Iconic Labs PLC Placing and Financing Update (2004F)

TIDMICON

RNS Number : 2004F

Iconic Labs PLC

13 November 2020

Prior to publication, the information contained in this announcement was deemed by the Company to constitute inside information for the purposes of Article 7 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 and the information contained herein is not for publication, release or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa or any other jurisdiction in which such publication, release or distribution would be unlawful ("Restricted Jurisdiction"). The information contained herein does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in any Restricted Jurisdiction. With the publication of this announcement, this information is now considered to be in the public domain.

For immediate release

13th November 2020

Iconic Labs Plc ("Iconic Labs" or the "Company")

Firm Placing, End of EHGOF Share Issuances and New Conventional Debt Facility

Iconic Labs Plc (LSE:ICON) (the "Company"), a multi-divisional new media and technology business, today announces the placing of 6,231,610,203 new ordinary shares ("Ordinary Shares") of GBP0.00001 each in the capital of the Company (the "Placing Shares") at a price of GBP0.00012 per Placing Share ("Placing Price") to raise total gross proceeds of GBP747,793 (the "Placing").

Shard Capital Partners LLP ("Shard") has acted as sole bookrunner in relation to the Placing. The Placing is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Appendices to this announcement (which forms part of this announcement, such announcement and its Appendices together being this "Announcement").

In addition, the Company is also announcing today that it has entered into a new more conventional debt facility (the "Facility") with Shard Merchant Capital Limited ("SMC"). The Facility is to be secured and is for an aggregate amount of up to GBP1 million, with an initial drawdown of GBP500,000 from SMC.

The Company is also announcing today that it has brought to an end any further issuances of Ordinary Shares to European High Growth Opportunities Securitization Fund ("EHGOF") and has agreed with SMC, pursuant to the terms of the Facility, that the Company will not enter into a transaction with EHGOF for a 3 year period.

Placing highlights

   --    Placing fully subscribed. 

-- Placing of 6,231,610,203 Placing Shares at the Placing Price has raised gross proceeds of GBP747,793.

-- The Placing Shares will represent approximately 19.99% of the Company's existing issued share capital.

-- The Placing Price of GBP0.00012 per Placing Share, represents a 20% discount to the Company's closing mid-market share price on 12 November 2020.

John Quinlan, CEO of Iconic Labs plc commented: " I am very pleased that following hard work we are now able to follow through on our commitment to replace the EHGOF facility with more conventional funding. Many shareholders have told us that this was critical in their view, and it is great to be able to deliver the news that they have wanted for so long.

Now we have cancelled the EHGOF facility and put in place a more conventional debt funding facility, it will remove the overhang of continuous conversion of convertible instruments into Ordinary Shares and the dilutive effect that had. With this funding in place we will be able to focus on executing our strategy as previously outlined.

On an operational level, we believe the recent doubling of the base monthly management fee under the JOE media deal is a gamechanger and builds upon the commercial traction that we are achieving with these underlying businesses - in which we have a 25% profit share. To give some examples, since taking over the management of JOE the Company has not only secured several major sponsorship contracts but has increased programmatic advertising revenue of 300%. We have also significantly increased revenues at TLE, with programmatic advertising revenue more than doubling in recent months."

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information for the purposes of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

**S**

For further information, please visit the Company's website www.iconiclabs.co.uk or contact:

 
 Damon Heath   Shard Capital Partners   Tel: [phone] 
                LLP 
               Iconic Labs              [e-mail] 
 

Update on current trading and operations

The Company continues to develop its business and operations, and in addition to organic growth of its owned publishing brands and consultancy services, has seen revenues increase as a result of entering into management service contracts in respect of JOE Media and TheLondonEconomic. These management service contracts not only minimise the capital cost of expansion, but also have the advantages of providing base revenues through fixed monthly fees together with entitlements to significant shares in the profits from those publishing brands. Going forward, the Company will assess the balance of owned brands and managed brands within its portfolio, but expects to continue both types of operation.

Before the end of the calendar year, the Company will release its full year results for the period ended 30 June 2020.

Reasons for the Placing

The Company's directors have noted the views of its members that they would prefer the Company to seek conventional sources of funding and believed that the existence of variable pricing convertible instruments with EHGOF had restricted the performance of the Company's share price.

As a result, the Company entered into discussions with EHGOF which led to the recent termination of the Deed of Issuance and Subscription dated 5 August 2019 and the Financing and Settlement Agreement dated 7 February 2020 between EHGOF and the Company.

The Placing, along with the entering into of the new Facility, enables the Company to progress towards a more conventional basis of funding with the principal use of the proceeds received from the Placing being used for general working capital purposes. As a result, the Company's directors believe that the Placing is in the best interests of its shareholders and wider stakeholders as a whole.

The Facility

The Facility, entered into with SMC, is a conventional senior secured loan that has been entered into in order to ensure that the Company has a sufficient working capital buffer during this next growth phase.

The Facility is to be secured and has a one year repayment schedule, with a four month holiday period prior to the commencement of the repayments. The commitment amount under the Facility is for up to an aggregate amount of GBP1 million, with an agreed initial availability of GBP500,000, which is to be drawn down immediately by the Company. Any additional draw-downs require the consent of all parties before the amounts can be drawn down. The Facility has an interest rate of 10% per annum and includes a number of standard events of default, and provided that the Facility is not in default then all repayments shall be made in cash. The Facility also includes the granting of warrants to SMC in an aggregate amount equal to half of the total commitment amount and with a strike price of a 50% premium to the Placing Price.

No Transactions with EHGOF

As part of the undertakings given to SMC in the Facility, the Company has covenanted that for a period of three years it shall not enter into any capital raising transaction with EHGOF, or any affiliate or associate of EHGOF, which includes a prohibition on all forms of debt and equity transactions whether or not convertible or secured and any other transaction howsoever structured, the effect of which is to raise capital from EHGOF or any associate or affiliate of EHGOF.

Following the termination of the Deed of Issuance and Subscription dated 5 August 2019 and the Financing and Settlement Agreement dated 7 February 2020, with EHGOF, the Company still has loan notes that are outstanding and due to be repaid to EHGOF. These loan notes are unsecured. The Company continues to explore proposals with EHGOF for early settlement of these debts.

Details of the Placing

Prior to announcement of the Placing, the Company consulted with several shareholders to gauge their feedback as to the transaction and the terms of the Placing. Feedback from this consultation was supportive and as a result the directors have chosen to proceed with the Placing.

The issue and allotment of the Placing Shares has been conducted utilising the Company's existing share authorities and is conditional, inter alia, on admission of the Placing Shares to the standard listing segment of the Official List, and to the London Stock Exchange plc for admission to trading on the Main Market for listed securities ("Admission") becoming effective.

The Placing Shares, when issued, will be fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with each other and with the existing Ordinary Shares of the Company, including without limitation, the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of issue.

Application has been made to the Financial Conduct Authority and the London Stock Exchange plc for the Placing Shares to be Admitted. It is expected that Admission will become effective and that dealings in the Placing Shares on the Main Market will commence on or around 20 November 2020.

On Admission, the Company will have 37,405,248,039 Ordinary Shares in issue, each with one voting right. There are no shares held in treasury. Therefore, the Company's total number of Ordinary Shares and voting rights will be 37,405,248,039 and this figure may be used by Shareholders from Admission as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

This Announcement should be read in its entirety. In particular, you should read and understand the information provided in the "Important Notices" section of this Announcement. Unless otherwise stated, capitalised terms in this Announcement have the meanings ascribed to them in Appendix 2.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

No action has been taken by the Company or Shard or any of its or their respective Affiliates, or any of its or their respective agents, directors, officers or employees that would permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required by the Company and Shard to inform themselves about, and to observe, such restrictions.

No prospectus will be made available in connection with the matters contained in this Announcement and no such prospectus is required (in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129) to be published. Persons needing advice should consult a qualified independent legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser for legal, financial, business or tax advice in the relevant jurisdiction.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPICES AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THEM, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (COLLECTIVELY, THE "UNITED STATES"), AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, NOR IS IT INTED THAT IT WILL BE SO APPROVED.

This Announcement or any part of it does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for, any securities in the United States, Canada, Australia, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in any such jurisdiction.

The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, absent registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with the securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction of the United States. The Placing Shares are, being offered and sold (a) outside the United States in offshore transactions as defined in, and pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities act ("Regulation S") or (b) in the United States only to persons reasonably believed to be "qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A of the Securities Act) ("QIBs") in transactions not involving any "public offering" within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or pursuant to an exemption from, or transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. A Placee (as defined below) and any prospective beneficial owner of the Placing Shares is, and at the time the Placing Shares are subscribed for will be, (i) outside the United States and subscribing for the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction" as defined in, and in accordance with, Regulation S; or (ii) (a) a QIB and (b) subscribing for the Placing Shares pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States. No money, securities or other consideration from any person inside the United States is being solicited and, if sent, in response to the information contained in this Announcement and does not meet the criteria above, will not be accepted.

The relevant clearances have not been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities c omission of any province or territory of Canada, no prospectus has been lodged with, or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained from the South Africa Reserve Bank or any other applicable body in the Republic of South Africa in relation to the Placing Shares and the Placing Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under or offering in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan. Accordingly, the Placing Shares may not (unless an exemption under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which such activities would be unlawful.

By participating in the Placing, each person who is invited to and who chooses to participate in the Placing (each a Placee) by making an oral or written and legally binding offer to acquire Placing Shares will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, to be participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on the terms and conditions contained in Appendix 1 to this Announcement and to be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in Appendix 1 to this Announcement.

Certain statements contained in this Announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" with respect to the financial condition, performance, strategic initiatives, objectives, results of operations and business of the Company. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Announcement are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets", "plans", "believes'", "expects", "aims", "intends", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects", "will", "may", "would", "could" or "should", 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; and (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of the Company's operations. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward-looking statements. The important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, economic and business cycles, the terms and conditions of the Company's financing arrangements, foreign currency rate fluctuations, competition in the Company's principal markets, acquisitions or disposals of businesses or assets and trends in the Company's principal industries. Due to such uncertainties and risks, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements in this Announcement may not occur. The forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement speak only as of the date of this Announcement. The Company, its directors and Shard each expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required to do so by applicable law or regulation, the Listing Rules, MAR, the DTRs, the rules of the London Stock Exchange or the FCA and Shard, which is authorised and regulated by the FCA is acting solely for the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing, the content of this Announcement and other matters described in this Announcement. Shard will not regard any other person as their respective clients in relation to the Placing, the content of this Announcement and other matters described in this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone (including any Placees) other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients or for providing advice to any other person in relation to the Placing, the content of this Announcement or any other matters referred to in this Announcement.

This Announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by Shard or by any of its respective Affiliates or any of its respective directors, officers, employees, agents or advisers as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by Shard or by any of its respective Affiliates or any of its respective directors, officers, employees, agents or advisers as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.

This Announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning any investor's options with respect to the Placing. The price of shares and any income expected from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested upon disposal of the shares. Past performance is no guide to future performance. The contents of this Announcement are not to be construed as legal, business, financial or tax advice. Each investor or prospective investor should consult his, her or its own legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser for legal, financial, business or tax advice in the relevant jurisdiction.

Any indication in this Announcement of the price at which Ordinary Shares have been bought or sold in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. No statement in this Announcement is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the Company, as appropriate, for the current or future years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the Company.

In connection with the Placing, Shard and any of its respective Affiliates, may take up a portion of the shares of the Company in the Placing as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase or sell for its own account such shares and other securities of the Company or related investments and may offer or sell such shares, securities or other investments otherwise than in connection with the Placing. Accordingly, references in this Announcement to Placing Shares being issued, offered or placed should be read as including any issue, offering or placement of such shares in the Company to Shard or any of its respective Affiliates acting in such capacity. In addition, certain of Shard or any of its respective Affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for difference) with investors in connection with which Shard or any of its respective Affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of such securities of the Company, including the Placing Shares. None of Shard or any of its respective Affiliates intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so.

The Placing Shares to be issued or sold pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the London Stock Exchange.

Neither the content of the Company's website (or any other website) nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into or forms part of this Announcement.

This Announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with applicable law and regulation in the United Kingdom 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 and regulations of any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (B) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any 'manufacturer' (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, Shard will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

APPIX 1

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE PLACING FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THIS APPIX AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (TOGETHER, THIS "ANNOUNCEMENT") (WHICH IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY) ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT: (A) PERSONS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (THE "EEA") WHO ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(1)(E) OF DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC, AS AMED FROM TIME TO TIME, INCLUDING BY DIRECTIVE 2010/73/EC TO THE EXTENT IMPLEMENTED IN THE RELEVANT MEMBER STATE AND INCLUDES ANY RELEVANT IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE MEASURE IN ANY MEMBER STATE (THE "PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE") ("QUALIFIED INVESTORS"); AND (B) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, QUALIFIED INVESTORS WHO ARE PERSONS WHO (I) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS WHO FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 AS AMED (THE "ORDER") (INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS); (II) PERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC) OF THE ORDER; OR (III) ARE PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE BE LAWFULLY COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS").

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION IN IT MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. PERSONS DISTRIBUTING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR THE SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY OR ACQUIRE OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES OR ELSEWHERE.

THE PLACING SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMED (THE "US SECURITIES ACT") OR WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES OR UNDER ANY SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, RESOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR DELIVERED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE US SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. THE PLACING SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD ONLY (I) OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT AND OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS AND; (II) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT; OR (III) OTHERWISE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE US SECURITIES ACT. ANY OFFER OR SALE OF PLACING SHARES IN THE UNITED STATES WILL BE MADE ONLY BY BROKER-DEALERS WHO ARE REGISTERED AS SUCH UNDER THE U.S. EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMED. THERE WILL

BE NO PUBLIC OFFER OF THE SECURITIES MENTIONED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL (THE "RESTRICTED JURISDICTIONS"). NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IS BEING MADE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED KINGDOM OR ELSEWHERE WHERE SUCH OFFERING WOULD BE UNLAWFUL .

EACH PLACEE SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN ADVISORS AS TO LEGAL, TAX, BUSINESS AND RELATED ASPECTS OF A PURCHASE OF PLACING SHARES.

The Placing Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or other regulatory authority in the United States nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Placing or the accuracy or adequacy of this Announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States. The relevant clearances have not been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of any province or territory of Canada, no prospectus has been lodged with, or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained for the South Africa Reserve Bank or any other applicable body in the Republic of South Africa in relation to the Placing Shares and the Placing Shares have not been, nor will they be registered under or offered in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa. Accordingly, the Placing Shares may not (unless an exemption under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or any other jurisdiction outside the EEA.

Persons (including without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual right or other legal obligations to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.

This Announcement should be read in its entirety. In particular, any Placee should read and understand the information provided in the "Important Notice" section of this Announcement.

By participating in the Placing, each Placee will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement in its entirety, to be participating, making an offer and acquiring Placing Shares on the terms and conditions contained herein and to be providing the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements and undertakings contained in this Appendix.

In particular, each such Placee represents, warrants, undertakes, agrees and acknowledges (amongst other things) that:

1. it is a Relevant Person and undertakes that it will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares that are allocated to it for the purposes of its business;

2. in the case of a Relevant Person in the United Kingdom or a member state of the EEA which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a "Relevant Member State") who acquires any Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing:

(a) it is a Qualified Investor within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive; and

(b) in the case of any Placing Shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive:

(i) the Placing Shares acquired by it in the Placing have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in any Relevant Member State other than Qualified Investors or in circumstances in which the prior consent of Shard has been given to the offer or resale;

(ii) where Placing Shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any Relevant Member State other than Qualified Investors, the offer of those Placing Shares to it is not treated under the Prospectus Directive as having been made to such persons;

3. it is acquiring the Placing Shares for its own account or is acquiring the Placing Shares for an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and has the authority to make and does make the representations, warranties, indemnities, acknowledgements, undertakings and agreements contained in this Announcement;

4. it understands (or if acting for the account of another person, such person has confirmed that such person understands) the resale and transfer restrictions set out in this Appendix; and

5. except as otherwise permitted by the Company and subject to any available exemptions from applicable securities laws, it (and any account referred to in paragraph 4 above) is either:

(a) outside the United States acquiring the Placing Shares in offshore transactions as defined in, and in accordance with, Regulation S under the US Securities Act; or

(b) a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A under the US Securities Act (a "QIB").

No prospectus

The Placing Shares are being offered to a limited number of specifically invited persons only and will not be offered in such a way as to require any prospectus or other offering document to be published. No prospectus or other offering document has been or will be submitted to be approved by the FCA in relation to the Placing or the Placing Shares and Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of their own assessment of the Company, the Placing Shares and the Placing based on the information contained in this Announcement, the announcement of the pricing of the Placing (the "Result of Placing Announcement") (together, the "Placing Documents") and any information publicly announced through a regulatory information service ("RIS") by or on behalf of the Company on or prior to the date of this Announcement (the "Publicly Available Information") and subject to any further terms set forth in the Form of Confirmation sent to Placees by Shard to confirm their acquisition of Placing Shares.

Each Placee, by participating in the Placing, agrees that the content of the Placing Documents is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms that it has neither received nor relied on any information (other than the Publicly Available Information), representation, warranty or statement made by or on behalf of Shard or the Company or any other person and none of Shard, the Company nor any other person acting on such person's behalf nor any of their respective affiliates has or shall have any responsibility or liability for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement (regardless of whether or not such information, representation, warranty or statement was given or made by or on behalf of any such persons). Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in accepting a participation in the Placing. No Placee should consider any information in this Announcement to be legal, tax or business advice. Each Placee should consult its own attorney, tax advisor and business advisor for legal, tax and business advice regarding an investment in the Placing Shares. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation.

Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing Shares

Shard is acting as sole bookrunner in connection with the Placing and has entered into the Placing Agreement with the Company under which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Placing Agreement, Shard, as agent for and on behalf of the Company, has agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to procure placees for the Placing Shares at the Placing Price. The Placing is not being underwritten by Shard or any other person.

The issue of the Placing Shares is to be effected by way of a cashbox placing. The Company will allot and issue the Placing Shares on a non-pre-emptive basis to the Placees in consideration for Shard transferring its holdings of redeemable preference shares and ordinary subscriber shares in Iconic Finance (Jersey) Limited ("JerseyCo") to the Company. Accordingly, instead of receiving cash as consideration for the issue of Placing Shares, at the conclusion of the Placing the Company will own all of the issued ordinary shares and redeemable preference shares of JerseyCo whose only asset will be its cash reserves, which will represent an amount approximately equal to the net proceeds of the Placing.

The Placing Shares have been or will be duly authorised and will, when issued, be credited as fully paid up and will be issued subject to the Company's articles of association and rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid on or in respect of the Ordinary Shares after the date of issue of the Placing Shares, and will on issue be free of all pre-emption rights, claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and equities.

Application for listing and admission to trading

Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange plc (the "London Stock Exchange") (the "Application") for admission to trading of the Placing Shares on the Main Market (the "Admission").

It is expected that Admission of the Placing Shares will occur at or before 8.00 a.m. London time on 20 November 2020 (or such later time or date as Shard may agree with the Company, being no later than 8.00 a.m. London time on 4 December 2020) and that dealings in the Placing Shares will commence at that time.

Participation in, and principal terms of, the Placing

1. Shard is arranging the Placing as sole bookrunner and placing agent of the Company.

2. Participation in the Placing will only be available to persons who may lawfully be, and are, invited to participate by Shard. Shard may itself agree to be a Placee in respect of all or some of the Placing Shares or may nominate any member of its group to do so.

3. The Placing Price will be a fixed price at GBP0.00012 per Placing Share. No commissions will be paid to Placees or by Placees in respect of any of the Placing Shares.

4. Allocations of the Placing Shares to the Placees will be determined by Shard after consultation with the Company (the proposed allocations having been supplied by Shard to the Company in advance of such consultation). Subject to the execution of the Placing Supplement, allocations will be confirmed orally by Shard and a Form of Confirmation will be despatched as soon as possible thereafter. Shard's oral confirmation to such Placee constitutes an irrevocable legally binding commitment upon such person (who will at that point become a Placee), in favour of Shard and the Company, to acquire the number of Placing Shares allocated to it and to pay the Placing Price in respect of such shares on the terms and conditions set out in this Appendix and in accordance with the Company's articles of association. An offer to acquire Placing Shares which has been communicated by a prospective Placee to Shard and which has not been withdrawn or revoked prior to the publication of this Announcement shall not be capable of withdrawal or revocation immediately following the publication of this Announcement without the consent of Shard.

5. Each Placee's allocation and commitment will be evidenced by a Form of Confirmation issued to such Placee. The terms of this Appendix will be deemed incorporated in that Form of Confirmation.

6. Irrespective of the time at which a Placee's allocation pursuant to the Placing is confirmed, settlement for all Placing Shares to be subscribed for pursuant to the Placing will be required to be made at the same time, on the basis explained below under "Registration and Settlement".

7. All obligations under the Placing will be subject to fulfilment or (where applicable) waiver of the conditions referred to below under "Conditions of the Placing" and to the Placing not being terminated on the basis referred to below under "Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement".

8. By participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees that its rights and obligations in respect of the Placing will terminate only in the circumstances described below and will not be capable of rescission or termination by the Placee.

9. To the fullest extent permissible by law, neither Shard, nor the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees shall have any responsibility or liability to Placees (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise). In particular, none of Shard, the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees shall have any responsibility or liability (including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of Shard's conduct of the Placing.

10. The Placing Shares will be issued subject to the terms and conditions of this Announcement and each Placee's commitment to subscribe for Placing Shares on the terms set out herein will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may in future be made to the terms and conditions of the Placing and Placees will have no right to be consulted or require that their consent be obtained with respect to the Company's or Shard's conduct of the Placing.

11. All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to amendment. Shard shall notify the Placees and any person acting on behalf of the Placees of any changes.

Conditions of the Placing

The Placing is conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms. Shard' obligations under the Placing Agreement are conditional on customary conditions, including (amongst others) (the "Conditions"):

1. the London Stock Exchange agreeing to admit the Placing Shares to trading on the Main Market (subject only to allotment);

2. Admission occurring no later than 8.00 a.m. London time on 20 November 2020 (or such later time or date as Shard may otherwise agree with the Company, being no later than 8.00 a.m. London time on 4 December 2020) (the "Closing Date");

3. there having been no development or event resulting in a Material Adverse Effect which could, in the good faith opinion of Shard, materially and adversely affect the Placing or dealings in the Ordinary Shares following Admission;

4. the delivery by the Company to Shard of a certificate signed by a Director for and on behalf of the Company immediately prior to Admission (and dated as of such date);

5. the Company having complied with its obligations which fall to be performed on or prior to Admission under the Placing Agreement, the Option Agreement and the Subscription and Transfer Agreement and are material in the opinion of Shard in the context of the Placing or Admission; and

6. none of the warranties on the part of the Company in the Placing Agreement being untrue or inaccurate or misleading when made and none of the warranties ceasing to be true and accurate or becoming misleading at any time prior to Admission by reference to the facts and circumstances then subsisting.

Shard may, at its discretion and upon such terms as they think fit, waive compliance by the Company with the whole or any part of any of the Company's obligations in relation to the Conditions or extend the time or date provided for fulfilment of any such Conditions in respect of all or any part of the performance thereof. The conditions in the Placing Agreement relating to Admission taking place and execution of the Term Sheet may not be waived. Any such extension or waiver will not affect Placees' commitments as set out in this Announcement.

If: (i) any of the Conditions are not fulfilled or (where permitted) waived by Shard by the relevant time or date specified (or such later time or date as Shard may agree with the Company, being no later than 8.00 a.m. London time on 4 December 2020); or (ii) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below under "Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement", the Placing will not proceed and the Placees' rights and obligations hereunder in relation to the Placing Shares shall cease and terminate at such time and each Placee agrees that no claim can be made by it or on its behalf (or any person on whose behalf the Placee is acting) in respect thereof.

Neither Shard, nor the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees shall have any liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision they may make as to whether or not to waive or to extend the time and/or date for the satisfaction of any Condition to the Placing, nor for any decision they may make as to the satisfaction of any Condition or in respect of the Placing generally, and by participating in the Placing each Placee agrees that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of Shard.

Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement

Shard is entitled, at any time before Admission, to terminate the Placing Agreement in accordance with its terms in certain circumstances, including (amongst other things):

1. where there has been a breach by the Company of any of the warranties on the part of the Company contained in the Placing Agreement, the Subscription and Transfer Agreement and/or the Option Agreement that Shard consider (acting in good faith) to be material in the context of the Placing and/or Admission;

2. if any of the Conditions have (i) become incapable of satisfaction or (ii) not been satisfied before the latest time provided in the Placing Agreement and have not been waived if capable of being waived by Shard;

3. there has been a development or event resulting in a Material Adverse Effect which could in the good faith opinion of Shard, materially and adversely affect the Placing or dealings in the Ordinary Shares following Admission whether or not foreseeable at the date of this Agreement;

4. the obligations of Shard under the Placing Agreement not having been terminated and the Option Agreement and the Subscription and Transfer Agreement remaining fully in force and effect; or

   5.               the occurrence of a material adverse change or certain force majeure events. 

Upon termination, the parties to the Placing Agreement shall be released and discharged (except for any liability arising before or in relation to such termination) from their respective obligations under or pursuant to the Placing Agreement, subject to certain exceptions.

By participating in the Placing, each Placee agrees that (i) the exercise by Shard of any right of termination or of any other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of Shard and that it need not make any reference to, or consult with, Placees and that it shall have no liability to Placees whatsoever in connection with any such exercise or failure to so exercise and (ii) its rights and obligations terminate only in the circumstances described above under "Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement" and "Conditions of the Placing", and its participation will not be capable of rescission or termination by it after oral confirmation by Shard of the allocation and commitments following the Placing.

Registration and Settlement

Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares following Admission will take place within the system administered by Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited ("CREST"), subject to certain exceptions. Shard reserve the right to require settlement for, and delivery of, the Placing Shares (or any part thereof) to Placees by such other means that they may deem necessary if delivery or settlement is not possible or practicable within the CREST system or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in the Placee's jurisdiction.

Shard is acting as settlement bank. Following the Placing, each Placee to be allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a Form of Confirmation stating the number of Placing Shares allocated to them at the Placing Price, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee to Shard and settlement instructions. Each Placee agrees that it will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed in accordance with the standing CREST or certificated settlement instructions in respect of the Placing Shares that it has in place with Shard.

The Company will deliver the Placing Shares to a CREST account operated by Shard as agent for the Company and Shard will enter its delivery instruction into the CREST system. The input to CREST by a Placee of a matching or acceptance instruction will then allow delivery of the relevant Placing Shares to that Placee against payment.

It is expected that settlement in respect of the Placing Shares will take place on or around 13 November 2020 on a delivery versus payment basis.

Interest is chargeable daily on payments not received from Placees on the due date in accordance with the arrangements set out above at the rate of two percentage points above LIBOR as determined by Shard.

Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does not comply with these obligations, Shard may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for Shard' account and benefit, an amount equal to the aggregate amount owed by the Placee plus any interest due. The relevant Placee will, however, remain liable for any shortfall below the aggregate amount owed by it and will be required to bear any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other taxes or duties (together with any interest or penalties) imposed in any jurisdiction which may arise upon the sale of such Placing Shares on such Placee's behalf.

If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, Placees should ensure that the Form of Confirmation is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that organisation. Insofar as Placing Shares are issued in a Placee's name or that of its nominee or in the name of any person for whom a Placee is contracting as agent or that of a nominee for such person, such Placing Shares should, subject as provided below, be so registered free from any liability to UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax. If there are any circumstances in which any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes or duties (including any interest and penalties relating thereto) is payable in respect of the allocation, allotment, issue, sale, transfer or delivery of the Placing Shares (or, for the avoidance of doubt, if any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax is payable in connection with any subsequent transfer of or agreement to transfer Placing Shares), neither Shard nor the Company shall be responsible for payment thereof.

Representations, warranties, undertakings and acknowledgements

By participating in the Placing each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) irrevocably acknowledges, confirms, undertakes, represents, warrants and agrees (as the case may be) with Shard (in its capacity as bookrunner and placing agent of the Company in respect of the Placing) and the Company, in each case as a fundamental term of their application for Placing Shares, the following:

1. it has read and understood this Announcement in its entirety and its acquisition of Placing Shares is subject to and based upon all the terms, conditions, representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings and other information contained herein and it has not relied on, and will not rely on, any information given or any representations, warranties or statements made at any time by any person in connection with the Placing, the Company, the Placing Shares or otherwise other than the information contained in the Placing Documents and the Publicly Available Information;

2. the Ordinary Shares are admitted to the standard listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market and that the Company is therefore required to publish certain business and financial information in accordance with the rules and practices of the Main Market, which includes a description of the Company's business and the Company's financial information, including balance sheets and income statements, and that it is able to obtain or has access to such information without undue difficulty, and is able to obtain access to such information or comparable information concerning any other publicly traded companies, without undue difficulty;

   3.               to be bound by the terms of the articles of association of the Company; 

4. the person whom it specifies for registration as holder of the Placing Shares will be (a) itself or (b) its nominee, as the case may be. Neither Shard nor the Company will be responsible for any liability to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes or duties imposed in any jurisdiction (including interest and penalties relating thereto) ("Indemnified Taxes"). Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of such Placee agrees to indemnify the Company and Shard on an after-tax basis in respect of any Indemnified Taxes;

5. neither Shard nor any of its affiliates agents, directors, officers and employees accepts any responsibility for any acts or omissions of the Company or any of the directors of the Company or any other person in connection with the Placing;

   6.               time is of the essence as regards its obligations under this Announcement; 

7. any document that is to be sent to it in connection with the Placing will be sent at its risk and may be sent to it at any address provided by it to Shard;

8. it will not redistribute, forward, transfer, duplicate or otherwise transmit this Announcement or any part of it, or any other presentational or other material concerning the Placing (including electronic copies thereof) to any person and represents that it has not redistributed, forwarded, transferred, duplicated, or otherwise transmitted any such Documents to any person;

9. no prospectus or other offering document is required under the Prospectus Directive, nor will one be prepared in connection with the Placing or the Placing Shares and it has not received and will not receive a prospectus or other offering document in connection with the Placing or the Placing Shares;

10. in connection with the Placing, Shard and any of its affiliates acting as an investor for its own account may subscribe for Placing Shares in the Company and in that capacity may retain, purchase or sell for its own account such Placing Shares in the Company and any securities of the Company or related investments and may offer or sell such securities or other investments otherwise than in connection with the Placing. Accordingly, references in this Announcement to the Placing Shares being issued, offered or placed should be read as including any issue, offering or placement of such shares in the Company to Shard or any of its affiliates acting in such capacity;

11. Shard and its affiliates may enter into financing arrangements and swaps with investors in connection with which Shard and any of its affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of such securities of the Company, including the Placing Shares;

12. Shard does not intend to disclose the extent of any investment or transactions referred to in paragraphs 9 and 10 above otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so;

13. Shard does not owe any fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the Placing Agreement;

14. its participation in the Placing is on the basis that it is not and will not be a client of Shard in connection with its participation in the Placing and that Shard has no duties or responsibilities to it for providing the protections afforded to its clients or customers or for providing advice in relation to the Placing nor in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities contained in the Placing Agreement nor for the exercise or performance of any of its rights and obligations thereunder including any rights to waive or vary any conditions or exercise any termination right;

15. the content of the Placing Documents and the Publicly Available Information has been prepared by and is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and neither Shard nor any of its affiliates agents, directors, officers or employees nor any person acting on behalf of any of them is responsible for or has or shall have any responsibility or liability for any information, representation or statement contained in, or omission from, this Announcement, the Publicly Available Information or otherwise nor will they be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any information, representation, warranty or statement contained in this Announcement, the Publicly Available Information or otherwise, provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made by such person;

16. the only information on which it is entitled to rely and on which such Placee has relied in committing itself to subscribe for Placing Shares is contained in the Placing Documents or any Publicly Available Information (save that in the case of Publicly Available Information, a Placee's right to rely on that information is limited to the right that such Placee would have as a matter of law in the absence of this paragraph 16), such information being all that such Placee deems necessary or appropriate and sufficient to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares;

17. it has neither received nor relied on any other information given, or representations, warranties or statements, express or implied, made, by Shard or the Company nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees acting on behalf of any of them with respect to the Company, the Placing or the Placing Shares or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of any information contained in the Placing Documents, or the Publicly Available Information or otherwise;

18. neither Shard, nor the Company, nor any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees or any person acting on behalf of any of them has provided, nor will provide, it with any material or information regarding the Placing Shares or the Company or any other person other than the information in the Placing Documents or the Publicly Available Information; nor has it requested any of Shard, the Company, any of their respective affiliates or any person acting on behalf of any of them to provide it with any such material or information;

19. neither Shard nor the Company will be liable for any Placee's decision to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement, provided that nothing in this paragraph excludes the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation made by that person;

20. it may not rely, and has not relied, on any investigation that Shard, any of its affiliates or any person acting on its behalf, may have conducted with respect to the Placing Shares, the terms of the Placing or the Company, and none of such persons has made any representation, express or implied, with respect to the Company, the Placing, the Placing Shares or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information in the Placing Documents, the Publicly Available Information or any other information;

   21.             in making any decision to subscribe for Placing Shares it: 

(a) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of subscribing for the Placing Shares;

   (a)             will not look to Shard for all or part of any such loss it may suffer; 

(b) is experienced in investing in securities of this nature in this sector and is aware that it may be required to bear, and is able to bear, the economic risk of an investment in the Placing Shares;

   (c)              is able to sustain a complete loss of an investment in the Placing Shares; 
   (d)             has no need for liquidity with respect to its investment in the Placing Shares; 

(e) has made its own assessment and has satisfied itself concerning the relevant tax, legal, currency and other economic considerations relevant to its investment in the Placing Shares; and

(f) has conducted its own due diligence, examination, investigation and assessment of the Company, the Placing Shares and the terms of the Placing and has satisfied itself that the information resulting from such investigation is still current and relied on that investigation for the purposes of its decision to participate in the Placing;

22. it is subscribing for the Placing Shares for its own account or for an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and has the authority to make and does make the acknowledgements, representations and agreements contained in this Announcement;

23. it is acting as principal only in respect of the Placing or, if it is acting for any other person, it is:

(a) duly authorised to do so and has full power to make the acknowledgments, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each such person; and

(b) will remain liable to the Company and/or Shard for the performance of all its obligations as a Placee in respect of the Placing (regardless of the fact that it is acting for another person);

24. it and any person acting on its behalf is entitled to subscribe for the Placing Shares under the laws and regulations of all relevant jurisdictions that apply to it and that it has fully observed such laws and regulations, has capacity and authority and is entitled to enter into and perform its obligations as a subscriber of Placing Shares and will honour such obligations, and has obtained all such governmental and other guarantees, permits, authorisations, approvals and consents which may be required thereunder and complied with all necessary formalities to enable it to commit to this participation in the Placing and to perform its obligations in relation thereto (including, without limitation, in the case of any person on whose behalf it is acting, all necessary consents and authorities to agree to the terms set out or referred to in this Announcement) and will honour such obligations and that it has not taken any action or omitted to take any action which will or may result in Shard, the Company or any of their respective directors, officers, agents, employees or advisers acting in breach of the legal or regulatory requirements of any jurisdiction in connection with the Placing;

25. where it is subscribing for Placing Shares for one or more managed accounts, it is authorised in writing by each managed account to subscribe for the Placing Shares for each managed account;

26. it irrevocably appoints any duly authorised officer of Shard as its agent for the purpose of executing and delivering to the Company and/or its registrars any documents on its behalf necessary to enable it to be registered as the holder of any of the Placing Shares for which it agrees to subscribe for upon the terms of this Announcement;

27. the Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered or otherwise qualified and that a prospectus will not be cleared in respect of any of the Placing Shares under the securities laws or legislation of the Restricted Jurisdictions, or any state, province, territory or jurisdiction thereof;

28. the Placing Shares may not be offered, sold, or delivered or transferred, directly or indirectly, in or into the above jurisdictions or any jurisdiction (subject to certain exceptions) in which it would be unlawful to do so and no action has been or will be taken by any of the Company, Shard or any person acting on behalf of the Company or Shard that would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in the Restricted Jurisdictions or any country or jurisdiction, or any state, province, territory or jurisdiction thereof, where any such action for that purpose is required;

29. no action has been or will be taken by any of the Company, Shard or any person acting on behalf of the Company or Shard that would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in the United States or in any country or jurisdiction where any such action for that purpose is required;

30. unless otherwise specifically agreed with Shard, it is not and at the time the Placing Shares are subscribed for, neither it nor the beneficial owner of the Placing Shares will be, a resident of, nor have an address in, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Republic of South Africa or any province or territory of Canada;

   31.             it may be asked to disclose in writing or orally to Shard: 
   (a)             if he or she is an individual, his or her nationality; or 

(b) if he or she is a discretionary fund manager, the jurisdiction in which the funds are managed or owned;

32. it is and the prospective beneficial owner of the Placing Shares is, and at the time the Placing Shares are subscribed for will be (i) outside the United States and is acquiring the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction" as defined in, and in accordance with, Regulation S under the US Securities Act or (ii) a QIB and will duly execute a US investor letter and deliver the same to Shard or its affiliates;

33. it has not been offered to purchase or subscribe for Placing Shares by means of any "directed selling efforts" as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act or by means of any "general solicitation" or "general advertising" within the meaning of Regulation D under the US Securities Act;

34. it understands that the Placing Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act and may not be offered, sold or resold, pledged or delivered in or into or from the United States except pursuant to (i) an effective registration statement under the US Securities Act; or (ii) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and, in each case, in accordance with applicable United States state securities laws and regulations;

35. it (and any account for which it is purchasing) is not acquiring the Placing Shares with a view to any offer, sale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the US Securities Act;

36. it will not distribute, forward, transfer or otherwise transmit this Announcement or any part of it, or any other presentational or other materials concerning the Placing in or into or from the United States (including electronic copies thereof) to any person, and it has not distributed, forwarded, transferred or otherwise transmitted any such materials to any person;

37. it understands that there may be certain consequences under United States and other tax laws resulting from an investment in the Placing and it has made such investigation and has consulted its own independent advisers or otherwise has satisfied itself concerning, without limitation, the effects of United States federal, state and local income tax laws and foreign tax laws generally;

38. it understands that the Company has not undertaken to determine whether it will be treated as a passive foreign investment company ("PFIC") for US federal income tax purposes for the current year, or whether it is likely to be so treated for future years and neither the Company nor Shard make any representation or warranty with respect to the same. Accordingly, neither the Company nor Shard can provide any advice to United States investors as to whether the Company is or is not a PFIC for the current tax year, or whether it will be in future tax years. Accordingly, neither the Company nor Shard undertakes to provide to United States investors or shareholders any information necessary or desirable to facilitate their filing of annual information returns, and United States investors and shareholders should not assume that this information will be made available to them;

39. if in a member state of the EEA, unless otherwise specifically agreed with Shard in writing, it is a Qualified Investor;

40. it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the EEA except to Qualified Investors or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted in and which will not result in an offer to the public in any member state of the EEA within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive;

41. if a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, the Placing Shares subscribed for by it in the Placing will not be acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor will they be acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in a member state of the EEA which has implemented the Prospectus Directive other than Qualified Investors, or in circumstances in which the prior consent of Shard has been given to each proposed offer or resale;

42. if in the United Kingdom, that it is a person (i) having professional experience in matters relating to investments who falls within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Order or (ii) who falls within Article 49(2) (a) to (d) ("High Net Worth Companies, Unincorporated Associations, etc") of the Order, or (iii) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated;

43. it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the United Kingdom, except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of section 85(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA");

44. it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) relating to the Placing Shares in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not require approval of the communication by an authorised person and it acknowledges and agrees that the Placing Documents have not and will not have been approved by Shard in its capacity as an authorised person under section 21 of the FSMA and it may not therefore be subject to the controls which would apply if it was made or approved as a financial promotion by an authorised person;

45. it has complied and will comply with all applicable laws with respect to anything done by it or on its behalf in relation to the Placing Shares (including all applicable provisions in FSMA and MAR) in respect of anything done in, from or otherwise involving, the United Kingdom);

46. if it is a pension fund or investment company, its subscription for Placing Shares is in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

47. it has complied with its obligations under the Criminal Justice Act 1993 and Articles 8, 10 and 12 of MAR and in connection with money laundering and terrorist financing under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (as amended), the Terrorism Act 2000, the Terrorism Act 2006 and the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any government agency having jurisdiction in respect thereof (the "Regulations") and the Money Laundering Sourcebook of the FCA and, if making payment on behalf of a third party, that satisfactory evidence has been obtained and recorded by it to verify the identity of the third party as required by the Regulations;

48. in order to ensure compliance with the Regulations, Shard (for itself and as agent on behalf of the Company) or the Company's registrars may, in their absolute discretion, require verification of its identity. Pending the provision to Shard or the Company's registrars, as applicable, of evidence of identity, definitive certificates in respect of the Placing Shares may be retained at Shard's absolute discretion or, where appropriate, delivery of the Placing Shares to it in uncertificated form may be delayed at Shard's or the Company's registrars', as the case may be, absolute discretion. If within a reasonable time after a request for verification of identify Shard (for itself and as agent on behalf of the Company) or the Company's registrars have not received evidence satisfactory to them, either Shard and/or the Company may, at its absolute discretion, terminate its commitment in respect of the Placing, in which event the monies payable on acceptance of allotment will, if already paid, be returned without interest to the account of the drawee's bank from which they were originally debited;

49. the allocation, allotment, issue and delivery to it, or the person specified by it for registration as holder, of Placing Shares will not give rise to a stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax liability under (or at a rate determined under) any of sections 67, 70, 93 or 96 of the Finance Act 1986 (depositary receipts and clearance services) and that the Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to issue or transfer Placing Shares into a clearance service;

50. it (and any person acting on its behalf) has the funds available to pay for the Placing Shares for which it has agreed to subscribe and acknowledges and agrees that it will make payment in respect of the Placing Shares allocated to it in accordance with this Announcement on the due time and date set out herein, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with other subscribers or sold as Shard may in its sole discretion determine and without liability to such Placee, who will remain liable for any amount by which the net proceeds of such sale falls short of the product of the relevant Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares allocated to it and will be required to bear any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or other taxes or duties (together with any interest, fines or penalties) imposed in any jurisdiction which may arise upon the sale of such Placee's Placing Shares;

51. any money held in an account with Shard on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee and/or any person acting on behalf of the Placee will not be treated as client money within the meaning of the relevant rules and regulations of the FCA made under the FSMA. Each Placee acknowledges that the money will not be subject to the protections conferred by the client money rules: as a consequence this money will not be segregated from Shard's money in accordance with the client money rules and will be held by it under a banking relationship and not as trustee;

52. its allocation (if any) of Placing Shares will represent a maximum number of Placing Shares which it will be entitled, and required, to subscribe for, and that Shard or the Company may call upon it to subscribe for a lower number of Placing Shares (if any), but in no event in aggregate more than the aforementioned maximum;

53. Shard nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on behalf of them, is making any recommendations to it, advising it regarding the suitability of any transactions it may enter into in connection with the Placing;

54. if it has received any 'inside information' (for the purposes of MAR and section 56 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993) in relation to the Company and its securities in advance of the Placing, it confirms that it has received such information within the market soundings regime provided for in article 11 of MAR and associated delegated regulations and it has not:

(a) used that inside information to acquire or dispose of securities of the Company or financial instruments related thereto or cancel or amend an order concerning the Company's securities or any such financial instruments;

(b) used that inside information to encourage, require, recommend or induce another person to deal in the securities of the Company or financial instruments related thereto or to cancel or amend an order concerning the Company's securities or such financial instruments; or

(c) disclosed such information to any person, prior to the information being made publicly available;

55. the rights and remedies of the Company and Shard under the terms and conditions in this Announcement are in addition to any rights and remedies which would otherwise be available to each of them and the exercise or partial exercise of one will not prevent the exercise of others; and

56. these terms and conditions of the Placing and any agreements entered into by it pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Placing, and all non-contractual or other obligations arising out of or in connection with them, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and it submits (on behalf of itself and on behalf of any person on whose behalf it is acting) to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts as regards any claim, dispute or matter arising out of any such contract (including any dispute regarding the existence, validity or termination of such contract or relating to any non-contractual or other obligation arising out of or in connection with such contract), except that enforcement proceedings in respect of the obligation to make payment for the Placing Shares (together with any interest chargeable thereon) may be taken by either the Company or Shard in any jurisdiction in which the relevant Placee is incorporated or in which any of its securities have a quotation on a recognised stock exchange.

The foregoing representations, warranties, confirmations, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings are given for the benefit of the Company as well as Shard and are irrevocable. Shard, the Company and their respective affiliates and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties, confirmations, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings. Each prospective Placee, and any person acting on behalf of such Placee, irrevocably authorises the Company and Shard to produce this Announcement, pursuant to, in connection with, or as may be required by any applicable law or regulation, administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters set forth herein.

By participating in the Placing, each Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) agrees to indemnify on an after tax basis and hold the Company, Shard and their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers and employees harmless from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any breach of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings given by the Placee (and any person acting on such Placee's behalf) in this Announcement or incurred by Shard, the Company or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees arising from the performance of the Placees' obligations as set out in this Announcement, and further agrees that the provisions of this Announcement shall survive after completion of the Placing.

Taxation

The agreement to allot and issue Placing Shares to Placees (and/or to persons for whom such Placee is contracting as agent) free of stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax relates only to their allotment and issue to Placees, or such persons as they nominate as their agents, direct from the Company for the Placing Shares in question. Such agreement also assumes that the Placing Shares are not being acquired in connection with arrangements to issue depositary receipts or to issue or transfer the Placing Shares into a clearance service. If there are any such arrangements, or the settlement relates to any other dealing in the Placing Shares, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes or duties may be payable, for which neither the Company nor Shard will be responsible and the Placees shall indemnify the Company and Shard on an after-tax basis for any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax or other similar taxes or duties (together with interest, fines and penalties) in any jurisdiction paid by the Company or Shard in respect of any such arrangements or dealings. If this is the case, each Placee should seek its own advice and notify Shard accordingly. Placees are advised to consult with their own advisers regarding the tax aspects of the subscription for Placing Shares.

The Company and Shard are not liable to bear any taxes that arise on a sale of Placing Shares subsequent to their acquisition by Placees, including any taxes arising otherwise than under the laws of any country in the EEA. Each prospective Placee should, therefore, take its own advice as to whether any such tax liability arises and notify Shard and the Company accordingly. Furthermore, each prospective Placee agrees to indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold Shard and/or the Company and their respective affiliates harmless from any and all interest, fines or penalties in relation to stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax and all other similar duties or taxes in any jurisdiction to the extent that such interest, fines or penalties arise from the unreasonable default or delay of that Placee or its agent.

In addition, Placees should note that they will be liable for any stamp duty and all other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or other duties or taxes (including any interest, fines or penalties relating thereto) payable, whether inside or outside the UK, by them or any other person on the subscription, acquisition, transfer or sale by them of any Placing Shares or the agreement by them to subscribe for, acquire, transfer or sell any Placing Shares.

No statement in the Placing Documents is intended to be a profit forecast or estimate, and no statement in the Placing Documents should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of the Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of the Company. Past performance is no guide to future performance and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.

The price of shares and any income expected from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested upon disposal of the shares. Past performance is no guide to future performance, and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.

The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the standard listing segment of the Official List of the FCA and to trading on the Main Market, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange.

Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, the Placing Documents.

APPIX 2

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions apply throughout this Announcement unless the context otherwise requires:

 
 Admission                             admission of the Placing Shares 
                                        to the standard listing segment 
                                        of the Official List of the 
                                        FCA and to trading on the Main 
                                        Market becoming effective in 
                                        accordance with Listing Rule 
                                        3.2.7G and the admission and 
                                        disclosure standards of the 
                                        London Stock Exchange 
 Affiliate                             of any person means (a) in respect 
                                        of each of Shard, any other 
                                        person that, directly or indirectly 
                                        through one or more intermediaries, 
                                        controls, or is controlled by, 
                                        or is under common control with 
                                        such person and specifically 
                                        includes subsidiaries, branches, 
                                        associated companies and holding 
                                        companies and the subsidiaries 
                                        of such holding companies, branches, 
                                        associated companies and subsidiaries; 
                                        and for these purposes "controlling 
                                        person" means any person who 
                                        controls any other person; "control" 
                                        (including the terms "controlling", 
                                        "controlled by" and "under common 
                                        control with") means the possession, 
                                        direct or indirect, of the power 
                                        whether through ownership of 
                                        securities, by contract or agency 
                                        or otherwise; and the term "person" 
                                        is deemed to include a partnership; 
                                        and (b) in respect of the Company, 
                                        "Affiliates" as defined in Rule 
                                        405 of the Securities Act 
 Announcement                          this Announcement, including 
                                        this Appendix and the terms 
                                        and conditions set out herein 
 
 Company                               Iconic Labs plc, incorporated 
                                        in England and Wales with registered 
                                        number 12397554 whose registered 
                                        office is at 27-28 Eastcastle 
                                        Street, London, W11 8DH 
 CREST                                 the computerised settlement 

                                        system to facilitate transfer 
                                        of the title to an interest 
                                        in securities in uncertificated 
                                        form operated by Euroclear UK 
                                        & Ireland 
 CREST Regulations                     the Uncertificated Securities 
                                        Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001 
                                        No 3755) (as amended) 
 DTRs                                  the Disclosure Guidance and 
                                        Transparency Rules made by the 
                                        FCA pursuant to Part VI of FSMA 
 EEA                                   the European Economic Area 
 
 Euroclear UK & Ireland                Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited 
 FCA                                   the Financial Conduct Authority 
 Form of Confirmation                  the form of confirmation or 
                                        contract note made between Shard 
                                        and the Placees which incorporate 
                                        by reference the terms and conditions 
                                        of the Placing contained in 
                                        this Announcement 
 FSMA                                  the Financial Services and Markets 
                                        Act 2000, as amended 
 Group                                 the Company and its subsidiary 
                                        undertakings (and "Group Company" 
                                        shall be construed accordingly) 
 Listing Rules                         the Listing Rules of the FCA 
 London Stock Exchange                 London Stock Exchange plc 
 Main Market                           the London Stock Exchange's 
                                        main market for listing securities 
 MAR                                   the EU Market Abuse Regulation 
                                        (2014/596/EU) 
 Material Adverse Effect               a material adverse effect, or 
                                        any development or matter reasonably 
                                        expected to have a material 
                                        adverse effect, in or affecting 
                                        the business, condition (financial, 
                                        operational, legal or otherwise), 
                                        results of operations, earnings 
                                        or assets of the Group, whether 
                                        or not arising in the ordinary 
                                        course of business 
 Shard                                 Shard Capital Partners LLP of 
                                        23(rd) Floor, 20 Fenchurch Street, 
                                        London, EC4Y 8EH 
 Official List                         the list maintained by the FCA 
                                        for purposes of section 79(1) 
                                        of FSMA 
 Option Agreement                      the option agreement entered 
                                        into on or around the date hereof 
                                        between the Company, JerseyCo 
                                        and Shard 
 Ordinary Shares                       ordinary shares of GBP0.00001 
                                        each in the capital of the Company 
 Placees                               persons who agree to subscribe 
                                        for Placing Shares at the Placing 
                                        Price 
 Placing                               the conditional placing of the 
                                        Placing Shares by Shard on behalf 
                                        of the Company at the Placing 
                                        Price, in accordance with the 
                                        Placing Agreement 
 Placing Agreement                     the conditional placing agreement 
                                        dated 13 November 2020 between 
                                        the Company and Shard in relation 
                                        to the Placing 
 Placing Price                          GBP0.00012 per Placing Share 
 Placing Shares                        6,231,610,203 new Ordinary Shares 
                                        to be issued pursuant to the 
                                        Placing 
 RIS                                   means a regulatory information 
                                        service 
 Shareholder                           a holder of Ordinary Shares 
                                        from time to time 
 Subscription and Transfer Agreement   the subscription and transfer 
                                        agreement entered into on or 
                                        around the date hereof between 
                                        JerseyCo, the Company and Shard 
 
 

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November 13, 2020 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)