Next Fifteen Comm Issue of Equity

 
TIDMNFC 
 
 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THE APPICES AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THEM, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICES WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITES FOR SALE OR SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES DISCUSSED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO.596/2014.

1 November 2018

Next Fifteen Communications Group plc

Acquisition and Placing

Next Fifteen Communications Group plc ("Next 15" or the "Company"), the digital communications group, is pleased to announce the acquisition today of Activate Marketing Services LLC ("Activate"), a B2B demand generation company based in San Francisco and New York (the "Acquisition"). The Company also announces its intention to undertake a non-preemptive cash placing to raise gross proceeds of up to GBP20 million (the "Placing") to fund the Acquisition and associated costs and to support future identified acquisition opportunities in the near term.

Activate is a marketing service provider to technology companies. Following the acquisition Activate will continue to operate as an independent brand as part of the Next 15 Network.

The initial consideration for the acquisition is approximately $9 million, which will be settled in full in cash. Deferred top-up contingent consideration of up to $2.25 million is payable in 2019 based on performance targets for Activate for the 9 months ending 31 July 2019 payable in cash or up to 75 per cent. in shares at Next 15's discretion.

Further deferred contingent consideration is payable over the next 5 years, in cash or at Next 15's discretion up to 25 per cent. in shares, dependent on Activate's profitability and a multiple driven by margin and revenue growth post the Acquisition.

Taken together the initial consideration and top-up payment represent a valuation of Activate of 6.1x on the forecast 2018 normalised EBIT.

The total consideration payable is capped at $48 million.

The Acquisition and Placing together are expected to be earnings accretive for Next 15 in the first full year of ownership (FY20). The Acquisition is not conditional on the Placing.

Highlights and rationale

 
 
    -- Acquisition from its co-founders of 100 per cent. of Activate a B2B 

demand generation specialist based in San Francisco and New York

working with technology companies

 
    -- Activate's current senior management, including co-founder and CEO Ed 

Grossman and co-founder and President Martha Schwartz, will remain

with and continue to run the business after the Acquisition

 
    -- Activate combine buyer insights with content messaging to engage 

customers and identify quality leads for their clients

 
    -- Data-led proposition enables Activate to demonstrate ROI and revenue 

generation for clients

 
    -- Over 60 clients, engaged either through other agencies or directly, 

the largest of which include IBM, Dell, VMware, Veritas and Akamai

 
    -- Activate is a complementary business to Next 15's digital content and 

technology businesses with a similar client base, and would sit within

Next 15's technology segment

 
    -- Activate is anticipated to generate $13.7 million revenue and $4.1 

million adjusted EBIT in the year to December 20181

 
    -- Acquisition in line with the Group's strategy to enhance the use of 

data to inform its services and to target niche fast-growing areas of

digital marketing

 
    -- The Placing is being conducted through an accelerated bookbuild to 

raise gross proceeds of up to GBP20 million, with the bookbuild to

commence immediately following this announcement

 
    -- The Placing proceeds will be used to fund the Acquisition and 

associated costs and to support future identified acquisition targets,

that provide a compelling strategic fit, in the near term

 
    -- This funding will allow Next 15 to act flexibly in relation to further 

transactions

Current trading

The Group continues to see high single digit organic revenue growth following the interim results announcement in September. The prospects for H2 remain good and the Board remains confident the Group will meet its expectations for the full year. The merger of the Text 100 and Bite businesses is progressing well.

Tim Dyson, Chief Executive Officer of Next15, commented:

"Next 15's strategy is to build and buy data and technology-driven businesses that enable companies to do world class marketing. Activate very much fits into that strategy by using a mix of data and technology to deliver high value, qualified sales leads to its clients.This product set fits alongside our other sales engagement products from Agent3 and Twogether.Couple this with the quality of the leadership team at Activate and you have a great addition to the Next 15 Group.

Ed Grossman and Martha Schwartz, co-founders and Chief Executive Officer and President respectively of Activate, commented:

"We are extremely excited to be joining Next 15.Next 15 has been at the forefront of B2B Tech marketing for quite some time.It is a company we have admired as their belief in data, technology and content is fundamentally aligned with ours.We are looking forward to this next chapter for Activate".

Enquiries:

Next Fifteen Communications Group plcTim Dyson, CEO+1 415 350 2801

Peter Harris, CFO+44 (0)20 7908 6444

NumisNick Westlake, Mark Lander, Michael Wharton+44 (0)20 7260 1000

--

Information on Activate

Established in 2013, Activate is a privately-owned company specialising in lead generation marketing services, focussing on technology clients. Activate's services include buyer insight, demand generation and sourcing services, content mapping and development, and event marketing services.

Activate has offices in San Francisco and New York, with 17 employees. It has an internationally diversified client base of over 60 clients, including many of the world's best-known high technology and engineering companies including Adobe, AWS, BAE Systems, BlueJeans, Dell, Google, Hortonworks, HP Enterprise, IBM, Intel, Micro Focus, Oracle, Red Hat, Veritas and VMWare.

Activate has grown significantly since its inception in 2013, with a CAGR of 29 per cent. since 2015.

Activate has consistently achieved EBIT margins in excess of 20% over the last 3 years and an EBIT margin of c.30 per cent. is anticipated in 2018.

Activate will add lead generation capability to the Group, complementing Next 15's existing ABM and marketing solutions businesses. From a talent perspective, the deal brings two experienced executives who will support both operational and new business development activities. Activate's current senior management, including co-founder and CEO Ed Grossman and co-founder and President Martha Schwartz, will remain with and continue to run the business after the Acquisition.

At 31 July 2018, Activate had gross assets of c. $4.2 million (GBP3.2 million). In the year to December 2017, Activate generated a normalised EBIT of c. $2.4 million (GBP1.9 million).

Activate is anticipated to generate $13.7 million revenue and $4.1 million adjusted EBIT in the year to December 2018.2

Acquisition rationale

The Acquisition adds scale to Next15's US B2B marketing operations, and is complementary to Next15's existing agencies in this space, Publitek, Velocity, Agent3, Encore and Twogether.

Like Next15, Activate has a proven track record of revenue and profit growth and comes with a strong leadership team.

The Acquisition is being funded from the Placing to allow the Company to maintain a strong balance sheet and to allow it to take advantage of future acquisition opportunities, as the Company's strategy of combining organic growth with carefully selected acquisitions is pursued.

Taking into account the proceeds of the Placing of GBP20 million, being the maximum amount to be raised, and the initial consideration, net debt at 31 July 2018 of GBP25.6 million would become GBP12.5 million on a pro forma basis with Net debt/EBITDA reducing accordingly from 0.7x to 0.3x on a pro forma basis.3

Activate's revenue for the year to December 2018 is anticipated to be $13.7 million, providing a revenue CAGR of 29 per cent. since 2015. Activate's normalised EBIT is expected to be $4.1 million, giving a margin of c.30 per cent. in 2018 and a CAGR of 40 per cent. since 2015.2

Pipeline of further acquisition opportunities

Next15 is currently in discussions regarding a number of other acquisition opportunities in the data marketing and technology driven research spaces in the US and UK.

In addition, Next15 has identified a strong pipeline of further acquisition opportunities across digital content, data and research and technology which are in line with the Group's strategy of growing the data and technology segments of the business. Next15's track record of sourcing, acquiring and developing acquisition targets (with 17 acquisitions completed in the past 5 years) makes it well placed to deliver on this pipeline in the near term. It is envisaged that the next acquisition from this pipeline will be funded from the balance of the Placing proceeds, after use of proceeds to fund the initial cash consideration for Activate and associated costs relating to the Acquisition, as detailed above plus the use of existing resources available to Next15 under its existing borrowing arrangements. Further announcements will be made in due course.

Details of the Placing

The Placing is subject to the terms and conditions set out below. Numis will commence a bookbuilding process in respect of the Placing (the "Bookbuild"), which will start with immediate effect following this Announcement.

The Acquisition is not conditional on the Placing.

The price per Ordinary Share at which the Placing Shares are to be placed (the "Placing Price") will be decided at the close of the Bookbuild. The timing of the closing of the Bookbuild, the Placing Price and allocations shall be at the discretion of Next15 and Numis. Members of the public are not eligible to participate in the Placing.

When issued, the Placing Shares will be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares of 2.5 pence each in the share capital of the Company, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid on or in respect of such shares after the date of the issuance of the Placing Shares. The Placing Shares would represent an increase of up to 5.8 per cent. of the current issued share capital of the Company.

Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM (the "Admission"). Admission is anticipated to take place at 8am on 6 November 2018, or such later date as may be agreed between the Company and Numis, and dealings in the Placing Shares will commence at that time. The Placing is conditional upon, inter alia, Admission becoming effective. The Placing is also conditional on the placing agreement between the Company and Numis becoming unconditional and not being terminated.

Your attention is drawn to the information below, which forms part of this Announcement, and sets out further information relating to the Bookbuild and the terms and conditions of the Placing.

By choosing to participate in the Placing and by making a verbal offer to acquire Placing Shares, investors will be deemed to have read and understood this Announcement (including the Appendix) in its entirety and to be making such offer on the terms and subject to the conditions in this Announcement, and to be providing the representations, warranties and acknowledgements contained in the Appendix.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

No action has been taken by the Company, the Bookrunner or any of their respective affiliates, 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.

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 Directive) to be published. Persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser.

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 OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 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 FOR SALE OR SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES DISCUSSED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, NOR IS IT INTED THAT IT WILL BE SO APPROVED.

The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in or into the United States except 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. No public offering of securities is being made 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 offering 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.

Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing. This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out in Appendix I are for information purposes only and are directed only at: (a) persons in Member States of the Economic European Area who are qualified investors within the meaning of article 2(1)(e) of 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 falling within the definition of "investments professional" in article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"); (ii) are 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 must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons.

This Announcement is not being distributed by, nor has it been approved for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA") by, a person authorised under FSMA. This Announcement is being distributed and communicated to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply.

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 the Bookrunner or by any of its affiliates or agents as to, or in relation to, the contents of this Announcement, including its accuracy, completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on its behalf, the Company or any other person in connection with the Company, the Placing or Admission or for 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. Nothing in this Announcement should be read as a promise or representation in this respect, whether or not to the past or the future. The Bookrunner and its affiliates and agents disclaim to the fullest extent permitted by law all and any responsibility or liability whatsoever, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which it might otherwise have in respect of this Announcement or any such statement.

Certain information in this Announcement, including financial information, relating to Activate Marketing Services, LLC is unaudited and has not been independently verified. No reliance should be placed on, and the Company, Numis and their respective advisors, shall not be liable in any way in respect of, such information. This presentation includes certain operational and financial measures not presented in accordance with IFRS and, therefore, are not measures of financial performance in accordance with IFRS and may exclude items that are significant in understanding and assessing the Company's financial results or future prospects. Therefore, these measures should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative performance measures under IFRS. You should be aware that the Company's presentation of these measures may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures used by other companies.

Numis Securities Limited ("Numis") is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority and is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing, the content of this Announcement and other matters described in this Announcement. Numis will not regard any other person as their client 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 its 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 may contain and the Company may make verbal statements containing "forward-looking statements" with respect to certain of the Company's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition, performance, strategic initiatives, objectives and results. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as "aim", "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", "seek", "may", "could", "outlook" or other words of similar meaning. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, the actual future financial condition, performance and results of the Company may differ materially from the plans, goals and expectations set forth in any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made in this Announcement by or on behalf of the Company speak only as of the date they are made. The information contained in this Announcement is subject to change without notice and except as required by applicable law or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publish any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement to reflect any changes in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

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 contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 ("MAR"). The person responsible for arranging release of this information on behalf of the Company is Nick Lee Morrison, General Counsel and Company Secretary. In addition, market soundings (as defined in MAR) were taken in respect of the Placing with the result that certain persons became aware of inside information (as defined in MAR), as permitted by MAR. This inside information is set out in this Announcement. Therefore, those persons that received inside information in a market sounding are no longer in possession of such inside information relating to the Company and its securities.

Information to Distributors

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 the 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, Numis has only procured 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 I

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLACING

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE PLACING FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INCLUDING THIS APPIX AND THEIR TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN (TOGETHER, THE "ANNOUNCEMENT") AND THE INFORMATION IN IT, IS RESTRICTED, AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (WHICH IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY) IS 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"); (II) ARE 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 (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CUSTODIANS, NOMINEES AND TRUSTEES) WHO HAVE A CONTRACTUAL OR OTHER LEGAL OBLIGATION TO FORWARD A COPY OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD SEEK APPROPRIATE ADVICE BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION. PERSONS INTO WHOSE POSSESSION THIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMES ARE REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY AND THE BOOKRUNNER TO INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT, AND OBSERVE, ANY RESTRICTIONS RELATING TO THE PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. 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 OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY.

The Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act") or under any securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered, sold, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and in compliance with the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. There will be no public offer of the securities mentioned herein in the United States.

The securities mentioned herein will have not been approved or disapproved by the SEC, any state securities commission or any 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 the contents of this Announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence 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, the Republic of South Africa or any other jurisdiction in which such release publication or distribution 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 distribution of this Announcement and/or the Placing and/or the issue of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company, the Bookrunner or any of their respective affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees (their respective "Representatives") 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. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and the Bookrunner to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

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 (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia), Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa 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 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.

This Announcement does not identify or suggest, or purport to identify or suggest, the risks (direct or indirect) that may be associated with an investment in the Placing Shares. Any investment decision to buy Placing Shares in the Placing must be made solely on the basis of Publicly Available Information (as defined below), which has not been independently verified by the Bookrunner.

This Announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning any investor's options with respect to the Placing. Investors and prospective investors should conduct their own investigation, analysis and evaluation of the business and data described in this Announcement. 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.

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, you should read and understand the information provided in the "Important Notices" section of this Announcement.

By participating in the Bookbuild and 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 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 the Bookrunner 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; and

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 has authority to exercise, and is exercising, 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;

5. except as otherwise permitted by the Company and subject to any available exemptions from applicable securities laws, it (and any person on whose account it is acting, as referred to in paragraph 4 above) is not a US Person (as defined in Regulation S) and is located outside the United States and is acquiring the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction" as defined in, and in accordance with, Regulation S;

6. it has not offered, sold or delivered and will not offer to sell or deliver any of the Placing Shares to persons within the United States, directly or indirectly, or to, or for the account or benefit of, US Persons; neither it, its affiliates, nor any persons acting on its behalf, have engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts (as defined in Regulation S) with respect to the Placing Shares; and it is not taking up the Placing Shares for resale in or into the United States.

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 "Placing Results Announcement" and together with this Announcement, the "Placing Documents") and any other 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 contract note sent to individual Placees by the Bookrunner.

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 the Bookrunner or the Company or any other person and none of the Bookrunner, 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. 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

The Bookrunner is acting as sole bookrunner in connection with the Placing and has today entered into the Placing Agreement with the Company under which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Placing Agreement, the Bookrunner, as agent for and on behalf of the Company, has agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to procure placees for the Placing Shares.

The final number of Placing Shares and the Placing Price (as defined below) will be set out in a share placing supplement agreed between the Bookrunner and the Company following the Bookbuild (the "Placing Supplement"). The exact number of the Placing Shares to be allocated and issued to each Placee shall be determined following completion of an accelerated book building process to determine demand for participation in the Placing by the Placees.

The Placing is not underwritten by the Bookrunner.

The Placing Shares 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 claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and equities.

As a term of the Placing, the Company has agreed that it will not, without the prior written consent of the Bookrunner, allot or issue any Ordinary Shares (or any other shares or securities in the capital of the Company) or issue any options over Ordinary Shares (or any securities exchangeable for, or convertible into, Ordinary Shares or other shares or securities in the capital of the Company), save for the issue of any options pursuant to (and in accordance with the rules of) the Company's existing share option or share incentive schemes or for the issue of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of any options under such schemes or in connection with any earn-out payment obligations, or similar payments, due under existing acquisition agreements to which the Company is party, for a period ending on the date falling 90 days after Admission.

Application for admission to trading

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

It is expected that Admission of the Placing Shares will occur at or before 8.00 a.m. (London time) on Tuesday 6 November 2018 (or such later time and/or date as the Bookrunner may agree with the Company) and that dealings in the Placing Shares will commence at that time.

Bookbuild

The Bookrunner will today commence the accelerated bookbuilding process to determine demand for participation in the Placing by Placees (the "Bookbuild"). This Announcement gives details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Placing. No commissions will be paid to Placees or by Placees in respect of any Placing Shares.

The Company and the Bookrunner shall be entitled to effect the Placing by such alternative method to the Bookbuild as they may, in their absolute discretion determine.

Participation in, and principal terms of, the Placing

1. The Bookrunner is arranging the Placing as sole bookrunner and placing agent of the Company for the purpose of procuring Placees at the Placing Price for the Placing Shares. Participation in the Placing will only be available to persons who may lawfully be, and are, invited to participate by the Bookrunner. The Bookrunner 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.

2. The Bookbuild, if successful, will establish a single price payable to the Bookrunner as agent for the Company by all Placees whose bids are successful (the "Placing Price"). The Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares will be agreed by the Bookrunner and the Company following completion of the Bookbuild. Subject to the execution of the Placing Supplement, the Placing Price and the number of Placing Shares to be issued will be announced on an RIS following the completion of the Bookbuild via the Placing Results Announcement.

3. Allocations of the Placing Shares will be determined by the Bookrunner and the Company (the proposed allocations having been supplied by the Bookrunner to the Company in advance of such consultation). Subject to the execution of the Placing Supplement, allocations will be confirmed orally by the Bookrunner and a contract note will be despatched as soon as possible thereafter. The Bookrunner'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 the Bookrunner 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. Except with the Bookrunner's consent, such commitment will not be capable of variation or revocation after the time at which it is submitted.

4. The Bookbuild is expected to close no later than 7:00 a.m. (London time) on Friday 2 November 2018, but may be closed earlier or later at the Company and the Bookrunner's discretion. The Bookrunner may, in agreement with the Company, accept bids that are received after the Bookbuild has closed.

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

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 Bookbuild and 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 the Bookrunner, nor the Company, nor any of their respective Representatives shall have any responsibility or liability to Placees (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise). In particular, neither the Bookrunner, nor the Company, nor any of their respective Representatives shall have any responsibility or liability (including to the extent permissible by law, any fiduciary duties) in respect of the Bookrunner's conduct of the Placing or of such alternative method of effecting the Placing as the Bookrunner and the Company may determine.

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 the Bookrunner's conduct of the Placing.

11. All times and dates in this Announcement may be subject to amendment. The Bookrunner 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. The Bookrunner's obligations under the Placing Agreement are conditional on customary conditions including (amongst others) (the "Conditions"):

1. the AIM application being submitted to the London Stock Exchange as required by Rule 29 of the AIM Rules prior to 6.00 p.m. on the date of this Announcement;

2. certain announcement obligations;

3. Admission occurring no later than 8.00 a.m. (London time) on 6 November 2018 (or such later time and/or date, not being later than 8.00 a.m. (London time) on 20 November, as the Bookrunner may otherwise agree with the Company) (the "Closing Date");

4. the warranties on the part of the Company contained in the Placing Agreement being true and accurate and not misleading and as at the date of the Placing Agreement and immediately prior to Admission; by reference to the facts and circumstances then subsisting;

5. the Company having performed all of its obligations under the Placing Agreement which fall to be performed or satisfied on or prior to Admission;

6. the execution and delivery of the Placing Supplement;

7. the delivery to the Bookrunner of a certificate in the form set out in Schedule 4 to the Placing Agreement signed by a Director on behalf of the Company not later than 5.00 p.m. on the day immediately prior to the expected date of Admission;

8. the allotment and issue of the Placing Shares by the Company (conditional only upon Admission); and

9. between the date of the Placing Agreement and Admission there having been no material adverse change in, or any development including a prospective material adverse change in, or affecting, the condition (financial, operational, legal or otherwise) or the earnings, management, business affairs, solvency, credit rating or prospects of the Company or the Group (taken as a whole whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business ("Material Adverse Change").

The Bookrunner may, at its discretion and upon such terms as it thinks 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 (provided that condition 3 above shall not be extended beyond 20 November 2018). The Conditions in the Placing Agreement relating to the AIM application submission, Admission taking place and the allotment and issue by the Company of the Placing Shares (conditions 1, 3 and 8 above) 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 the Bookrunner by the relevant time or date specified (or such later time or date as the Company and the Bookrunner may agree); 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 the Bookrunner, nor the Company, nor any of their respective Representatives 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 the Bookrunner.

Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement

The Bookrunner 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. the Company has failed to comply with any of its obligations under the Placing Agreement;

2. any of the warranties in the Placing Agreement was untrue or inaccurate or misleading when made and/or would be untrue or inaccurate or misleading if they were to be repeated at any time prior to Admission by reference to the facts, matters and circumstances then subsisting;

3. 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 the Bookrunner; or

4. the occurrence of a Material Adverse Change or certain force majeure events.

Upon termination of the Placing Agreement, 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 the exercise by the Bookrunner of any right of termination or of any other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Bookrunner 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 such Placee's participation in the Placing will not be capable of rescission or termination by it after oral confirmation by the Bookrunner of the allocation and commitments following the close of the Bookbuild.

Restrictions on further issuances

As a term of the Placing, the Company has agreed that it will not, without the prior written consent of the Bookrunner, allot or issue any Ordinary Shares (or any other shares or securities in the capital of the Company) or issue any options over Ordinary Shares (or any securities exchangeable for, or convertible into, Ordinary Shares or other shares or securities in the capital of the Company), save for the issue of any options pursuant to (and in accordance with the rules of) the Company's existing share option or share incentive schemes or for the issue of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of any options under such schemes or in connection with any earn-out payment obligations, or similar payments, due under existing acquisition agreements to which the Company is party, for a period ending on the date falling 90 days after Admission.

By participating in the Placing, Placees agree that the exercise by the Bookrunner of any power to grant consent to the undertaking by the Company of a transaction which would otherwise be subject to the restrictive provisions on the further issuance under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of the Bookrunner 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 of the power to grant consent.

Registration and Settlement

Settlement of transactions in the Placing Shares (ISIN: GB0030026057) following Admission will take place within the system administered by Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited ("CREST"), subject to certain exceptions. The Bookrunner reserves 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.

Following the close of the Bookbuild, each Placee to be allocated Placing Shares in the Placing will be sent a contract note in accordance with the standing arrangements in place with the Bookrunner stating the number of Placing Shares allocated to them at the Placing Price, the aggregate amount owed by such Placee to the Bookrunner 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 the Bookrunner.

The Company will deliver the Placing Shares to a CREST account operated by the Bookrunner as agent for the Company and the Bookrunner 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 Tuesday 6 November 2018 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 the Bookrunner.

Each Placee is deemed to agree that, if it does not comply with these obligations, the Bookrunner may sell any or all of the Placing Shares allocated to that Placee on such Placee's behalf and retain from the proceeds, for the Bookrunner's 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) or other similar taxes 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 contract note 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 the Bookrunner nor the Company shall be responsible for payment thereof. Placees will not be entitled to receive any fee or commission in connection with the Placing.

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 the Bookrunner (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 its application for Placing Shares, the following:

General

1. it has read and understood this Announcement in its entirety and its subscription for 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 trading on AIM and that the Company is therefore required to publish certain business and financial information in accordance with the rules and practices of AIM, 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. 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 the Bookrunner 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 the Bookrunner on an after-tax basis in respect of any Indemnified Taxes;

4. neither the Bookrunner nor any of its Representatives accepts any responsibility for any acts or omissions of the Company or any of the directors of the Company or any other person (other than the Bookrunner) in connection with the Placing;

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

6. 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 the Bookrunner;

No distribution of Announcement

7. 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 materials to any person;

No prospectus

8. no prospectus or other offering document is required under the Prospectus Directive, nor will one be prepared in connection with the Bookbuild, 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 Bookbuild, the Placing or the Placing Shares;

Purchases by the Bookrunner for its own account

9. in connection with the Placing, the Bookrunner 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 the Bookrunner or any of its affiliates acting in such capacity;

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

11. the Bookrunner 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;

No fiduciary duty or client of the Bookrunner or the Company

12. neither the Company nor the Bookrunner owes any fiduciary or other duties to any Placee in respect of any acknowledgements, confirmations, representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities in the Placing Agreement;

13. its participation in the Placing is on the basis that it is not and will not be a client of the Bookrunner in connection with its participation in the Placing and that the Bookrunner 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;

No responsibility of the Bookrunner for information

14. 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 the Bookrunner nor its respective Representatives, 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, the Placing Documents, 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 the Placing Documents, 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;

Reliance on information regarding the Placing

15.

(a) the only information on which it is entitled to rely on 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 15(a)), such information being all that such Placee deems necessary or appropriate and sufficient to make an investment decision in respect of the Placing Shares;

(b) it has not requested, received nor relied on any other information given, or representations, warranties or statements, express or implied, made, by the Bookrunner or the Company nor any of their respective Representatives acting on behalf of any of them (including in any management presentation delivered in respect of the Bookbuild) 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;

(c) neither the Bookrunner, nor the Company, nor any of their respective Representatives 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 the Bookrunner, 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; and

(d) neither the Bookrunner 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;

Conducted own investigation and due diligence

16. it may not rely, and has not relied, on any investigation that the Bookrunner, any of its affiliates or any person acting on their 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;

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

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

(b) will not look to the Bookrunner for all or part of any such loss it may suffer;

(c) 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;

(d) is able to sustain a complete loss of an investment in the Placing Shares;

(e) has no need for liquidity with respect to its investment in the Placing Shares;

(f) 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

(g) 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, including the merits and risks involved, and not upon any view expressed or information provided by or on behalf of the Bookrunner or the Company for the purposes of its decision to participate in the Placing;

Capacity and authority

18. 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;

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

(a) it is 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) it will remain liable to the Company and/or the Bookrunner 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);

20. 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 the Bookrunner, 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;

21. 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;

22. it irrevocably appoints any duly authorised officer of the Bookrunner 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;

Excluded territories

23. 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 United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa, or any state, province, territory or jurisdiction thereof and, subject to certain exceptions, may not be offered, sold, transferred, delivered or distributed, directly or indirectly, into or in any of those jurisdictions;

24. 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, the Bookrunner or any person acting on behalf of the Company or the Bookrunner that would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the Placing Shares in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or any country or jurisdiction, or any state, province, territory or jurisdiction thereof, where any such action for that purpose is required;

25. no action has been or will be taken by any of the Company, the Bookrunner or any person acting on behalf of the Company or Bookrunner 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;

26. unless otherwise specifically agreed with the Bookrunner, 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 or otherwise be located in, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Republic of South Africa or any province or territory of Canada;

27. it may be asked to disclose in writing or orally to the Bookrunner:

(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;

Compliance with US securities laws

28. it, and any prospective beneficial owner for whose account or benefit it is purchasing the Placing Shares, is (i) not a US Person (as defined in Regulation S) and is, and at the time the Placing Shares are subscribed for will be, located outside the United States and is acquiring the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction" as defined in, and in accordance with, Regulation S; (ii) has not been offered to purchase or subscribe for Placing Shares by means of any "directed selling efforts" as defined in Regulation S;

29. it understands and acknowledges 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 in or into or from the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, US Persons (as defined in Regulation S) except pursuant to an effective registration under the US Securities Act, or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and in accordance with applicable state securities laws;

30. 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;

Compliance with EEA selling restrictions and the Prospectus Directive

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

32. 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;

33. 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 the Bookrunner has been given to each proposed offer or resale;

Compliance with FSMA, the UK financial promotion regime and MAR

34. 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;

35. 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");

36. 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 the Bookrunner 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;

37. 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 Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse ("MAR")) in respect of anything done in, from or otherwise involving, the United Kingdom);

Compliance with laws

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

39. 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;

40. in order to ensure compliance with the Regulations, the Bookrunner (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 the Bookrunner or the Company's registrars, as applicable, of evidence of identity, definitive certificates in respect of the Placing Shares may be retained at the Bookrunner's absolute discretion or, where appropriate, delivery of the Placing Shares to it in uncertificated form may be delayed at the Bookrunner'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 the Bookrunner (for itself and as agent on behalf of the Company) or the Company's registrars have not received evidence satisfactory to them, either the Bookrunner 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;

Depositary receipts and clearance services

41. 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;

Undertaking to make payment

42. 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 the Bookrunner 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;

43. its commitment to take up Placing Shares on the terms set out in this Announcement will continue notwithstanding any amendment that may in the future be made to the terms and conditions of the Placing and that Placees will have no right to be consulted or require that their consent be obtained with respect to the Company or the Bookrunner's conduct of the Placing;

Money held on account

44. any money held in an account with the Bookrunner 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 the relevant Bookrunner's money in accordance with the client money rules and will be held by it under a banking relationship and not as trustee and will be used by the Bookrunner in the course of its business and each Placee will rank only as a general creditor of the Bookrunner;

Allocation

45. 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 the Bookrunner 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;

No recommendation

46. neither the Bookrunner, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on behalf of the Bookrunner, is making any recommendations to it, advising it regarding the suitability of any transactions it may enter into in connection with the Placing and the Bookrunner has no regard to its particular objectives, financial situation or needs;

47. its participation in the Placing is on the basis that it is not and will not be, a client of the Bookrunner in connection with its participation in the Placing and that the Bookrunner has no duty nor responsibility 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;

Inside information

48. 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;

Rights and remedies

49. the rights and remedies of the Company and the Bookrunner 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

Governing law and jurisdiction

50. these terms and conditions of the Placing and any agreements entered into by it pursuant to these 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 Wales 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 the Bookrunner 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 the Bookrunner and are irrevocable. The Bookrunner, 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 the Bookrunner 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.

Indemnity

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, the Bookrunner and their respective Representatives 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 the Bookrunner, the Company or each of their respective Representatives 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 the Bookrunner will be responsible and the Placees shall indemnify the Company and the Bookrunner 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 the Bookrunner in respect of any such arrangements or dealings. If this is the case, each Placee should seek its own advice and notify the Bookrunner accordingly. Placees are advised to consult with their own advisers regarding the tax aspects of the subscription for Placing Shares.

The Company and the Bookrunner 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 the United Kingdom. Each prospective Placee should, therefore, take its own advice as to whether any such tax liability arises and notify the Bookrunner and the Company accordingly. Furthermore, each prospective Placee agrees to indemnify on an after-tax basis and hold the Bookrunner 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.

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

The Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than AIM, 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.

APPENDIX II

The following definitions apply in Appendix I to this Announcement, and as the context shall admit, in the Announcement:

 
Acquisition              the acquisition of Activate. 
Activate                 Activate Marketing Services LLC. 
AIM                      AIM, a market operated by the 
                         London Stock Exchange. 
AIM Rules                the AIM Rules for Companies published 
                         by the London Stock Exchange. 
Announcement             this announcement, including this Appendix and 
                         the terms and  conditions set out herein. 
Bookbuild                the accelerated bookbuilding 
                         process to determine demand 
                         for  participation in the Placing by Placees. 
Bookrunner or Numis      Numis Securities Limited. 
Company or Next 15       Next Fifteen Communications Group plc. 
CREST                    the relevant system (as defined in the 
                         Regulations) in respect of  which 
                         Euroclear UK & Ireland is the Operator 
                         (as defined in the  Regulations). 
Euroclear UK & Ireland   Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited. 
FCA                      the Financial Conduct Authority. 
Group                    the Company and the subsidiary 
                         undertakings and"member of the 
                         Group"or "Group Company" shall 
                         be construed  accordingly. 
Ordinary Shares          ordinary shares of 2.5 pence each 
                         in the capital of the Company. 
PlaceeorPlacees          persons who agree to subscribe for Placing 
                         Shares at the Placing  Price. 
Placing                  the placing of the Placing 
                         Shares in accordance with 
                         the Placing  Agreement and the Placing Documents. 
Placing Agreement        the placing agreement dated 1 
                         November 2018 between the 
                         Company and  the Bookrunner 
                         relating to the Placing. 
Placing Shares           such number of new Ordinary Shares 
                         as agreed between the Company 
                         and  the Bookrunner as set out 
                         in the Placing Supplement. 
 
 

1 The figures in this paragraph are unaudited, have not been prepared by the Company and there is no guarantee that they can or will be achieved. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on these numbers in deciding whether to participate in the Placing.2 The figures in this paragraph are unaudited, have not been prepared by the Company and there is no guarantee that they can or will be achieved. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on these numbers in deciding whether to participate in the Placing.3 The figures in this paragraph are expectations only and there is no guarantee that they can or will be achieved. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on these figures in deciding whether to participate in the Placing.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101005872/en/

 
This information is provided by Business Wire 
 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 01, 2018 12:51 ET (16:51 GMT)