis Shareholders and a letter of intent from Investec Wealth & Investment Management Limited.

In addition to the irrevocable undertakings and the letters of intent set out in the Rule 2.7 Announcement, Concord Bidco has received further irrevocable undertakings from KL Special Opportunities Master Fund Limited, KL UCITS ICAV - KL Event Driven UCITS Fund and Josh Gruss to support the Increased Concord Offer in relation to an aggregate of 29,893,227 Hipgnosis Shares, representing approximately 2.47 per cent of the issued share capital of Hipgnosis.

As announced on 23 April 2024, Concord Bidco was advised by J O Hambro on 22 April 2024 that it has disposed of 5,417,761 of the Hipgnosis Shares subject to its irrevocable undertaking and it has today  sold a further 1,558,013 Hipgnosis Shares (together the "Sold Shares") and are no longer in a position to vote the Sold Shares in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and in favour of the Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting.   

Therefore, the total number of Hipgnosis Shares which are subject to irrevocable undertakings or letters of intent received by Concord Bidco in relation to Hipgnosis Shares is 378,162,890 Hipgnosis Shares, representing, in aggregate, approximately 31.27 per cent of the issued share capital of Hipgnosis as at the close of business on 24 April 2024 (being the latest practicable date prior to the date of this Announcement).

Further details of the irrevocable undertakings and letters of intent given to Concord Bidco (and the circumstances in which such arrangements will cease to be binding or otherwise fall away) are set out in Appendix 2 to this Announcement.

5          intentions for Hipgnosis

The Increased Concord Offer does not change Concord Bidco's intentions as regards Hipgnosis as set out in the Rule 2.7 Announcement, save that Concord Bidco now intends to sell up to 30 per cent of Hipgnosis' assets within a period of 18 to 24 months following completion of the Acquisition.

6          Financing of the acquisition

The Acquisition, including the additional amount of US$108.8 million payable pursuant to the Increased Concord Offer, will continue to be financed by a combination of debt and equity financing. The majority of the equity financing will be provided by Concord with minority participation by the Apollo Funds, and the debt financing will be provided by the Apollo Funds.

J.P. Morgan Cazenove, as financial advisor to Concord Bidco, is satisfied that sufficient resources are available to Concord Bidco to enable it to satisfy in full the Cash Consideration under the terms of the Acquisition, including the additional amount payable pursuant to the Increased Concord Offer.

Further information on the financing of the Acquisition will be set out in the Scheme Document.

7          CONDITIONS

The implementation of the Scheme will be subject to the Conditions and further terms set out in Appendix 1 to the Rule 2.7 Announcement and all terms and conditions, including the increased price payable by Concord Bidco for the Scheme Shares, will be set out in full in the Scheme Document which will be sent to Scheme Shareholders as soon as practicably possible.

8          DISCLOSURES

Concord Bidco confirms that there have been no changes to:

·      the Offer-Related Arrangements disclosed in section 12 of the Rule 2.7 Announcement; and

·      the Disclosure of Interests in Hipgnosis in Section 13 of the Rule 2.7 Announcement.

9          General

Each of J.P. Morgan Cazenove, Singer Capital Markets and Shot Tower has given and not withdrawn its consent to the publication of this Announcement with the inclusion herein of the references to its name in the form and context in which it appears.

The Appendix to this Announcement contains the sources and bases of certain information contained in this Announcement.

10         Documents available on website

Copies of the following documents will be made available on https://communications.singercm.com/p/4UWI-ETV/recommended-cash-offer-hipgnosis and on Concord Bidco's website at www.projectchorus.com by no later than 12.00 p.m. London time on the Business Day following this Announcement until the end of the Acquisition:

·      a copy of this Announcement;

·      documents relating to Concord Bidco's financing of the Increased Concord Offer; and

·      the written consents of J.P. Morgan, Singer Capital Markets and Shot Tower to being named in this Announcement.

Commenting on the Increased Concord Offer, Bob Valentine, CEO of Concord, said:

"We are pleased to announce this increased offer for Hipgnosis, which has again been unanimously recommended by its Board and has the support of shareholders representing 31.27 per cent of Hipgnosis' issued share capital. We continue to believe that this is the best outcome for Hipgnosis shareholders as it provides them with the opportunity to realise their investment in cash at a significant premium to the price where the shares were trading before our bid last week."

Enquiries:

Concord                                                                                                                       [phone]

Kelly Voigt (SVP, Corporate Communications)

 

Apollo                                                                                                                          [phone]

Erin Clark

 

J.P. Morgan Cazenove (Sole Financial Adviser to Concord Bidco)                               [phone]

Jonty Edwards

Rupert Budge

Edward Hatter

Greg Slack

 

H/Advisors Maitland (PR Adviser to Concord and Concord Bidco)      

Neil Bennett                                                                                                                  [phone]

Jonathan Cook                                                                                                              [phone]

Hipgnosis                                                                                                                    [phone]

Robert Naylor, Chairman                                                                                                           

Via Singer Capital Markets

 

Singer Capital Markets (Sole Rule 3 Adviser, Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker to Hipgnosis)

James Moat                                                                                                                  [phone]

Alaina Wong

Sam Butcher

Jalini Kalaravy

 

Shot Tower Capital LLC (Valuer and Strategic Advisor to Hipgnosis)               [phone]

David Dunn                                                                                                                  

Robert Law

Rick Roebuck

Will Ponsi

 

Headland Consultancy (PR Adviser to Hipgnosis)                                                        [phone]

Susanna Voyle                                                                                                             

Charlie Twigg

 

Important notices

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, together with its affiliate J.P. Morgan Securities plc, which conducts its UK investment banking business as J.P. Morgan Cazenove and which is authorised in the United Kingdom by the Prudential Regulation Authority (the "PRA") and regulated in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the FCA (together, "J.P. Morgan Cazenove") is acting as financial adviser exclusively to Concord Bidco and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not regard any other person as their client in relation to the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Concord Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan Cazenove or its affiliates, nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matter or arrangement referred to herein.

Singer Capital Markets Advisory LLP ("Singer Capital Markets"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting as sole Rule 3 adviser, financial adviser and corporate broker exclusively for Hipgnosis and no-one else in connection with the matters described in this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Hipgnosis for providing the protections afforded to clients of Singer Capital Markets nor for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to herein.

This Announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, an offer to sell or an invitation to purchase any securities or a solicitation of an offer to buy, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities 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, invitation, solicitation, purchase, 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, any document by which the Takeover Offer is made) and the accompanying Forms of Proxy (or forms of acceptance, if applicable), which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the resolutions proposed in connection with the Acquisition. Any vote, approval, 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 any other document by which the Acquisition is made by way of a Takeover Offer).

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 the release of this Announcement shall not give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the facts set out in this Announcement since such date.

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

Hipgnosis Shareholders should not make any investment decision in relation to the Acquisition except on the basis of the Scheme Document (or any other document by which the Acquisition is made by way of a Takeover Offer). Hipgnosis and Concord Bidco urge Hipgnosis Shareholders to read the whole of the Scheme Document when it becomes available because it will contain important information relating to the Acquisition.

No person should construe the contents of this Announcement as legal, financial or tax advice. If you are in any doubt about the contents of this Announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or from an independent financial adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are resident in the United Kingdom, or another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser, if you are in a territory outside the United Kingdom.

Overseas Shareholders

This Announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with Guernsey law, English law, the Takeover Code, the Market Abuse Regulation, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and the Listing Rules 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 or Guernsey. Nothing in this Announcement should be relied on for any other purpose.

The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in or into, jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom or Guernsey may be restricted by the laws and/or regulations of those jurisdictions and therefore persons into whose possession this Announcement comes who are subject to the laws and/or regulations of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom or Guernsey should inform themselves about and observe any such applicable laws and/or regulations in their jurisdiction. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or Guernsey to vote their Scheme Shares or Hipgnosis Shares (as applicable) with respect to the Scheme at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting, or to appoint another person as proxy to vote at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which they are located. Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be contained in the Scheme Document. 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 Hipgnosis 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 where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the Scheme by any such use, means, instrumentality or form from within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this Announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction, and persons receiving this Announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such jurisdictions where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction. If the Acquisition is implemented by a 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 the mails or any other means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile, email 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 or within any Restricted Jurisdiction.

Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be contained in the Scheme Document.

Additional information for US investors

Hipgnosis Shareholders in the United States should note that the Acquisition relates to the securities of a Guernsey company with a listing on the London Stock Exchange and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under, and governed by, the Companies Law. This Announcement, the Scheme Document and certain other documents relating to the Acquisition have been or will be prepared in accordance with Guernsey law, English law, the Takeover Code and UK disclosure requirements, format and style, all of which differ from those in the United States. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the procedural and disclosure requirements and practices applicable to a scheme of arrangement involving a target company organised in Guernsey and listed on the London Stock Exchange, which differ from the procedural and disclosure requirements of the United States tender offer rules and proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act. If, in the future, Concord Bidco exercises the right to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend the offer into the United States, the Acquisition will be made in compliance with applicable United States laws and regulations. Such Takeover Offer would be made by Concord Bidco and no one else.

The financial information that is included in this Announcement or that may be included in the Scheme Document, or any other documents relating to the Acquisition, has been or will be prepared in accordance with IFRS and may not be comparable to financial statements of companies in the United States or other companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles.

The Hipgnosis Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities Exchange Commission or any US state securities commission, nor have any such authorities passed judgment upon the fairness or the merits of the Acquisition or determined if this Announcement is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

US holders of Hipgnosis Shares should also be aware that the transaction contemplated herein may have tax consequences in the United States and that such consequences, if any, are not described herein. US holders of Hipgnosis Shares are urged to consult with independent professional advisors regarding the legal, tax and financial consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them.

It may be difficult for US holders of Hipgnosis Shares to enforce their rights and claims arising out of US federal securities laws, since Hipgnosis is incorporated outside the United States, and its officers and directors may be residents of, and some or all of their assets may be located in, countries other than the United States. US holders of Hipgnosis Shares may have difficulty effecting service of process within the United States upon those persons or recovering against judgments of US courts, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the US federal securities laws. US holders may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of 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.

In accordance with normal practice in the UK and Guernsey and consistent with Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, Concord Bidco, certain affiliated companies and their nominees or brokers (acting as agents) may make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares in Hipgnosis outside the United States, other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date on which the Acquisition and/or Scheme becomes Effective, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be made they would occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices and comply with applicable law, including the US Exchange Act. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase will be disclosed as required in the United Kingdom, will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.

Further details in relation to US investors will be contained in the Scheme Document.

Forward-looking statements

This Announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this Announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by Concord, Apollo, Concord Bidco or Hipgnosis contain statements about Concord Bidco and Hipgnosis and/or the Wider Bidco Group 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", "anticipates", "estimates", "hopes", "projects", "continue", "schedule" 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) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of Concord's, Apollo's or Hipgnosis' or the Wider Bidco Group's operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of government regulation on Concord's, Apollo's or Hipgnosis' or the Wider Bidco Group's business.

These forward-looking statements are not based on historical fact and are not guarantees of future performance. By their nature, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown 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. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond the entities' ability to control or estimate precisely. These factors include, but are not limited to, the satisfaction of or failure to satisfy all or any of the conditions to the Acquisition, as well as additional factors, such as changes in political and economic conditions, changes in the level of capital investment, retention of key employees, changes in customer habits, success of business and operating initiatives and restructuring objectives, the impact of any acquisitions or similar transactions, changes in customers' strategies and stability, competitive product and pricing measures, changes in the regulatory environment, fluctuations of interest and exchange rates and the outcome of any litigation.

Neither Concord Bidco or Hipgnosis, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers, employees 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 of this Announcement. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to Concord Bidco or Hipgnosis or any of their respective members, directors, officers, employees or advisers or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. Concord Bidco and Hipgnosis expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements contained in this Announcement, 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.

Disclosure requirements of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. 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 (as defined in the Takeover Code) 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 (as defined in the Takeover Code) 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 per cent. 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 (as defined in the Takeover Code) 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 of the Takeover Code).

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.

Right to switch to a Takeover Offer

Concord Bidco reserves the right to elect, with the consent of the Panel, to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Hipgnosis as an alternative to the Scheme. In such an event, the Takeover Offer will be implemented on the same terms or, if Concord Bidco so decides, on such other terms being no less favourable (subject to appropriate amendments), so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the Scheme and subject to the amendment referred to in Part B of Appendix 1 to the Rule 2.7 Announcement.

Publication of this Announcement on websites and availability of hard copies

A copy of this Announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rules 26.1 and 26.2 of the Takeover Code will be available, free of charge, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on https://communications.singercm.com/p/4UWI-ETV/recommended-cash-offer-hipgnosis and Concord Bidco's website at www.projectchorus.com by no later than 12.00 p.m. on the Business Day following the date of this Announcement.

In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, Hipgnosis Shareholders and persons with information rights may request a hard copy of this Announcement by contacting Hipgnosis' registrars, Computershare Investor Services (Guernsey) Limited, or by calling 0370 707 4040 or from overseas [phone]. Calls are charged at the standard geographical rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom or Guernsey will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (London time), Monday to Friday (except public holidays in the UK and Guernsey). Please note that Computershare Investor Services (Guernsey) Limited cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice. Calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes. 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 to be sent to them in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy form.

Information relating to Hipgnosis Shareholders

Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain information provided by Hipgnosis Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Hipgnosis may be provided to Concord Bidco during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover Code.

Rounding

Certain figures included in this Announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an exact arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.

 

APPENDIX 1
BASES AND SOURCES

1             All Closing Prices for Hipgnosis Shares have been derived from Bloomberg as of 17 April 2024, being the last Business Day prior to the commencement of the Offer Period, unless stated otherwise.

2             Volume weighted average prices have been derived from Bloomberg as of 17 April 2024, being the last Business Day prior to the commencement of the Offer Period, and have been rounded.

3             As at the Latest Practicable Date, there were 1,209,214,286 Hipgnosis Shares in issue, all of which are credited as fully paid and 2,000,000 Hipgnosis shares were held as treasury shares.

4             As at the close of business on 23 April 2024, being the latest practicable date prior to the date of this Announcement, the number of Hipgnosis Shares eligible to vote on: (i) the Scheme at the Court Meeting is 1,208,822,321 Hipgnosis Shares (which excludes shares held as treasury shares and those Hipgnosis Shares in which Concord Bidco is interested); and (ii) the Resolution at the General Meeting is 1,208,822,321 Hipgnosis Shares (which excludes shares held as treasury shares and those Hipgnosis Shares in which Concord Bidco is interested.

5             The Increased Offer Announcement Exchange Rate is defined as the GBP:USD exchange rate of 1:1.2431 as at 17:00 GMT on 23 April 2024 as derived from data provided by Bloomberg.

 

APPENDIX 2
irrevocable undertakings AND LETTERS OF INTENT

Summary of Irrevocable Undertakings

 

Name of beneficial holder	Number of Hipgnosis Shares in respect of which undertaking is given	Percentage of Hipgnosis Shares in issue at the latest practicable date (%)
Hipgnosis Directors	327,796	0.027
Other Hipgnosis Shareholders	307,835,094	25.457
Total Hipgnosis Shares	308,162,890	25.485

Irrevocable Undertakings from the Hipgnosis Directors

 

The following Hipgnosis Directors have given irrevocable undertakings in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of Hipgnosis Shares to vote or procure votes in favour of the Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting, amounting in aggregate to 327,796 Hipgnosis Shares, representing approximately 0.027 per cent. of Hipgnosis' existing issued ordinary share capital as at the close of business on 24 April 2024:

 

Name	Number of Hipgnosis Shares in respect of which undertaking is given	Percentage of Hipgnosis Shares in issue at the latest practicable date (%)
Robert Naylor	100,000	0.008
Simon Holden	150,796	0.012
Francis Keeling	50,000	0.004
Cindy Rampersaud	27,000	0.002

 

These irrevocable undertakings will cease to bind if:

 

(i)       the Scheme Document or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document (as applicable) has not been posted to Hipgnosis Shareholders within 28 days of the issue of this Rule 2.7 Announcement (or within such longer period as Concord Bidco and Hipgnosis, with the consent of the panel, may agree);

 

(ii)      the Scheme or Takeover Offer (as applicable) or the Resolution to be proposed is not approved by the requisite majority of the Hipgnosis Shareholders at the General Meeting or the Court Meeting;

 

(iii)     the Scheme or Takeover Offer (as applicable) has not become Effective, or become or been declared unconditional in all respects (as the case may be), on or before the Long Stop Date;

 

(iv)     the Scheme does not become Effective or, as applicable, the Offer lapses or is withdrawn and no new, revised or replacement Scheme or Takeover Offer is or has been announced in accordance with the Takeover Code at the same time;

 

(v)      before despatch of the Scheme Document or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document (as the case may be) any event occurs or becomes known to Concord Bidco or its financial adviser as a result of which the Panel requires or agrees that Concord Bidco need not make the offer; or

 

(vi)     any competing offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Hipgnosis is declared unconditional or, if implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement, becomes effective

 

 

Irrevocable Undertakings from other Hipgnosis Shareholders

 

In addition to the irrevocable undertakings given by the Hipgnosis Directors as set out above, Concord Bidco has received irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting, and in favour of the Resolution at the General Meeting (or, in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer), in respect of, in aggregate, 308,162,890 Hipgnosis Shares representing approximately 25.48 per cent. of Hipgnosis' issued share capital as at the close of business on 24 April 2024.

 

 

Name of Hipgnosis Shareholder	Number of Hipgnosis Shares in respect of which undertaking is given	Percentage of Hipgnosis Shares in issue at the latest practicable date (%)
Asset Value Investors Limited	90,141,594	7.455
CCLA Investment Management	57,725,227	4.774
Schroder & Co Limited	54,247,904	4.486
J O Hambro Capital Management Limited	13,477,349	1.115
Madison Avenue Partners, LP	18,621,841	1.540
KL Special Opportunities Master Fund Limited and KL UCITS ICAV - KL Event Driven UCITS Fund	17,000,000	1.405
Gresham House Asset Management Ltd	16,585,952	1.372
Hawksmoor Investment Management	15,585,000	1.289
Josh Gruss	12,893,227	1.066
Premier Fund Managers Limited	11,557,000	0.956

 

These irrevocable undertakings will cease to bind:

 

(i)       if the Scheme Document or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document (as applicable) has not been posted to Hipgnosis Shareholders within 28 days of the issue of the Rule 2.7 Announcement (or within such longer period as Concord Bidco and Hipgnosis, with the consent of the Panel, may agree);

 

(ii)      in the case of Madison Avenue Partners, LP, if the Court Meeting and the General Meeting are not held by 30 June 2024;

 

(iii)     In the case of KL Special Opportunities Master Fund Limited and KL UCITS ICAV - KL Event Driven UCITS Fund, if the price under the Scheme (or Takeover Offer, if the Offer proceeds by way of a Takeover Offer) is less than $1.25 per Ordinary Share or is wholly or partly non-cash;

 

(iv)     if the Scheme or Takeover Offer (as applicable) or the Resolution is not approved by the requisite majority of: (a) the Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting or (b) the Hipgnosis Shareholders at the General Meeting (as the case may be);

 

(v)      if the Scheme or Takeover Offer (as applicable) has not become Effective, or become or been declared unconditional in all respects (as the case may be), on or before the Long Stop Date;

 

(vi)     if the Scheme does not become Effective or, as applicable, the offer lapses or is withdrawn and no new, revised or replacement Scheme or Takeover Offer is or has been announced in accordance with the Takeover Code at the same time;

 

(vii)    if before despatch of the Scheme Document or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document (as the case may be) any event occurs or becomes known to Concord Bidco or its financial adviser as a result of which the Panel requires or agrees that Concord Bidco need not make the offer;

 

(viii)    if any competing offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Hipgnosis is declared unconditional or, if implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement, becomes effective;

 

(ix)     if a competing offer for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Hipgnosis, howsoever structured, is announced provided that such offer represents a value per Hipgnosis Share of not less than 10 per cent above the maximum value of the consideration per Hipgnosis Share then available under the terms of the offer made by Concord Bidco (or in the case of Madison Avenue Partners, LP, KL Special Opportunities Master Fund Limited and KL UCITS ICAV - KL Event Driven UCITS Fund, a value per Hipgnosis Share of not less than 5 per cent above maximum value of the consideration per Hipgnosis Share then available under the terms of the offer made by Concord Bidco); or

(x)      in the case of Premier Fund Managers Limited, in respect of any Hipgnosis Shares that are required to be sold to meet redemption requests or to ensure compliance with the investment and borrowing limits set out under the FCA's Collective Investment Scheme Sourcebook, provided they have used all reasonable endeavours to explore other options to meet these regulatory obligations.

Letter of Intent

 

Concord Bidco has also received a non-binding letter of intent to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting, and in favour of the Resolution at the General Meeting (or, in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer), in respect of, in aggregate, 70,000,000 Hipgnosis Shares representing approximately 5.789 per cent. of Hipgnosis' issued share capital as at the close of business on 24 April 2024.

 

Name of Hipgnosis Shareholder	Number of Hipgnosis Shares in respect of which undertaking is given	Percentage of Hipgnosis Shares in issue at the latest practicable date (%)
Investec Wealth & Investment Limited	70,000,000	5.789

 

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